Though the situation may change console port holds up against the PC original, maintaining the complexity with a suitably streamlined control structure. Digital D&D is a difficult goal by any measure, but Original Sin 2 manages to nail the feeling and fun, building on it with an incredible range of customization options.
That customization is key even when working within the game's prebuilt character classes. While it is truly a mix-and-match system, there are ways to maximize abilities to fit an archetype, filling out a valuable role in the party. For some, the best place is on the front lines as an armor-clad knight, for others the back lines as a spell-slinging sorcerer. Some, though, prefer to mix it up, to strike from the shadows, and leap back into the dark as soon as the damage is done, keeping the enemy ever on their toes. This is the art of the rogue, the stealthy, sharp striker class that excels at both damage dealing and unmatched mobility. This guide aims to help players create their perfect backstabber, giving the tips and tricks for playing a rogue in Divinity: Original Sin 2.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Rogue Creation
As with every class choice in Original Sin 2, there is no one correct option for the character race, but some are slightly more beneficial than others. Dwarf characters work very well - the inherent racial boost of +1 to sneaking saves point commitments later for an ability that is nearly necessary for the positioning-heavy rogue playstyle. Elves are also quite effective; though the Loremaster bump is something of a write-off, the Flesh sacrifice skill is incredibly useful and pairs well with the Rogue's Adrenaline skill to either take the edge off the subsequent AP drop or to set up an action-heavy round. While certainly still playable, Human, Lizard, and Undead Rogues do not offer directly beneficial perks for pure rogues, but can be helpful for those wishing to branch out into more direct combat-oriented builds, with humans especially being quite versatile in their capabilities.
When divvying out Attribute points, it is wise to initially prioritize Finesse and Constitution. Finesse is the governing ability of the Scoundrel skill tree, the central core abilities that make the Rogue effective, as well as boosting the damage on the lighter Finesse-based weapons that are best suited to the class. Constitution will be especially helpful to offset the lesser protection offered by light armor - while it should not be the key stat for the class, having a solid health pool to fall back on can buy the character enough time to get out of danger. Wits is also worth dropping a few points into to amplify the already impressive critical damage of the Rogues, as well as ensuring an early initiative positioning to keep mobile. Strength, while not exceptionally relevant, can be helpful to beef up for some expanded carry capacity and the ability to get some heavier weapons. While heavy armor will never be particularly useful for the class, it does not hurt to make sure that the player can always access the finest light armor and stand up or themself in a head-on conflict.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Rogue Play Style
While the Rogue does not typically excel in the center of a brawl, they are incredibly adept at picking targets and isolating them. Try to focus down on enemies in isolation and those on the fringes, ideally disengaging and moving away from larger clusters of foes after the damage is done. Given the Scoundrel skills that allow cloaked teleportation ability, it is especially helpful to target ranged combatants; the worst-case scenario is that they are forced to displace, sometimes costing the opportunity to shoot at the party, the best is that a threat has been completely eliminated.
The go-to weapon for the rogues is the dagger. The exceptional mobility provided by the class makes them uniquely suited to maneuvering around enemies to get the big pop of extra damage from a backstab. Simply move into the radius behind the chosen enemy (depicted as a triangular field with a dagger icon) and attack as typical. It is important to note that not all abilities benefit from the backstab position - check to make sure that the chosen attack makes use of the boost to ensure that AP and recharge time are not being wasted. Rogues can also be quite effective at a distance, but many scoundrel skills rely on being up close, so it can be wise to just keep a ranged weapon on hand for a tight situation.
As far as skill goes, the Scoundrel category offers a lot of diversity and a lot of mobility. On top of the starting skills of Adrenaline, Throwing Knife, and Backlash, some solid early picks for the Rogue are Gag Order and Rupture Tendons. These two work together to fill in what are some of the small gaps in the class; Gag Order allows magic s to be silenced, allowing the player to cut down on a primary source of ranged danger and level the field into a physical fight, while Rupture Tendons causes ongoing damage while the effected enemy moves, punishing any pursuit of the rogue. On top of this skill set, it can be helpful to grab a handful of skills from Huntsman, like First Aid and Tactical Retreat, to help bump up the Rogue's mobility that little bit further.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is available now on PC, Mac, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.