For players who prefer close-quarters combat, Enshrouded offers two primary melee archetypes: the Tank and the High Damage DPS. Both rely on Strength and Constitution but diverge in their skill and equipment priorities.

Tank Build:
Focuses on survivability, drawing enemy aggro, and protecting allies. Prioritize skills that increase Health, Armor, Block Efficiency, and Taunt abilities. Heavy armor and shields are essential. Weapons should focus on crowd control or applying debuffs. This build is crucial for group play and managing difficult encounters.
High Damage DPS Build:
Aims to maximize melee damage output, often at the expense of some survivability. Prioritize skills that increase Strength, Melee Critical Chance/Damage, and attack speed. Two-handed weapons or dual-wielding are common choices. Medium to heavy armor that offers damage bonuses is preferred. This build excels at quickly dispatching enemies but requires careful positioning to avoid taking too much damage.
Both builds benefit from stamina management skills for sustained combat and dodging. Experiment with different weapon types to find what suits your preferred combat flow.