The video game industry in the early 2010s birthed a swathe of cult classics, and the original Dragon’s Dogma is one of the lucky few that’s somehow managed to see a revival over a decade later. Though its initial sales weren’t all that great, the release of the remastered Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen brought a healthy number of new players to the series, and over the last few years, positive word of mouth has gradually led to a more vocal fanbase, and seeing the money on the table, Capcom seized its opportunity, resulting in Dragon’s Dogma 2 finally being released 12 years after its predecessor.
A sequel that improves upon its predecessor in almost every way, yet still very much retains the same charms and quirks, Dragon’s Dogma 2 has received one of the warmest critical receptions of 2024 so far. Though its unique approach to open-world design, challenging combat systems, and occasionally obtuse mechanics haven’t been everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no denying that Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers a refreshing open-world fantasy RPG experience, and for such a unique adventure, it’s only natural that fans have crafted a unique set of unwritten rules to go along with it.
Dragon’s Dogma 2’s Mystic Spearhand Is the Game’s Breakout Star
Of all the vocations in Dragon’s Dogma 2, the Mystic Spearhand class has consistently proven to be the most popular among fans, and justifiably so.
The Unwritten Rules of Playing Dragon’s Dogma 2
Don’t Be Afraid to Try a New Vocation
There are countless ways in which Dragon’s Dogma 2 breaks traditional open-world RPG conventions, and its progression and class systems are two of the most impressive. While most other RPGs restrict the player to just one class during their entire playthrough, and maybe give them advanced sub-classes later down the line, Dragon’s Dogma 2 lets players swap between classes whenever they want, and that type of gameplay is heavily encouraged by the game itself.
At the start of Dragon’s Dogma 2, players can choose from four starting Vocations: the Mage, the Fighter, the Archer, and the Thief. As should be expected of a modern-day RPG, all four classes come with their own unique sets of equipment, weapons, proficiencies, and abilities. When players find their first guildmaster they’re able to swap to any of the other three starting Vocations and are immediately granted its starting weapon, armor, and ability.
This allows players to try out every possible playstyle in Dragon’s Dogma 2 without having to start a new character, which saves a whole lot of time and effort on the player’s part. As players level up their individual Vocations, they’ll start to unlock special Augments that give their character some kind of unique trait or ability. Augments from different Vocations can all be mixed and matched together, encouraging players to spend time trying out every class.
Take The Time to Customize Pawns
A core pillar of Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s world and gameplay is its Pawn system. Far more than just an AI companion, Pawns play a pivotal role in Dragon’s Dogma 2, assisting the player in battle, leading them towards quest objectives, spotting enhancement materials in the wild, and being used as a Strand-like mechanic to bridge the gap between other players’ worlds.
Playing such an important role in the game, players should make sure they customize their main Pawn to the best of their ability, including their appearance, their gear and weapons, their Vocation abilities, and their
Pawn Specializations and Inclinations
.
Avoid Dragonsplague Like The Plague
One of the most talked about elements of Dragon’s Dogma 2 in its first week of release, Dragonsplague is an absolutely horrifying video game mechanic. Seemingly at random, player’s Pawns can contract an illness known as Dragonsplague. If this is left untreated, Dragonsplague will eventually turn the afflicted Pawn into a literal dragon, who proceeds to decimate whatever town, village, or city the player’s party is currently staying in.
This can lead to the deaths of whole populations, including key quest-givers that will need to be revived via a Wakestone if the player wants to continue the story. It’s imperative that Dragon’s Dogma 2 players pay close attention to their Pawn for any signs of Dragonsplague, and they do whatever’s necessary to stop it in its tracks.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
The long-awaited sequel to 2012’s action RPG, Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma 2 follows the Arisen, a hero whose heart is stolen by a powerful and massive dragon. Featuring a world 4x the size of its predecessor, Dragon’s Dogma 2 emphasizes customization and player control through its character creator, vocations system, and AI-controlled Pawns.
- Released
- March 22, 2024
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Engine
- RE Engine
