Pillars of Eternity Class Builds Guide

Q: What are the best Barbarian skills in Pillars of Eternity?

This guide provides detailed character builds for the Barbarian, Chanter, Cipher, and Druid classes in Pillars of Eternity, offering recommended attributes, skills, and ability choices for each level.

Q: How to build a defensive Chanter in Pillars of Eternity?

This guide provides detailed character builds for the Barbarian, Chanter, Cipher, and Druid classes in Pillars of Eternity, offering recommended attributes, skills, and ability choices for each level.

Q: Best Cipher spells for crowd control in Pillars of Eternity?

This guide provides detailed character builds for the Barbarian, Chanter, Cipher, and Druid classes in Pillars of Eternity, offering recommended attributes, skills, and ability choices for each level.

Q: How to use Spiritshifting effectively as a Druid in Pillars of Eternity?

This guide provides detailed character builds for the Barbarian, Chanter, Cipher, and Druid classes in Pillars of Eternity, offering recommended attributes, skills, and ability choices for each level.

Q: What are the best weapon focuses for each class in Pillars of Eternity?

This guide provides detailed character builds for the Barbarian, Chanter, Cipher, and Druid classes in Pillars of Eternity, offering recommended attributes, skills, and ability choices for each level.

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Barbarian Build

Race: Human (Fighting Spirit)
Culture: Deadfire Archipelago
Background: Slave
Attributes: MIG: 18, CON: 9, DEX: 9, PER: 14, INT: 18, RES: 10
Skills: Athletics (3), Survival (2)

Level Progression:

Level 1: Carnage; Frenzy
Level 2: Weapon Focus - Soldier
Level 3: Savage Defiance
Level 4: Two-Handed Style
Level 5: One Stands Alone
Level 6: Stalwart Defiance
Level 7: Threatening Presence
Level 8: Accurate Carnage
Level 9: Barbaric Shout
Level 10: Apprentice's Sneak Attack
Level 11: Thick-skinned
Level 12: Barbaric Blow
Level 13: Dragon Leap
Level 14: Greater Frenzy
Level 15: Barbaric Retaliation
Level 16: Bull's Will

Tips: Frenzy is not optimal at low levels due to its Accuracy penalty, but it is superior to Barbaric Yell long-term. Savage Defiance synergizes with Fighting Spirit, allowing self-healing when combat boosts are triggered by taking sufficient damage. Many abilities are passive, weakening nearby enemies while you are engaged in combat. One Stands Alone grants a damage bonus based on enemy proximity, not requiring Engagement.

The recommended Weapon Focus is for the Tall Grass pike or the Hours of St. Rumbauld great sword, both capable of knocking enemies Prone (a status effect) on a critical hit. Carnage extends this effect to an Area of Effect (AoE), and Threatening Presence increases its likelihood by reducing enemy Fortitude.

Chanter Build

Race: Coastal Aumaua (Towering Physique)
Culture: Old Vailia
Background: Merchant
Attributes: MIG: 18, CON: 10, DEX: 6, PER: 10, INT: 18, RES: 16
Skills: Lore (3), Mechanics (2)

Level Progression:

Level 1: Chants: Come, Come, Soft Winds...; Blessed Was Wengridh...; But Reny Daret's Ghost...; Talents: -
Level 2: Chants: White Worms Writhed...; Talents: Ancient Memory
Level 3: Chants: At the Sight of Their Comrades...; Talents: -
Level 4: Chants: Not Felled By the Axe...; Talents: Weapon Focus - Peasant
Level 5: Chants: Sure-Handed Ila...; Talents: -
Level 6: Chants: My Son, Do You See Your Sisters...? ; Talents: Weapon and Shield Style
Level 7: Chants: Rime and Frost...; Talents: -
Level 8: Chants: At the Sound of His Voice...; Talents: Beloved Spirits
Level 9: Chants: The Dragon Thrashed...; Talents: -
Level 10: Chants: Seven Nights She Waited...; Talents: Secrets of Rime
Level 11: Chants: The Silver Knights' Shields...; Talents: -
Level 12: Chants: Oh, But Knock Not on the Door...; Talents: Superior Deflection
Level 13: Chants: Old Slec Would Not Rest...; Talents: -
Level 14: Chants: So Singt Thy Biting Winds...; Talents: Hold the Line
Level 15: Chants: Mercy and Kindness...; Talents: -
Level 16: Chants: Called to His Bidding...; Talents: Two-handed Style

Tips: This build prioritizes defense and passive offense, as Chanters are not typically fast damage dealers. The Weapon Focus benefits hatchets for deflection and provides a general Accuracy bonus. Higher-level Invocations are enhanced by Secrets of Rime. For most encounters, continuously chanting _Come, come..._ is recommended to enable damaging Invocations or speed up summons. _Old Slec_ or _Mercy and Kindness_ can be used for powerful self and party heals.

