Best Main Classes In Pillars Of Eternity 2

With the god Eothas having returned to the world of Eora and wreaking havoc, players of Pillars of Eternity 2 travel to Deadfire Archipelago to stop the wayward god and discover truths behind their past that could very well shatter perceptions about life itself. Taking inspiration from the likes of Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights, players of Pillars of Eternity 2 embark on their journey with a player-made character among the many Classes that represent vocations in the world of Eora, all representing various walks of life.

Contrary to other tactical RPGs, Classes in Pillars of Eternity 2 have a rather deep Class System, boasting not only Subclasses but even Multiclass opportunities, giving players quite a lot of ways to personalize their gameplay. However, for players who are just about to begin their journey in Eora, choosing their main Class is extremely vital to their experience. However, among the game’s main Classes, just which would be able to help players in their journey?

Updated November 5, 2023 by Rhenn Taguiam: With the recent update to Baldur’s Gate 3 giving players the option to change their character’s appearance mid-game, fans of D&D have yet another incentive to restart their experience and create powerful RPG builds. However, fans looking for a more nostalgic approach to the Baldur’s Gate title may want to try Pillars of Eternity 2, especially as its isometric gameplay is a love letter to earlier Baldur’s Gate titles of the same format.

And for fans who want to maximize their Pillars of Eternity 2 builds, it may help to go beyond mere Classes and explore what kinds of specializations each of them offer. After all, the right Subclass per Class may determine what kind of specific playstyle a gamer could enjoy in their playthrough. However, just which Subclasses do each of the game’s Classes offer?

11 Priest

Support From The Gods Make Them Combat-Averse

Devoted followers of deities in Pillars of Eternity 2, Priests rely on Prayers to bless their allies and punish their foes. While capable of doing combat themselves, Priests rely heaving on divine attacks and healing magic to do much of their work when dealing with encounters.

Despite being the ever-reliable healing class, the Priest in Pillars of Eternity 2 gameplay suffers from being rather underwhelming aside from their healing. In addition, their rather squishy nature and the mediocre spell list make the Priest an unideal Class to play, especially when the likes of Druids and Chanters have healing options anyway.

Priest Subclasses: The Gods Bless

Typical of Priests in other RPGs, the Priest of Pillars of Eternity 2 uses their connection with their deities to grant various benefits to themselves and allies. Each God worshipped is a different Subclass:

• Berath: Being the god of death, worshippers of Berath learn specific spells that deal with decay.
• Eothas: Worshippers of Eothas the god of redemption learn how to harness the power of light to fight the forces of evil.
• Magran: As fierce as Magran the goddess of war, her priests learn advanced fire-based Spells in her name.
• Skaen: Considered as the god of secret hatred, Skaen priests condemn their enemies to destruction through various debuffs.
• Wael: Traveling the realm of sleep with Wael the god of dreams, Wael priests tap into illusory spells that deceive foes.
• Woedica: Just as Woedica invokes judgment upon the world, Woedica’s devotees invoke different effects through her Writs.

10 Ranger

Soul-Bound Companions Make Rangers Effective Protectors, Attackers

Explorers and adventurers with a mastery over the hunt, Rangers are known to have soul-bonded with Animal Companions that accompany them in combat. This immediately gives players an edge in terms of numbers, as pets become scouts while their Rangers dish out finishing moves after they engage in combat.

Although the prospect of having a pet with the Ranger Class in any RPG is appealing, players who want to stick with the long haul in Pillars of Eternity 2 gameplay might find it difficult to see a consistent performance with this Class. At its core, the Bonded Grief immediately ties the Ranger with their companion, severely limiting the player’s performance if their pet falls in combat. This immediately makes Ghost Heart, which gives immunity to Bonded Grief, the ideal subclass - and even then, this transforms the Ranger into a mediocre one-trick wonder.

Ranger Subclasses: Aims Remain True

Considered protectors and hunters, Rangers specialize in various combat departments to better defend their territories. In Pillars of Eternity 2, they manifest in these Subclasses:

• Sharpshooter: Long-ranged specialists, Sharpshooters improve their damage and crits when using ranged weapons in exchange for fewer chances of Deflection.
• Ghost Heart: Rangers whose companions have died can return to them from the In-Between, transforming them into Ghost Hearts. Companions now need to be constantly summoned, and since they’re considered as Spirits, they can no longer be healed.
• Stalker: Working in tandem with their companions to stalk their prey, Stalkers and their pets gain more protection when near each other and suffer penalties when apart.
• Arcane Archer: Imbuing magic into their shots, Arcane Archers can apply various effects to their attacks while suffering less health and Accuracy penalties to physical attacks.

