Jumping into the expansive world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 can be a daunting task for newcomers. That's why our experts are sharing their top tips to ensure you hit the ground running.
Quick-start guide for Dragon’s Dogma 2 beginners:
Our editors, Sascha and Alex, are huge fans of Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma series, spending hundreds of hours exploring both entries. They’ve dug into their adventurer's kit to share invaluable tips so you don’t faceplant right at the beginning of your journey.
We’ve categorized tips into sections like "Pawn System," "Vocations," and "Combat." So, if you’re looking for information on a specific area, use the table of contents to navigate directly to the relevant section. Good luck in the virtual realms of Vermund and Battahl!
Capcom’s sequel doesn’t necessarily have a "best" starting class since any class disadvantages can be offset by choosing the "right" pawns. For instance, playing as a Mage with typically low defense means keeping a distance from enemies and letting Fighters and Thieves close in on the enemy.
However, for a sense of safety, the Fighter is recommended for its resilience and ability to deal substantial damage. Its unique ability to block attacks with a shield provides an extra layer of security. Alternatively, the Archer is great for those still finding their footing, capable of dealing significant damage from a distance without needing to engage enemies up close.
Right at the start of the game, you'll be asked if you want to enable the game's network features—and believe us: you do. This allows other players to recruit your main pawn, which might not initially appeal to you.
However, as your "right hand" travels with other Arisen, they'll gain valuable experience, enhancing both their combat skills and overall usefulness. Plus, it's quite fun, as your pawn will share tales of their adventures both in writing and speech.
In Dragon’s Dogma 2, you'll frequently encounter pawns offering their services both inside and outside the Rift (that's the name of the pawn dimension). However, you shouldn't necessarily recruit companions based solely on their level, as there are several factors to consider:
Official pawns are a special type of companion that comes with both advantages and disadvantages. For example, their equipment cannot be changed, they are excluded from daily events, and some "may only be available for a limited time," as Capcom has stated.
One reason to recruit official pawns might be that some are modeled after well-known streamers, including the likes of Maximilian, Suzi Hunter, Snuffy, Asmongold, Krysta, Woolie Versus, FightinCowboy, and SuperRad.
The idea of having, for example, two strong Fighters in your party is tempting, as they could potentially deal high damage in close combat. However, in practice, well-balanced groups prove to be more advantageous; ideally, your team should consist of a Fighter, a Thief, an Archer, and a Mage.
Missing a Mage, for instance, means relying on expensive healing potions, which, although easy to make, are not abundantly available in Dragon’s Dogma 2. An Archer is indispensable for causing status effects that can ease the battle, while the Thief plays the role of a damage dealer. Hence, no class is superfluous, so make use of them all.
The sequel to Dragon's Dogma places significant importance on resting or sleeping, for several reasons:
| Tip: In Dragon’s Dogma 2, you can create useful items from certain inventory objects. For instance, you can craft healing potions by combining any green herb with any fruit, like an apple. This way, you save a significant amount of money and are not left vulnerable if your group's healer is incapacitated. |
A Fighter's shield is akin to a life insurance policy, effectively blocking a significant portion of the damage usually taken. Since enemies deal considerable damage right from the start, you should always be ready to use your shield, adopting a defensive stance.
This stance allows you to move, enabling you to safely withdraw from precarious situations. If you're at the beginning of the game without any special combat abilities yet, it's wise to launch a combination of "Onslaught" followed by "Empale" from this defensive position.
The Onslaught momentarily stuns your opponent, making them vulnerable to the subsequent, more powerful Empale attack. This effect often gives you enough time to follow up with another heavy attack. Once you have access to special attacks, you can replace Onslaught with "Explosion" for even greater impact.
After successfully executing a combo, always retreat and resume your defensive stance to minimize the chance of enemy counterattacks. When facing large enemies, use the "Grab" button to climb them and head towards their head. Early in the game, at least, this is where giants take the most damage.
More combat tips are currently being prepared.
Even if it seems like you've already chosen a class during character creation, your decision isn't final until you select a vocation. In Dragon’s Dogma 2, there are ten vocations to choose from:
As you might deduce from their names, the vocations include both subclasses and hybrid classes. Unlocking the last six vocations requires meeting specific conditions.
Initially, however, onaly Klaus from the Vocation Guild in Vernworth plays a pivotal role, as he assigns you the quest "Vocation Frustration." Completing this quest unlocks the Warrior and Sorcerer vocations. The remaining vocations become available as you progress further in Dragon’s Dogma 2, with the Warfarer vocation unlocking only during the endgame.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 has been available since March 22, 2024, for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Pre-orders are already available, though they do not include any special treatment, such as early access to the game.
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