Fans of classic RPGs might want to look at Octopath Traveler 2 as a modernized take on the turn-based genre. Set in the world of Solistia, the Octopath Traveler sequel takes another batch of eight (8) characters with personal stories that end up intertwined in unique ways. And considering how players need to raise eight (8) different characters in the JRPG’s rather deep mechanics, players might want to know how to best maximize their characters.
Thankfully, players who want to help their characters shine can rely on Divine Skills. These are abilities in Octopath Traveler 2 derived from the various gods of the game’s pantheon, providing unique perks to each character that can significantly alter the way players approach matches. However, just which Divine Skills work best in the game?
11 Seal Of Eternity (Arcanist)
Serving as a secret job in Octopath Traveler 2 gameplay, the Arcanist fits into one of the more fluid support/DPS hybrid roles in the game. With skills that dish out AOE while granting free recovery, or even Seals that can either remove debuffs and extend self-targeted spells to all allies, the Arcanist can become an integral asset to initiate some of the game’s more powerful combos. However, all the more potent in the Arcanist’s arsenal is Seal of Eternity, its Divine Skill.
Thanks to this Skill, the Arcanist can make a single buff last until the end of the match. This might be useful at first glance, but using this on a multi-buffed character will only boost a random buff. To make this more efficient, players need to set up Seal of Eternity with a character that only has one effective buff.
10 BP Boost (Conjurer)
Being a love letter to some of the industry’s best JRPGs, Octopath Traveler 2 has its fair share of secret jobs, with Conjurer being one of them. Considered a pure support class, the Conjurer primarily boosts the team’s performance through buffs and healing, with the class boasting some of the best damage boosters in the game. Key to their arsenal is their Divine Skill, BP Boost, which can turn the tide of combat when appropriately used.
With this skill, the Conjurer gives one ally extra 2 BP whenever they begin their turn for three (3) turns. When used properly, this extra BP can transform an ally’s already-powerful skill into a much-needed finisher that can eliminate even the peskiest of bosses.
9 Aelfric’s Blessing (Cleric)
One of the biggest flaws of a turn-based RPG like Octopath Traveler 2 is the frustration associated with the reality that the player team’s resident DPS specialist can only act once per round. At the very least, spells can speed up their place in the initiative order or even increase the number of things to do per turn, but sometimes this isn’t enough to affect combat in a significant way. Interestingly enough, a Cleric can reverse this disadvantage with Aelfric’s Blessing, their Divine Skill.
When activated, this skill lets the Octopath Traveler 2 Cleric grant an ally the ability to act again at the end of their turn and take a single action. What’s significant about this buff is how this is done for three (3) consecutive turns, meaning an ally gets two (2) turns for three (3) rounds, which can significantly boost the power output of a resident DPS.
8 Dohter’s Charity (Apothecary)
Given the fantasy turn-based RPG setup of Octopath Traveler 2, it’s no surprise that a lot of support opportunities that players get come in the form of potions and other consumables that can increase their survivability in combat. However, these consumables usually only affect the character consuming them, and may even cost them their entire turn. This forces the recovery process to be a tactical decision for players, requiring them to choose carefully as to when to heal themselves and get buffs via potions. Thankfully, Dohter’s Charity of the Apothecary transforms this setback into a blessing.
Thanks to this Divine Skill, the Apothecary of Octopath Traveler 2 can make an ally’s items affect the entire team instead of just themselves. This also lasts for three (3) whole turns. An ally in desperate need of healing can extend the gift of life to everyone else, and the upcoming DPS in need of a buff can have another ally “grant” this via an item so the heavy-hitter doesn’t need to consume their turn just to activate it.
7 Sealticge’s Seduction (Dancer)
Positioning matters in the turn-based combat system of Octopath Traveler 2, meaning the way characters are laid out can affect the kind of enemies they can attack depending on the distance. In turn, even the most powerful of Warriors can’t slash their way through an enemy beyond their melee range. Thankfully, this setback is easily eliminated with the Dancer’s Divine Skill in Octopath Traveler 2, Sealticge’s Seduction.
With this skill, the Dancer can help one ally extend the reach of their skills for three (3) turns, allowing them to dish out powerful techniques to enemies that are normally only targeted at range. This skill doesn’t affect Divine Skills or user-affecting spells. Thanks to this Divine Skill, the support unit Dancer can transform a close-ranged juggernaut into a behemoth that can lay waste to the battlefield.
