There are 11 playable classes in Pillars of Eternity and you should choose one of them to create your hero. Companions and almost all NPCs also have their classes. Each type is unique and different from others, offers various skills and talents, strategies and tactics. It could be difficult to choose the best class so we created this article to help you. Here are descriptions of all classes, their pros and cons, unique features and gameplay value.
Check our guide about character creation to find more tips on building the best hero. It’s important as classes are connected with races, attributes, cultures, and backgrounds. For now let’s discuss only classes. Note that some spoilers about companions can be found below.
Basic info about classes
Despite that all characters are unique they have some main common basics. For example, each class requires the same XP amount to get a new level. Each class has different abilities and talents, but there are also some general skills that can be learned by any hero. Remember that active abilities are available on odd levels and passive talents – on even ones. Every character can use magic, but some classes depend on it more than others.
As PoE borrows a lot of game mechanic’s features from D&D it has an original system of calculating stats. Almost every parameter can be determined by rolls of several virtual dices. Stats for each class depending on starting values, bonus multipliers, and attributes. That’s not so easy to understand the whole system. For comfortable play you don’t have to know each parameter, just pay attention to basic stats and valuable attributes featured in our guide.
Finally, let’s start!
Barbarian
Barbarians are wonderful damagers with high speed and moderate defense. That’s pretty flexible class that can be classic glass cannon with outstanding attack potential or balanced warrior at the front line. If you want to be in the center of every fight, but don’t admire tanks, choose Barbarian. Be sure to engage several enemies as this class has cool AoE damage. But don’t dive into battle before your main tank so far as Barbarian cannot survive a lot of damage.
What’s good: fast and high permanent damage, moderate armor and endurance.
What’s bad: low mobility, can be quickly eliminated without control of skills.
Class bonuses: +2 to Athletics and +1 to Survival.
Core attributes: Might and Constitution.
Final score: 4/5 – one of the best melee damagers in PoE.
Chanter
Well, that’s a pretty unique class for RPGs. Chanters are some kind of wizards who can sing phrases and combine them to create powerful long-term spells. Choose Chanter if you love to support your team, but don’t expect a huge impact. Member of this class usually is located at back lines where they can sing chants without being focused. Don’t forget to modify your spells with every new level, create scrolls for mates and protect yourself with plate armor.
What’s good: can buff allies and debuff foes in different ways, has unusual style.
What’s bad: very low raw damage, not obvious impact and not main role in the team.
Class bonuses: +2 to Lore and +1 to Mechanics.
Core attributes: Constitution and Intellect.
Final score: 3/5 – interesting versatile class, but not essential for a team.
Cipher
If Chanter is familiar for some players, Cipher is a completely new invention of developers. This class can contact and change souls of both allies and enemies. Ciphers are natural wizards who can fight almost everywhere as their forces suit different weapons and styles. The best Cipher is aggressive damager with a lot of control skills. Keep an eye on your focus level, increase attack speed and don’t dive into the battle – you do not tank!
What’s good: a lot of skills to weaken enemies, raw magic without a necessity to rest.
What’s bad: requires some time to learn to play.
Class bonuses: +1 to Lore, +1 to Mechanics and +1 to Stealth.
Core attributes: Intellect.
Final score: 5/5 – the best class in the game without doubts.
Druid
Druids are powerful, really. This class is extremely flexible as it can fill almost all roles in the team. Thanks to good area damage Druid can destroy big groups of enemies. Some supporting and controlling skills turn Druid into a universal hero. And, yes, you can transform into beasts to eliminate foes even more effectively! Playing Druid keep an eye on your spells and try to predict consequences of each action as some skills can do harm.
What’s good: the best AoE damage and a lot of different abilities.
What’s bad: depends on rest and requires some skills to play well.
Class bonuses: +1 to Lore, +2 to Survival.
Core attributes: Might and Intellect.
Final score: 5/5 – a universal class which can deal damage and support team.
Fighter
Every party needs a good tank. Fighters suit this role the best among all classes. The fighter has class skills to engage more enemies than regular heroes and it is priceless for almost any battle. If you choose Fighter to remember about your role. Protect mates and try to survive as other heroes will not live long after your death. Always enter dangerous areas in the head of the formation, use large shields and heavy armor, don’t keep abilities as they recharge after every fight.
What’s good: a wonderful tank that can survive tons of damage.
What’s bad: not so good damage with strict requirements to positioning.
Class bonuses: +1 to Athletics, +1 to Lore and +1 to Survival.
Core attributes: Constitution and Resolve.
