Dark Arisen does not add a new vocation. Dragon's Dogma 2 still has ten, and every one of them can finish the expansion. What changed is how they play in Norgan: a six-slot weapon skill bar from the free title update, new skills from Obelisks, relic weapons that can upgrade a vocation's own abilities, and a cold, crowded region that rewards some playstyles more than others. Here is what changed, how current tier lists rank each vocation, and which one to pick for the way you like to play.
Does Dark Arisen add new vocations?
No. The roster is the same: Fighter, Archer, Mage and Thief as starting vocations; Warrior and Sorcerer as advanced ones; and Magick Archer, Mystic Spearhand, Trickster and Warfarer as hybrids that only the Arisen can use, not your main pawn. If you are coming from the 2013 Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, note that this is a different expansion for a different game, and its vocation list is the sequel's.
What actually changed for vocations
- Six weapon skills. A free title update before the expansion raised the assignable weapon skill bar from four to six, which matters most for skill-hungry vocations.
- Obelisk skills. Obelisks in the world teach new maister-style abilities for most vocations, paid for with Discipline. Examples from guides include Shield Precision for Fighter, Benediction for Mage and Chilling Embrace for Sorcerer.
- Relic special skills. Appraised relic weapons can roll upgrades to existing vocation skills, which can change a build more than a new skill would. Our relics guide explains how those rolls work.
- Balance changes in the launch patch and updates since, which is why tier lists written in the first week already look different.
How the vocations rank in Norgan right now
Tier lists disagree, and they move with every patch. The table below follows one October 2026 endgame list from allthings.how, which ranks vocations by how quickly and safely they handle Norgan's bosses with relic gear and Obelisk skills. Treat it as a snapshot, not a verdict.
| Vocation | Tier (one source) | Why | Main pawn? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thief | S | Evasive, fast damage, strong relic skill upgrades | Yes |
| Warrior | S | Huge charged hits and a damage-reducing awakened state | Yes |
| Fighter | A | Safe blocking and up to six relic skill slots across weapon and shield | Yes |
| Archer | A | Big burst from range; low defense | Yes |
| Mystic Spearhand | A | Party shield, mobile dives, balanced stats | No |
| Magick Archer | A | Holy support arrows and homing shots; weak up close | No |
| Mage | B | Fast healing and a once-per-blessing pawn revive | Yes |
| Sorcerer | B | Heavy damage but cannot move while incanting | Yes |
| Warfarer | B | Any weapon, any armor; no Obelisk maister skills | No |
| Trickster | C | Pure support with no direct damage | No |
The best pick for each playstyle
You want to survive Norgan with the fewest deaths: Fighter
Blocking is the safest answer to bandit packs and big bosses alike, and the Shield Precision Obelisk skill turns blocks into perfect deflects. Relic gear for Fighter can carry skill slots on both the weapon and the shield, so it scales well as your gear improves. It is also a strong main pawn choice.
You want to hit as hard as possible: Warrior
Blood Pact trades stamina and health for an awakened state with faster charges, knockdown resistance and damage reduction. It is high risk and high reward, and with good relics it deletes Norgan's large monsters faster than almost anything else.
You want speed and style: Thief
Evasion and fast combos keep you mobile in deep snow, and the expansion's skill upgrades give it explosive new tools. A recent update raised the stamina drain on its evasive stance, so pair it with stamina food and gear.
You want to play support and still carry: Mystic Spearhand
Its party shield blocks hits for everyone, its dives cover ground quickly, and its stat bonuses are balanced across health, strength and magick. It sits comfortably between offense and defense, which suits players who mostly fight alongside their pawns.
You want to try everything: Warfarer
Warfarer can wear armor from every vocation, use every weapon type and assign skills learned on other vocations, and the title update raised its skill count to six. Its weakness in tier lists is that it cannot use the Obelisk maister skills. Its strength is that it gets better with every vocation you have ranked up, which makes it the natural end point for a character who has mastered the rest.
Picking your main pawn
Hybrids are Arisen-only, so your main pawn is limited to the six standard vocations. The same tier list puts Fighter and Mage at the top for pawns: Fighter for holding attention and Mage for healing and Benediction's revive blessing. Archer is a solid third. Match the pawn to your gaps, not to your favourite vocation.
The Discipline problem
Whichever you choose, Norgan rewards ranked-up vocations, and each rank costs Discipline. Guides list rank costs climbing from 400 to several thousand points per rank, with roughly 27,000 Discipline to take a single vocation from rank 1 to 9, before Obelisk skills on top (one Fighter Obelisk boon alone is listed at 2,500). Doing that for two or three vocations, plus a pawn, is a large time investment, and Warfarer only shines once the others are done.
Test every vocation in Norgan instead of grinding
If you would rather compare vocations in the expansion than spend weeks levelling each one, our Dark Arisen starter save has all 10 vocations maxed, hybrids included, and starts at the beginning of the DLC with a level 100 character and appraised relic gear. Swap at an inn, try a Warrior, then a Mystic Spearhand, and keep what feels right. It works on PC and PS5 only and needs the expansion on your account. Still in the base game? The Level 999 save also has every vocation unlocked at max level. You will find both on our Dragon's Dogma 2 page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best vocation in Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen?
Current endgame tier lists tend to put Thief and Warrior at the top for the Arisen, with Fighter, Archer, Mystic Spearhand and Magick Archer close behind. All ten vocations can clear the expansion, so playstyle matters more than tier.
How many vocations are in Dark Arisen?
Ten, the same as the base game. The expansion adds skills, Obelisk abilities and relic skill upgrades rather than a new vocation.
Is Warfarer good in Dark Arisen?
It is flexible and fun, especially once every other vocation is ranked up, since it draws on skills learned elsewhere. Tier lists place it in the middle because it cannot use the Obelisk maister skills.
What is the best main pawn vocation for Norgan?
Fighter and Mage are the usual picks. A Fighter holds attention and blocks for the party, while a Mage heals quickly and can use Benediction to give pawns a revive blessing.
How many weapon skills can you equip now?
Six. The free title update that came before Dark Arisen expanded the weapon skill bar from four to six, and Warfarer's skill count was raised to six as well.