Since they’re how you attack and strategize on the battlefield, skills are a vital part of DOS2

Without them, the game would be way more boring and generic. Are you wondering which ones would be best for you? No problem - here are 15 great skills that will help you destroy any voidwoken in your path.

15. Sky Shot

Ifan starts out as a Wayfarer, so he might learn this skill.

Do you like attacking from above? Need a higher range than what your other skills give? Give sky shot a try - it gives you a height bonus even if you’re low on the ground. Apparently jumping is a good replacement for high ground!

What’s great about sky shot:

• Can’t get to high ground? This skill gives you a height bonus regardless.
• It’s a skill you find early in the game, so it’s great to start out with when you’re just figuring things out.
• Jumping into the air gives your attack a boost in range, so you can reach more enemies!

Sky shot details:

• This is a huntsman skill that requires one huntsman point and one memory. It costs two AP to use.
• You need a ranged weapon such as a crossbow to use this skill.
• You can find this skill sold by Butter in Fort Joy and Bahara in the Sanctuary of Amadia.
• This skill gives you height bonus damage if you’re low on the ground. Damage is based on basic attack and finesse points.
• Sky shot deals 100% damage and has a range of 20m. 

14. Thick of the Fight

Get ready for an intense battle!

Need a quick damage boost? This might be the source skill for you - it gives you a damage boost for every nearby character. If you’re surrounded by enemies or party members, give this skill a try to beef up your attacks.

What’s great about thick of the fight:

• It gives you a damage boost for any character that’s nearby. For example, say you’re surrounded by six magisters. That’s a bonus of 60%!
• Playing lone wolf? This skill can get you out of a bind if you don’t have party members to buff you.
• It includes summons and totems as well - the more the merrier!

Thick of the fight details:

• This is a warfare source skill that requires three warfare points and two memory slots. It costs two AP and one source point to use.
• Thick of the fight gives you a 10% damage boost for each nearby character. It lasts for two turns.
• This skill is sold by Gareth in Reaper’s coast and Haran in Driftwood. You can also acquire this skill by buying the sundering cleaver from Zaleskar.

13. Backlash

Since she starts out as a Rogue, Sebille might learn this move.

Want an attack that lets you backstab your enemies? Look no further than backlash. This attack teleports you towards your enemy, giving you a killer backstab bonus.  Sometimes stabbing people in the back isn’t so bad.

What’s great about backlash:

• Instant backstab bonus, just add daggers.
• You don’t have to be next to your enemy - you can teleport towards them if they’re in range.
• Being one of the beginning skills, you might just start out with this handy backstab attack.

Backlash details:

• Backlash is a scoundrel skill that requires one scoundrel point and one memory slot. It costs one AP to use and has a range of 8m.
• You need a dagger to use this skill. Swords are much harder to sneak around with, after all.
• This attack does 85% damage and has an 8m range. Damage is based on basic attack and is powered up by finesse points.
• Backlash is sold by Hilde in Fort Joy and Exter in Amadia’s Sanctuary.

12. Tentacle Lash

Not only do Metamorphs look cool, they learn great skills too.

Polymorph skills are great in general, but this one is especially good to have. Not only does it deal a good amount of physical damage, it also sets atrophy on enemies. Aren’t tentacles great?

What’s great about tentacle lash:

• It never misses. Ever. This is because the game considers it a spell rather than a physical skill. 
• If you have high warfare and strength, this attack’s 125% physical damage will decimate your enemies. 
• This is one of the starting polymorph skills, so you can get it early on. Embrace your octopus roots!

Tentacle lash details:

• This is a polymorph skill that requires one polymorph point and one memory slot. Its range is 8m and it costs two AP to use.
• It deals 125% physical damage and sets atrophy on enemies, making them unable to use weapons. 
• Damage scales based on level and strength. Extra warfare points also help.
• Tentacle lash is sold by Doctor Leste in Fort Joy Ghetto and Exter in Amadia’s Sanctuary. 
• While this skill can’t miss, one drawback is that you can’t use it while enraged.

11. Chicken Claw

Here's what happens when you turn an enemy into a chicken. Yes, this is a thing.

Drumsticks, anyone? This wonderful polymorph skill lets you turn your enemies into chickens! While the effects of this skill last, your enemy will be confused and helpless as they run around on the battlefield. Hilarious, but also useful!

What’s great about chicken claw:

• Turn your enemies into helpless chickens. They can’t attack, and they can’t go very far.
• The chicken status gives you an opportunity to attack without your enemy fighting back!
• This is one of the starting polymorph skills, so try it out early on.

Chicken claw details:

• This is a polymorph skill that requires one polymorph point and two memory slots. Its range is 2m and it costs two AP.
• If you use this skill on an enemy when their physical armor is down, they’ll transform into a chicken. This form makes them completely helpless - all they can do is wander the battlefield.
• The chicken form only lasts two turns, so make it count!
• You can buy this skill from Doctor Leste in the Fort Joy Ghetto, and Exter in Amadia’s Sanctuary.

10. Conjure Incarnate (and Other Associated Skills)

This gigantic incarnate can be yours with the right amount of summoning points.

This skill isn’t of much use unless you have the skills that buff your incarnate, so I’ve lumped them all together. There’s so many possibilities for your incarnate - you can summon it on different surfaces, and it’ll turn into an elemental incarnate! For the most powerful incarnate, you’ll need at least 10 summoning points. Give it a try!

What’s great about conjure incarnate:

• Summon a buddy with your choice of element. It can even take damage for you if you put it in the front lines.
• Incarnates can learn all sorts of skills depending on what surface they’re summoned on and what skills you use to buff them. The sky’s the limit!
• At first, your incarnate will look like a furry little goblin. However, if you have at least 10 summoning points, you’ll be able to summon a gigantic incarnate that really packs a punch.

Conjure incarnate details:

• You only need one summoning point and one memory slot to use this skill. Only one incarnate can be out at a time, and they stay on the field for 10 turns (or until they die). This skill has a range of 13m.
• The stats of the incarnate will depend on your level and summoning ability. Once you get 10 summoning points, a giant incarnate will join you.
• There are several skills that can be used to give your incarnate different abilities. Some examples include farsight (a ranged attack), power (a warfare attack), warp (a teleport skill), and shadow (making them invisible).
• Your incarnate’s element will depend on the surface you summon it in. Each element gives the incarnate different stats, strengths, weaknesses, and skills. 
• A lot of different traders sell this skill. Some include Nebora in Fort Joy, Kerban in Amadia’s Sanctuary, and Bree in Driftwood.

9. Laser Ray

Summon a laser beam that sets everything on fire!

Just the name of this skill makes you think it’s going to be cool. As the name suggests, it’s a laser beam that burns whatever is in its path, dealing a lot of fire damage. It’s also one of the only skills you can use to make fire clouds, which can come in handy.

What’s great about laser ray:

• Burn everything and everyone in your path, leaving behind a trail of blazing fire clouds.
• This skill does excellent damage, making it a great skill for a pyro build.
• Fire clouds are hard to come by, and you need them for a certain quest later on. Take this skill with you in case you come across it.

Laser ray details:

• This is a pyrokinetic skill that requires two pyro points, three AP, and one memory slot. Its range is 20m and it can set burning for two turns.
• This is one of the only skills that can create fire clouds.
• Being a magical spell, the burn status is resisted by magic armor. 
• The damage of this spell is based on level and intelligence. 
• Ovis in Driftwood and Friel in Arx both sell this skill.

8. Epidemic of Fire

Make the entire battlefield burn to a crisp!

This is a powerful pyrokinetic source spell that can fork up to five times, leaving necrofire wherever it goes. It’s one of the more powerful pyro spells, great for you pyromaniacs out there. There’s not many spells you can use that make necrofire, so give it a try!

What’s great about epidemic of fire:

• Hits not one, not two, but five times!
• It’s a powerful spell in general, doing amazing amounts of damage depending on level and intelligence.
• It sets necrofire, a rare element that does more damage than regular fire and is resistant to water. It just keeps on burning!

Epidemic of fire details:

• This is a pyrokinetic source skill that requires three pyro points, two source points, and three memory slots. Its range is 13m and it costs two AP to use.
• Epidemic of fire can fork up to five times, leaving necrofire wherever it goes. The necrofire lasts for two turns. 
• The damage of this attack comes from your level and intelligence points. 
• Being a magical attack, this skill is resisted by magical armor. 
• Ovis sells epidemic of fire at the Driftwood market.

7. Master of Sparks

When you swing your sword after using this move, your enemies will really feel the burn.

Do your attacks need a little something extra? Master of sparks gives characters the sparkmaster status, which gives melee attacks the ability to spread some fiery sparks! Finally, your less magical characters have a chance to set things on fire.

What’s great about master of sparks:

• This buff adds even more damage to your attacks, making battles much easier.
• There’s a lot of different ways that your sparks can spread. Try attacks like whirlwind - they’ll end up everywhere!
• If you suspect someone’s hiding in the shadows, the sparks can hit invisible enemies to make them visible again.

Master of sparks details:

• This is a pyrokinetic source skill that requires two pyro points, two warfare points, one source point, and two memory slots. It has a range of 13m and a 3m explosion radius. 
• Master of sparks sets the sparkmaster status to the targeted character and their nearby allies, giving melee attacks a chance to give off fiery sparks. The status lasts for three turns. 
• The sparks can bounce multiple times - try it and see what happens!
• You can get this skill by combining any pyrokinetic book and any warfare skill book, but one of them has to be a source skill. 

6. Dome of Protection

Protect your allies, then attack your enemies.

Here’s a starting source skill that can really come in handy - it sets up a magic barrier that replenishes physical and magic armor. If you have a custom character, they automatically come with this skill. There’s no other way to get it besides hiring one of the mercenaries later on, which is too bad. I guess that would make the game too easy.

What’s great about dome of protection:

• Was your armor destroyed? If you’ve got extra source points, here’s an easy fix for that. 
• It increases elemental resistances for every ally inside the barrier, giving them some extra protection.
• It lasts a good five turns, giving you and your allies plenty of time to get back into the fray.

Dome of protection details:

• This is a source skill with no requirements - it comes with every custom character, and that’s pretty much the only way to get it. Being a skill that you start out with, it costs no memory slots.
• Dome of protection lasts for five turns and has a range of 13m. 
• This skill generates a magical barrier that replenishes lost physical and magical armor. It also increases the elemental resistances of any ally inside of it. 

5. Spread Your Wings

Be as free as a bird, soaring on the battlefield.

Spread your wings and fly away! This polymorph skill gives you the ability to fly around on the battlefield, giving you extra mobility. You’ll be as free as a bird, swooping down like a falcon to attack your enemies.

What’s great about spread your wings:

• It gives you a boost in mobility, which is always welcome.
• Need to reach higher altitude for a height bonus? This should help!
• If you’re in over your head, you can always take a step back and fly away.

Spread your wings details:

• This is a polymorph skill that requires two polymorph points, one AP, and one memory slot.
• Spread your wings grants you the flight skill, which allows you to fly to certain places. The wings last for three turns. 
• You can’t use spider legs with this skill.
• This skill is sold by Doctor Leste in Fort Joy Ghetto and by Exter in Amadia’s Sanctuary.

4. Nether Swap

Swap places with whoever you want - the field is your chess board.

Want to swap places with somebody? Do you think the battlefield needs a little rearranging? This skill allows you or other characters to swap places, which can definitely work to your advantage.

What’s great about nether swap:

• It can give you or your allies an advantage if your enemy’s in a place you’d rather be in.
• You aren’t limited to live enemies - you can also switch with corpses!
• You can switch enemies with other enemies if you feel like you’d rather take on a different one.

Nether swap details:

• This is an aerotheurge skill that requires two aerotheurge points, one memory slot, and one AP. It has a range of 13m.
• This skill instantly swaps the locations of two characters. The characters can be the caster, an enemy, an ally, or a corpse.
• Ovis sells this skill in Driftwood.

3. Thunderstorm

Be your own weather forecaster with this spell.

Kaboom! Thunderstorm is a powerful source skill that can cause serious chaos on the battlefield. Once you use it, lightning strikes the area you cast it in for three turns. It can also set the stunned status if the enemy has no magic armor. Having control over the weather sounds fun, right?

What’s great about thunderstorm:

• It’s a powerful attack that lasts for not one, but three turns.
• If the enemy has no magic shield, it will always set the stunned status. Stop your enemies in their tracks!
• It has a large radius for where it can hit, giving you a chance to shock more enemies. 

Thunderstorm details:

• This is an aerotheurge source skill that requires five aerotheurge points, three memory slots, four AP, and three source points.
• Thunderstorm causes a storm to rage in the target area, shocking enemies inside it. Its range is 17m, and it lasts for three turns.
• If the enemy has no magic shield, the skill will always set the stunned status on them.
• Various vendors will sell this skill when you reach level 16. 

2. Time Warp

This spell is yet another reason you should choose Fane.

This skill may or may not be a Rocky Horror Picture Show reference, but we’re not talking about that right now. This is an incredibly useful source skill that allows the targeted character to have an extra turn! Unfortunately, it only comes with the character Fane, and that’s the only way you can get it. I guess the game would be pretty easy otherwise.

What’s great about time warp:

• Give whichever party member you want an extra turn after their turn is over!
• Being a skill that Fane starts with, it costs no memory slots at all.
• This skill only costs two AP and one source point to use, which is great for something so useful!

Time warp details:

• This is a special source skill that Fane starts with. The only way to get it is to use Fane.
• Besides two AP and one source point, it has no other requirements. Its range is 6m.
• Whenever a character targeted by this spell ends their turn, they get an extra turn.

1. Teleportation

Sometimes those teleportation pyramids can be a handful.

Teleportation pyramids not working out? Try the teleportation spell. This is probably the most vital skill in the game, really - you should at least have a similar skill, like phoenix dive or nether swap. Seriously, I always assign each party member this skill. Being able to teleport both enemies and allies has proven to be very useful, and it can even cause damage.

What’s great about teleportation:

• Want an enemy to back off? Just teleport them away! It even does physical damage.
• Need to get an ally out of harm’s way? Once again, just teleport them away! 
• This skill can come in handy when you’re exploring the game’s overworld. There are a lot of hidden secrets out of reach that you might miss if you’re not teleporting.

Teleportation details:

• This is an aerotheurge skill that requires two aerotheurge points, one memory slot, and two AP. Its range is 13m. 
• Teleportation can teleport allies, enemies, NPCs, and objects wherever you want them. It causes physical damage based on level and intelligence.
• You can get this skill from numerous vendors, especially aerotheurge vendors after Act 1. It can also be used if you have the gloves of teleportation.

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