Cipher Build

Race: Moon Godlike (Silver Tide)
Culture: The Living Lands
Background: Scientist
Attributes: MIG: 16, CON: 10, DEX: 16, PER: 12, INT: 16, RES: 8
Skills: Lore (2), Mechanics (2), Stealth

Level Progression:

Level 1: Spells: Antipathetic Field; Eyestrike; Talents: Soul Whip
Level 2: Spells: Whisper of Treason; Talents: Greater Focus
Level 3: Spells: Psychovampiric Shield; Mental Binding; Talents: -
Level 4: Spells: Recall Agony; Talents: Biting Whip
Level 5: Spells: Puppet Master; Ectopsychic Echo; Talents: -
Level 6: Spells: Secret Horrors; Talents: Draining Whip
Level 7: Spells: Body Attunement; Silent Scream; Talents: -
Level 8: Spells: Pain Block; Talents: Psychic Backlash
Level 9: Spells: Borrowed Instinct; Tactical Meld; Talents: -
Level 10: Spells: Fractured Volition; Talents: Brutal Backlash
Level 11: Spells: Amplified Wave; Disintegration; Talents: -
Level 12: Spells: Mind Plague; Talents: Weapon Focus - Adventurer
Level 13: Spells: Pain Link; Time Parasite; Talents: -
Level 14: Spells: Soul Ignition; Talents: Apprentice's Sneak Attack
Level 15: Spells: Defensive Mindweb; Reaping Knives; Talents: -
Level 16: Spells: Phantom Foes; Talents: Bull's Will

Tips: This build offers a balance of crowd control and direct damage. Initially, a bow is recommended, but upon acquiring Greater Focus at level 2, opening with Eyebite can improve the landing of physical attacks. For a melee-focused approach, starting with Psychovampiric Shield at level 3 and engaging in combat is viable. The Weapon Focus supports a hybrid playstyle with reach and missile weapons.

Disintegration is the primary high-damage spell. Fractured Volition can be used to reduce the Fortitude of high-defense targets before engaging them. Antipathetic Field and Ectopsychic Echo can be used prior to this.

Druid Build

Race: Pale Elf (Elemental Endurance)
Form: Cat
Culture: The Living Lands
Background: Colonist
Attributes: MIG: 15, CON: 10, DEX: 16, PER: 10, INT: 18, RES: 9
Skills: Lore, Survival (4)

Level Progression:

Level 1: Spells: 1st level spells; Mastery: -; Talents: Spiritshift
Level 2: Spells: -; Mastery: -; Talents: Wildstrike Shock
Level 3: Spells: 2nd level spells; Mastery: -; Talents: -
Level 4: Spells: -; Mastery: -; Talents: Heart of the Storm
Level 5: Spells: 3rd level spells; Mastery: -; Talents: -
Level 6: Spells: -; Mastery: -; Talents: Two-Weapon Style
Level 7: Spells: 4th level spells; Mastery: -; Talents: -
Level 8: Spells: -; Mastery: -; Talents: Weapon Focus - Peasant
Level 9: Spells: 5th level spells; Mastery: Nature's Mark; Talents: -
Level 10: Spells: -; Mastery: -; Talents: Greater Wildstrike Shock
Level 11: Spells: 6th level spells; Mastery: Autumn's Decay; Talents: -
Level 12: Spells: -; Mastery: -; Talents: Apprentice's Sneak Attack
Level 13: Spells: 7th level spells; Mastery: Stag's Horn; Talents: -
Level 14: Spells: -; Mastery: -; Talents: Savage Attack
Level 15: Spells: 8th level spells; Mastery: Form of the Delemgan; Talents: -
Level 16: Spells: -; Mastery: -; Talents: Interrupting Blows

Tips: This build focuses on Spiritshifting rather than pure casting, as a dedicated caster role is better suited for a Wizard. The cat form is preferred for its synergy with high attack speed. The combination of Elemental Endurance and Form of the Delemgan is highly advantageous, making Pale Elf a strong choice over Nature Godlike.

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