---
title: "Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire: Complete Guide"
game: "Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/pillars-of-eternity-ii-deadfire"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Builds", "Quests", "Classes"]
summary: "This guide covers Deadfire for new and returning players: choosing a class or multiclass, attributes, party building with the real companions and sidekicks, how combat, resting and injuries work, ships, factions, the…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/pillars-of-eternity-ii-deadfire-complete-guide-af9533f4"
published: "2026-09-27T21:01:04.363Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T21:01:04.363Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire: Complete Guide

This guide covers Deadfire for new and returning players: choosing a class or multiclass, attributes, party building with the real companions and sidekicks, how combat, resting and injuries work, ships, factions, the three expansions, and missables and difficulty advice.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of the final PC patch (2019 update line, including turn-based mode, added January 2019). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.*

> Status: a finished game from Obsidian with no further patches. It supports real-time-with-pause (RTwP) and **turn-based** combat, the latter added in January 2019. The console version came later (January 2020), and the Switch version was cancelled in 2022.

## Quick Start

1. **Single class or multiclass, pick one and commit.** Single-class characters get the highest-tier abilities (power level 9). Multiclass characters gain power levels every 3 levels and top out at level 7 abilities, but get two toolkits.
2. **Pick RTwP or turn-based at the start.** Turn-based changes how attributes are valued. Dexterity (action speed) matters much less there.
3. **Choose companion classes carefully.** When a companion joins, you **permanently** pick their class or multiclass.
4. **Learn the penetration system.** Your weapon's penetration against enemy armour decides your damage. Low penetration gets heavy penalties, so switch weapon type against armoured enemies.
5. **Rest to clear injuries.** Getting knocked out gives injuries, and stacking too many can kill a character permanently. Rest with food for buffs.
6. **Explore every island.** The Deadfire is open. Side quests, bounties and treasure are where most loot and XP come from.
7. **Watch faction standing.** The Huana, Royal Deadfire Company, Vailian Trading Company and Príncipi sen Patrena all compete, and your choices close some doors.
8. **Talk to your companions.** They have opinions on each other and on you, which drives their relationships, conflicts and personal quests.

## Character Creation

### Attributes

| Attribute | What it does | Who wants it |
|---|---|---|
| Might | Damage and healing | Nearly everyone who deals damage or heals |
| Constitution | Health | Front-liners and melee |
| Dexterity | Action speed (attack and cast recovery) | Everyone in RTwP, less so in turn-based |
| Perception | Accuracy, interrupts | Damage dealers and ranged |
| Intellect | Duration and area of effect | Casters, chanters, support |
| Resolve | Concentration and Deflection | Tanks, and casters who get hit |

Rule of thumb: pick two "need" stats for the role and one or two "nice" ones, and don't drop anything below a reasonable baseline unless you understand the build.

### Classes and subclasses

There are 11 classes, each with subclasses:

| Class | Subclasses |
|---|---|
| Barbarian | Berserker, Corpse-Eater, Mage Slayer, Fury Shaper |
| Chanter | Beckoner, Skald, Troubadour, Bellower |
| Cipher | Ascendant, Beguiler, Soul Blade, Psion |
| Druid | Fury, Lifegiver, Shifter, Animist, Ancient |
| Fighter | Black Jacket, Devoted, Unbroken, Tactician |
| Monk | Helwalker, Nalpazca, Shattered Pillar, Forbidden Fist |
| Paladin | Bleak Walkers, Darcozzi Paladini, Goldpact Knights, Kind Wayfarers, Shieldbearers of St. Elcga, Steel Garrote |
| Priest | Berath, Eothas, Magran, Skaen, Wael, Woedica |
| Ranger | Sharpshooter, Ghost Heart, Stalker, Arcane Archer |
| Rogue | Assassin, Streetfighter, Trickster, Debonaire |
| Wizard | Conjurer, Enchanter, Evoker, Illusionist, Transmuter, Blood Mage |