9 Druid

Beasts, Afflictions Let Nature’s Guardians Shift To Many Roles

Perhaps the very symbol of unity in nature, Druids in games like Diablo 2 and Pillars of Eternity 2 balance their capabilities of transforming into mythical juggernauts and dishing out afflictions that tear through enemy ranks. This balance allows Druids to juggle between AOE-based spells and single-target attacks, giving them a lot of room to diversify their combat opportunities.

While the Druid has a decent slate of spells to spice up Pillars of Eternity 2 gameplay, their atrocious casting time makes them an unfortunate Class pick for the unsuspecting player. By and large, their general toolkit that involves healing and other utilities can definitely make a difference in combat, but the slow casting and their interruptible nature make Druids next to useless versus their counterparts in the Chanter and especially the Wizard.

Druid Subclasses: Nature’s Protectors

Defenders of nature, Druids use their connection with the very land itself to manifest their various abilities. Depending on their powers used, the Druid can transform into these various Subclasses:

• Fury: Choosing to transform into a storm blight instead of animals, Furies get a boost in their Elemental Spells at the cost of being unable to cast Rejuvenation Spells.
• Lifegiver: Heavily focused on healing allies, Lifegivers cast more powerful Rejuvenation Spells but can no longer summon creatures.
• Shifter: Specializing in their animal forms, Shifters last longer in their animal forms in exchange for being unable to cast spells when transformed.
• Animist: Gathering their powers from the collective of nature’s offerings, Animists get more specialized abilities.
• Ancient: Using primal magic from bygone times, Ancients cast more powerful Beast and Plant Spells at the cost of reduced defenses and increased damage received from certain sources.

8 Paladin

Holy Warriors Protect The Pack Through Heals, Tanking

Ever devoted to a deity of their choosing, Paladins command respect and admiration from those around them due to their almost-zealous nature in addition to their tapping of holy power. Their targeted commands allow Paladins to help their teammates quickly, and their inspiring spells allow them to buff allies in trouble.

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By  Sid Natividad

Despite touting their connection with the holy, the Paladin in RPGs like Diablo and Pillars of Eternity 2 gameplay doesn’t have a lot to boast about except for their tank-leaning passives and survivability-aiding Flames of Devotion. However, their other skills don’t make the Paladin as much of a sought-after Class, primarily due to how they don’t necessarily add much to combat aside from their extra set of attacks that don’t make much of a difference in the DPS department.

Paladin Subclasses: Devotion Manifests Differently

While all Paladins are devoted to their cause, these holy warriors manifest these causes in different ways. Depending on the Paladin’s preference, they may specialize in the following Subclasses:

• Bleak Walkers: Brutal and merciless, Bleak Walkers access Flames of Devotion that deal Black Flames, dealing Corrode damage and decreasing the effects of healing to foes.
• Darcozzi Paladini: Ambassadors of an ancient culture, Darcozzi Paladini can access Lay of Hands, an ability that grants a Flame Shield to a target.
• Goldpact Knight: Mercenaries who follow contracts to the letter, Goldpact Knights get improved armor as well as assigning Sworn Enemies to get blessings of gold when hit.
• Kind Wayfarer: Errand-knights who help others, Kind Wayfarers can heal other allies with White Flames.
• Shieldbearers of St. Elcga: Diplomats by training, Shieldbearers of St. Elcga have Lay of Hands that can prevent an ally’s death for a short while.
• Steel Garrote: Hunting contract violators, the Steel Garrote gets healing from targets affected by certain abilities.

7 Fighter

Adaptability Allows Fighters To Protect Allies, Attack Targets At A Moment’s Notice

The stalwart Fighter is trained to stick to the frontlines and adapt to the fiercest of combat situations with their teachings and traditional techniques. Their organization and martial structure give Fighters a more fluid approach in combat, with their leaning towards simplicity making them decent multiclass options to boost another Class’s damage output.

Similar to how the Fighter in Dungeons & Dragons is perhaps the best Class to pick for beginners, the Fighter in Pillars of Eternity 2 falls squarely on the neutral side of performance. While it can pull off decent damage and decent survivability, the Fighter doesn’t do anything exceptionally well that makes it a worthwhile pick. Newcomers who want generally safe choices for their Class and multiclass should consider the Fighter.

