After 77 hours in Dragon's Dogma 2, I swapped to the least RPG-sounding class ever to grace an RPG and it was super weird

GamesRPGDragon’s Dogma 2After 77 hours in Dragon’s Dogma 2, I swapped to the least RPG-sounding class ever to grace an RPG and it was super weirdWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesRPGDragon’s Dogma 2After 77 hours in Dragon’s Dogma 2, I swapped to the least RPG-sounding class ever to grace an RPG and it was super weirdWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Capcom) Do you play a lot of video games? Are you tired of playing video games? Do you wish that the NPCs in your video games would do all the fighting for you so that you can kick back, relax, and watch from the side lines? More importantly, do you still want to take all the credit for a hard-won battle? Boy howdy, doesDragon’s Dogma 2have just the class for you. Smoke and mirrors (Image credit: Capcom) Party harder(Image credit: Capcom)I’ve had bad luck with AI companions in games, but Dragon’s Dogma 2’s approach to party-based RPGs might change that Party harder (Image credit: Capcom)I’ve had bad luck with AI companions in games, but Dragon’s Dogma 2’s approach to party-based RPGs might change that (Image credit: Capcom) I’ve had bad luck with AI companions in games, but Dragon’s Dogma 2’s approach to party-based RPGs might change that I’ve changed vocation twice so far in my first Dragon’s Dogma 2 playthrough: from Thief to Mystic Spearhand, and then from Mystic Spearhand to the mysterious Trickster. As you can probably tell from the first two, my vocation choices would typically reflect a favored playstyle of rapid, close-quarters melee attacks over ranged or magical capabilities. Support buffs, heals, and damage from a distance are what my Pawns are for, always backing me up as I dig right into the bellies of the many, many beasts in need of slaying. Off the back of that, you can imagine how tricky I found Trickster to master. Immediately I felt all but naked after making the swap, mourning my 680-damage spear, the fully-upgraded armor set I’d now have no use for, the pawns before me that I would no doubt have to dismiss for shame of them seeing me soweak. With a useless metal contraption in hand, belching smoke instead of the blood of my enemies, I feared I’d made a dumb mistake. I still question why the censercan’tdouble-up as a very unwieldy flail, but I knew I’d have to make do. Why? Because Trickster sounded too ridiculous and un-RPG a class option to ignore while playing an RPG, that’s why. (Image credit: Capcom) For the uninitiated or rightfully wary, the Trickster way is all about hoodwink and subterfuge. After conjuring a rather unconvincing simulacrum of yourself, you then waft smoke in enemies' faces to goad them into attacking the decoy while the rest of your Pawns have all the glory. With low armor stats and even fewer offense capabilities, Tricksters need to stay as far away from the frontlines as possible. Oh, you can also conjure a smoke wall to blind enemies with, and create a silly little fake platform to trick them into falling to their deaths from a great height. While all this sounds fun and kind of kitschy on paper, it was anything but in practice. A tactical approach means less action on my part, and that can make for an extremely drawn out battle. Going from melting an ogre in less than a minute to taking about three to finish off a pack of hobgoblins is a sobering experience. Still, the total tactical change from close-quarters melee to pure battlefield manipulation did teach me a lot when it comes to broader strategy in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Humble braggard (Image credit: Capcom) Despite how refreshing and surprisingly handy the vocation can be, I just do not have the patience to be a Trickster main. Despite how refreshing and surprisingly handy the vocation can be, I just do not have the patience to be a Trickster main. For starters, I had to rethink my pawn line-up. I’d usually opt to complement my Main Pawn archer with a mage and either a fighter, warrior, or thief to aid me in getting up close and personal, but as the Trickster, it’s all about range. Distance prevents Pawns getting wiped out quickly, as long as there’s enough space for them to work with. I swapped out my beefy warrior for a maxed-out sorcerer I found out in Battahl and went on my merry way. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more After a few scuffles and lots of terse onlooking, I got into the swing of what each battle might entail: I conjure my simulacrum a good ways away from my Pawns, goad enemies to attack it, throw a smoke bubble around them, and let my Pawns do all the hard work while I stand on a cliff and observe. “Nicely done, Arisen,” my Main Pawn bellows proudly after each and every victory, and I don’t have the heart to tell him that all I did was watch. (Image credit: Capcom) Alas, things quickly went sideways when we got to Dragonsbreath Tower. Even with Mystic Spearhand maister Sigurd at our side, things were moving far too slowly for my liking. My Trickster trickery felt like a cheap joke against the might of a dragon, still too powerful for my squishy spellcasters and kindhearted archer who immediately flung himself off a cliff to go to their aid. I had no choice but to abandon the situation, use a Ferrystone to head back to the city, and swap back to Mystic Spearhand. I’ve made my peace with the fact that, despite how refreshing and surprisingly handy the vocation can be, I just do not have the patience to be a Trickster main. Perhaps I’ll revisit it someday while confronting somethingotherthan a gigantic fire-breathing dragon, but for now, I’m still very much interested in playing this RPG with blades instead of brains. 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forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that 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expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”