Scholar

Scholar is a playable Nightfarer-class character in ACH00 who excels at controlled, technical combat and team utility. He specializes in crowd control, status application, and battlefield observation rather than raw damage. Scholar favors thrusting swords that emphasize pokes, counters, and spacing; his kit synergizes strongly with Arcane-focused builds and status-inflicting weapons such as Antspur Rapier. When not selected as the player character, Scholar resides at the Roundtable Hold.

Scholar’s core identity revolves around observation and manipulation of engagements. His Character Skill, Analyze, marks targets in a wide area and builds a focused red gauge on any chosen enemy; the longer the gauge fills, the more powerful the buff for allies or debuff for foes. Analyze scales with proximity (close targets fill faster) and is most effective when multiple enemies or allies are lined up. Using Analyze exposes Scholar because he lowers his weapon while observing, so it is safest to activate when enemies are not pressuring him. Analyze’s notable effects include increased stamina at low analysis levels, a conjured shield that emits a shockwave when struck at higher levels, reduced enemy attack at initial levels, and making enemies take extra damage on the next hit at higher levels.

Scholar’s Passive Ability, Bagcraft, enhances consumable Tools. Bagcraft raises stack limits for Tools and allows Consumable Tools to be upgraded up to two times during an Expedition by repeated use. Upgrades apply to the entire item category (for example, frequent use of Throwing Pots strengthens all Throwable Pots). Bagcraft grants improved item-handling effectiveness at the first upgrade and adds a secondary effect to items at the max upgrade tier.

The Ultimate Art, Communion, links nearby enemies and allies so that damage dealt to one linked enemy is mirrored to the others, and healing applied to one linked ally benefits all connected allies. Scholar is invulnerable while casting Communion. Communion is most potent against clustered enemy groups and multi-target bosses, and when used on allies it significantly enhances team survivability.

Base attribute scaling shown for a level 15 Scholar indicates strengths in Vigor, Mind, Endurance, and Arcane (Scholar is an Albinauric and has an S in Arcane), with moderate Intelligence and Dexterity and lower Strength and Faith. Scholar’s sword visuals change with cosmetics but this does not affect weapon damage.

Unique Relic Effects associated with Scholar include preventing the slowing of Character Skill progress, granting attack boosts to allies targeted by Character Skill, earning runes for additional specimens acquired via Character Skill, continuous damage on targets linked by Ultimate Art, and various stat adjustments on Deep Relics (examples: improved Endurance and Dexterity with reduced Intelligence and Arcane; improved Mind with reduced Vigor). Preferred relic effects for Scholar prioritize faster Art gauge fill on kills, boosting allies targeted by Character Skill, item effects applying to nearby allies, and Continuous damage on threaded targets.

Equipment and progression notes:

• Scholar starts with thrusting sword variants whose appearance changes with cosmetics; damage values are not altered by appearance.
• Chalices tied to Scholar include Scholar’s Urn (default), Scholar’s Goblet (purchasable), Scholar’s Chalice (reward), and several purchasable sealed or soot-covered urns and grails unlocked by defeating Nightlords or Nightlords’ variants.
• Best weapon effects include “Less Likely to Be Targeted,” which synergizes with Analyze by reducing incoming pressure while observing.

Practical usage tips:

• Use Analyze to set up high-value buffs or debuffs before major engagements; prioritize clustered targets and positions where Scholar can safely observe.
• Pair Arcane scaling and status-inflicting blades (e.g., Antspur Rapier) to efficiently spread Scarlet Rot or other status effects across multiple enemies.
• Cast Communion when enemies are tightly grouped or when allied survivability needs amplification; take advantage of casting invulnerability.
• Invest in relics that increase Art gauge fill on enemy defeats and those that extend Character Skill benefits to allies for maximum team utility.
• Rely on Bagcraft if your playstyle uses many consumables; repeated use of a Tool during an Expedition will strengthen that Tool category for the remainder of the run.