Divinity: Original Sin 2 is an expansive game filled with limitless possibilities, but it also comes with quirks that aren’t immediately apparent. If you’re new to the game or just looking to optimize your playthrough, here are some essential tips I wish I had known when starting out.

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Essential Gameplay Tips

Healing & Resting: No More Tedious Healing Rituals

In the first game, you had to manually heal after every battle using Restoration spells or consuming food. This was a time-consuming process due to cooldowns and the low healing values of food. In Divinity: Original Sin 2, you can simply use a Bedroll to instantly restore your party’s health and receive a useful buff—without consuming the item. Make sure each party member has one!

Item & Inventory Management

• Highlight Items: Press Alt to highlight all nearby items that can be picked up. If an item is red, picking it up is considered stealing.
• Enemy Sight Cones: Press Shift to view enemy sight cones (even without sneaking). Dark red areas indicate where an NPC is currently looking, while light red shows their peripheral vision.
• Sort Your Inventory: Use the sort button in the top-right of the inventory screen to organize items by weight, value, or other attributes.
• Backpacks for Organization: Store crafting materials, scrolls, or arrows in separate backpacks to keep your inventory clean. You can even place backpacks in your hotbar for quick access.

Waypoint Teleportation: A Game-Changer

There’s a blue anchor button next to the minimap that allows you to teleport to any previously discovered Waypoint Shrine. You can do this anytime—even in combat! If a fight goes south and at least one party member survives, teleport them to safety and resurrect the others away from danger.

Skill Bar Management

If you like keeping an organized skill bar but find that grenades, scrolls, and arrows clutter it up, here’s a trick: Set up an alternate skill bar and switch to it while picking up items—new items will default to the first bar, keeping your primary layout intact.

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Unlocking & Stealing: Maximizing Resources

• Undead Characters Have Infinite Lockpicks: If you have an Undead in your party, they should be your designated lockpicker since they don’t need to carry lockpicks.
• Healing Damages Undead: If you’re playing an Undead, Healing spells will hurt you, so use Poison to heal instead. Likewise, casting a healing spell on enemy Undead will deal massive damage.
• Thievery Tips: Stealing is extremely useful early on when gold is scarce. Use one character to distract the trader, then have another character with Thievery steal items. Keep in mind:
  • Each character can steal from an NPC only once.
  • Thievery level determines how much weight and gold you can steal.
  • Use gear that boosts Thievery to maximize efficiency.

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Crafting & Item Combinations

Crafting is an underrated but valuable tool. Here are some key item combinations:

• Nails + Repair Hammer → Creates 4 Lockpicks without breaking the hammer.
• Nails + Boots → Grants Immunity to Slipping on ice.
• Poison Barrel + Empty Potion Bottle → Creates Poison Potion (useful for Undead healing).
• Weapon + Poison Barrel → Adds Poison Damage to attacks.
• Arrowhead + Elemental Source → Creates Elemental Arrows (Fire, Water, Poison, etc.).
• Oil Arrowhead + Fire Arrowhead → Creates Explosive Arrowhead.

Using Barrels & Chests in Combat

• Heavy Chests as Weapons: Stack heavy items inside a chest to increase its weight, then use Telekinesis or Teleportation to drop it on enemies for massive damage.
• Barrels as a Combat Resource: Keep different barrels (poison, fire, oil, etc.) stored at a Waypoint. Bring them into combat when needed and use them strategically.

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Runes & Equipment Management

Runes provide useful bonuses but can be removed and reused at any time—so don’t hoard them for better gear later. Use them as soon as possible to gain their benefits.

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Sneaky Tricks & Exploration

• Teleportation Skill: Teleport isn’t just for combat—it allows you to reach otherwise inaccessible locations and loot high-up chests.
• Gloves of Teleportation: You can acquire the Gloves of Teleportation early on by completing a quest for Gawin.
• Migo’s Ring: This early-game ring grants Restoration, even if you lack points in Hydrosophist. To get it, give Migo the Yarrow Flower instead of fighting him.

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Respec & Character Adjustments

If you mess up your build, don’t worry. After Act 1, you can respec your character for free as many times as you want. This allows you to fine-tune your setup later.

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Five Quick Bonus Tips

1. Delay Your Turn: If you want enemies to move first, delay your turn to react more effectively.
2. Send Items Instantly: You can send items to any party member regardless of distance.
3. Summon Before Combat: Summon Incarnates and Totems before entering battle to avoid wasting AP.
4. Bulk Sell Items: Hold Shift + Click to quickly mark items for bulk selling.
5. Combine Potions: Two minor healing potions can be combined to create a medium healing potion.

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Final Thoughts

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a deep, rewarding experience filled with secrets and mechanics that aren’t always obvious. By mastering these advanced tips, you’ll gain an edge in combat, economy, and exploration. Hopefully, these insights help make your journey smoother and more enjoyable!

For more in-depth guides, stay tuned and happy adventuring!