Divinity: Original Sin 2 sets itself apart from usual RPGs with its freeform character progression. Since the Larian Studios title doesn't have any Classes, all characters can theoretically access the same kinds of spells and attacks in a playthrough. Moreover, with the right investment in Skill Schools, a Spellcaster becomes a berserker warrior, or a shield-toting fighter can whip out fireballs.
However, characters being able to access all skills means some abilities become more valuable than the rest. Moreover, this distinction becomes relevant early on, as Divinity: Original Sin 2 boasts some of the most interactive environments in a tactical RPG. In turn, the Divinity 2 best skills can transform any player into a powerhouse. Interestingly, which skills rise above the rest?
Updated on September 3rd, 2022, by Rhenn Taguiam: With Divinity: Original Sin 2 devs Larian Studios still working on Baldur’s Gate 3, players might want to visit Rivellon another time and give Original Sin 2 another playthrough. After all, the tactical flexibility the game offers can help players approach every battle in any number of playthroughs. And with the right Skills, players may be able to transform any setback into an opportunity. Ideal Skills to have to include nifty mobility options, unique healing patterns, and an often-underestimated attack.
15 Tactical Retreat
Requires: Huntsman 2 | Costs: 1 AP, 1 Memory
When a long-ranged specialist gets the momentum in wiping opponents from afar, enemies tend to target them next. It’s in these instances that a Skill like Tactical Retreat comes in handy. Thanks to this Skill, an ally can get themselves out of trouble but still far enough to be able to dish out long-ranged attacks as a reward to those enemies who worked hard enough to get to their position, especially useful for the likes of Fane.
At its core, this Skill allows players to teleport up to 13 meters from their position and then apply Haste to themselves. This gives players unprecedented speed and distance advantage, especially for characters who need to keep their distance to attack.
14 Phoenix Dive
Requires: Warfare 2 | Costs: 1 AP, 1 Memory
Sometimes, even frontline attackers need a nifty move to get them moving around the battlefield. Thanks to Phoenix Dive, they get such an option. At its core, Phoenix Dive and its ability to burn things upon landing allows players to strike hard on the battlefield like an amazing fighter. However, it has more uses than players imagine.
For instance, Phoenix Dive is a nifty way to escape or reposition in combat as well, allowing players to chase opponents trying to run away. This is a neat way to conduct decent setups, as Phoenix Dive could also set fire to oil surfaces, which could then create more brutal explosions.
13 First Aid
Requires: Huntsman 1 | Costs: 1 AP, 1 Memory
Perhaps not as useful in the context of more potent Skills like Restoration (Hydrosophist 2), First Aid is easily one of the most essential healing Skills anyone should learn, especially when away from safe zones. At its core, its benefits aren’t as much compared to the restorative powers of Restoration. After all, First Aid simply heals the target for a certain level of Vitality.
However, this is quite useful considering its budgeted cost. Its most beneficial usage is its ability to cure status ailments such as Blind, Burning, Crippled, Disease, Infested, Knocked Down, Plagued, Poisoned, Silenced, and Suffocating. Creatures who are in trouble with pesky spellcasters can simply get First Aid to be properly cured.
12 Soul Mate
Requires: Summoning 2 | Costs: 1 AP, 1 Memory
As the common adage usually states, “as above, so below.” And nothing represents that more than what Soul Mate entails. At its core, this Skill binds the user to its target, copying any kind of healing and restoration they receive into the target. Not only that, this clears statuses such as Frozen, Knocked Down, Petrified, and Stunned.
At first glance, Soul Mate is a nifty way to copy healing to multiple targets at once. However, it has much deadlier use against the undead, especially since they have a weakness against any kind of healing. Who would’ve thought being healed would deal a lot of damage to opponents?
11 Backlash
Requires: Scoundrel 1 | Costs: 1 AP, 1 Memory
What is regarded as one of the most basic stealth and saboteur Skills might end up being a lifesaver in numerous circumstances. Thanks to Backlash, Rogues and stealth builds live up to their name of bringing wanton devastation and destruction on the battlefield.
