Tactical RPG fans love Larian Studios' Divinity: Original Sin 2 not just for its compelling storyline, but its diverse range of character skills. Similar to Divinity: Original Sin, the sequel makes full use not just of character Talents, but also various environmental elements and better skill offerings. Moreover, thanks to the game's robust customization system, players might feel overwhelmed with the number of skills their characters learn.
Unfortunately, this caveat might make players reliant solely on combat-oriented skills. However, there actually exist some skills that have more benefits than most Original Sin 2 players realize. Just what other skills should players consider getting for their characters? Moreover, just what makes these skills extremely valuable?
10 Peace Of Mind
Players ideally want the best skills to eliminate enemies the fastest. This factor means getting the best AOE or deadliest single-target attacks. However, more strategic players think about battles from a resource perspective. If players want to outlast enemies, they've got to ensure they deal optimal damage while retaining great mobility and defense. Peace of Mind can help players meet that criterion.
With this skill, a character can remove Mad, Enraged, Sleeping, Taunted, Charmed, Terrified, and Blinded effects. Moreover, they get the Clear-Minded status for three turns. This buff gives +2 Strength, Finesse, and Intelligence, and +5 Wits. These benefits make Peace of Mind easily one of the best buffs in Original Sin 2.
9 Nether Swap
Positioning remains a key aspect of winning any battle. After all, it's one thing to get into position, but it's another thing entirely to make sure the party adjusts to how the enemy moves. Unfortunately, this caveat means there will be times when support characters get surrounded while away from the defense of melee characters. Thankfully, Nether Swap can turn the tide of this disadvantage.
Characters only need Aerothurge 2 to equip this spell. With Nether Swap, it becomes possible to switch the places of two characters. Not only can this make a melee character swap with a ranged character, but it can also lead to great setups such as Corpse Explosion and Raise Bloated Corpse.
8 Impalement
Players will likely love Fossil Strike, especially when setting up explosions for early-game combos. However, Fossil Strike only deals 85% Earth damage before making an oil puddle. A good alternative is to set up Fire attacks via Impalement.
This skill also creates an oil puddle after casting. However, it impales all characters and items for 100% Earth damage while also debuffing them with the Crippled status. This advantage forces enemies to stay inside the oil puddle, hopefully giving players enough time to set up that devastating explosion.
7 Battle Stomp
When it comes to skills, players likely want to look for those that deal massive AOE. However, it might help players more if they also rely on skills that set up powerful combos. One such skill is Battle Stomp which, despite its limited damage, does pack a lot of benefits.
This early-game skill only deals 60% AOE damage. However, it knocks down non-allied characters in front of the caster. Moreover, it also clears clouds and surfaces, provided they're not cursed. Players who use Battle Stomp on a crowd of enemies will force them to spend a turn rising up from their Knocked Down status, which is hopefully enough for other party members to finish them off.
6 Cloak And Dagger
At first glance, the Cloak and Dagger skill seems straightforward. It simply allows a character to teleport to a location without breaking Sneaking or Invisibility. This skill becomes ideal as an escape option, it's also a great way for Rogues and Scoundrel characters to swoop in for the kill.
For instance, a surrounded Rogue can put on Chameleon Cloak and then cast Cloak and Dagger to get away from the battlefield. Moreover, they can relocate to a safer location or even behind a stronger enemy for a good ol' fashioned backstab.
However, Cloak and Dagger is also ideal for Rangers. They can use this to teleport out of the battlefield, turn on Sneaking, and then launch a surprise attack to reenter combat.
5 Death Wish
Some characters just attract enemies much faster, such as long-ranged Rangers and Wizards, or close-enough melee targets like tanks. Unfortunately, this sets them up for damage much easier, and they might even die faster. Thanks to the Necromancy skill Death Wish, the damage characters receive can be put to good use. When this skill is activated, Death Wish gives characters a damage bonus equal to the percentage of the Vitality they lost. For instance, if they have 40% Vitality, they get a 50% damage increase.
Despite the usefulness of this skill, players should observe how Death Wish affects their particular character. Others observed that spells receive better damage boosts from Death Wish compared to basic attacks. With this in mind, Death Wish might be of use to spellcasters that often get targeted or to tanks that soak up damage.
4 Ballistic Shot
Players should ideally want skills that deal as much damage to as many enemies as possible. It's this factor that makes AOE spells and skills extremely attractive. However, players might want to make an exception for Rangers and long-ranged combatants, as Ballistic Shot taps into the distance to create a deadly shot.
Ballistic Shot, at its core, deals 100% when launched. However, it receives a 5% damage bonus for every meter of distance away from the target. This factor makes this skill extremely useful for Rangers, and even deadlier when used from higher ground and even the Far Out Man Talent.
3 Skin Graft
Like other support skills, Skin Graft sometimes gets the squinty eye for being non-combative in nature. Moreover, it doesn't even have any restorative properties. However, what it lacks in healing it compensates for with massive advantages. When activated, Skin Graft removes Bleeding, Poisoned, Necrofire, and Burning. Moreover, it resets all existing cooldowns for the character.
New players might think these status ailments aren't worrisome, especially early in the game. However, when paired with devastating attacks from enemies, the damage-over-time these ailments cause can land unexpected killing blows to allies when left untreated.
2 Rupture Tendons
It's interesting how an early-game skill can become one of the most devastating in the entire game. When used properly, Rupture Tendons can help classes like Rogues and Fighters kill strong enemies even while moving. As a skill, Rupture Tendons deals 100% damage to a target. While this sounds simple enough, the real fun starts with its effect, as targets hit with Ruptured Tendons take damage as they move.
This skill works best against enemies that are hitting far-off targets but have no means of closing the distance. Moreover, chicken form opponents (via Chicken Claw) will likely receive more damage since they will likely want to move while trapped as poultry. Finally, players can add Haste on a chicken'd opponent for sweeter damage.
1 Forced Exchange
Who hates a good life steal skill? Thanks to Forced Exchange, players can easily turn the tide of battle against a hard-hitting opponent or boss. When used, Forced Exchange will exchange the Vitality percentages of the caster and a target, making it ideal for "flipping the table" against a remarkably strong opponent.
However, like any good skill, Forced Exchange does have a caveat. Since it's best used to exchange Vitality, players get maximum benefits when they are low on Vitality. As such, this skill needs to be used carefully, or when players get to delay their turn and guarantee they are not hit.