Dragons Dogma Vocations: A Comprehensive Guide to Classes, Skills, and Builds

Introduction

Dragon’s Dogma, a captivating action RPG, has etched its mark on the gaming landscape with its unique gameplay mechanics, compelling story, and, most notably, its innovative vocation system. This system transcends the typical class-based structure, offering players an extensive range of character customization options and tactical depth. The vocations define your character’s role in combat, influencing their skills, abilities, and even their preferred weaponry. This comprehensive guide will delve into the intricate world of Dragons Dogma vocations, providing an in-depth look at each class, essential skills, and build recommendations to assist both newcomers and seasoned Arisen on their quest to defeat the dragon.

The Foundation: Your Core Classes

Before embarking on a grand adventure, every Arisen must choose a starting vocation. These foundational classes set the stage for your journey, providing a solid base upon which to build your character’s power. Each offers a distinct playstyle, ensuring a variety of approaches to combat.

The Stalwart Defender: Fighter

The Fighter stands as the quintessential frontline warrior, a bulwark of defense and a provider of robust melee damage. This vocation excels at absorbing enemy attacks and drawing aggro, allowing the more vulnerable classes to operate freely. A Fighter’s proficiency lies primarily with swords, maces, and shields. The use of a shield is critical; it allows Fighters to effectively deflect blows, parry attacks, and create openings for counter-offensives.

Key skills and abilities for the Fighter revolve around close-quarters combat and defensive maneuvers. Consider skills such as “Dragon’s Maw,” a devastating upward slash that launches enemies, and “Shield Storm,” a whirlwind attack that unleashes a barrage of strikes from their shield. The “Perfect Block” ability also allows Fighters to perform a well-timed parry, completely negating enemy attacks.

The Fighter’s strengths are evident in its resilience, stamina, and ability to withstand heavy damage. The weaknesses include a lack of range and dependence on close-quarters engagements. A well-built Fighter, however, can serve as an indispensable asset to any party.

For build recommendations, you could consider a “Tank” focus, prioritizing skills and gear that increase defense and health. Alternatively, a “Damage” build concentrates on attacks and power to deliver potent strikes.

The Nimble Acrobat: Strider

The Strider is the agile class, characterized by a focus on speed, maneuverability, and a versatile toolkit. They represent an adaptable choice that caters to both close-range engagements and ranged attacks, with the strategic use of daggers and short bows. Striders are known for their incredible climbing prowess, allowing them to scale monstrous foes and deliver attacks from the highest vantage points.

This vocation’s arsenal features an extensive array of unique skills. The “Hundred Kisses” skill allows a Strider to unleash a flurry of dagger strikes at a single target, and the “Skull Splitter” lets the Arisen propel themselves with a powerful leap to attack. The “Cloudburst Volley” skill is a signature ranged attack that allows a Strider to unleash an array of arrows that create a zone of effect.

The Strider excels in exploiting enemy weaknesses, quickly closing the distance to dispatch threats, or strategically withdrawing to re-position. Their weaknesses can include a degree of vulnerability to powerful attacks if not timed correctly.

Builds for Striders allow for an adaptive approach, including a “Climbing” build that focuses on skills that enhance climbing speed and damage dealt while scaling enemies. A “Damage” build enhances dagger attacks and archery, while a “Hybrid” approach balances these specializations.

The Wielder of Magic: Mage

The Mage offers players a path into the mystical arts, specializing in healing, support, and elemental damage. This vocation utilizes staves, enabling them to channel powerful spells that can turn the tide of battle. Mages provide crucial support in any party, ensuring allies are well-protected.

The Mage boasts a wide array of skills, including healing spells such as “High Halidom,” which restores a large amount of health, and “High Levin,” a lightning-based attack that inflicts significant damage. Supportive skills such as “High Anodyne” heal multiple allies, and the “Holy Boon” buff increases the effectiveness of holy based attacks.

Mages demonstrate their strengths in their supportive and healing capabilities. The weaknesses involve a vulnerability to physical attacks. Mages must remain strategic in their positioning.

Builds for the Mage class may focus on “Healing,” bolstering restorative spells and support capabilities. Alternatively, an “Offensive” build enhances damage output through elemental attacks.

The Ascent: Unlocking Advanced Classes

As you progress in your journey and acquire experience, the world of Dragons Dogma vocations expands beyond the initial choices. Each of the advanced classes provides new combat options and skillsets.

The Colossus of War: Warrior

The Warrior is the epitome of raw power, wielding colossal weapons to deliver devastating blows. They are masters of brute force, able to unleash earth-shattering attacks and withstand tremendous punishment. Their proficiency lies in greatswords and hammers, which they use to cleave through enemies.

To unlock this vocation, you must reach a certain vocation rank with other classes. The Warrior’s skills prioritize heavy damage, incorporating attacks such as “Arc of Might,” a powerful horizontal swing, and “Indomitable Lunge,” a charging attack that can stagger enemies.

The Warrior is strong, boasting impressive power and armor. Their weaknesses lie in their slower attack speeds and limited mobility.