6 Aeber’s Reckoning (Thief)
Most RPG games would have the thief or rogue archetype as one of its primary damage dealers, with its speed letting them have their turns first or even boosting their accuracy. This is the role of the Thief in Octopath Traveler 2 gameplay, with its ability to Steal items from enemies and boost their output significantly with their Surprise Attack.
However, where the Thief truly shines is with their Divine Skill, Aeber’s Reckoning. With this skill, the Thief unleashes a powerful attack on all opponents with damage proportional to their existing Speed. With the Thief already encouraged to have one of the highest Speed stats in the game, Aeber’s Reckoning can easily become one of the most devastating AOE attacks in the team’s arsenal. And since the damage of this ability scales with the Thief’s Speed stat, players can simply push the Thief’s Speed into overdrive for the best results.
5 Alephan’s Wisdom (Scholar)
Serving as the equivalent of a Wizard archetype in Octopath Traveler 2 mechanics, the Scholar is easily one of the most potent spellcasters players can access. Their immediate capacity to unleash extremely damaging AOE spells can transform them into mob clearers very quickly, but their nature as glass cannons might mean bosses are a tricky thing for them to handle. With their Divine Skill, Alephan’s Wisdom, however, the Scholar may be able to transform the team’s other DPS units into forces to be reckoned with.
Thanks to this Divine Skill, the Scholar can boost the intensity of an ally’s spells for up to 3x their regular performance. When used with the right unit like the Warrior, Hunter, or even Armsmaster, the Scholar may be able to help the player team eliminate even the toughest of bosses with ease. This may even become a handy tool to boost the Scholar’s own performance, giving them a DPS boost that can help their fiercest spells become much deadlier.
4 Draefendi’s Bow (Hunter)
When it comes to turn-based games like Octopath Traveler 2, players often rely on classes that are able to eliminate as many enemies as possible through multi-target attacks. This is also why spellcasters and their AOE attacks are go-to classes for players, with the Hunter being a physical damage contender for ranged classes.
Players who want to dish out more damage with the Hunter of Octopath Traveler 2 may also want to consider Draefendi’s Bow, the class’s Divine Skill. With this, the Hunter unleashes a bow attack that hits all enemies three (3) times. This is easily one of the more powerful AOE attacks in the game, especially with its triple-damage component that can easily take care of much of the game’s tougher mobs.
3 All-Purpose Tool (Inventor)
The Inventor class in Octopath Traveler 2 gameplay isn’t just one of its newly-added classes, but it’s also perhaps one of the most unique archetypes to ever grace the JRPG scene. Compared to most classes that simply need a basic resource (usually mana or MP) to unleash their attacks, the Inventor takes its name quite literally: it needs materials to create its skills. Whereas most classes have a linear method of acquiring skills every so level, the Inventor can obtain any of its skills in any order provided they know their location.
Moreover, the Inventor needs certain materials to “craft” their Inventions (skills) in a match and use them in another turn. This makes the Inventor one of the most versatile classes when possessing a complete kit, with time being their only setback. Thankfully, this is something their Divine Skill, All-Purpose Tool, solves as it can start crafting all their Inventions on the get-go. This eliminates a huge chunk of prep time the Inventor usually needs to cast their skills, giving them faster and more efficient access to their most powerful Inventions.
2 Sixfold Strike (Armsmaster)
Players looking for a unique class in an RPG like Octopath Traveler 2 might want to consider checking out the Armsmaster, the equivalent of a fighter with a preferred mastery of various weapons. While it’s a more specialized take on the Warrior class, players may also want to consider having an Armsmaster in the team with its Divine Skill, Sixfold Strike.
With this ability, the Armsmaster unleashes six (6) attacks with its different weapons, with each armament dedicated to a particular foe. While this might seem disadvantageous in larger setups where a target among a mob might not be hit with an attack, assigning this move to hit a single target like a boss or a smaller number of enemies may make this skill more efficient.
1 Brand’s Blade (Warrior)
The Warrior of a JRPG like Octopath Traveler 2 serves as the game’s quintessential fighting unit, with a kit primarily dedicated to dishing out damage in close range as efficiently as possible. In turn, it makes sense for the unit to boast rather effective defense on top of its melee prowess.
Interestingly enough, its Divine Skill, Brand’s Blade, is another ideal large-scale attack for the Warrior who wants to finish battles quickly. With this move, the Warrior unleashes a powerful sword strike to hit a single target. When used properly, a well-built Warrior can easily one-shot bosses with this move or even deal significant-enough damage to prepare the team’s other high-DPS members to finish the match.
Octopath Traveler 2 is available on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC.