Divinity: Original Sin 2 Classes – A Comprehensive Guide to Character Builds and Playstyles

Introduction

Embarking on an adventure in Rivellon, the vibrant and treacherous world of *Divinity: Original Sin 2* (DOS2), is an experience unlike any other. One of the most compelling aspects of this critically acclaimed RPG is its unparalleled freedom in character creation. Unlike many games that lock you into rigid class structures, DOS2 empowers you to craft the heroes (and villains) of your dreams, blending skills and talents to forge truly unique playstyles. This comprehensive guide delves deep into the heart of *Divinity: Original Sin 2 classes*, providing you with the knowledge needed to build powerful characters, master the battlefield, and conquer the challenges that await.

Understanding the Class System in DOS2

Understanding the foundation of character design is crucial for success. DOS2 offers a remarkably flexible system that allows you to mold your character based on your desired playstyle. The initial “classes” are best thought of as templates – starting points that influence your initial skill choices and attribute distribution. The real fun begins as you progress, acquiring skills from various schools, mixing and matching to create your ultimate fighting machine.

Unlike other RPGs, the game doesn’t restrict what skills you can learn based on your starting “class”. You can become a warrior who also wields powerful magic, a rogue who uses elemental attacks, or anything else you can imagine. This freedom is a core pillar of the DOS2 experience.

The key components of your character build consist of: Attributes, Skills, and Talents. Understanding these elements is crucial:

• **Attributes:** These fundamental stats determine your character’s base capabilities: Strength, Finesse, Intelligence, Constitution, Memory, and Wits. Strength affects physical damage and carry capacity; Finesse affects ranged and rogue damage; Intelligence governs magical prowess; Constitution affects health; Memory dictates how many skills you can have active; and Wits impacts critical hit chance and initiative. Choosing the correct attributes is critical for optimizing your chosen class.
• **Skills:** These are your active abilities. They are categorized into schools, such as Warfare, Pyrokinetic, Geomancer, Hydrosophist, Aerotheurge, Necromancer, Huntsman, Scoundrel, and Polymorph. Each school offers unique offensive, defensive, and support options.
• **Talents:** These passive perks grant powerful bonuses and special abilities, such as “Executioner” (gain AP after a kill), “Elemental Affinity” (reduce AP cost of spells cast in specific elemental surfaces), or “Lone Wolf” (increased stats when playing solo or with one companion).

Fighters of the Battlefield

Battlemage

This build is a hybrid of martial prowess and magical damage. Your primary attributes are Intelligence, Strength, and Constitution. Warfare provides access to powerful physical attacks, while Pyrokinetic and Geomancer offer area-of-effect fire and earth spells. Recommended Talents include Elemental Affinity, Hothead, and Opportunist.

The Battlemage focuses on engaging in close-quarters combat while utilizing elemental spells to control the battlefield. You’ll use your spells to set up advantageous conditions, creating fire surfaces for massive damage or creating earth surfaces to hinder enemies.

• Early Game: Focus on Warfare and your chosen elemental skill. Start with spells that set surfaces.
• Mid Game: Expand into additional skills. Using skills such as “Phoenix Dive” to get into combat, and “Blinding Radiance” for utility.
• Late Game: Leverage high damage potential. Focus on critical strikes, buffs, and debuffs to maximize damage output.

Build Example Suggestion: Focus on Warfare and Pyrokinesis. Prioritize gear with high Intelligence, Strength, and Constitution.

Warrior

The classic melee powerhouse, relying on Strength and Warfare to crush enemies. Recommended talents include “Picture of Health” and “Opportunist”.

Warriors charge headfirst into battle, focusing on dealing massive physical damage and withstanding heavy blows. Their strength lies in their ability to lock down enemies and punish them with powerful strikes.

• Early Game: Focus on Warfare skills like “Battle Stomp” and “Whirlwind”.
• Mid Game: Use skills like “Deflective Barrier” for protection and “Battering Ram” to knock enemies down.
• Late Game: Optimize critical chance and damage output using Warfare abilities and gear.

Build Example Suggestion: Prioritize Strength and Constitution. Equip heavy armor and weapons.

Knight

Similar to the Warrior, the Knight focuses on dealing physical damage and protecting allies with high armor and defensive skills.

• Early Game: Focus on warfare and defensive skills.
• Mid Game: Prioritize movement skills to close the distance with enemies.
• Late Game: Utilize supportive abilities, such as “Guardian Angel.”

Masters of Magic

Wizard

The Wizard excels in the arcane arts. Focus on Intelligence and various magic skills.

Wizards can unleash devastating spells from a safe distance. Their damage is often focused around an element, whether it be fire, ice, earth, or lightning.

