Best Way To Gish?

[VeritasWaits]

I'm finally getting around to PoE 2 and I could use some help with character creation. I played PoE 1 years ago but the introduction of multiclassing and the new power system changes everything about character design.

I've always enjoyed playing battlemage type characters who mix spells and melee combat. Usually the challenge is figuring out how to make a gish build that is reasonably competitive with a basic fighter, but in this game it's the opposite: there are so many interesting multiclass options that I'm not sure what to pick.

I prefer actually mixing the two styles, not just loading up on buffs only and then fighting (even if that's technically more effective). I'm going to run down the martial and caster side seperately and get your feedback on what would work best.

Martial Classes:

1. Paladin - seems like good self healing and defensive options, and of course Flames of Devotion although I understand that's been nerfed since launch. It does feel more restrictive having to follow a certain approach/alignment though.

2. Fighter - strong defenses and some good offensive abilities like charge.

3. Rogue - streetfighter makes for an interesting approach to a more DPS gish character

4. Monk - strong abilities with a somewhat frustrating resource mechanic (or at least that's how it felt in the first game). Fists are out though because I prefer using the weapons I find.

Caster Classes:

1. Wizard - Self buffing and nuke spells all seem fantastic, and the fact that buffs have no cast time or recovery now actually makes this feel viable compared the first game where I just couldn't stomach it. Main downside being Aloth is already a wizard and he'll be in my party full time.

2. Cipher - I've always liked Ciphers in concept, but not always in execution. Soul Blade seems strong but I hate the idea of just dumping all my focus in an attack over and over. Can the other two archetypes work in a melee build?

3. Priest - Kind of a different approach with more party supprt but I get the sense they're pretty strong in this game.

4. Chanter - I loved my Dragon Thrashed tank build in the first game even though it's not really a true battlemage. How well does Chater work in this one?

So, drawing from those options, give me your best gish combos please.

[ogreballerina]

The monk who does drugs.
Drugs are bad...mmmmkay ?!
But not in this situation.

[VeritasWaits]

Originally posted by ogreballerina:

The monk who does drugs.
Drugs are bad...mmmmkay ?!
But not in this situation.

That's.....not especially helpful...care to elaborate?

[Briggs]

I Gish as a Wizard (Generalist)/Cipher (Soulblade). Personally, I regret this. Cool, it maybe, fun it is not. Soulblade is just boring, and I hate last hit mechanics, which is what the Soulbade uses.

That said, its a good combo. POTD solo good? Don't know, didn't care. I find the combat in this game to be unenjoyable due to poorly constructed encounters so I stuck it on normal so as to just get them over with. I enjoy challenges, not slogs. This game's higher difficulties offer the latter. They aren't any more challenging, just slower.

[Nismu]

i have had fun time with my barbarian/wizard

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by VeritasWaits:

So, drawing from those options, give me your best gish combos please.

It would be necessary to take into account the full plethora of choices, not limited to subclassing, multiclassing, base attributes, abilities and skills (such as Alchemy and usage of drugs), equipment used by individual characters and also to highlight which role a character fills within a party.

Backed up by compatible companions, single-class Fighter and Wizard are awesome. Rogue is more tricky, because of different combat tactics that depend much more on player's playstyle.


https://pillarsofeternity2.wiki.fextralife.com/Power+Source
https://pillarsofeternity2.wiki.fextralife.com/Multiclass

Multi-class characters are not automatically better than single-class characters. There are pitfalls. Lower power-level is not the only one.

Nalpazca Monk/Wizard is interesting and works well, but maybe avoid the Illusionist subclass then, because of losing access to spells such as DAOM and Spirit Shield.

Chanter/Monk is funny due to self-support options with phrases and non-offensive invocations in addition to unleashing area damage on nearby opponents.

Chanter/Fighter with a strong focus on offense rather than defense is really, really nice.

For two-handers, on the contrary, I've started toying with a Barbarian/Devoted Fighter.

Sharpshooter Ranger with boar companion: I find rangers much more enjoyable in PoE 2 than in PoE 1. I've tried various Cipher/Ranger combinations, although one is very short on cipher powers, if one also wants to learn several worthwhile abilities for the ranger and the pet. That's bad, because one isn't versatile enough as to be able to target multiple defenses.

[👌m8]

I'm trying a Fighter + Wizard build next time. Most of the skills for wizard are (1) damage and defense buffs and (2) weapon enchantments while giving the character more Might than Intellect (edit: apparently most of my bulids so far are Physical lol). Tried it on Aloth at first and it seems to go well.

edit 2: I remember there's a Grimoire that focuses on weapon enchantments and dmg/def buffs. that helped me focus more on adding skills for the Fighter class for the Fighter + Wizard build. My current Swashbuckler (Devoted Fighter + Streetfighter Rogue) is fun as well. So many gibs...

[hairyscotsman]

Paladin/Rogue (trickster) gives you illusion and martial spells. Having an absolute blast with this. High deflection, with a 2-handed weapon and using the trickster spells to get more deflection and rogue riposte thrown in. Decent tank, decent dps and some support and cc all in one. I went Darcozzi Paladini as it suited my dialogue better.
Single class melee cipher is also a decent gish, you don't need to sub-class!

[VeritasWaits]

Thanks for the responses. At this point I'm leanging towards an Assassin/Beguiler Mindstalker. Stealth and sneak attacks to build focus to use on CC abilities seems fun to me. Any suggestions on best weapons? I'm looking at dual wielding, are sabers still a strong pick or are there better options? I don't really understand the weapon proficiency modal abilities.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Unique Sabre and Sword are available in higher quantity than other weapon types. Therefore you get more options to enchant them.

[hairyscotsman]

Originally posted by VeritasWaits:

Thanks for the responses. At this point I'm leanging towards an Assassin/Beguiler Mindstalker. Stealth and sneak attacks to build focus to use on CC abilities seems fun to me. Any suggestions on best weapons? I'm looking at dual wielding, are sabers still a strong pick or are there better options? I don't really understand the weapon proficiency modal abilities.

You hardly need the modals. Sabres are still great

[ColorsFade]

Originally posted by VeritasWaits:

I've always enjoyed playing battlemage type characters who mix spells and melee combat. Usually the challenge is figuring out how to make a gish build that is reasonably competitive with a basic fighter, but in this game it's the opposite: there are so many interesting multiclass options that I'm not sure what to pick.

Battlemage, or Fighter/Mage characters have always been my favorite. The Cipher is the best option in the Pillars worldset for creating such a character.

Back when Deadfire released, I wrote a guide for such a multi-class:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1405122303

Having played through Deadfire a few times now, my personal favorite for Battlemage is Rogue + Cipher.

A melee Cipher basically plays like a Rogue anyway, as far as movement and positioning. The Rogue class gets Escape early on, which then makes it way easier for a Cipher to utilize spells like Antipathetic Field or Ectopsychic Echo.

Played well this class is just a beast offensively; loads of damage output and a load of CC that really helps even the odds during many encounters.

[Lord Honorius]

I did my first playtrough with a dead godlike devoted priest of berath (cleric) fighting with great sword. And it fit alot with the main story, was powerfull in all the way ( healing, buff, deffence and damage)