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You have a lot of catching up to do if you want to know what the fuss is all about in Dragon’s Dogma and Dragon’s Dogma 2. The first game easily offers hundreds of hours of epic quests and monster climbing. It can also be a hard game for beginners, so allow us to present you with some overpowered builds in Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen.
Magick Archer Build
Granted, you can’t really go wrong with the Magick Archer as it’s one of the most viable all-rounders in the game. But it can still be confusing for a lot of newbies or older players who have returned.
Follow this stat distribution, Augment choice, and skill choice for a powerful Magick Archer:
| Leveling | 1-10 Mage 11-100 Ranger 101-200 Sorcerer |
| Augments | -Acuity -Articulacy -Predation |
| Skills | -Vortex Trail -Ninefold Bolt -Explosive Volley |
Since it uses Ninefold Bolt and Explosive Volley, you’re going to have to wield a Magick Bowman’s Band. But it’s worth it. It’s one of the best builds ever for grouping enemies together (using Vortex Trail) and then sending a barrage of magic missiles at them.
If you have Sorcerers in the party, they can even add up to the devastation with their area skills. It’s somewhat of a quintessential Magick Archer build since you’re literally shooting dozens of magic arrows more absurdly than the regular Ranger can.
The Vocation distribution ensures you get as high Magic as possible and this build can get away with just about any gear complementary piece from the Bitterblack Isle.
Ranger Build
Speaking of Rangers and traditional arrow shooting, the Ranger isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. It’s also up there among Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen‘s most effortlessly powerful Vocations.
You will need to stock up on tons of arrows since this one consumes them like a machine gun.
| Leveling | 1-10 Fighter 11-200 Assassin |
| Augments | -Autonomy -Bloodlust -Clout -Leg-Strength -Sinew -Vehemence |
| Skills | -Tenfold Flurry -Great Gamble -Comet Shot |
| Gear | -Revenant Wail (Gold Dragonforged, weapon) -Framae Blades (Gold Dragonforged, weapon) -Dragonroar (Head) -Golden Belt (Torso) -Assainlant’s Bracers (Arms) -Assault Boots (Legs) -Sovereign’s Mantle (Cape) -Master Ring x2 |
As usual, Tenfold Flurry is going to be your workhorse skill here, the one you’ll be spamming most of the time. It’s one of the most powerful Ranger skills (if not the most). You just shoot ten arrows at a time, and this is enough to stun-lock even the toughest bosses in the game. That’s also why you need all the arrows in the world.
To make that Tenfold Flurry much stronger, you also need as much Strength as you can get. That’s where the gear comes in and it also explains our gearing choice. By the way, this is a solo class, no pawns since you’re taking the Autonomy Augment.
Warrior Build
If you prefer a melee playstyle, which will be admittedly less safe since you need to get close, then here’s a Warrior build that specializes in killing enemies in the least number of hits possible. That’s assuming your hit connects. Warriors are slow and take some mastery to aim their melee attacks.
However, they have some of the best fashion options in the game, and the huge weapon is perfect for your Berserk cosplays.
| Leveling | 1-10 Fighter 11-80 Strider/Ranger 81-100 Warrior 101+ Sorcerer/Ranger (make your Magick reach 500 before switching to Ranger) |
| Augments | -Adhesion -Clout -Eminence -Ferocity -Leg-Strength -Vehemence |
| Skills | -Exodus Slash -Arc of Obliteration -Calamitous Lunge |
| Gear | -Devil’s Nail (Weapon) -Barbed Nails (Jewelry) -Warrior Band (Jewelry) |
The playstyle is simple. Just use Calamitous Lunge to close the gap and then charge up your Arc of Obliteration for that juicy and satisfying whack. You’ll need to time it well, but with the help of some Pawns, you can pull it off.
Remember to use Exodus Slash whenever you’re about to be in trouble. It’s better than dodging manually.
Mystic Knight Build
The Mystic Knight is one of the most peculiar hybrid classes in the game and while it might look complex, it’s a lot simpler than the pure spellcasters or even the Magick Archer. In fact, the difference once you get to level 200 is next to negligible.
However, if you want to min-max a bit while still enjoying the class early, then here’s a recommendation.
| Leveling | 1-10 Fighter 11-50 Mystic Knight 81-100 Warrior 101-200 Assassin |
| Augments | -Clout -Prescience -Vehemence |
| Skills | -Abyssal Anguish -Full Moon Slash -Great Cannon |
This is an all-around build that’s fun to play and covers lots of bases. Abyssal Anguish is there to buff your melee attack range while Full Moon Slash lets you fight traditionally in melee. Great Cannon, meanwhile, is way too effective to ignore and it will be your primary way to clear large packs of enemies.
Now, you might notice the absence spellcaster builds here, but truth be told, pure Sorcerers or Mages aren’t that great for your main character. The tradeoff in survivability to boost damage isn’t worth it if you’re constantly dying.
You might want to reserve your Mages and Sorcerers for your Pawns instead and then stick to these overpowered builds in Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen for your main character.
