Summary
With the god Eothas having returned to the world of Eora and wreaking havoc, players ofPillars of Eternity 2travel to Deadfire Archipelago to stop the wayward god and discover truths behind their past that could very well shatter perceptions about life itself. Taking inspiration from the likes ofBaldur’s GateandNeverwinter Nights, players ofPillars of Eternity 2embark on their journey with a player-made character among the many Classes that represent vocations in the world of Eora, all representing various walks of life.
Contrary to other tactical RPGs, Classes inPillars of Eternity 2have a rather deep Class System, boasting not only Subclasses but even Multiclass opportunities, giving players quite a lot of ways to personalize their gameplay. However, for players who are just about to begin their journey in Eora, choosing their main Class is extremely vital to their experience. However, among the game’s main Classes, just which would be able to help players in their journey?
Updated June 19, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam:With the recent update to Baldur’s Gate 3 giving players the option to change their character’s appearance mid-game, fans of D&D have yet another incentive to restart their experience and create powerful RPG builds. However, fans looking for a more nostalgic approach to the Baldur’s Gate title may want to try Pillars of Eternity 2, especially as its isometric gameplay is a love letter to earlier Baldur’s Gate titles of the same format.
And for fans who want to maximize their Pillars of Eternity 2 builds, it may help to go beyond mere Classes and explore what kinds of specializations each of them offer. After all, the right Subclass per Class may determine what kind of specific playstyle a gamer could enjoy in their playthrough. However, just which Subclasses do each of the game’s Classes offer?
11Priest
Support From The Gods Make Them Combat-Averse
Devoted followers ofdeities inPillars of Eternity 2,Priestsrely on Prayers to bless their allies and punish their foes. While capable of doing combat themselves, Priests rely heaving on divine attacks and healing magic to do much of their work when dealing with encounters.
Despite being the ever-reliable healing class, the Priest inPillars of Eternity 2gameplay suffers from being rather underwhelming aside from their healing. In addition, their rather squishy nature and the mediocre spell list make the Priest an unideal Class to play, especially when the likes of Druids and Chanters have healing options anyway.
Priest Subclasses: The Gods Bless
Typical of Priests in other RPGs, the Priest ofPillars of Eternity 2uses their connection with their deities to grant various benefits to themselves and allies. Each God worshipped is a different Subclass:
10Ranger
Soul-Bound Companions Make Rangers Effective Protectors, Attackers
Explorers and adventurers with a mastery over the hunt,Rangersare known to have soul-bonded with Animal Companions that accompany them in combat. This immediately gives players an edge in terms of numbers, as pets become scouts while their Rangers dish out finishing moves after they engage in combat.
Although the prospect of having a petwith the Ranger Class in any RPGis appealing, players who want to stick with the long haul inPillars of Eternity 2gameplay might find it difficult to see a consistent performance with this Class. At its core, the Bonded Grief immediately ties the Ranger with their companion, severely limiting the player’s performance if their pet falls in combat. This immediately makes Ghost Heart, which gives immunity to Bonded Grief, the ideal subclass - and even then, this transforms the Ranger into a mediocre one-trick wonder.
Ranger Subclasses: Aims Remain True
Considered protectors and hunters, Rangers specialize in various combat departments to better defend their territories. InPillars of Eternity 2, they manifest in these Subclasses:
9Druid
Beasts, Afflictions Let Nature’s Guardians Shift To Many Roles
Perhaps the very symbol of unity in nature,Druids in games likeDiablo 2andPillars of Eternity 2balance their capabilities of transforming into mythical juggernauts and dishing out afflictions that tear through enemy ranks. This balance allows Druids to juggle between AOE-based spells and single-target attacks, giving them a lot of room to diversify their combat opportunities.
While the Druid has a decent slate of spells to spice upPillars of Eternity 2gameplay, their atrocious casting time makes them an unfortunate Class pick for the unsuspecting player. By and large, their general toolkit that involves healing and other utilities can definitely make a difference in combat, but the slow casting and their interruptible nature make Druids next to useless versus their counterparts in the Chanter and especially the Wizard.
Druid Subclasses: Nature’s Protectors
Defenders of nature, Druids use their connection with the very land itself to manifest their various abilities. Depending on their powers used, the Druid can transform into these various Subclasses:
8Paladin
Holy Warriors Protect The Pack Through Heals, Tanking
Ever devoted to a deity of their choosing,Paladinscommand respect and admiration from those around them due to their almost-zealous nature in addition to their tapping of holy power. Their targeted commands allow Paladins to help their teammates quickly, and their inspiring spells allow them to buff allies in trouble.
Despite touting their connection with the holy, thePaladin in RPGs likeDiabloandPillars of Eternity 2gameplay doesn’t have a lot to boast about except for their tank-leaning passives and survivability-aiding Flames of Devotion. However, their other skills don’t make the Paladin as much of a sought-after Class, primarily due to how they don’t necessarily add much to combat aside from their extra set of attacks that don’t make much of a difference in the DPS department.
Paladin Subclasses: Devotion Manifests Differently
While all Paladins are devoted to their cause, these holy warriors manifest these causes in different ways. Depending on the Paladin’s preference, they may specialize in the following Subclasses:
7Fighter
Adaptability Allows Fighters To Protect Allies, Attack Targets At A Moment’s Notice
The stalwartFighteris trained to stick to the frontlines and adapt to the fiercest of combat situations with their teachings and traditional techniques. Their organization and martial structure give Fighters a more fluid approach in combat, with their leaning towards simplicity making them decent multiclass options to boost another Class’s damage output.