• Early Game: Invest in the basics, like “Shocking Touch” and “Hail Strike”.
• Mid Game: Specialize in a single element to increase damage with skills like “Meteor Shower” and “Chain Lightning.”
• Late Game: Become a master of crowd control, utilizing spells for debuffing, buffing, and surface creation.

Build Example Suggestion: High Intelligence, with a focus on either Pyrokinetic, Hydroshophist, or Aerothurge.

Cleric

These characters provide healing and support while also wielding offensive magic.

Clerics provide essential healing and support while also dealing moderate magical damage.

• Early Game: Focus on Hydrosophist skills such as “Healing Ritual” and “Armor of Frost”.
• Mid Game: Utilize offensive abilities, like “Thunderstorm” and “Holy Lance”.
• Late Game: Master support and offensive spells.

The Artful Dodgers and Shadows of the Night

Ranger

These characters are ranged damage dealers, excelling in dealing consistent damage from a distance.

Rangers rain arrows upon their foes. They prioritize positioning, mobility, and critical hits.

• Early Game: Utilize “Shattered Arrow” and “Pin Down” to control the battlefield.
• Mid Game: Increase your attack range, damage, and positioning abilities.
• Late Game: Exploit high ground and critical hits to maximize damage output.

Rogue

These characters rely on stealth, agility, and backstabs to eliminate targets quickly.

Rogues focus on stealth and dealing massive damage through critical strikes and advantageous positioning. They prioritize backstabs and using their agility to avoid damage.

• Early Game: Focus on stealth and skills like “Backlash” and “Raining Arrows.”
• Mid Game: Increase critical chance, damage, and skills like “Chloroform” for enemy control.
• Late Game: Maximize critical hit potential and exploit vulnerabilities to defeat tough enemies.

Hybrid Characters

Wayfarer

The Wayfarer is an excellent choice for a beginner. This class is based on utility, providing the ability to utilize the Huntsman skill tree for ranged damage, while also providing a wide variety of spells.

• Early Game: Provides ranged damage and utility with “Elemental Arrowheads” to create elemental surfaces on the battlefield.
• Mid Game: Focuses on using utility from the Geomancer skill tree, like “Fortify”.
• Late Game: Gains strong survivability with armor, healing, and defensive abilities.

Composing Your Symphony of Destruction: Party Composition

The classes you choose are not the only factor in your success. DOS2 shines because of the synergies possible with your party.

• **Damage Dealer Composition:** This composition focuses on maximizing damage output. You can use a Battlemage and a Warrior to deal melee damage, while a Ranger and a Wizard cover ranged damage.
• **Control Composition:** This composition focuses on controlling enemies. Utilizing skills from Geomancer, Aerotheurge, and Hydrosophist to apply debuffs, stun enemies, and manipulate the battlefield.
• **Balanced Composition:** A mix of damage, support, and control is usually the best way to play. This allows for tactical versatility and adaptability.

Understanding the Race-Class Dance

Your chosen race can enhance your effectiveness with certain classes:

• **Humans** Receive a bonus to their Attributes, making them suitable for any class.
• **Elves** Gain a bonus to Finesse and have access to “Flesh Sacrifice,” which can be a great combo with Pyrokinetic and Geomancer classes.
• **Dwarves** Receive a bonus to Strength and have access to “Sturdy,” which can make them better at being Knights.
• **Lizards** Gain a bonus to Strength and Intelligence, allowing them to excel in the Battlemage class.
• **Undead** Can use “Adrenaline”, which is a great ability for Rogue characters.

Crafting Your Identity: Customization and Experimentation

Don’t be afraid to stray from the path and experiment. DOS2 encourages this.

• **Respec and Optimization:** DOS2 allows you to respec your characters. It’s a crucial mechanic that lets you change your build later in the game, whether you’ve made a mistake or discovered new tactics.
• **Skill Synergies:** Experiment with skills from different schools to see how they interact. Combining Pyrokinetic with Hydrosophist can lead to powerful effects.
• **Embrace the Flaws:** Not every build is perfect. Understanding the weaknesses of your class and tailoring your tactics to counter those weaknesses is essential for success.

*Divinity: Original Sin 2 classes* are not just about selecting a pre-defined character role; it’s about crafting a unique experience tailored to your playstyle. Embrace the freedom of customization, experiment with different builds, and most importantly, have fun exploring the rich world of Rivellon.

If you are struggling to succeed, plan your builds in advance. Make notes on the skills you will be learning and the talents you’ll want. Consider how your party will work together. By embracing these tips, you’ll be well-equipped to master the nuances of character building and conquer the trials of DOS2. So, prepare your weapons, sharpen your spells, and dive into the epic adventure that awaits!