Compare all 11 classes in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, including their Health, Defenses, progression, and multiclassing options. Make an informed character choice.
This guide section provides a high-level overview of the 11 classes available in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, designed for direct comparison. Each class has a dedicated section elsewhere in the guide.
Your chosen class significantly impacts your character's Health (hit points) and base defenses (Deflection, Fortitude, Reflex, Will). The table below rates these stats from highest (★★★★) to lowest (★★).
| Class | Health | Deflection | Fortitude | Reflex | Will |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Chanter | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Cipher | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ |
| Druid | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Fighter | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Monk | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Paladin | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ |
| Priest | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Ranger | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Rogue | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Wizard | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
Most differences between classes are not dramatic. The total number of stars across all stats ranges from 15 (Chanter, Cipher, Wizard) to 19 (Monk).
Character Progression
As characters level up, they gain new Power Levels (PL) and Ability Tiers (AT). Classes that rely on resource pools (Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue) gain an extra slot when a new tier is unlocked.
Players can choose to create a single-classed or multi-classed character. Single-classed characters gain Power Levels earlier and can select more powerful individual abilities. Multi-classed characters can utilize a wider variety of abilities.
All characters receive new weapon proficiencies (Prf) every 3 levels after level 1, and an additional Empower point at level 2 and every 4 levels thereafter.
| Single-classed | Multi-classed | All | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lvl | PL | AT | Pool | Abilities | PL | AT | Pool | Abilities | Prf | Emp |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1+1 | - | - |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | - | +1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1+1 | - | - |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | - | +1 | 1 | 2 | - | +1 | - | - |
| 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1+1 | - | - |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | - | +1 | 1 | 1 | - | +1 | - | - |
| 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1+1 | - | - |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 9 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1+1 | - | - |
| 10 | 1 | 4 | - | +1 | 1 | 4 | - | +1 | - | - |
| 11 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1+1 | - | - |
| 12 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 13 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 1+1 | - | - |
| 14 | 1 | 1 | - | +1 | 1 | 1 | - | +1 | - | - |
| 15 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 16 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 1+1 | - | - |
| 17 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 18 | 1 | 1 | - | +1 | 1 | 1 | - | +1 | - | - |
| 19 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 1+1 | - | - |
| 20 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Single-classed characters may gain a +1 Power Level advantage by level 19 or 20 by selecting the Prestige ability.
For multiclass combinations, Health and Defense stats are averaged between the two classes. For example, a Battlemage (Fighter/Wizard) would have (40 Health + 10) / 2 = 25 Health per level. Initial skill values are also averaged.
Multiclass Names
There are 55 unique names for every possible class combination.
| Barbarian | Chanter | Cipher | Druid | Fighter | Monk | Paladin | Priest | Ranger | Rogue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chanter | Howler | |||||||||
| Cipher | Witch | Spiritualist | ||||||||
| Druid | Tempest | Theurge | Oracle | |||||||
| Fighter | Brute | War Caller | Psyblade | Warden | ||||||
| Monk | Ravager | Cantor | Transcendent | Ascetic | Brawler | |||||
| Paladin | Fanatic | Herald | Inquisitor | Liberator | Crusader | Votary | ||||
| Priest | Shaman | Celebrant | Mystic | Universalist | Cleric | Contemplative | Templar | |||
| Ranger | Savage | Wildrhymer | Seer | Beastmaster | Hunter | Wanderer | Shepherd | Itinerant | ||
| Rogue | Marauder | Harbinger | Mindstalker | Pathfinder | Swashbuckler | Shadowdancer | Holy Slayer | Zealot | Scout | |
| Wizard | Warlock | Loremaster | Hierophant | Sorcerer | Battlemage | Sage | Arcane Knight | Thaumaturge | Geomancer | Spellblade |
Skill Overlaps
When multiclassing, starting skill points are averaged. The following table shows each class's starting skills.
| Skill | Barbarian | Chanter | Cipher | Druid | Fighter | Monk | Paladin | Priest | Ranger | Rogue | Wizard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alchemy | - | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - |
| Arcana | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ |
| Athletics | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
| Bluff | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| Diplomacy | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - |
| Explosives | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | ✓ |
| History | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | ✓ | - | - | ✓ |
| Insight | - | - | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - | ✓ |
| Intimidate | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - |
| Mechanics | - | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | - | ✓ | - |
| Metaphysics | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - | ✓ |
| Religion | - | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - |
| Sleight of Hand | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | - | ✓ | - |
| Stealth | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | - |
| Streetwise | - | - | - | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - | ✓ | - |
| Survival | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - | ✓ | - | - |
Druids, Priests, and Wizards do not rely on resource pools for spellcasting; their limitation is the number of spells they can cast within a given time.
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