The best improvements in Dragon’s Dogma 2

Increases are passive benefits Dragon dogma 2and are an essential part of creating an effective build for your character.

You earn augments by ranking vocations, but once you unlock an augment you can use it each calling. You can equip up to six augments at a time, with a set of six for each vocation. That means it’s often worth it to explicitly rank up a calling (even if you don’t enjoy playing it) to get a certain increase.

Read on for our suggestions the best improvements in Dragon dogma 2plus a list of all augmentations in the game.


How to unlock augments in Dragon’s Dogma 2

Image: Capcom via Polygon

While most vocations have five associated augments, the late-game Warfarer class only has two. You can unlock and equip new augments by spending Discipline Points (Dcp) at a Vocation Guild. (You can swap your augments at a campfire, but you can’t unlock new ones there.)

According to our testing, you’ll unlock a new augment approximately every two ranks per calling (i.e. at ranks 2, 4, 6, and 8), and you’ll earn the fifth and final augment when you max out a calling’s rank. However, keep in mind that our math here is imprecise. On an adventure in the world of Dragon dogma 2 often means gaining enough experience to rank a calling more than once, so we’re not sure which ranks lead to you unlocking which expansions per calling.

But the order is consistent, and our overall point remains: sometimes it’s worth spending the time ranking a calling just to get one of its expansions. For example, even if you hate close combat, you might want to rank up your Fighter calling for the express purpose of reaching Thew, one of the best expansions in the game.


Best improvements in Dragon’s Dogma 2

A main character waves at a pawn with the best buffs in Dragon's Dogma 2.

Don’t forget to equip augments on your main pawn as well.
Image: Capcom

While every profession plays differently and there’s a lot of room for personal preference, here are the five improvements you should prioritize to finish first Dragon dogma 2both for yourself and for your main pawn:

  • Thew (fighter)
  • Stamina (archer)
  • Vitality (Warrior)
  • Fearlessness (Warrior)
  • Detection (impostor)

As mentioned above, Thew is one of the best augments in Dragon dogma 2. It’s the third vocation you unlock as a fighter, and it increases your inventory size (your maximum charge) – a perk that’s essential to almost all vocations. To remind: Dragon dogma 2 commits the cardinal sin of counting your equipped gear as your maximum load. Blasphemy!

Stamina, the second expansion you can unlock by playing as an archer, is also invaluable. It increases your endurance. Yes, it contains a number of extensions Dragon dogma 2 that provide stat boosts. But a stamina boost is a bit more applicable than, say, a magical defense boost (which is useful for a warrior, but not so necessary for a mage or wizard).

The warrior’s calling brings two essential benefits: Vitality (the first one you unlock) and Fearlessness (the last). Vitality increases your maximum health, a benefit that needs no explanation. Fearlessness, meanwhile, protects your maximum health from taking a hit. When you take damage Dragon dogma 2, you also take a hit to your maximum health: how much health you can recover without sleeping (called the loss meter). Fearlessness minimizes how much your loss meter drops.

Finally, Detection, the first completion you get as a Trickster, is perhaps the best in the game – if you’re a completionist. When equipped, it literally sounds like you’re near Wakestone Shards or those elusive Seeker’s Tokens.


All improvements in Dragon’s Dogma 2

Of course, given how malleable the different play styles are Dragon dogma 2, this is all subjective; the best buffs for your character may be very different from ours.

There are 47 augments spread across the 10 vocations Dragon dogma 2. Below is the complete list of all extensionsgrouped by calling and arranged by the order you unlock them for each calling.

All augments list in Dragon’s Dogma 2

IncreasesVocationDescription
IncreasesVocationDescription
CourageFighterImproves your physical defense.
ProvocationFighterIncreases the chance of being targeted by enemies.
ThewFighterThis allows you to carry extra weight.
DominionFighterThis allows you to lift and pin down enemies for extended periods of time.
CareFighterSpeeds up recovery when knocked down or crawling.
AmbushArcherIncreases the damage dealt by your attacks when targets are not in a combat stance.
StaminaArcherIncreases your maximum endurance.
RadiationArcherAllows your lantern to use less oil and illuminate a larger area.
LethalityArcherIncreases damage dealt when hitting a target’s vitals.
DesireArcherThis allows you to climb cliffs and climb enemies and other surfaces faster.
ApotropaismMagicianImproves your Magick defense.
SalvationMagicianIncreases the amount of health regained by healing agents and healing magic.
InterventionMagicianReduces the duration of the weakness you suffer from.
ContinuationMagicianExtends the duration of enchantments and refreshments.
GlorificationMagicianIncreases the recovery speed of your endurance.
SubtletyThiefReduces the chance of being targeted by enemies.
SatisfactionThiefRestores some health when dealing a killing blow to an enemy.
BalanceThiefReduces the stamina consumed when struggling in an enemy’s grasp.
powerThiefReduces the stamina consumed when holding or pinning enemies.
VerveThiefIncreases your strength.
VitalityWarriorIncreases your maximum health.
InfluenceWarriorImproves your ability to push and pull targets when holding them.
PertinacityWarriorImproves your ability to break through an opponent’s guard.
DominanceWarriorIncreases your knockdown power.
FearlessnessWarriorReduces the loss meter accumulation when receiving damage.
SmoothnessWizardIncreases the chance of taking debuffs from your attacks.
StasisWizardReduces the rate at which items deteriorate.
FortitudeWizardIncreases your knockdown resistance.
CatalysisWizardIncreases damage dealt when exploiting an enemy target’s elemental weakness.
AstutenessWizardIncreases your magic.
TransportationMystical Spear HandAccelerates the speed of movement when carrying or lifting.
OpulenceMystical Spear HandIncreases the gold obtained from acquiring coin bags.
PolarityMystical Spear HandIncreases your strength during the day and your Maick at night.
ShineMystical Spear HandIncreases the amount of rift crystals obtained when acquiring rift fragments and the like.
AthleticMystical Spear HandReduces the stamina consumed while running.
MaintenanceMagic SagittariusImproves the physical defense and magical defense of pawns in your party.
GluttonyMagic SagittariusRestores a small amount of stamina when you deal a killing blow to a target.
ProlificityMagic SagittariusIncreases the chance of smaller targets to drop items.
PredominanceMagic SagittariusIncrease the power and magic of pawns in your party.
ImprovementMagic SagittariusReduces the time it takes for fallen pawns to revive.
DetectionCheaterAlerts you with sound and flashing light to the presence of Seeker’s Tokens or Wakestone shards nearby.
ReliefCheaterYou have the chance to create another of the resulting product by combining materials.
VolatilityCheaterReduces the chance of being attacked by enemy targets while camping or riding in a bullock cart.
BlackoutCheaterReduces the chance that enemy targets will detect you when you are not in a combat stance.
To temptCheaterThis makes it easier to increase your affinity with people.
DiligenceWarmanReduces the stamina consumed when performing a weapon skill.
DynamicsWarmanReduces the extent to which weight affects your movement speed.

For more Dragon dogma 2 walkthroughs, here’s who to give the Jadeite Orb to, whether or not you should buy the Ornate Box, how to buy a house in Vernworth, how to get to the Unnamed Village, where to find Rodge, how to get the rescue a caged magistrate, and the best order for Captain Brant’s quests.