Switching Vocations Made Me Love Dragon's Dogma 2

Being the chosen one isn’t easy. The fate of the world is riding on my shoulders, and picking the wrong vocation almost made me throw in the towel. Dragon’s Dogma 2 initially grabbed me in the trailer as an archer fired magical arrows. Playing as a stealthy archer build has been my go-to since first playing Skyrim on the PS3 back in 2011, so why wouldn’t I go for the tried and true style I enjoy?

In Skyrim, embracing a watchful, keen eye and striking targets from a great distance usually allowed me to explore a dungeon freely and without worry of being attacked or overwhelmed. I wrongly assumed that this would be somewhat the same in Dragon’s Dogma 2, and fumbled during the opening hours. My arrows landed haphazardly and I couldn’t roll out of the way or use my bow to block a blow. I was supposed to be the chosen one, and yet my skill level felt more suited to fighting off feral cats. I gritted my teeth, ate the damage, and prayed that my Main Pawn could rush any future enemies.

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At one point, a Minotaur rushed at me and wiped out the entire party. It happened half a dozen times, and all I needed was to get past that section of the road to return to town. Rather than walk all the way back around through the cliffs, I met a merchant headed the same way and let them go first. They had no idea what waited for them up ahead, and I sat back until I heard the familiar sound of the earth trembling, then quickly darted around the massacre to get away.

I’m not proud of it, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make for a moment of peace.

Then I hired a thief pawn for a short while. Their movements were sleek and flawless, and they blended with shadows seamlessly. I watched in awe as they swiftly took out enemies, which gave me an idea.

Before giving up on the game completely, I scrounged up enough Discipline to change my vocation. After all, if gameplay was going to focus heavily on combat, then I needed to make it more enjoyable. My main pawn, Leopold, and the other pawns could only carry me so far, and with how many enemies hid in the wilds, I had to learn to fight better.

Switching to the thief vocation granted me the ability to dodge. Blocking attacks at the right moment never worked for me, but I can get out of the way with ease. As a thief, I move with speed and precision. I no longer had to stay back and let my allies do the dirty work. I launched myself towards Saurians and Ogres alike, tearing into them with my daggers and climbing the massive monsters like a spider.

Defeating these fearsome creatures came much more easily, and I finally understood what made it all so exciting. The rush of battle and the rewarding high-fives and fistbumps from pawns after a well-fought fight only added to my Arisen’s story.

Narratively, it makes sense. My Arisen was discarded and forgotten, only to cling to shadows and slowly make their way back to their rightful place as ruler. I can get behind that. From the roleplay element of being a thief to the edgy cowl and cloak she dons in the dark, my Arisen feels much more engaging now than she did as an archer.

The skills I learned were much more suited to my play style. The hype for the combat system made sense. My new vocation gave me the courage to confront a Minotaur. The unbridled joy and victory cry of taking its horns as a trophy pulled me in completely. My party celebrated the victory at the inn with a round of drinks, and all felt right with the world.

And I, finally, understand why Dragon’s Dogma 2 is that good. The story is much more enjoyable when I’m not having to restart every few minutes, and exploring the wilds is much easier when I know I can handle myself. Choosing the right starting vocation is far more important than it seems, and as someone who prefers to avoid combat altogether, the best option is to prioritize what makes the gameplay feel right. Fighting massive monsters is exhilarating, and taking them down is a welcome challenge worthy of the Arisen.

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