### Popular multiclasses

There are 55 combinations, each with its own name. Proven ones:

| Multiclass | Classes | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Sage | Monk + Wizard | Self-buffing melee. Pairs with Swift Flurry. Fextralife's build uses Citzal's Spirit Lance |
| Inquisitor | Paladin + Cipher | Flames of Devotion plus Soul Annihilation for huge single hits |
| Holy Slayer | Paladin + Rogue | Sneak Attack damage with paladin durability |
| Savage | Barbarian + Ranger | Driving Flight bow damage. Your pet tanks. Commonly built around Frostseeker (war bow) |
| Brute | Barbarian + Fighter | Carnage cleave with fighter sustain |
| Swashbuckler | Fighter + Rogue | Tough, simple melee DPS |
| Cleric | Fighter + Priest | Sturdy front line with priest buffs and heals |
| Mindstalker | Cipher + Rogue | Charms and crits |
| Psyblade | Fighter + Cipher | Phantom Foes for flanking debuffs |
| War Caller | Fighter + Chanter | Durable chanter with invocations |
| Battlemage | Fighter + Wizard | Tanky caster |
| Spellblade | Rogue + Wizard | Burst from stealth and spells |

For a first playthrough, a **single-class Chanter, Paladin or Priest** is forgiving, and a **Swashbuckler** or **Brute** is simple and strong.

## Party Building

### Companions (full personal quests and relationships)

| Companion | Notes |
|---|---|
| Edér | Returning friend, a natural tank |
| Aloth | Returning wizard |
| Pallegina | Returning paladin, a front-line option |
| Xoti | Priest with a lantern. Strong support |
| Tekēhu | Huana water-godlike caster |
| Serafen | Pirate cipher |
| Maia Rua | Ranger, tied to the Royal Deadfire Company |

Some companions have strong faction ties, and certain story choices can make them leave. Read the dialogue cues before big faction decisions.

### Sidekicks (no personal quests)

Rekke, Ydwin, Fassina, Konstanten, Mirke (from the free Rum Runner's Pack) and Vatnir. Use them to fill a missing role if you've fallen out with a companion or want a different lineup.

### Balanced five-person party

- 1 **tank** (Edér or Pallegina in a fighter or paladin build)
- 1 **support/healer** (Xoti as priest)
- 1 **controller or caster** (Aloth as wizard, or Serafen as cipher)
- 2 **damage dealers** (you plus Maia Rua or Tekēhu)

## Combat Essentials

- **Accuracy vs Defence:** hits, grazes, misses and crits depend on your Accuracy against the target's Deflection, Fortitude, Reflex or Will.
- **Penetration vs Armour:** match weapon penetration to the enemy's armour. Pierce, slash, crush and damage types matter against different armour.
- **Afflictions and inspirations:** afflictions (for example Weakened or Blinded) lower a stat, and inspirations raise it. Stacking inspirations and cleansing afflictions win fights.
- **Engagement:** melee characters lock enemies in place, and moving out of engagement provokes a disengagement attack. Put your tank in front.
- **Resources:** classes use per-encounter resources (Focus, Phrases, Wounds and so on) or per-rest spell tiers depending on the class. Spend them freely in hard fights.
- **AI scripts:** in RTwP, turn on and customize party AI for trash fights, and micro-manage bosses.

### Resting and injuries

Knocked-out characters get injuries. Resting clears them and applies food bonuses. Carry camping supplies and good food. A late-game party runs on rest buffs.

## Skills

Deadfire splits skills into:
- **Active skills:** Alchemy, Arcana, Athletics, Explosives, Mechanics, Sleight of Hand, Stealth
- **Passive (conversation and world) skills:** Bluff, Diplomacy, History, Insight, Intimidate, Metaphysics, Religion, Streetwise, Survival

Spread them across the party. Mechanics (locks and traps) and Athletics are very useful early. Several conversation checks use the best score in the party.

