Last Updated on by Samuel Franklin
This Doomstalker guide optimises the Gloomhaven ranger who is a champion of ranged damage dealing and can access the unique doom mechanic for various buffs. Explaining card options from starting cards to each individual level up players will also gain insight into the best perks, card enhancements and equipment from the merchant to support your Doomstalker (Angry Face) playstyle.
Table of Contents:
– Doomstalker Cards, Perks, Enhancements and Items Overview
– Doomstalker Cards Detailed
– Doomstalker Perks Detailed
– Doomstalker Enhancements Detailed
– Doomstalker Items Detailed
Gloomhaven Doomstalker Guide Overview
This is your quick reference guide to building the Orchid Doomstalker from level 1-9 for reliable ranged damage output and ideal for 2-3 player party sizes as it does not take the doom jump card at level 5 (Inescapable Fate). This doom jumping build is explored in the detailed section though as it is a viable option at 4 player sizes where the extra enemies allow this build to thrive.
Doomstalker Cards Overview
- Level 1: Remove Frightening Curse, The Hunt Begins and Crippling Noose to create your starting deck of cards
- Level 2: Relentless Offensive replaces Sap Life
- Level 3: Press the Attack replaces Vital Charge
- Level 4: Flight of Flame replaces Foot Snare
- Level 5: Wild Command replaces Felling Swoop
- Level 6: Camouflage replaces Multi-Pronged Assault
- Level 7: Impending End replaces Detonation
- Level 8: Feral Instincts replaces A Moment’s Peace
- Level 9: Predator and Prey replaces Fresh Kill
Doomstalker Perks Priority Overview
- Remove two -1 cards (take twice)
- Replace two +0 card with two +1 card (take three times)
- Add one +0 stun card
- Add one +1 wound card
- Add one + 1 poison card
- Add one +2 muddle card
- Add rolling +1 cards (take twice)
Doomstalker Enhancements Priority Overview
- Add attack to the top of Swift Trickery, Press the Attack and Solid Bow
- Add target and/or attack to the top Relentless Offensive
- Add attack to the bottom of Wild Command
- Add Strengthen or Bless to the bottom of Feral Instincts
Doomstalker Items Priority Overview
- Minor Stamina Potion
- Eagle-Eye Goggles
- Cloak of Invisibility
- Piercing Bow
Gloomhaven Doomstalker Guide Detailed
This guide section explores the decision points of this Gloomhaven character that can alter your pathway to damage dealing for your team. As noted the Doomstalker player can lean into the doom jumping mechanic noted already which focuses on automatically moving dooms between enemies to remove the need to recast them by altering some card choices.
Doomstalker Cards Detailed
The Doomstalker detailed cards information is presented in level unlock order with information on decisions at all levels including replacement card option considerations.
- Starting Cards: The Doomstalker has no shortage of really average cards at level 1 but this means they can only get better from here. As a result the decisions for removal to create your starting hand are all quite close with some choices becoming slightly better or worse depending on party specific factors. Of these my top picks for the worst options are Frightening Curse, The Hunt Begins and Crippling Noose as none offer even a single useful action to our cause.
- Level 2 Cards: Level 2 quickly puts the Doomstalker down two separate paths which are commonly referred to the in Gloomhaven community as Expose and non-Expose options although if you don’t take Expose at this level you can come back later and grab it. While the bottom of Expose provides some utility in certain scenarios it’s the top persistent loss allowing us to bring advantaged attacks against doomed enemies. I recommend Expose for those interested in the doom jumping build while players without doom jumping will find it hard to justify Expose. Thus as noted in the overview section I’m taking Relentless Offensive as this solves one of our biggest issues so far which is simply a lack of good attacks and this one comes with the bonus of multiple enemies.
- Level 3 Cards: At this point the Doomstalker can take the Darkened Skies route with the doom sounding quite attractive on paper with a potential 6 damage when an enemy dies but potentially more deadly is the top attack that might create dreams of destroying an entire room in a scenario. Realistically though both of these dream outcomes are likely only possible in 4 player party sizes and even in those times are few and far between once you consider all the scenario factors. It’s for this reason I recommend the consistent Press the Attack which once again gives a strong top attack that is repeatable and starts to give the Doomstalker something that resembles a reasonable hand now.
