TL;DR
- Thief offers highest DPS potential with skills like Skull Splitter and Formless Feint
- Archer provides safe ranged combat with powerful Tempest Shot and Exploding Shot abilities
- Fighter and Mage work better as pawn vocations due to AI efficiency
- All classes can be changed later via Vocation Guild NPCs
- Consider your preferred combat style and party needs when choosing
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Dragon’s Dogma 2 presents players with four distinct starting classes, each offering unique combat approaches and strategic advantages. Understanding these vocations’ core mechanics is crucial for establishing a strong foundation in your adventure through Vermund and beyond.
The initial vocation selection includes Fighter, Archer, Thief, and Mage – foundational archetypes that shape your early gameplay experience. While you can modify your class later by visiting Vocation Guild representatives, your starting choice significantly impacts early-game progression and resource acquisition.
Many players underestimate how starting vocation affects early gold accumulation, equipment availability, and pawn synergy. Choosing strategically based on your preferred combat rhythm rather than arbitrary preferences will yield better long-term results and smoother progression through the game’s challenging encounters.

The Thief vocation emerges as the premier damage-dealing option for players seeking aggressive, high-mobility combat. This class specializes in rapid successive strikes that can dismantle even formidable enemies through sustained pressure and evasion techniques.
Skull Splitter stands out as arguably the most powerful early-game skill, capable of removing substantial health chunks from boss-level enemies. Meanwhile, Formless Feint – accessible upon reaching the Nameless Village – provides near-complete invulnerability during dashes, revolutionizing battlefield positioning and survival.
Advanced Thief play involves mastering animation canceling and stamina management to maximize damage windows. The class’s inherent mobility allows for precise positioning to exploit enemy weak points while avoiding retaliatory strikes that would cripple less agile vocations.
Common mistake: New players often overcommit with Thief combos, leaving them vulnerable during recovery animations. Instead, utilize hit-and-run tactics, capitalizing on openings between enemy attack patterns for optimal efficiency.

Archer represents the optimal choice for tactical players who prefer controlling engagements from distance. This vocation excels at eliminating threats before they reach melee range while providing consistent damage output throughout encounters.
Tempest Shot enables rapid arrow volleys that can stagger opponents and interrupt dangerous enemy spells. Exploding Shot delivers massive area damage, particularly effective against clustered enemies or large targets with multiple hit zones.
The Archer’s augment suite – including Endurance for stamina efficiency, Radiance for improved visibility in dark areas, and Lethality for critical hit enhancement – provides versatile benefits that remain valuable even after transitioning to advanced vocations.
Positioning is critical for Archer effectiveness. Maintain elevated terrain when possible and utilize environmental cover to minimize incoming damage while maximizing your firing lines against priority targets.

Fighter serves as the dedicated frontline combatant, ideal for players who enjoy absorbing damage and controlling enemy attention through deliberate positioning and tactical aggression.
This tank-oriented class uniquely equips shields, enabling defensive maneuvers like bashing foes to create openings, launching allies toward aerial targets, or employing area taunts to manipulate enemy targeting priorities.
However, Fighter demonstrates greater effectiveness as a pawn vocation rather than player-controlled character. AI companions efficiently execute defensive protocols and aggro management, allowing you to focus on damage-dealing roles that benefit more from player precision and timing.
The class’s limitations become apparent in solo play where damage output falls behind specialized DPS vocations. For optimal party composition, consider assigning Fighter to your main pawn while you pursue higher damage potential through Thief or Archer specializations.

Mage provides indispensable party support through healing magic like Anodyne and Argent Succor, alongside protective barriers such as High Palladium that negate initial incoming damage.
While possessing some offensive capabilities, the Mage’s true strength lies in sustaining party longevity during extended engagements and dangerous environmental hazards.
Similar to Fighter, Mage operates more efficiently as a pawn vocation. Companion AI proves remarkably competent at timing healing applications and defensive buffs, often outperforming human reaction times in critical situations.
Players drawn to magical combat should consider advancing to Sorcerer for substantially improved damage output. This advanced vocation delivers devastating area-effect spells that can eliminate groups of enemies simultaneously, something the base Mage class lacks.
Strategic consideration: If you plan to main a magic class, starting as Mage provides foundational understanding of spellcasting mechanics before transitioning to Sorcerer’s more offensive-oriented arsenal.

Your ideal starting vocation ultimately depends on personal playstyle preferences and desired combat engagement patterns. Consider whether you thrive in close-quarters melee, prefer tactical positioning, or enjoy supporting party members through utility spells.
Frontline enthusiasts may appreciate Fighter’s durability despite its damage limitations, while strategic players often find Archer’s ranged control unparalleled. Aggressive combat lovers typically achieve best results with Thief’s high-risk, high-reward gameplay.
Party composition planning should influence your decision. If you prefer damage-focused gameplay, complement your style with support-oriented pawns. Conversely, if you enjoy support roles, pair with damage-specialized companions.
Remember that early vocation choice isn’t permanent – Vocation Guilds located in major settlements allow class changes once discovered. This flexibility enables experimentation as you encounter new combat challenges throughout your journey.
For players seeking comprehensive gameplay guidance, our Complete Guide offers detailed strategies for mastering game mechanics and overcoming challenging encounters.
Action Checklist
- Assess your preferred combat range and aggression level before selecting
- Choose Thief for maximum damage output and mobility if comfortable with high-skill gameplay
- Select Archer for tactical positioning and consistent ranged damage
- Assign Fighter or Mage to your main pawn for optimal AI utilization
- Visit Vocation Guild in Vernworth to unlock class switching around level 10-15
- Experiment with different vocation combinations to find your ideal playstyle
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