Thanks to the release on Nintendo’s Switch Divinity: Original Sin 2 is going through a resurgence as old and new fans dive into this great RPG. With a compelling story, great characters, and fun gameplay, it’s a game that can occupy players for a long, long time.
That being said there are some things about the game that can be annoying and you may miss out on useful features that can make your character’s quest so much easier. Whether it’s useful mechanics, quality of life tools, or some hidden features, here is what you should probably know before starting.
Updated on April 4th, 2021 by Juliet Childers: Though Larian Studios has moved on to developing Baldur's Gate III, their smash indie hit Divinity: Original Sin II is still going strong. The game is a near-perfect execution of a top-down, D&D-style RPG with turn-based combat. Though its predecessor was great, this game is excellent. But it remains new to many people and there are some key updates for the Definitive Edition worth noting before you dive in.
15 Auto-Sort Inventory
There are a lot of things you’ll pick up and carry during the campaign and your inventory will get cluttered and disorganized very quickly. As a result, you’ll find yourself forgetting you had certain items, be unable to find what you need, or at the very least take several seconds to use your items.
Many players fail to see or take advantage of the auto-sort button that is on the right side of the inventory. Selecting this button will automatically shuffle the items in your inventory to be more organized and easier to manage.
14 Pick Up Bags
Another way to mitigate organization problems and clutter is to carry bags. Any bag can be gathered and you can use rope and leather scraps to craft your own. Granted the tutorial at the beginning of the game teaches this, but there’s an important feature it doesn’t go over.
Once you place an item in a bag, any time you pick up that item it will automatically stack inside that bag. This allows you to dedicate bags to ammo, potions, herbs, etc., and have those items automatically sorted into bags for you.
13 Carry Locked Chests
It can be annoying to come across a chest you are just slightly under-leveled for and, therefore, cannot access. This becomes especially true when it’s an area you are unlikely to be able to return to.
Fortunately, Divinity: Original Sin 2 allows players to carry those chests and hold onto them until your character gets skilled enough to open them. This gives you access to loot you might not be able to go back for or at the very least saves you the trouble of doubling back. Just make sure you have a character strong enough to carry them.
12 Thievery Pays Big Time
If you aren’t afraid to get your character’s hands a little dirty then you should know that thievery pays big time in this game. With a high enough thievery level and some gear to provide boosts, you can literally earn tens of thousands of gold pieces through sticky fingers.
In fact, it’s possible to have your roguish character stand on the sidelines at the beginning of the fight and then have that character pick everyone’s pockets in one turn before joining the fight. In addition to the added loot and fattening your gold reserves, this can rob enemies of useful potions and arrows.
11 Infinite Respec
If your character build is broken or isn’t clearing enemies as fast as necessary, it’s possible to respec your character for free as often as you want. This is great for making slight tweaks, undoing recent choices, or starting over from scratch.
This is nice as it allows a character to be retooled for any situation or to find the perfect build. Some of the more dedicated players will have a build in mind for any situation be it farming, boss fights, or specific encounters. Go wild and try some new skills.
10 Hoard Skillbooks
There are a lot of skills in the game that your characters can learn and each requires a certain number of skillbooks of the relevant type to both acquire and learn skills. With 48 skills, players will need a lot of books, especially if you take the above advice and occasionally respec your character.
Early on and throughout the campaign, it is important to hoard your skillbooks. You’ll always be running low and dedicating some time to farm for the gold to buy more is a worthwhile investment.
9 Heal With Bedrolls
Bedrolls are a non-consumable item that can be used to recover an entire party’s health outside of combat. It’s a free, infinite way of making sure your party is in top shape before progressing and should be routinely used.
It’ll also save you a ton of money as constantly chugging potions can get expensive to replace and are more valuable in combat anyway. There is no downside to using a bedroll so make sure your characters are constantly taking naps after battles.
8 Torches Create Fire Arrows
One interesting mechanic in this game is that you can turn regular arrows into fire arrows by shooting them through a torch. Apparently, the game has a built-in system that will immolate the arrow and give it elemental damage.
Granted this is only useful if there is a torch and you can position your character to fire the arrow through the flame and hit an enemy. But when you do see an opportunity, go for it, that extra damage is always appreciated.
7 Jump To Waypoints From Anywhere
It’s true, anywhere in the environment you have the ability to jump to the waypoints you have access to. This fast travel method will save you a ton of time and can be a real-life saver if your party is in bad shape.
Granted, the waypoints may not always be located exactly where you want to go, but odds are there’s one that’ll get you closer. There’s no cost to traveling this way and it saves quite a bit of traveling.
6 AP Is King
Perhaps the most crucial thing to know, and what veterans wish they knew when they started, is the importance of AP. It enables players to perform every action needed to win a fight and it's critical you get this as high as possible.
But it’s also important to remember that your enemies’ AP is just as important. The more AP they have, the more actions they can perform. Finding ways to waste their AP is as valuable as increasing your own. Summoning minions to absorb blows, negating their spells with high leadership, and applying status effects like frozen or stun, are all solid tactics. Managing everyone's AP makes battles much, much easier.
5 The Updated Edition Gives Pet Pal For Free
11/10 Divinity players agree that the skill "Pet Pal" makes the game 10,000% better. After all, you can talk to animals with the perk! In a fantasy game, this ability just seems like a no-brainer. For this game, that statement goes double.
There are wholly unique quests that you will miss out on entirely without the "Pet Pal" skill. In the original version of the game, you had to expend a point on it. In the Definite Edition, players can have it enabled without wasting a point.
4 Source Comes From Many Places
Those familiar with the Divinity series will know that there's a special kind of magic known as "Source" in that world. It can be harnessed for great ill, so the Divine Order has clamped down on those able to wield Source. Over the course of the game, the player character needs to grow their own Source abilities.
But their teachers can come in many different forms -- for better or for worse. There's a bit of a "law of equivalent exchange" thing to it, but the basic gist is that all Source has to have...well, a source. It could be a plant, the undead, or even other people. Choose your Source masters carefully players.
3 Characters You Romance Don't Always Remain Loyal
This is mostly aimed at one very crimson individual, but applies to other romanceable characters, too. Though there aren't as many romance options as fans would like, there are a number in the game including many of the player's companions like Fane, Lohse, and the Red Prince.
The last character, for example, can leave the player for reasons relating to another character (spoilers!). Similarly, Fane can betray the player for a reason other than love-related issues. Just don't take it personally if the character you get busy with "just isn't that into you" at the end.
2 Charm Is An Essential Status Effect In Higher Difficulties
Though the game does offer lots of different modes, a few are more challenging than others. This includes Tactician mode, a more difficult option for seasoned turn-based combat fiends. But this, of course, comes with plenty of obstacles for players.
That's why mental status effects such as "Dominate Mind" become incredibly necessary. By proxy, the ability "Clear Mind" also becomes important as it can cleanse your characters when they are charmed. This ability, a Charm Grenade, or Charm Arrows can turn the tide of battle -- provided your enemies don't have any magic armor.
1 Lohse Is The Best And You Should Keep Her Around All The Time
Every pre-made character in this game is fantastic beyond all known words. They are unique, full of idiosyncrasies, and each has deep, dynamic storylines to pursue in-game. But Lohse, the red-haired bard bedeviled by spirits, is one of the most fascinating and endearing characters ever made.
Her struggles in the game can be considered a representation of mental illness and how living with it is a constant struggle. Whether having her as a party member of playing as her, Lohse is a must-have person for at least one play-through of Divinity: Original Sin II.