I assume that you have already understood the basics of class building. It is a heavy pre-requisite that you must learn each attribute, talent, and combat abilities before you proceed. If not, then you may check my basic guide that shall cover them all.

Basic Class Building

You may use this as a reference to what you are looking for. Just use (CTRL+F) to find its keywords.

Choosing path is made simple. I have deducted and organized 3 paths that relates to the 3 main attributes. Why? Investing in only one of them will ensure that you will deal the most effective damage in the game. But investing in two main stats such as FINESSE and then STRENGTH isn't viable. These two stats do not work together in damage calculation. Let me explain further, but don't worry, each path will branch out to your likings.



The strength path focuses on high strength as it is. Most of the STR skills are melee ranged. But there are some STR base skills that deal magic damage. Let's first take a look at your weapon:


Weapon:

• One-Handed Sword
  
• One-Handed Axe
  
• One-Handed Mace
  
• Two-Handed Sword
  
• Two-Handed Axe
  
• Two-Handed Mace

Now that you have an overview of what weapon you will be using, be reminded of what weapon scaling is:

Originally posted by author:

Warfare and Scoundrel combat abilities scales with your weapon type. (ex. Two-Handed Sword will make your warfare skills be amplified by STR. While Daggers (FIN weapons) will make your warfare skills be amplified by FIN).

ALTHOUGH, there is a limit on scoundrel skills. Since most of the scoundrel skills will require a dagger, lets say you have a two-handed sword equipped and you wanted to see if you can use sawtooth knife, the information will still scale with what weapon you're using so its STR. But you cannot use that skill because of the requirements (dagger).


Combat Abilities that STR can amplify:

• Polymorph
  
• Warfare (Must have STR based weapon)
  
• Scoundrel (Must have STR based weapon)
  
• One-Handed (Must have STR based weapon)
  
• Two-Handed (Must have STR based weapon)
  
• Dual-Wielding (Must have STR based weapon)

Note that polymorph skills are STR based. Yes, they are STR based and there are magic skills that deal magic damage but are scaled on STR. One of them is my favourite:

Flay Skin (3 AP - 5 Turns Cooldown) - Destroy [X] Magic Armour on target character. Set status that halves elemental resistances for 2 turns.


STR Armor

Now let's discuss a little bit about STR type armor. Builds are not builds without equipment planning. STR type armours will give more Physical armour than Magic armour. These armours will grant you additional stats (mostly beneficial for STR type stats) such as +STR, +Warfare, +Two-Handed / +Dual-Wielding / +Single-Handed. It's RNG and this is why STR armours should be worn by STR users. Because most of the STR armours will give good bonus combo for STR users!




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The finesse path is very similar to STR. Except they have a different set of weapons and skill set.
Let's take a look at your weapons that scales with FINESSE.

Weapon

• Daggers
  
• Two-Handed Spears
  
• Bows
  
• Crossbows

Now that you have an overview of weapon types in FINESSE path, you are still able to use warfare skills. Most of the warfare skill will require a melee weapon, so bows and crossbows does not work on warfare warfare skills that require melee weapons.

Originally posted by author:

Bows and Crossbows may benefit from Warfare Physical Damage bonus

Combat Abilities that FIN can amplify

• Warfare (Must have FIN based weapon)
  
• Scoundrel (Must have FIN based weapon)
  
• One-Handed (Must have FIN based weapon)
  
• Two-Handed (Must have FIN based weapon)
  
• Dual-Wielding (Must have FIN based weapon(s))
  
• Ranged (Must have Bow or Crossbow)
  
• Huntsman

Note that Huntsman is included in the list but it is not directly amplified by FIN. It makes sense that it should be on the list because Huntsman skills will require a ranged weapon. And Ranged weapons are all finesse based.


FIN Armor

Finesse type armor will offer balanced magic armor and physical armor. Most of these armor parts will provide finesse bonus combo such as +FIN, +Ranged, +Scoundrel, +Two-Handed, etc.


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Finally, the Intelligence path has the most amount of skillset in the game. Let's take a look at your weapons that scales with INT.

Weapon:

• Wand
  
• Staff

Notice that Intelligence type has the least weapon choices, they also have the least concern when it comes to weapon damage. Because your weapon damage will not amplify your skill damage. Being in the path of Intelligence is to be a caster. Thus, there is only one thing you should look for in a weapon:

Bonuses such as + INT, + Pyrokinetic, a Rune slot

Wands are One-Handed weapons, which means you can equip a shield to make yourself tough in the heat of battle. If you're looking for a bit more damage, you can also dual wield wands and benefit from two wands giving you more +INT / +Pyrokinetic / Rune slot bonuses.