Final score: 4/5 – the best tank in the game, but you will have Eder for this role.
Monk
Monks in Pillars of Eternity will be familiar to all D&D players. However, developers added a unique feature called wounds. Means this class has to injure itself to gain access to the best skills and stats. Monks have to choose their position well as they should remain behind tanks, but close enough to enemies to deal damage. Be sure to wear medium armor as you have to survive damage and have good speed at the same time. Use wounds as fast as possible.
What’s good: original mechanics and good controlling abilities.
What’s bad: poor-balanced compared with other classes.
Class bonuses: +1 to Athletics, +1 to Stealth and +1 to Survival.
Core attributes: Constitution and Dexterity.
Final score: 2/5 – it’s a bit undervalued class with potentially cool skills.
Paladin
Paladins have the biggest amount of available sub-class options. You can choose one of 5 orders, each with unique cool bonuses and different phrases for dialogues. In the terms of gameplay, Paladin can support his team in the position of off-tank. That’s a good melee fighter with various buffs for allies. Try to equip paladins with the heaviest armor and the best weapons. Place your Paladin in the head of a squad and don’t forget about class-based spells.
What’s good: pretty cool supporting abilities, good sustainability.
What’s bad: cannot be the main tank, has moderate damage.
Class bonuses: +2 to Athletics and +1 to Lore.
Core attributes: Resolve.
Final score: 3/5 – universal class for front line with interesting dialogue options.
Priest
Well, Priest is an essential hero for each party. You surely need Priest in your team to remain alive and be able to fight with any foe. But the thing is that Durance – one of the available companions – is Priest so it’s not necessary to choose this class for your character. Priests are all about support, they almost don’t deal damage. This class should be located at back line where enemies cannot reach it. Use light armor, auras and always check your allies’ state.
What’s good: priceless healing skills, different buffs for allies.
What’s bad: very low damage and lack of control abilities.
Class bonuses: +1 to Athletics and +2 to Lore.
Core attributes: Might and Intellect.
Final score: 3/5 – the best healer in the game, but you will have Durance.
Ranger
Ranger could be good, but it’s really weak for now. The main strategy for this class is cooperation with the animal companion. Rangers rely on ranged weapons, their pets, and skills. For example, you can focus a single target with a companion and deal high damage to it. But compared with skills of other classes such strategy requires a lot of time and resources. There’s an interesting feature: pets cannot die at all!
What’s good: moderate DPS and good synergy with pets.
What’s bad: greatly underpowered stats.
Class bonuses: +1 to Stealth and +2 to Survival.
Core attributes: Might and Perception.
Final score: 1/5 – the worst class compared with analogs.
Rogue
Rogues are regular heroes in various fantasy worlds. These characters rely on stealth mechanics, but it’s poor in PoE. If you are good in positioning and can sneak carefully then you can deal a lot of damage. Really, Rogue is the best damager in the game! Playing this class try to hide every time you can, come close to targets and disappear after an attack. It could be useful to wear 2 sets of weapon: for melee fight and for range one.
What’s good: the best damage if you choose position correct.
What’s bad: requires a lot of skills to play well, stealth mechanics is quite strange.
Class bonuses: +2 to Mechanics and +1 to Stealth.
Core attributes: Might and Perception.
Final score: 2/5 – has cool damage from stealth, but it’s pretty hard to remain concealed.
Wizard
Wizard is probably the most classic class for RPGs. Cool mages with wooden staffs that can throw fireballs or freeze enemies. However, D&D mechanics don’t allow you to cast a lot of spells every fight. Means Wizard in Pillars of Eternity is not a flexible class at all. For example, you can cast all your spells in a single fight and then be almost useless in another battle before rest. To perform well use skills wisely, stay at back lines and wear for sure only robes.
What’s good: amazing AoE and single damage, a lot of control skills.
What’s bad: can be eliminated easily, extremely depends on rest.
Class bonuses: +2 to Lore and +1 to Mechanics.
Core attributes: Might and Intellect.
Final score: 2/5 – can cast a lot of different spells but depends on rest.
Best classes for beginners
In conclusion, we have some tips on the most interesting or easiest classes for start:
- Cipher – if you want to destroy enemies with both spells and weapons.
- Barbarian – if you want to fight on front line without complex strategies.
- Chanter – if you want to learn new interesting skills.
- Wizard – if you just like magic, fireballs and so on.
Well, that’s only our opinion – you can take every class if it suits your style. Be sure to check our article about character creation where we provide vest links of classes and races.
