Diving into Dragon’s Dogma 2 can feel overwhelming, but with the right knowledge, you’ll set yourself up for a smooth and enjoyable adventure. After extensively playing and mastering the game, we’ve compiled a set of critical tips and explanations of game mechanics that will help beginners navigate the world with confidence. This guide covers vocations, combat basics, pawn management, exploration strategies, and more to ensure you get the most out of your first playthrough.

Understanding Vocations: Choosing the Right Path

Your first major decision in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is selecting a vocation, the game’s version of classes. There are four starting vocations:

• Fighter – Wields a sword and shield, excelling in both offense and defense.
• Mage – Casts elemental spells, heals, and provides buffs.
• Archer – Uses bows for long-range precision attacks.
• Thief – A dual-dagger wielder specializing in agility and enemy climbing.

You can change your vocation anytime at a Vocation Guild, marked on the map, allowing for flexibility in playstyle. As you progress, Advanced and Hybrid vocations unlock, providing additional combat strategies. However, starter vocations remain viable throughout the game, offering powerful builds with the right upgrades.

Recommendation for Beginners: Start as a Fighter—the shield offers blocking and parrying, which makes combat more forgiving while you learn the game’s mechanics.

Combat Basics and Key Controls

Combat in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is action-based, and understanding your moves is key:

• Light Attack (Square/X) – Standard attack combo.
• Heavy Attack (Triangle/Y) – A vocation-specific strong attack.
• Block (R1/RB) – Available for Fighters to negate damage.
• Dodge (R1/RB) – Thieves and some hybrid vocations can dash to evade.
• Manual Aim (R1/RB) – Used by Archers for precision shots.
• Climb (R2/RT) – Allows you to grab onto large enemies for targeted attacks.
• Weapon Skills (Hold L1/LB + Button) – Vocations have four skill slots for powerful abilities.
• Sheathe Weapon (L2/LT) – Draw or holster your weapon.
• Stamina Management – Running, climbing, and skill usage drains stamina. If it depletes, your character is left vulnerable for several seconds.

Essential Early-Game Quests for a Head Start

Early in the game, complete two simple side quests at Border Watch Outpost:

1. Rescue a Soldier Fighting Harpies – Helps you practice combat.
2. Gather Materials for a Soldier – Teaches item collection and rewards gold.

These quests provide a good chunk of starting gold, which can be used to buy your first armor set—hugely beneficial for survival.

Pawn System: Your AI Companions

Pawns act as AI-controlled allies that fight alongside you. Your party can have up to three pawns:

1. Main Pawn – Fully customizable, including appearance, behavior, and vocation.
2. Two Additional Pawns – Hired from the world or Riftstones.

Optimizing Your Pawn Party

• Balance vocations – If you’re a Fighter, recruit a Mage for healing.
• Use Riftstones – Search for specific pawn levels and specializations.
• Manage Pawn Specializations – These grant passive bonuses like inventory management and highlighting rare items.
• Control Your Pawns – Use D-pad commands:
  • Up: Instruct pawns to spread out, engage, or open chests.
  • Down: Keep pawns close for safety.
  • Left: Request healing or assistance.
  • Right: Command pawns to stay in place.

Hiring high-level pawns costs Rift Crystals (RC), which can be earned through various in-game activities.

Health, Camping, and Crafting

Dragon’s Dogma 2 features a gradual health loss system where damage permanently reduces max HP until you rest or camp.

• Green Bar – Current health.
• Grey Bar – Lost max health; only recoverable by resting.
• Camping – Restores health and allows you to cook food for buffs.
• Beware of Night Raids – Campsites can be attacked, requiring defense.

Crafting and combining items are also important. Rotten food can be converted into lantern oil, and ingredients can be mixed to create powerful healing items.

Exploration and Hidden Loot

• Merchants Offer Unique Items – Look for rings that increase carry weight and combat stats.
• Avoid Water – Falling in means instant death due to The Brine.
• Mark Seeker Token Locations – These collectibles can be exchanged for rewards.
• Golden Trove Beetles – Increase carry weight permanently; found glowing on trees.

Fast Travel and Efficient Navigation

Fast travel in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is limited, requiring strategic use:

1. Ox Carts – A slow but cheap travel option; they can be attacked.
2. Ferrystones & Portcrystals – Allows instant teleportation but requires consumable items.

Early Game Tip: Completing The Trial of Archery quest grants a Portcrystal, allowing you to set a custom fast travel point.

Gear Enhancement and Inventory Management

• Upgrade Weapons & Armor – Use monster materials and gold to improve gear.
• Distribute Weight – Share heavy items among party members to avoid encumbrance.
• Use Item Storage – Inns and rest spots allow you to offload excess gear.
• Forging Items – A vendor in Checkpoint Town can duplicate quest items, allowing manipulation of certain outcomes.

Final Tips and Tricks

• Wake Stones Are Valuable – Revives you or NPCs; hire pawns with Wake Stone Shard quests to stockpile them.
• Learn Enemy Weaknesses – Griffins are weak to fire; exploiting these can turn the tide of battle.
• Elemental Damage Matters – Fire, ice, lightning, and holy spells all have different effects on creatures.
• Affinity System – Giving NPCs gifts increases their liking towards you, unlocking new interactions.
• Hire Quest-Knowledgeable Pawns – They provide hints and guide you to objectives.
• Time-Sensitive Quests Exist – If a quest has a timed icon, prioritize it before it disappears.
• Combine Rotten Food for Utility – Instead of discarding, use it to create useful items like lantern oil.

Conclusion

By mastering these mechanics early on, you’ll have a much smoother and more rewarding journey through Dragon’s Dogma 2. Balance your pawn party, manage your inventory wisely, use strategic fast travel, and always keep an eye out for hidden loot and quest opportunities. Whether you’re a first-time player or looking to optimize your experience, following these tips will set you up for success in the world of Dragon’s Dogma 2.