Swerte99 sign up with the long-awaited Dragon’s Dogma 2 now out, fans of the original may be wondering how the game has changed in the last 12 years: are their favourite Vocations still available, are Pawns still simultaneously charming and insufferable, and do random NPCs still fall madly in love with the Arisen? Worry no longer, as we’ve compiled the most important changes for you here!
A New Land and Lore
The biggest change to the original’s Dukedom of Gransys is that it is nowhere to be seen, and it is unclear how the two games are related, if at all. Dragon’s Dogma 2 takes place in the two nations of Vermund and Battahl. Our story starts with the former of these, the kingdom of the humans.
Similarly to the original, the Arisen, chosen by the Dragon, is considered the de facto ruler of the land, with the discovery of such a person being a cause for celebration. Compared to the original, Vermund is a good analogy in both look and size to Gransys: a central capital connected to small villages and hamlets via multiple paths, featuring an environment of rocky forests and mountainous areas. The dangers of this land are equally familiar, being comprised of the familiar cyclopes, ogres, harpies and goblins we’re used to.
Where Vermund does differ from its Dukely predecessor is population. Where Dragon’s Dogma had the fishing town of Cassardis and the capital of Gran Soren as the only settlements sans a few encampments, Vermund has multiple villages dotted around the map, in addition to quite a few abandoned dwellings now home to bandits, goblins, or worse.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 populates towns and paths with diverse characters, including merchants, guards, and various races like beastren, elves, and dwarves. In Battahl, an arid region with ancient ruins, the local culture follows the Lambent Flame religion and views the Arisen and Pawns as sources of misfortune, using them as labor rather than heroes.
Vocation, Vocation, Vocation Swerte99 sign up
One of our favourite things about the original Dragon’s Dogma was the Vocation system, consisting of three base Vocations, three advanced variations, and three Arisen-only hybrids to choose from. Each option changed how you played the game, offering very distinct playstyles and perspectives into combat. Do you fight from range or up close? Do you rely on speed or brawn? All of these changed with each Vocation change, as well as with each skill you learned. In the sequel, this system has stayed mainly the same but with a few large changes.
The first change implemented is cutting the Strider Vocation in twain! Instead of being able to fight it out in melee and then zip into range, you will have to choose between the Thief and Archer. As can be surmised from the names, these specialise in either quick and manoeuvrable melee without the ability to fight at range or into sniping enemies from a distance while being in trouble if something gets too close. Though it is a shame to lose my favourite Vocation, I do understand the split, as it allows both new additions to double down on cool moves and skills that fit their more specialised roles.
The Mage and Fighter Vocations work mainly as they did before, though their skills have had some general improvements and tweaks, with the former focusing on support and elemental damage and the latter tanking damage and keeping the enemies busy. The advanced versions of the Vocations, the Warrior and Sorcerer, are similarly familiar, though it should be noted that the Assassin and Ranger are in absentia. However, the biggest difference in the Vocations as a whole is the hybrid Vocations.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Deluxe Edition
Out of the original trifecta of the Magick Archer, Mystic Knight, and the Assassin, only the Archer made the transition to the sequel, with three newcomers: the Mystic Spearhand, the Trickster, and the Warfarer. As before, the Magick Archer mixes the trick shots and fancy moves of the Archer with a spark of magic, leading to storms of magickal projectiles and dazzling displays!
The Mystic Spearhand focuses on mobility and quick strikes using melee, telekinetic magic, and teleportation. The Trickster is a unique class that uses illusions to confuse enemies and boost allies. The Warfarer, a new hybrid class, can use any weapon and learn skills from all classes, offering great versatility but with lower base stats that require skillful play.
As a final note, the world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 has a few individuals who have become the best at their unique sets of skills. These Meisters represent the culmination of a Vocation and if sought out and impressed, may impart new and powerful skills! Keep those eyes peeled when venturing the land.
Smarter Than the Average Pawn Swerte99 sign up
Pawns, the iconic emotionless servants in Dragon’s Dogma, faithfully assist the Arisen but often showed limited intelligence in the original game. In Dragon’s Dogma 2, powered by the RE Engine and improved AI, Pawns behave more intelligently—they can lead you to known locations, navigate ahead while following the path, suggest party changes, and engage in more lively and relevant conversations.
Pawns may also now obtain specialisations based on how their Arisen acts and what tasks they perform. Each specialisation has a benefit, such as showing you the location of useful resources, combining items in your inventory, or even being able to communicate in another language and translate! This, in addition to the new Pawn Quest system, where Pawns can be assigned a quest for other Arisen to perform for a reward, makes having pawns along more enjoyable, as well as incentivising changing them up every now and again.
They still do odd things and repeat their lines here and there, but hey, it’s that awkward charm we love, right?
Rifts, Homes, Carts, and Mystery
The game adds small but meaningful features that enhance the experience. Players can find and repair Rift Stones in the wild, which not only allow resummoning or swapping Pawns but also reward Rift Crystals and attract Pawns with specific traits. Additionally, players can activate recovered Rift Stones in larger versions at certain cities to easily filter potential Pawns for recruitment.
Another great addition to the game is player housing. While not quite at the level of some games, where you can design, build, and decorate your own abode, allowing the player to have a place to call their own — not to mention avoid the steep inn bills — is a blessing. These houses are missable, however, as they are a part of certain quests. Keep your eyes and ears open and you’ll be sure to get them! The houses offer a bed to sleep in and access to your storage for all your organising needs.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 enhances travel by adding oxcarts as a new option, making journeys easier and more enjoyable, even to unexplored places. The game also offers a vast, mysterious world filled with countless quests and surprises, surpassing the original by creating a vibrant, living environment for players to discover.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
And there you have our list of the major changes in Dragon’s Dogma 2! What kind of Arisen have you made and what kind of discoveries have you made? Let us know!
