The video game industry in the early 2010s birthed a swathe of cult classics, and the originalDragon’s Dogmais one of the lucky few that’s somehow managed to see a revival over a decade later. Though its initial sales weren’t all that great, the release of theremasteredDragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisenbrought a healthy number of new players to the series, and over the last few years, positive word of mouth has gradually led to a more vocal fanbase, and seeing the money on the table, Capcom seized its opportunity, resulting inDragon’s Dogma 2finally being released 12 years after its predecessor.
A sequel that improves upon its predecessor in almost every way, yet still very much retains the same charms and quirks,Dragon’s Dogma 2has received one of the warmest critical receptions of 2024 so far. Though its unique approach to open-world design, challenging combat systems, and occasionally obtuse mechanics haven’t been everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no denying thatDragon’s Dogma 2offers a refreshing open-world fantasy RPG experience, and for such a unique adventure, it’s only natural that fans have crafted a unique set of unwritten rules to go along with it.
The Unwritten Rules of Playing Dragon’s Dogma 2
Don’t Be Afraid to Try a New Vocation
There are countless ways in whichDragon’s Dogma 2breaks traditional open-world RPG conventions, and its progression and class systems are two of the most impressive. While most other RPGs restrict the player to just one class during their entire playthrough, and maybe give them advanced sub-classes later down the line,Dragon’s Dogma 2lets players swap between classes whenever they want, and that type of gameplay is heavily encouraged by the game itself.
At the start ofDragon’s Dogma 2, players can choose fromfour starting Vocations: the Mage, the Fighter, the Archer, and the Thief. As should be expected of a modern-day RPG, all four classes come with their own unique sets of equipment, weapons, proficiencies, and abilities. When players find their first guildmaster they’re able to swap to any of the other three starting Vocations and are immediately granted its starting weapon, armor, and ability.
This allows players to try outevery possible playstyle inDragon’s Dogma 2without having to start a new character, which saves a whole lot of time and effort on the player’s part. As players level up their individual Vocations, they’ll start to unlock special Augments that give their character some kind of unique trait or ability. Augments from different Vocations can all be mixed and matched together, encouraging players to spend time trying out every class.
Take The Time to Customize Pawns
A core pillar ofDragon’s Dogma 2’s world and gameplay is its Pawn system. Far more than just an AI companion, Pawns play a pivotal role inDragon’s Dogma 2, assisting the player in battle, leading them towards quest objectives, spotting enhancement materials in the wild, and being used as a Strand-like mechanic to bridge the gap between other players' worlds.
Playing such an important role in the game, players should ensure they customize their main Pawn to the best of their ability, including their appearance, their gear and weapons, their Vocation abilities, and theirPawn Specializations and Inclinations.
Avoid Dragonsplague Like The Plague
One of the most talked about elements ofDragon’s Dogma 2in its first week of release, Dragonsplague is an absolutely horrifying video game mechanic. Seemingly at random, player’s Pawns can contract an illness known as Dragonsplague. If this is left untreated, Dragonsplague will eventually turn the afflicted Pawn into a literal dragon, who proceeds to decimate whatever town, village, or city the player’s party is currently staying in.
This can lead to the deaths of whole populations, including key quest-givers that will need to be revived via a Wakestone if the player wants to continue the story. It’s imperative thatDragon’s Dogma 2players pay close attention to their Pawn for anysigns of Dragonsplague, and they do whatever’s necessary to stop it in its tracks.
Dragon’s Dogma 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Set forth on your grand adventure, Arisen!Dragon’s Dogma is a single player, narrative driven action-RPG series that challenges the players to choose their own experience – from the appearance of their Arisen, their vocation, their party, how to approach different situations and more. Now, in this long-awaited sequel, the deep, explorable fantasy world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 awaits.On your journey, you’ll be joined by Pawns, mysterious otherworldly beings, in an adventure so unique you will feel as if accompanied by other players while on your own adventure.All of these elements are elevated further through physics technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and the latest in graphics, to create a truly immersive fantasy world in Dragon’s Dogma 2.