Fighter Subclasses: A Weapon For Every Situation

Specializing in all forms of combat, Fighters can accommodate almost any threat into their training regimen. Fighters can adjust their tactics and strategies in combat, especially based on what their Subclass offers:

• Black Jacket: Skilled in using different weapons, Black Jackets can access more armaments in exchange for less efficient Recovery.
• Devoted: Masters of a single weapon, the Devoted get increased damage and crits with their chosen armament in exchange for losing Accuracy for non-proficient weapons and being unable to learn new Proficiencies upon level up.
• Unbroken: Immovable juggernauts, the Unbroken get more armor using the Shield and innate defenses while moving much slower compared to others.
• Tacticians: Capable of changing their strategies on the fly, Tacticians gain benefits when interrupting enemy actions but reduce damage dealt when attacking enemies not threatened by allies.

6 Barbarian

Rage Protects Allies, Destroys Multiple Foes

Compared to the more trained Fighter, it’s the Barbarian who immediately demonstrates a wild and unconventional approach to combat. Their recklessness and ferocity make them fierce warriors, trading defense and healing for pure offense. Their possession of Carnage lets them deal more AOE damage on the fly, especially when this gets triggered through multiple attacks.

The Barbarian in games like Diablo Immortal and Pillars of Eternity 2 is perhaps the best option for a pure melee tanking Class for one’s gameplay. This is mostly due to its access to powerful passives, as well as its buffs majorly related to boosting Criticals and Attack Speed. However, despite its toolkit seemingly tailored for AOE melee, the Barbarian is actually lackluster in this area. Players are better off using the Barbarian for single-target DPS and only considering this multiclass for their Heart of Fury survivability buff.

Barbarian Subclasses: Rage In Different Shades

While all Barbarians tend to channel their anger, doing this in different ways allows them to tap into various abilities that set them apart from their brethren. Among the Subclasses of the Barbarian are:

• Berserker: Fully giving into their rage, the Berserker gets bonuses in their attacks and crits in exchange for constant damage on top of the risk of friendly fire.
• Corpse Eater: Ritual eating their enemies gives the Corpse Eater the opportunity to recover in combat in exchange for an increase in their skill costs.
• Mage Slayer: Trained to kill spellcasters, the Mage Slayer increases the chances of spells failing at the risk of not being able to use Scrolls and Potions.
• Fury Shaper: Able to manifest their raw emotions in a physical form, Fury Shapers cast Wards with different effects at the risk of penalties upon their destruction.

5 Cipher

Mind Masters Who Can Attack One Enemy Or Multiple Foes

Psions and telepaths are known for manipulating the very spiritual energies surrounding the world, and Ciphers are one of the most dynamic Classes in the game. Their mental abilities give them a ton of room to do unique things in combat, with their multiclass options further expanding their specializations. Ciphers are more than capable of focusing on their DPS, sneaking-based attacks, and even almost pure spellcasting.

Given its rather one-trick nature as a crowd control specialist, the Cipher often gets middling comments with regard to its potential for Pillars of Eternity 2 players. Its buffs and passives are decent enough to help the Cipher and their teammates outlast their foes, but the Cipher isn’t complete without completely abusing its crowd control toolkit. Players who want to pulverize enemies without giving them a chance to strike back would do great with a Cipher, but shouldn’t expect to do anything else unique with it.

Cipher Subclasses: Unlocking The Mind

Possessing sheer psionic potential, the Cipher is capable of transforming one’s mind into a powerful weapon. Depending on how they use their mental powers, they can manifest in different Subclasses:

• Ascendant: Possessing more devastating psychic abilities, Ascendants get a boost in their overall prowess but get penalized outside their Ascended form.
• Beguiler: Specialists in deceiving the enemy mind, Beguilers get a boost in Deception spells at the cost of reduced Soul Whip damage.
• Soul Blade: Channeling their mental energies to their Soul Whips, the Soul Blade deals more melee damage at the risk of reduced Focus.
• Psion: Prodigious psychics since childhood, Psions trade their Soul Whip with the long-ranged Telekinetic Burst alongside the Soul Mind Passive.

4 Rogue

Shadowy Warriors Attack Swiftly Before Enemies Notice

Known for their subterfuge and penchant for assassinations, Rogues are masters of stealth and hiding. While technically undisciplined, their “untrained” nature makes Rogues rather unpredictable, proving their worth in gameplay as perhaps having the potential of dealing the biggest single-target DPS numbers in the game.