The recommended build favors pure damage output; gear and skills further augment attack power and attack speed.

The Marksman: Ranger

The Ranger embodies ranged combat, skilled with longbows and daggers. They excel at taking down foes from afar, utilizing superior mobility and precision. Their range allows Rangers to pick off enemies before they can reach the party.

Rangers unlock through the player reaching a specific vocation rank with a specific starting vocation. They utilize skills such as “Tenfold Flurry,” which unleashes a volley of arrows on multiple targets. Rangers make frequent use of skills like “Instant Reset,” which resets position allowing for quick movement.

Rangers stand out as long-range specialists with a high degree of mobility. The weaknesses involve a vulnerability to close combat if they are not strategically repositioning.

Builds cater to a variety of playstyles, including a “Damage-Focused” build for maximizing arrow power and attack speed.

The Master of Elements: Sorcerer

The Sorcerer is a force to be reckoned with, commanding powerful spells to deal massive damage and control the battlefield. They are masters of elemental magic, specializing in area-of-effect attacks. They use staves to channel their immense magical prowess.

To unlock the Sorcerer, you must reach a certain vocation rank with another class. They boast skills such as “Bolide,” a powerful meteor strike, and “Miasma,” which inflicts a toxic cloud.

The Sorcerer’s strengths are their destructive capabilities, but they are typically less agile.

Recommended builds lean toward a “Damage” focus, bolstering the power of their spells.

The Hybrid Warrior: Mystic Knight

The Mystic Knight is the hybrid vocation blending melee combat and magical attacks. They are a versatile class, utilizing magic swords and staves to deal physical damage. They are often capable of supporting and defending their allies.

This vocation requires a specific vocation rank with one of the initial classes to unlock. The Mystic Knight employs skills such as “Magick Cannon,” which launches a magical orb that damages enemies. “Perilous Sigil” empowers the party with magical defense.

The strengths are in their versatility, but weaknesses can include a need to carefully balance magical and physical skills.

A recommended build may involve a “Hybrid” approach or a build that focuses on “Support” to bolster allies.

The Shadowed Blades: Assassin

The Assassin embodies stealth and burst damage, capable of dispatching enemies quickly and efficiently. They utilize a combination of swords, daggers, and bows.

To unlock the Assassin, certain vocation ranks must be reached. They include skills such as “Hundred Kisses” and “Instant Kill,” which can be used to deal a single massive strike.

The Assassin is agile, and is effective at striking first. Their weaknesses are their need for precision and stealth.

The recommended build will have “Stealth” techniques to deal massive damage.

The Arcane Archer: Magick Archer

The Magick Archer uses magical bows to deal damage and support allies. The Magick Archer can also deal damage and restore health.

To unlock the Magick Archer, you must obtain the necessary requirements from other classes. They utilize skills like “Ricochet Hunter”, which bounces arrows off of targets, and “Healing Arrow”, which will heal allies.

The Magick Archer is skilled at range, with support capabilities. Weaknesses can include a limited attack range.

The build includes a “Hybrid” build or builds to provide extra support.

The Hybrid: Vocations of Dark Arisen

Within the world of Dragons Dogma vocations, some classes combine different playstyles. These classes are available in Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen.

The Master of War: Warfarer

The Warfarer can change between vocations as they wish, allowing them to customize their loadout. They are capable of dealing significant damage in melee combat.

The Walking Road: Wayfarer

The Wayfarer is the second hybrid class in Dark Arisen, capable of balancing melee and range. The Wayfarer focuses on support capabilities.

The Systems Within the System: Vocation Progression

The depth of the Dragons Dogma vocations system is further expanded by elements such as character progression and customization.

Experience is earned through combat and completing quests, and as you level up, you gain access to new skills. The game’s skill acquisition is based on a system that allows you to unlock skills.

Discipline points are another essential component. These points are used to unlock skills, and they’re earned by completing various actions, from defeating enemies to exploring the world.

Weapon and equipment upgrades also play a pivotal role in optimizing your vocation. As you progress, you can upgrade your gear.

Pawns, AI-controlled companions, further enrich the vocation system. Pawns have their own vocations, and their effectiveness in combat depends on their skills and equipment. You can tailor your pawn’s vocation to suit your playstyle.

Vocation Rank is an important aspect of progression. The more you play, the higher your vocation rank will be. Reaching higher ranks unlocks skills.

Strategic Choices: Building your Character

Choosing the right vocation is pivotal. The choice must align with your playstyle. Some players appreciate the simplicity of the Fighter, while others prefer the versatility of the Strider. Experimentation is key, as you may find that a class you initially overlook becomes a favorite.

Skill combinations and synergies are also crucial. A Mage and Fighter working together can deal with crowds.

Character race can influence your vocation choices. For instance, the increased strength of a human may be well-suited to the Warrior.

Conclusion

The Dragons Dogma vocations system is one of the game’s most compelling features. By exploring the various vocations and builds, you will discover an experience that has replayability. Embrace the adventure and forge your own unique path within the world of Gransys.