One of the most unique features in Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the ability to play as an Undead character. Unlike other races, the Undead must hide their faces from the living, as most NPCs will react with fear and hostility upon seeing their skeletal visage. But what if you ignored this advice entirely? Would the game become impossible to complete, or did the developers account for reckless players who refuse to conform? This guide explores whether it’s possible to beat the game as an unmasked Undead.

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The Opening Hours: Immediate Consequences

The game warns you twice to keep your face covered, but ignoring these messages leads to immediate violence. The tutorial quickly escalates when a Magister guard panics upon seeing your undead form. Although you start as an unarmed prisoner, strategic hit-and-run tactics allow you to grind down enemies.

• Undead racial perks: The racial skill Play Dead can be exploited to reset combat and reposition.
• Poison pools heal Undead, allowing a natural way to recover health outside of battle.
• Scripted ally recruits still side with you in fights, making some encounters easier.

After clearing the first battles, you’ll reach Fort Joy, where most NPCs will refuse to speak with you. However, certain blind characters, such as the elf Saheila, won’t react to your appearance, providing rare opportunities for quest progression.

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Questing as an Unmasked Undead: Limitations & Workarounds

Since many NPCs immediately turn hostile, progression can be challenging. However, creative tactics allow you to bypass most obstacles:

• Combat XP Farming: Completing quests conventionally is difficult, so leveling up through combat becomes essential.
• Death Fog Barrels: Found early in the game, these barrels instantly kill the living but are harmless to the Undead. Carrying them around provides an instant-win strategy for tougher fights.
• Trading with Hostile NPCs: Some NPCs will threaten to kill you but still allow you to open the trade menu, letting you buy spells and gear before the fight begins.
• Skipping Dialogues: Many encounters can be skipped through stealth or environmental interactions.

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Key Battles & Strategies

Escaping Fort Joy

• The Front Gate: Too heavily guarded—alternative exits are required.
• The Sewers: Sneaking in with a bush disguise can work, but combat is unavoidable.
• The Alexander Fight: Deploying Death Fog barrels near Alexander quickly ends the battle, skipping an otherwise difficult encounter.

Driftwood & Act 2 Challenges

• The Driftwood town guards will attack on sight. Clearing out the town grants massive XP, making the rest of Act 2 much easier.
• Many quest NPCs are too scared to talk, limiting available side quests.
• The Demon Hunter questline remains accessible, allowing access to high-tier combat skills.
• Spirit Vision Limitations: Many ghosts refuse to speak due to fear, restricting certain questlines.

Nameless Isle & Ascension Path

• The Elven settlement immediately turns hostile, preventing alliance options.
• Magisters and the Black Ring react differently: The Black Ring sees Undead as allies, allowing for faction manipulation.
• Skipping puzzles: Strategic teleportation allows you to bypass the temple trials, speeding up progression.

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Final Act & Endgame Strategy

Upon reaching the final city, hostility reaches its peak. The town square erupts into one of the largest fights in the game, requiring high-level tactics to survive. Lord Linder Kemm, a major boss, is revealed to be an Undead himself, making him one of the few characters who won’t attack on sight.

• Main Quest Progression Workarounds: Many puzzle-based questlines remain doable, even with limited NPC interaction.
• Final Battle Adjustments: While the final boss fight remains unchanged, Death Fog tactics and teleportationallow for quick eliminations.

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Final Verdict: Can You Beat the Game as an Unmasked Undead?

Yes, but it heavily alters the gameplay experience. Questing is severely restricted, but combat, environmental manipulation, and alternative progression methods make it possible to reach the game’s conclusion.

• Pros:
  • Unique challenge requiring creative problem-solving.
  • Bypasses some of the game’s trickiest encounters with Undead-exclusive mechanics.
  • Provides new hidden dialogue and interactions with rare NPCs.
• Cons:
  • Most questlines are inaccessible due to NPC hostility.
  • Requires reliance on cheese tactics (Death Fog, teleportation, XP farming).
  • Severely limits role-playing options and story interactions.

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Final Thoughts

For those seeking a hard-mode playthrough with unconventional mechanics, going maskless as an Undead provides a fresh take on Divinity: Original Sin 2. While Larian Studios clearly designed the game around avoiding this approach, they also left enough workarounds to make it viable.

If you enjoyed this challenge, consider trying other extreme playstyles, such as a Pacifist Run or a Solo Lone Wolf playthrough.

Thanks for reading, and happy adventuring!