## Ship and Travel

Your ship is your base and your way of getting around the archipelago. You'll manage:
- **Crew:** hire, assign roles and keep them fed and paid.
- **Upgrades:** sails, hull, cannons and cabins improve speed, durability and combat.
- **Ship combat:** a text-based tactical minigame where you close range, fire cannons and board. If ship combat isn't for you, boarding lets you switch to a normal party fight.
- **Supplies:** food, water and repairs. Running out hurts morale and crew.

## Factions

| Faction | Style |
|---|---|
| Huana | The native Deadfire people. Traditional and caste-based |
| Royal Deadfire Company | Aedyran colonial military |
| Vailian Trading Company | Mercantile and profit-driven |
| Príncipi sen Patrena | The pirate faction |

Each has a questline that ends with a choice of allies for the endgame. Doing quests for more than one faction is possible for a while, but eventually you'll have to pick.

## Expansions

| Expansion | Summary |
|---|---|
| Beast of Winter | An icy DLC region with its own storyline |
| Seeker, Slayer, Survivor | Combat challenge arenas |
| The Forgotten Sanctum | A wizard-focused storyline with hard, high-level content |

Free packs include the **Rum Runner's Pack** (sidekick Mirke), the **Beard and Hair Pack**, the **Scalawags Pack** (crew and upgrades) and **The Deck of Many Things**.

**When to do expansions:** they're tuned for mid-to-high levels, so get your party to the late teens before The Forgotten Sanctum, which is the hardest.

## Difficulty Advice

- **Story or Relaxed:** narrative focus.
- **Classic or Veteran:** a proper tactical experience.
- **Path of the Damned:** everything maxed, for experienced players.
- Extra options include **level scaling** for enemies and challenges like Trial of Iron (single save). Turn them on only if you want them.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Choosing a companion's class casually.** It's permanent.
- **Ignoring penetration.** If your hits say "low penetration", change weapon type or add armour-piercing buffs.
- **Skipping rest buffs.** Food bonuses are significant.
- **Not using AI scripts in RTwP.** You'll wear yourself out micromanaging trash fights.
- **Ignoring companion relationships.** Some companions leave over major decisions.
- **Selling unique items early.** Many uniques have upgrade paths later.
- **Neglecting ship supplies.** Crew morale and health drop fast.

## Advanced Tips

- **Stack inspirations:** use priest and chanter buffs before big fights and keep the most important ones up.
- **Weapon swaps:** keep a crushing weapon and a piercing weapon ready for different armour types.
- **Unique weapon enchantments:** many uniques unlock bonus properties through upgrades. Plan to build around one early.
- **Turn-based tuning:** initiative and turn order change which attributes matter. Rethink Dexterity and Resolve-based builds for turn-based.
- **Berath's Blessings:** when starting a new game, blessings from past playthroughs can speed up replays.

## FAQ

**What's the max level?**
Level 20.

**Should I play the first Pillars of Eternity first?**
It helps with the story, but Deadfire recaps and lets you set your choices from the first game.

**Is turn-based better than real-time?**
It depends on taste. Turn-based is slower but more tactical. Both are fully supported.

**Which companions are romanceable?**
Xoti, Tekēhu and Maia Rua can become romances, and some combinations conflict with each other. Check dialogue as you go.

**Are the DLCs worth it?**
Yes, especially The Forgotten Sanctum and Beast of Winter.

**Can companions die permanently?**
Yes. Too many injuries can kill a character outright. Rest often to clear them.

## Sources

- [Steam store page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/560130/)
- [Wikipedia: Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillars_of_Eternity_II:_Deadfire)
- [Fextralife: Classes](https://pillarsofeternity2.wiki.fextralife.com/Classes)
- [Fextralife: Multiclass combinations](https://pillarsofeternity2.wiki.fextralife.com/Multiclass)
- [Fextralife: Companions](https://pillarsofeternity2.wiki.fextralife.com/Companions)
- [Fextralife: Builds](https://pillarsofeternity2.wiki.fextralife.com/Builds)
- [Fextralife: DLC](https://pillarsofeternity2.wiki.fextralife.com/DLC)