The staff on the other hand, is a two-handed melee weapon that may give you higher amount of bonuses compared to wands. They have high weapon damage (elemental) so you can use it with warfare. Yes, you can be an INT based stick wielding warrior beating the hell out of everyone with magic damage. But warfare skills are physical damage based to begin with, and their statuses will only work if you deplete enemy physical armor.


Combat Abilities that INT can amplify

• Aerotheurge
  
• Geomancer
  
• Hydrosophist
  
• Necromancer
  
• Pyrokinetic
  
• Scoundrel
  
• Warfare
  
• Single-Handed (must have INT weapon)
  
• Two-Handed (must have INT weapon)
  
• Dual-Wielding (must have INT weapon(s))

Note that warfare is on the list, it has the least benefit in terms of skills used when choosing the path of Intelligence. Majority of these skillset will come from casting. Here's a short overview of the combat abilities' school:




INT Armor
Intelligence type armor will offer very little amount of physical armor but should give you plenty of magic armor. This is why having a shield equipped is highly reccomended for that missing physical armor. As usual, INT type armor will often provide INT based boost such as + INT / +Geomancer / etc.,

Now that we understand the path, and I assume you have chosen one. Let me explain which combat ability school best pairs with. The real difficulty in class building is simply not knowing where to put your points into.

If your goal was lets say, a Two-Handed STR type. Then you should be investing your points into

• Warfare
  
• Two-Handed

But there comes the part that you have maximized both, and you dont know where to put the points when you leveled up more. Now this is where the tertiary class comes in. The tertiary class or the 3rd class offers one of the most essential class building element. The tertiary class is simply used for its

• Buffs
  
• Utility Skills
  
• Restoration Skills

That means, you are expected to input some points in lets say, Pyromancy (Haste and Peace of Mind). You only need 2 points to get those two useful skills for your warrior and you already have an extremely useful buff without needing a dedicated pyrokinetic character.




There is such thing as Multi-Class Wizard. This wizard masters all the elements without ever maximizing them. Lets say, I put around 5 points each in Pyrokinetic, Hydrosophist, Aerotheurge, Necromancer. This allows me to use all these skills and still do decent amount of damage. You have a LOT of options although you will require a lot of memory to use these skills as well.

This section will focus on STR based combat abilities combinations.

This section focuses on FIN type combat abilities and their good combinations.

The INT section offers plenty amount of combinations according to your needs.

The Tertiary combat ability will only require points in order to get that skill. Some skills are amplified by increasing that combat ability. For example:

Hydrosophist skill : Armor of Frost
Amplified by : Increasing Hydrosophist and Character Level

The combat ability school is still INT based, but armor of frost value does not increase by int. Instead, it is increased by the amount of points you invest in Hydrosophist. Even though hydrosophist is not maxed, it is still VERY USEFUL to all types of class who needs it. Because it does not only get amplified by increasing hydrosophist, but also your level. So a STR based character can still get decent magic armor from this skill with only 2 points in Hydrosophist.

The importance of Tertiary Combat abilities is to get those certain skills that come in handy in the heat of battle. You should only invest certain points for the requiements. Below is a list of utility skills that can come in handy whatever your stats may be along with their requirements.

FAQ:

Why cant there be WITS focused or CON focused class?

I have personally tried it myself and I find it sensible why it was neglected. I once finished a game with Dual-Wielding warrior and a tank with maxed leadership for elemental resistance and dodge rate. It will only take more time and resource to finish a fight. Building a class in Divinity should both concern damage and your rate of survival. Everyone must be able to do damage while being able to take care of each other. In that case, a full support and tank is not as decent as it offers. Instead, while everyone can basically pick up a tertiary class, you are able to provide a decent amount of support compared to someone with full support build. I highly reccomend that your party would have both magic armor and physical armor recovery. Those two best skills (Fortify / Armor of Frost) will not only provide armor values, but also remove or prevent negative statuses as well.


Why is there no Warrior + Mage type?

The three main stats do not work together. This means, having a physical weapon and improving it with a fire buff will scale on its own. If you're a STR based character, you would most likely deal physical damage. Dealing both magic and and physical damage is only effective if you deplete both the magic armor and physical armor of your target. And it's very rare that you encounter enemies that have no armor values at all.

So to be efficient and effective, boost one damage type and focus on that. That's why an attribute focused build will prove to be one.

You can only enhance your mage type (Pyro, Geo, Aero, Hydro, Necro) damage by increasing INT. Although there are skill trees that deal magic damage as STR type which is polymorphing. Same goes with FIN type, scoundrel skills have magic damage skills as well. Battlemages in Divinity is not viable at the moment. It will be useful when the time comes where elemental buffs may scale with your main stats as well.






That concludes our advanced lesson in class building Godwoken. I hope you learned how to utilize your skill points properly. Experience out there is a limited resource. You can only be too careful when choosing the right path for your character.


If you have any questions / feedbacks, feel free to comment below.

Eliof Astora