Dragon’s Dogma 2 Warrior Vocation Gameplay Preview

Discover what to expect from this Advanced class in the upcoming sequel with Dragon’s Dogma 2 Warrior Vocation Gameplay Preview.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 Warrior Vocation Gameplay Preview

Traditional RPG classes are called Vocations in the Dragon’s Dogma series. So far, the Dragon’s Dogma 2 developers have confirmed nine available Vocations for the sequel. These are divided into three categories: Starting, Advanced, and Hybrid. In this gameplay preview guide, we’ll look at the Warrior vocation, its playstyle and abilities, its strengths and weaknesses, and it’s viability as a Pawn vocation.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 Warrior Vocation Gameplay Preview

In the Dragon’s Dogma series, the Warrior Vocation is one of two known Advanced classes which will be available in the sequel. These include the Warrior and the Sorcerer. In Dragon’s Dogma 2, the you will unlock the Advanced Vocations through a quest, rather than by reaching a particular level.

Unlike the Fighter, the Warrior vocation has no need of shield, instead relying on their heavy armour and robust constitutions to carry them through combat. While they are not as tanky as Fighers, Warriors make up for this through a massive increase in damage. Warriors specialize in fighting with two-handed weapons such as the greatsword and hammer. They can also charge up their attacks, landing powerful single blows.

Dragon's Dogma 2 Warrior gameplay two handed sword

As a Warrior you will be able to level up unique skills, some of which allow you to attack multiple enemies with a single swing of your weapon. Moreover, in the original game Warriors could also provide crowd control, by hitting enemies with stunning blows.

Developer Comments on the Warrior

Additionally, Game Director Hideaki Itsuno has said that this time around he and the developers have really given the Warrior class a power-up in terms of the kinds of heavy damage they can deal. To balance this out, however, they have lengthened the amount of charge time it takes to execute a strike. This change makes the Warrior more deadly, but also more difficult to use. Itsuno has said that they helped to mitigate this issue by giving Warriors the ability to ‘tackle’ (Barge). When you are attacked, a Warrior can use a tackle to stun their opponent, rather than be stunned themselves.

Therefore, when switching to this class players will need be cautions of enemy mechanics, rather than rushing right into melee. While the Warrior has a sturdy constitution, they won’t have the defensive capabilities of the Fighter and you’ll need to play smarter. You won’t want to get caught in a pack of enemies taking lots of hits. Furthermore, large enemies will pack a hefty punch. Some won’t be able to kill you in one hit, but if they cause massive damage your Warrior will be slow to get back into the fight. Thus, potentially costing you lost DPS.

Warrior Skills and Abilities

Dragon's Dogma 2 Warrior gameplay from IGN preview
Warrior Vocation Gameplay (Image Source: Capcom and IGN)

An Exclusive Gameplay preview video from IGN gives us a look at some of the abilities which will be available to players of the Warrior vocation. There is a pommel attack called Barge which can stun, as well as other abilities you can unlock that will provide the Warrior with various crowd control capabilities. The Warrior is restricted to two handed weapon only, primarily using either greatswords or hammers.

Here are the known skills and abilities for the Warrior in Dragon’s Dogma 2 that we’ve seen so far:

Core Skills
  • Barge – Rushes forward, tackling the target. Though limited in range, it can force the target to flinch. The user is less likely to flinch while it is active.
  • Breakneck Strike – Enables a charged attack to inflict greater harm by unleashing it the very instant it is fully charged.
  • Bulwark – Reduces damage taken from hostile targets during a charged attack.
  • Chain of Blows – Employs the user’s momentum to unleash an additional Mighty Sweep.
  • Mighty Sweep – Sweeps in a horizontal arc. Holding the activation button turns the attack into a charged slash, making the user less likely to flinch.
  • Stonesplitter – Performs a mighty downward slash. Follows up with a powerful successive strike if it connects with a foe knocked off balance.
Weapon Skills
  • Bellow – Shouts to draw the attention of hostile targets in the vicinity.
  • Goring Lunge – Charges forward, running target through with the blade. Pressing the activation button again stabs forward. Striking with momentum impales foes and crashing them into walls inflicts more harm.
  • Knoll Breaker – Thrusts the blade upward, delivering a solid blow that can knock targets off balance or render them unconscious. Can be charged prior to unleashing.
  • Ladder Launch – Enables the user to plant their feet and launch an ally into the air from their shoulders.
  • Rending Sweep – Spin the blade with enough force to cut down foes in all directions. Can be charged before unleashing.
  • Revivify – Gives the user a second wind, curing them of some debilitations (caught fire, frostbite, sleep, silence and unconscious).
  • Savage Lash – Channels the user’s strength into a devastating hit that grows in power the longer it is charged.
  • Skyward Sunder – Jumps up and slashes upward simultaneously, swinging the blade in mid-air. Can be charged prior to unleashing.

Warrior Strengths and Weaknesses

The following is a list of the pros and cons of the Warrior Vocation/Class in our Dragon’s Dogma 2 Warrior Gameplay Preview:

StrengthsWeaknesses
Greater Attack Power than FighterLesser Defense than Fighter
Hefty ConstitutionLess Agile than Archer/Thief
Crowd control abilitiesLonger charge times on attacks
Generally short range on attacks

Should You Choose the Warrior Vocation For Your Pawn?

Dragon's Dogma 2 Warrior gameplay screenshot from Capcom

In Dragon’s Dogma 2 the Warrior can be a good vocation choice for a Pawn, but remember that as an Advanced class your Pawn won’t be able to use it until level 10. If you’re aiming to upgrade your Pawn into a Warrior, we would highly recommend that you start your Pawn as a Fighter. Having an active Pawn in your party with the Fighter vocation is a great way to protect you and your allies.

Fighters and their shield, in addition to wearing heavy armor, can provide the group with some of the best defense in the game. They have skills which can also taunt enemies, and in general can do a good job of taking attack pressure off of your Arisen and other Pawns. Eventually, you will get to level 10 and can switch your Pawn’s vocation over to Warrior. When doing so, remember that Warriors won’t be able to protect the rest of the group in the same way they did before. You may need to play more conservatively as you readjust to the new group dynamics.

When starting the game, each player will get to create their own Arisen character. Additionally, you will also get to make a custom-designed Pawn. You can only create one single Pawn with the vocation of your choosing. You can recruit other Pawns from within the game to bring a full party.

Pawns can have any Starting vocations and eventually choose an Advanced vocation. However, they cannot use Hybrid Vocations. Those are only available to the Arisen character.


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