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Often considered a stepping stone to the Monk, the Rogue suffers from being a bit so-so in terms of overall combat performance. While they boast high single-target damage and decent potential of amping up DPS as a multiclass, the Rogue doesn’t hit as hard as a Monk could. However, a Rogue works well for Pillars of Eternity 2 newcomers who prefer trying a Monk but want something more straightforward - quite unlike Rogues in games like World of Warcraft where the Rogue remains a DPS powerhouse.

Rogue Subclasses: Different Ways To Kill

While all Rogues specialize in stealth and subterfuge, certain Rogues excel in using their environment in different ways. Depending on their specialization, Rogues can become one of these terrifying Subclasses:

• Assassin: Specializing in the art of swift kills, Assassins get more bonuses when attacking from Stealth in exchange for receiving more damage.
• Streetfighter: Preferring the thrill of fighting against all odds, Streetfighters get more damage from disadvantageous positions while they recover less when left alone.
• Trickster: Masters of misdirection, Tricksters can access the Wizard’s repertoire of Illusion spells in exchange for dealing less damage from Sneak Attacks.
• Debonaire: Charming as they are deadly, the Debonaire deals more damage against Charmed and afflicted foes at the cost of Engage.

3 Monk

Martial Artists Use Their Bodies To Defend Allies Or Strike True

Focusing on transforming their very bodies into weapons, Monks rely on a gameplay mechanic called Wounds to absorb a portion of damage dealt and cultivate them into powerful techniques that can manipulate the battlefield to their favor. Their reliance on sheer speed and mobility makes them one of the best melee combat Classes out there - an expected trope for Monks in games like Dungeons & Dragons and here in Pillars of Eternity 2. Their focus on Accuracy, Damage, and Penetration makes them more than capable of pulverizing most foes.

Despite being nerfed in later patches, the Monk is still the most ideal melee Class in any Pillars of Eternity 2 gameplay. Its mobile-oriented rotations make it an extremely deadly asset up close, with speedy attacks that catch enemies off-guard and the ability to kill the next foe without the previous one noticing. Although not as high on the damage department, multiclassing Monk into a Chanter or a Wizard can transform these two (2) Classes into demolishers, capable of withstanding almost any hit.

Monk Subclasses: The Body Is A Weapon

While all Monks are masters of their bodies, the way they use their physique as a weapon depends on their training and expertise. In that regard, Monk Subclasses include the following:

• Helwalker: Overcoming death is part of the Helwalker’s training, gaining more power as they get wounded at the cost of increasing the damage they take from foes.
• Nalpazca: Improving their performance through mind-altering substances, the Nalpazca enjoys more benefits from drugs but also receive Wounds when not consuming them over time.
• Shattered Pillar: The Shattered Pillar receive damage just as much as they deal them, though they can’t be Wounded from damage received.
• Forbidden Fist: Using prohibited techniques, the Forbidden Fist gains both Wounds and Health when Hostile effects end though they no longer gain Wounds when damaged.

2 Chanter

Wordsmiths That Use Phrases To Hurt Enemies, Inspire Allies

Known best for being keepers of folk wisdom and common knowledge, the Chanter is perhaps the game’s closest equivalent to the Bard Class in other games. Their specialization lies in unleashing passives in large AOE radii, making them ideal buffers and debuffers for teams. Not only that, their naturally low CDs make them excellent rotators, with their unique Chants allowing them to do almost anything they want in combat.

At its core, the Chanter is a jack-of-all-trades that can pull off almost any other role in its flexibility. While ideally a solo Class for Pillars of Eternity 2 playthroughs, the Chanter is just as efficient multiclassing into any other Class to fit into a more particular role. As it is, the Chanter’s skillset allows it to dish out nukes and mighty summons for heavy-duty DPS, while at the same time boasting passive healing that makes it a self-sustaining soloist.

Chanter Subclasses: Words Are Power

Capable of transforming words into powers that affect the very fabric of the universe, Chanters can channel their will through various invocations, each taking the form of a Subclass:

• Beckoner: Summoning spirits from the In-Between, Beckoners can conjure twice the (but weaker) summons of Invocations.
• Skald: Preferring to use their words alongside martial prowess, Skalds can cast Offensive Invocations at a lesser cost, though other Invocations cost more.
• Troubadours: Specializing in playing with their words, Troubadours can overlap the effects of their Invocations but cost more to cast.
• Bellower: Rambling while channeling fierce magic, Bellowers grant an overall boost in Power Level at the cost of more phrases and a reduced Chant radius.