Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a game full of choices—where to go, who to talk to, what to say, and even whether or not to ransack a house after dealing with its owner. But before getting into the true depth of the game, you’ll face one of the most crucial decisions: what class to play.

Much like its predecessor, Divinity: Original Sin 2 allows you to choose a pre-made character or fully customizeone. While you can reshape your character later and even completely rebuild it at a certain point, the choices you make at the start still matter, especially since Divinity is a difficult game from the get-go. Opting for a default class and modifying it as you go can be a safer choice than trying to create a perfect build from scratch.

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Default Classes & Skill Customization

Let’s examine each of the default classes and explore possible skill substitutions to optimize your build.

Battle Mage

A mix of melee combat and elemental magic, Battle Mages thrive on versatility but do not excel in any one area.

• Default skills:
  • Battering Ram (mobility + damage)
  • Blinding Radiance (AoE magic damage)
  • Shocking Touch (short-range electric attack)
• Recommended substitution: Swap Shocking Touch for Electric Discharge (ranged) or Bouncing Shield for some distance-based damage.

Cleric

A support-oriented warrior, the Cleric blends healing magic with close-range combat.

• Default skills:
  • Restoration (healing spell)
  • Necromancer abilities (life-stealing attacks)
• Recommended substitution: Stick with the default skills, as Clerics are highly effective as is.

Conjurer

The summoning expert, focused on calling forth creatures to aid in battle.

• Default skills:
  • Summon Incarnate (primary summon)
  • Dimensional Bolt (random magic damage)
  • Totem Summon (deploys elemental totems)
• Recommended substitution: Avoid swapping skills. The only alternative is Farsight Infusion, which provides Magic Armor and a ranged attack but is not worth sacrificing offensive power early on.

Wizard

A traditional high-damage spellcaster focusing on Pyrokinetic and Geomancer magic.

• Default skills:
  • Fossil Strike (oil surface creation)
  • Ignition (fire AoE attack)
  • Fireball (massive fire damage)
• Recommended substitution: Swap Fossil Strike for Contamination (poison surface) if you want more flexibility with elemental combinations.

Enchanter

A magic user specializing in battlefield control and enemy debuffs.

• Default skills:
  • Rain (creates wet surfaces, extinguishes fire)
  • Hail Strike (cold damage + freeze potential)
  • Electric Discharge (shock damage)
• Recommended substitution: No changes needed—this class synergizes well with elemental interactions.

Fighter

A frontline warrior with a focus on high defense and physical armor restoration.

• Default skills:
  • Bouncing Shield (damage scales with shield armor)
  • Fortify (grants physical armor)
  • Battle Stomp (crowd control)
• Recommended substitution: Stick with Warfare + Geomancer and avoid Retribution early on.

Inquisitor

A mix of melee combat and necromantic magic, offering self-sustain through life-stealing abilities.

• Default skills:
  • Mosquito Swarm (ranged life drain)
  • Battering Ram (gap closer)
  • Crippling Blow (strong melee attack)
• Recommended substitution: No changes needed—Inquisitors are balanced as is.

Knight

A more offensive version of the Fighter, focused on heavy-hitting melee attacks.

• Default skills:
  • Battering Ram
  • Crippling Blow
• Recommended substitution: Avoid using a shield since Knights start with a two-handed weapon.

Metamorph

A shape-shifting warrior that is fun but challenging for beginners.

• Default skills:
  • Chicken Claw (turns an enemy into a chicken)
  • Chameleon Cloak (invisibility)
• Recommended substitution: Stick with default skills, but use Chicken Claw wisely due to its long cooldown.

Ranger

A ranged specialist combining physical and elemental damage.

• Default skills:
  • Huntsman abilities (increased damage from high ground)
  • Craftable elemental arrows
• Recommended substitution: Swap a Huntsman skill for First Aid if you need extra healing.

Wayfarer

A hybrid ranged fighter with some magic abilities.

• Default skills:
  • Fossil Strike (oil surface creation)
  • Elemental Arrowheads (arrow damage boost)
  • Pin Down (enemy movement restriction)
• Recommended substitution: Swap Pin Down for First Aid for added healing utility.

Rogue

A stealth-focused, high-mobility class.

• Default skills:
  • Adrenaline (gain extra AP for the current turn)
  • Cloak and Dagger (teleportation)
• Recommended substitution: Keep the default setup.

Shadowblade

A hybrid between Rogue and magic, with stealth-based spellcasting.

• Default skills:
  • Chameleon Cloak (invisibility)
  • Backstabbing abilities
• Recommended substitution: Stick with default skills.

Witch

A short-range spellcaster specializing in life drain and explosions.

• Default skills:
  • Bloated Corpse (revives a dead body to explode it)
• Recommended substitution: Requires careful positioning for effectiveness.

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Final Thoughts

Your class choice is just the starting point. Over time, your character will evolve into a unique build. Consider party composition when selecting classes, as you cannot change companion skills.

Now that you’ve crafted your perfect build, check out our Fort Joy starter guide for early-game survival tips.

As always, thanks for reading and happy adventuring!