At its core, Backlash jumps to an enemy and then backstabs them behind their back. This deals 85-percent of the overall damage of the user, alongside Backstab Damage - which is essentially double damage, as Backstabs are automatic crits. This is especially the case if the user in question has a high-enough Finesse and comes from a stealth or hidden position.
10 Cloak And Dagger
Requires: Scoundrel 2 | Costs: 1AP, 1 Memory
This is odd - at first glance, Cloak And Dagger acts exactly like any other mobility Skill in the game. Why, it's not any different from Phoenix Dive (Warfare) that surrounds the landing area with flames, Spread Your Wings that gives wings to the caster, or Tactical Retreat that grants a one-turn Haste. In fact, Cloak And Dagger just teleports without breaking Sneaking.
However, it's this effect that makes Cloak And Dagger such an asset. Essentially, stealth builds can use Cloak And Dagger to enter a battlefield while sneaking - potentially never having to follow Initiative while waiting for the perfect moment to strike. In fact, due to the high-DPS nature of the instant-critical Backstab (Scoundrel 1), Cloak And Dagger is easily a great opening teleport to start a massive combo.
9 Rallying Cry
Requires: Summoning 2 | Costs: 2AP, 1 Memory
Nothing's more moralizing than hearing an ally rally the troops in battle. With Rallying Cry, a Spellcaster can do just that. Essentially, a Spellcaster can use Rallying Cry to heal Vitality and Magic Armour on a target based on nearby allied characters. These include allied totems and summons, explaining why this Skill also belongs to the Summoning School.
However, Rallying Cry isn't just an effective healing ability. In fact, Rallying Cry is essentially a powerful damage tool when outnumbered by Undead enemies - and there's a ton of Undead enemies in Original Sin 2. Essentially, just cast Rallying Cry on an Undead enemy or an Undead boss with a ton of minions and see the damage numbers pile up!
8 Soul Mate
Requires: Summoning 2 | Costs: 1AP, 1 Memory
What else could someone call a person who's exactly like them than their soul mate? This is also exactly what Soul Mate does. For just 1AP, the Spellcaster's target becomes the recipient of all the restoration they receive - and this counts both Armour and Vitality. This also clears statuses such as Petrified, Knocked Down, Frozen, and Stunned.
This ability instantly becomes a handy healing ability, as Soul Mate latches on to a target for three turns. In turn, allies constantly damaged by enemies only need the Spellcaster to heal them both.
7 Dominate Mind
Requires: Summoning 2 | 3AP, 1 Memory
Turning an enemy against themselves is one of the most satisfying things a tactician can do. With Dominate Mind, characters can do exactly that. Essentially, this Skill will set Charmed to a target for two turns, transforming them into allied characters for the duration. Granted, Dominate Mind resists Magical Armour and has a steep 3AP cost. However, getting an extra ally in the process can make the AP cost worth the while.
Dominate Mind is a great tool to invest in when against multiple opponents, as one less opponent and one more ally can tip the odds to the player's favor. Moreover, charming the right enemy - such as a more powerful minion, or even the boss itself - can give the players time to plan a counter-assault against that temporary ally once the Charmed status dissipates.
6 Shackles Of Pain
Requires: Necromancer 2 | Costs: 1AP, 1 Memory
Nothing is more painful than becoming collateral damage, and that's what Shackles Of Pain does. For just 1AP, the Spellcaster's target becomes the recipient of all the damage they receive - all the while ignoring present resistances. Spellcasters can easily use this to discourage enemies from further attacking them, especially when the strongest opponent becomes its target.
Additionally, Shackles Of Pain works great in tandem with specific situations. For instance, anything that damages the caster will damage its target - meaning an ordinary caster can inflict damage simply by drinking a poison. Alternatively, an Undead caster can inflict the same damage by receiving healing. Likewise, anything that damages the caster by default is a great complement to Shackles Of Pain. For instance, Tanks with Guardian Angel that is Shackled to an enemy will continuously damage said enemy for as long as their nearby allies get attacked, since Guardian Angel's target gets half their damage.