Similar to howthe Fighter inDungeons & Dragonsis perhaps the best Class to pick for beginners, the Fighter inPillars of Eternity 2falls squarely on the neutral side of performance. While it can pull off decent damage and decent survivability, the Fighter doesn’t do anything exceptionally well that makes it a worthwhile pick. Newcomers who want generally safe choices for their Class and multiclass should consider the Fighter.
Fighter Subclasses: A Weapon For Every Situation
Specializing in all forms of combat, Fighters can accommodate almost any threat into their training regimen. Fighters can adjust their tactics and strategies in combat, especially based on what their Subclass offers:
6Barbarian
Rage Protects Allies, Destroys Multiple Foes
Compared to the more trained Fighter, it’s theBarbarianwho immediately demonstrates a wild and unconventional approach to combat. Their recklessness and ferocity make them fierce warriors, trading defense and healing for pure offense. Their possession of Carnage lets them deal more AOE damage on the fly, especially when this gets triggered through multiple attacks.
TheBarbarian in games likeDiablo ImmortalandPillars of Eternity 2is perhaps the best option for a pure melee tanking Class for one’sgameplay. This is mostly due to its access to powerful passives, as well as its buffs majorly related to boosting Criticals and Attack Speed. However, despite its toolkit seemingly tailored for AOE melee, the Barbarian is actually lackluster in this area. Players are better off using the Barbarian for single-target DPS and only considering this multiclass for their Heart of Fury survivability buff.
Barbarian Subclasses: Rage In Different Shades
While all Barbarians tend to channel their anger, doing this in different ways allows them to tap into various abilities that set them apart from their brethren. Among the Subclasses of the Barbarian are:
5Cipher
Mind Masters Who Can Attack One Enemy Or Multiple Foes
Psions andtelepaths are known for manipulating the very spiritual energiessurrounding the world, andCiphersare one of the most dynamic Classes in the game. Their mental abilities give them a ton of room to do unique things in combat, with their multiclass options further expanding their specializations. Ciphers are more than capable of focusing on their DPS, sneaking-based attacks, and even almost pure spellcasting.
Given its rather one-trick nature as a crowd control specialist, the Cipher often gets middling comments with regard to its potential forPillars of Eternity 2players. Its buffs and passives are decent enough to help the Cipher and their teammates outlast their foes, but the Cipher isn’t complete without completely abusing its crowd control toolkit. Players who want to pulverize enemies without giving them a chance to strike back would do great with a Cipher, but shouldn’t expect to do anything else unique with it.
Cipher Subclasses: Unlocking The Mind
Possessing sheer psionic potential, the Cipher is capable of transforming one’s mind into a powerful weapon. Depending on how they use their mental powers, they can manifest in different Subclasses:
4Rogue
Shadowy Warriors Attack Swiftly Before Enemies Notice
Known for their subterfuge and penchant for assassinations,Roguesare masters of stealth and hiding. While technically undisciplined, their “untrained” nature makes Rogues rather unpredictable, proving their worth in gameplay as perhaps having the potential of dealing the biggest single-target DPS numbers in the game.
Often considered a stepping stone to the Monk, the Rogue suffers from being a bit so-so in terms of overall combat performance. While they boast high single-target damage and decent potential of amping up DPS as a multiclass, the Rogue doesn’t hit as hard as a Monk could. However, a Rogue works well forPillars of Eternity 2newcomers who prefer trying a Monk but want something more straightforward - quite unlikeRogues in games likeWorld of Warcraftwhere the Rogue remains a DPS powerhouse.
Rogue Subclasses: Different Ways To Kill
While all Rogues specialize in stealth and subterfuge, certain Rogues excel in using their environment in different ways. Depending on their specialization, Rogues can become one of these terrifying Subclasses:
3Monk
Martial Artists Use Their Bodies To Defend Allies Or Strike True
Focusing on transforming their very bodies into weapons,Monksrely on a gameplay mechanic called Wounds to absorb a portion of damage dealt and cultivate them into powerful techniques that can manipulate the battlefield to their favor. Their reliance on sheer speed and mobility makes them one of the best melee combat Classes out there - an expected trope forMonks in games likeDungeons & Dragonsand here inPillars of Eternity 2. Their focus on Accuracy, Damage, and Penetration makes them more than capable of pulverizing most foes.
Despite being nerfed in later patches, the Monk is still the most ideal melee Class in anyPillars of Eternity 2gameplay. Its mobile-oriented rotations make it an extremely deadly asset up close, with speedy attacks that catch enemies off-guard and the ability to kill the next foe without the previous one noticing. Although not as high on the damage department, multiclassing Monk into a Chanter or a Wizard can transform these two (2) Classes into demolishers, capable of withstanding almost any hit.
Monk Subclasses: The Body Is A Weapon
While all Monks are masters of their bodies, the way they use their physique as a weapon depends on their training and expertise. In that regard, Monk Subclasses include the following:
2Chanter
Wordsmiths That Use Phrases To Hurt Enemies, Inspire Allies
Known best for being keepers of folk wisdom and common knowledge, theChanteris perhaps the game’sclosest equivalent to the Bard Classin other games. Their specialization lies in unleashing passives in large AOE radii, making them ideal buffers and debuffers for teams. Not only that, their naturally low CDs make them excellent rotators, with their unique Chants allowing them to do almost anything they want in combat.
At its core, the Chanter is a jack-of-all-trades that can pull off almost any other role in its flexibility. While ideally a solo Class forPillars of Eternity 2playthroughs, the Chanter is just as efficient multiclassing into any other Class to fit into a more particular role. As it is, the Chanter’s skillset allows it to dish out nukes and mighty summons for heavy-duty DPS, while at the same time boasting passive healing that makes it a self-sustaining soloist.
Chanter Subclasses: Words Are Power
Capable of transforming words into powers that affect the very fabric of the universe, Chanters can channel their will through various invocations, each taking the form of a Subclass:
