There really isn't much to say about these levels. There's only one decision you need to make - which weapon you want to use.

With Flexible you get the choice of doing either slashing or crushing damage, and Reaver-specific items add to Flexible. Crushing is pointless, really, when you can get both it and slashing damage types and similar styles with Flexible. Slash's strong point is simply Amethyst Slash, one of the better anytime styles in the game. Thrusting is not a particularly good choice for a Reaver, as it's best styles - Ratfang and Dragonfang - are available only after you Evade, which doesn't happen all that often.

If you prefer to be able to use a single style at any time, Slash is the clear winner. Flexible lacks a solid anytime style and requires far more interaction on the player's part. The trade-off is that Flexible styles have a much higher potential for strong damage and good effects if carried out. In my opinion, it is best to use Flexible; it is, after all, one of the defining characteristics of the class, and also has greater potential in the hands of a good player.

If going Slashing (or Crushing or Thrusting), train away. If going Flexible, hold off a while. I strongly suggest going with Flexible, for the multiple damage types and interesting styles. However, if you want to autotrain Flexible, be careful! Training in either Slash or Flexible will ruin that.

Speak with any Reaver trainer, join the Temple of Arawn, and you will become a Reaver. At this point, you will get four new skills: Flexible Weapons, Soulrending, Shield, and Parry. Put everything you can into Soulrending and a weapon. Soulrending is, at this point, your best friend.

From 5 to 20, you should keep Soulrending pretty much maximized. New spells come often, and they dramatically increase your character’s strength. Keep your weapon one level below Soulrending. At 10, for example, having 7 Soulrending and 6 weapon is good. At low levels, fights are quick enough and spells do enough damage that defense is not worth spending points on. That will come later.

During this period, you'll start to notice that damage from Soulrending doesn't keep up with the rising hit points of your opponents, and that fights start taking a great deal longer. As a result of that, you should start raising your defensive skills.

Of course, because you're not getting any more points per level, something has to suffer. That can be your weapon, Soulrending, or even both. Letting your weapon drop down is probably the best option; after all, 2/3 level is supposed to be ideal for classes like the Reaver. One spec to shoot for: 30 Soulrending, 23 weapon, 13 Shield, 12 Parry (if you plan on going for the Slam template, put less into Parry - 6, to be exact - and more into Shield).

After 30, Soulrending becomes less important, due to the ever worsening scaling. There is a gap in Reaver spells from Surge of Infliction 6 at 36 to Wrack 8 at 40 – not training those levels in favor of getting some improved defense is certainly a good option. At 40, a good spec would be 36 Soulrending, 30 weapon, 22 Shield, 21 Parry (or, for the Slam template, less parry and more Shield).

Check the Level 50 Templates page to see where you want to end up...