5 Living On The Edge
Requires: Necromancer 2 | Costs: 3AP, 1 Memory
There's always this one dying hero who needs a few precious seconds to land a strike to change the tide of battle. With Living On The Edge, anyone with Necromancer 2 can grant that honor to themselves. Essentially, casters of Living On The Edge gets the Death Resist status for two turns. This means they can't get below 1 Vitality and become practically immortal for that duration.
This has a ton of practical uses, depending on the situation. For instance, Tanks who dabbled in Necromancer can use the Death Resist to soak in more damage from bosses. Likewise, Spellcasters and Ranged DPS can use the Death Resist to reposition from combat or secure more attacks before they get the killing blow themselves - perfect for the Glass Cannon Talent that gives them maximum AP every turn.
4 Death Wish
Requires: Necromancer 2 | 2AP, 1 Memory
Sometimes, one's dying moments become a source of true strength - where fear becomes a catalyst to unlock one's potential. With Death Wish, a character with Necromancer 2 can force that potential out of any target they wish. Thanks to this Skill, a target gets a damage bonus based on the percentage of the Vitality they lost. For instance, those with 40-percent Vitality get a whopping 60-percent damage boost.
Of course, Death Wish is easily applicable to a frontline character who soaks in damage. A Tank or Starting Classes such as the Fighter can benefit from an amped up damage boost in a few turns before getting healed. However, it's Death Wish that also truly fulfills Living On The Edge's potential. Imagine buffing someone with Death Wish while they already have Death Resist. This essentially means that a Vitality 1 character not only is immortal for two turns but also gets a whopping 99-percent damage boost.
3 Forced Exchange
Requires: Polymorph 3 | Costs: 1AP, 2 Source, 2 Memory
Whipping out a Reverse UNO card is always an entertaining meme, and it's something characters can do in Original Sin 2 as well. Characters with Polymorph 3 and 2 Source to spare can do Forced Exchange to do exactly what it sounds. Essentially, this Skill will exchange Vitalities between two characters. For as long as the target doesn't have Physical Armour anymore, they can switch Vitality with the caster. And yes, this works on bosses, too.
Granted, bosses usually have a ton of Physical Armour, making them tough targets for Forced Exchange. However, if done properly, this is a worthwhile investment. In fact, a caster can Death Resist (Living On The Edge) themselves to reduce them to 1 Vitality and then cast Forced Exchange to a boss. That way, their next damage will almost instantly kill them.
2 Chicken Claw
Requires: Polymorph 1 | Costs: 2AP, 1 Memory
Most RPGs require players to think ahead and power-level to easily obliterate difficult bosses. However, in Original Sin 2, players with as little as Polymorph 1 already have the means to finish off bosses courtesy of Chicken Claw. That's right, Starting Classes such as the Shadowblade and Metamorph can easily tear through bosses by... turning them into chickens.
At its core, an enemy can transform a target into a literal chicken for two turns. Additionally, transformed chickens can random aimlessly to areas - perfect to take damage from Bleed effects, Opportunity Attacks, and even Reactive Shots. Moreover, since these chickens can't attack, players can get a much-needed breather from a pesky boss. Sadly, the Skill does have two caveats: it only works if the enemy has 0 Physical Armour, and if they're in melee range.
1 Teleportation
Requires: Aerotheurge 2 | Costs: 2AP, 1 Memory
Characters in Original Sin 2 have innate Telekinesis, meaning they can move objects of a certain weight with their mind. They can do this to most objects in the environment - perfect to get stuff out of the way or use them to block paths. However, those with Aerotheurge 2 can outright break the game with Teleportation. With this Skill - and as though with Larian Studios' encouragement - players can teleport things and even NPCs to various areas.
In combat, Teleportation works wonders by transporting an ally or an enemy to different locations for setups. However, it has its uses outside combat as well. For instance, players can teleport a bad guy to a faraway location to fight them but not trigger combat against nearby NPCs. Likewise, players can avoid entire battles by teleporting NPCs away from their designated places in the script.
And yes, Larian Studios knows this is possible and has NPC reactions to these "skipped" scripts.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 was released for the PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.