Players of Larian Studios' Divinity: Original Sin will likely praise the game not just for its solid narrative, but dynamic combat offerings. After all, while the game series has its own turn-based combat system, both Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin 2 allows players to use their characters' abilities inside and outside of combat.
Moreover, these abilities - called Skills - range from all things offensive, defensive, and even support abilities. As such, it's very likely for all players to find Skills that fit their taste in the games. Additionally, Divinity: Original Sin 2 offers 12 Skill Schools! In fact, each of these Schools has a diverse set of Skills players can mix and match with their characters. However, which Skill Schools are the best?
13 Special Skills
Of all Skill Schools in Original Sin 2, it's the Special Skills that cannot be learned via Skill Books. Instead, players can only use these Skills when they play a certain Origin, create a character of a certain race, or by equipping certain items.
For instance, only the Origin character Ifan Ben-Mezd can use Summon Ifan's Soul Wolf. Moreover, only a custom character has Dome of Protection. However, if a player makes a Custom Human, both the latter and Ifan will be sharing Encourage, a Human-exclusive Skill.
Thankfully, weapon-based Special Skills can be easily acquired and used. Staff of Magus (Staff), All In (2H), and Flurry (Dual Wield) grant additional offensive options to their wielders, while Shields Up (Shield) can buff tanks nicely.
12 Sourcery Skills
Sourcery Skills, separate from Source Skills, reflect the player's interactions with the Divine. Thanks to certain points in the game, players slowly acquire these Skills that can help players out in a pinch. Ideally, thanks to their low AP cost, Sourcery Skills can be best used as minor buffs or debuffs throughout the game.
Unfortunately, only five of them exist in Original Sin 2. As such, players may as well rely on other restorative Skills and keep Sourcery Skills at a minimum or in dire situations.
11 Source Skills
Unlike Sourcery Skills, Source Skills are new Skills introduced in Original Sin 2. These Skills, which require rare Source Points, can devastate entire battlefields. Unfortunately, due to the rarity of Source Points in the game, they do have extremely limited uses. And while there are Source fountains that can "renew" Source, they can only be found in certain parts of the story.
However, this isn't to say that Source Skills are "weak." Rather, due to their rarity, they are best used when in extremely crucial situations or, at worst, facing bosses.
10 Summoning Skills
Given the choice, who wouldn't want minions to kill the enemy for them? Thanks to Summoning Skills, players can summon terrifying beasts and totems help them win battles. However, in terms of sheer practicality, only a few Summon Skills seem to stand out as great utility options.
For instance, Conjure Incarnate and Elemental Totem seem to be more accessible Summoning Skills for most builds. However, it seems only more Summoning-focused players should use most other Summoning Skills in the game, as they lean towards buffing summoned creatures.
9 Polymorph Skills
Again, this isn't to say the Polymorph School is useless. Rather, the Polymorph School serves as proof that despite the sheer versatility a Skill School offers, they sometimes end up being extremely circumstantial.
For instance, Chicken Claw turns target characters into chickens - which is in itself a great skill to have, especially when thwarting bosses. Moreover, Heart of Steel grants Physical Armor, and Chameleon Cloak gives Invisibility. The aforementioned skills can greatly help almost any party member.
However, more bizarre Skills such as Spider Legs, Medusa Head, Equalise, and Spread Your Wings become more reliant on the battle situation.
8 Aerothurge Skills
Aerothurge Skills focus on buffing allies and debuffing enemies, often through inflicting status effects and even teleportation. As such, Aerothurge Skills can serve as great buffs to get allies going or save enough time to prepare battle tactics by delaying enemy movement.
Extremely useful Aerothurge Skills include teleportation spells such as Teleportation and Nether Swap, or even mobility-oriented Skills such as Evasive Aura, Uncanny Evasion, and Favourable Wind.
They aren't all buff and debuff Skills, though. Some Aerothurge Skills deal great AOE attacks such as Superconductor, Closed Circuit, and Thunderstorm.
7 Necromancy Skills
Who doesn't want a good life steal, right? Almost anyone who played Original Sin 2 will likely know how valuable having even just a single Necromancy Skill could be in the game.
However, where Necromancy shines is its ability to cause bloody and debilitating effects to targets, especially those that deal damage over time. It's perhaps these effects that make Necromancy Skills especially deadly. After all, enough Necromancy Skills can easily pick off opponents.
Unfortunately, other Skills do seem flashier and more fast-acting compared to the style Necromancy offers.
6 Geomancer Skills
Unlike other element-based Skill Schools, Geomancers specialize in dealing Earth and Poison damage. As such, much of their abilities cause the Poison and Acid status or even convert surfaces into oil and other corrosive substances. Moreover, the nature of Geomancer makes it a good fit for the Pyrokinetic Skill School, which gets buffed by oil.
Unfortunately, unless players want to focus on dealing damage over time with Poison or burning everything with Pyrokinetic Skills, Geomancer isn't always the ideal Skill School - especially for players who want to use a one Skill School build.
5 Scoundrel Skills
As one of the non-elemental Skill Schools, Scoundrel Skills remain extremely significant to melee fighters. However, the specialist nature of Scoundrel Skills and their reliance on daggers make them perfect for Rogues and Shadowblades. Moreover, these Skills focus on granting debuffs to opponents while specializing in stealth, taking advantage of both critical damage and backstab potential.
However, despite the efficiency of Scoundrel Skills in eliminating foes, it's not a great standalone Skill School. Scoundrel-reliant characters will often need backup and support, as Scoundrel Skills don't have enough utility abilities.
4 Huntsman Skills
Similar to Scoundrel Skills, Huntsman Skills are one of the few non-elemental Skill Schools in the game. Moreover, unlike the dagger-reliant Scoundrel Skills, these Skills rely on ranged weapons. Interestingly, unlike having different arrows, Huntsman Skills also have a healthy dose of detection and escape Skills fit for Rangers.
Thankfully, the Huntsman Skill School also serves as one of the more reliable Skill Schools in the game. For instance, First Aid as an early Huntsman Skill can be invaluable, as the health it regenerates can be enough for soloists to make a tactical retreat or finish foes off.
3 Hydrosophist Skills
One might wonder what a support-focused Skill School like Hydrosophist does this close to the top spot. The Hydrosophist is one of the few Skill Schools with almost enough ratio of recovery or buff spells and damaging Skills. As such, a Hydrosophist specialist can easily transition from a support role into a combat role if needed.
Moreover, the Hydrosophist's healthy balance of combat and support spells make it extremely sustainable in battle. Moreover, it's a great asset to support characters who want to stand on their own.
2 Pyrokinetic Skills
The Pyrokinetic Skill School is one of the earliest Skill Schools introduced in the game. However, it's also one of the most reliable Skill Schools players can use. Aside from its damage-buffing Skills, it has a healthy arsenal of Fire-based Skills that can easily burn enemies to a crisp.
Unlike other Skill Schools in the game, Pyrokinetic Skills have immense offensive potential. After all, most objects in the game can be blasted to smithereens, and a Pyrokinetic Skill can just let a burning battlefield finish enemies for the players.
1 Warfare Skills
Nothing beats the basics. Unlike other Skill Schools in the game, Warfare is perhaps one of the most flexible. These focus on melee offense and defense, providing both a means of protection and bashing opponents with weapons. Warfare also utilizes most melee weapons in the game, and often have weapon requirements.
Thankfully, almost all classes will find themselves capable of using one form of weapon, which may benefit from Warfare Skills. Moreover, many Warfare Skills deal AOE damage, which is perfect to thwart off multiple enemies at once.