- Level 4 Cards: Our easiest choice yet as it allows us to address another issue we have had to manage so far with a consistent movement card. Fight of the Flame solves this perfectly and even has jump while adding to our mid to late initiative options to balance our speed options. As if that wasn’t reason enough the alternative level 4 card in Singular Focus is incredibly poor with a burn loot action on top and the ability to grant advantage which is not particularly more powerful than our other dooms.
- Level 5 Cards: Level 5 provides another key card choice for those that want to explore the doom jumping Doomstalker build through Inescapable Fate that can later be combined with stacking dooms (Rising Momentum at level 8). For non doom jumpers the other level 5 card is a clear choice with the bottom action being a nice damage boost while helping us reposition as necessary. Note that given we don’t have access to useful ranged summons yet the we won’t be using the top of Wild Command.
- Level 6 Cards: No ranger character is complete without the ability to go invisible and this incredible card allows that with either a bottom move action or a top attack action. This choice is made even easier when the other option is a melee summon which are not strong card options in Gloomhaven.
- Level 7 Cards: Level 7 is your last opportunity to commit to the doom jumping playstyle by taking Inescapable Fate if you have not yet, if this is your intention and you already have this card then Crashing Wave is quite an attractive choice. Non doom jumpers will want to grab Impending End with a strong top attack and an equally strong buff for a hard hitting attack against any doomed enemy in range that means we can’t go wrong when playing either side of this card.
- Level 8 Cards: The time has finally come for the doom jumping build with the bottom action of Rising Momentum enabling this playstyle by jumping any active dooms to another enemy within 2 range. If you’ve committed to the non jumping variant Feral Instincts provides a clear upgrade to a Moment’s Peace instead. That being said given we don’t usually take much damage or are close enough for a melee attack it’s equally viable to return to previous levels to grab a card like Crashing Wave or even Expose if preferred.
- Level 9 Cards: The ultimate Gloomhaven level once again diverges into the two build paths with the doom jumper finding a welcomed sight with Lead to Slaughter that brings significant quality of life between rooms to throw our dooms onto another target within 4 range of our character. While the top of this card still provides some value for the non doom jumper I prefer the value of Predator and Prey given we have the large hand size to support a consistent summon and we finally have a ranged summon that even adds poison for some team utility.
Doomstalker Perks Detailed
Your focus is to remove negative cards and buff zero cards by turning them into positive outcomes that all help improve damage consistency and shift our expectations to a +1 on average. Next obtain some of the utility perks like stun before adding wound, poison and lastly muddle. While the muddle is a stronger perk at +2 compared to the +1 of wound and poison I think that over time you’ll get more damage from the wound and poison once you factor in the extra damage they provide and potential healing counter even if they can’t be controlled.
Doomstalker Enhancements Detailed
The Doomstalker does not rely on enhancements and if your party is struggling to accumulate gold you can confidentially opt out of purchasing enhancements with no significant harm to your damage output. That being said if gold is available our best value will be adding an extra attack to our core attacks that we cycle through with options like Swift Trickery, Press the Attack and Solid Bow. Relentless Offensive is similar to these but in the larger party sizes may be the perfect candidate for an additional target instead although this is a greater expense. Another option in this category is the bottom of Wild Command given the bottom is a staple pick in our hand cycle as we won’t be using the top action ever.
Other options that similarly help damage is the bottom of Feral Instincts (or the cheaper lower level variant A Moment’s Peace) for a Strength or Bless. With our solid base movement values on cards already and the dooms being absent of enhancement circles there really aren’t many other options worth considering in terms of cost effectiveness but if gold were not an issue buffing Predator and Pray in range, damage and/or movement is definitely an option in that order.
Doomstalker Items Detailed
For non spoiler item choices the Doomstalker will want the useful Piercing Bow and Eagle-Eye Googles that help us deal with a shielded enemy for the team and ensure we hit our expected damage by providing an advantage attack. Cloak of Invisibility is another nice item that reduces damage and allows for some aggressive plays although not a priority given we can rely on our range primarily.
Progressing beyond these items the Doomstalker wants to find items that increase the range of our attacks, turn ranged attacks into multi target attacks, add debuffs to our attacks and even take additional turns that plays nicely into our doom mechanics particularly or start our doom jumping if playing that Doomstalker build variant.
For information and build guides on other Gloomhaven character options visit our Gloomhaven classes overview and the related Gloomhaven class tier list.
