Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen Pawns and party: hiring, roles and survival
Build a balanced four-member group and keep hired support relevant.
Edition covered
Dark Arisen expands the 2012 Dragon’s Dogma with Bitterblack Isle. Pictures are from the 2016 PC Dark Arisen publisher listing. This guide uses the first game’s nine-vocation system; Dragon’s Dogma 2 mechanics are excluded.
The main pawn is the permanent partner
Create and develop the main pawn alongside the Arisen. Its equipment, skills and vocation deserve regular attention because an outdated main pawn weakens the party even when the Arisen has new gear.
| Slot | Development | Planning role |
|---|---|---|
| Arisen | Player-controlled build | Choose the preferred combat style |
| Main pawn | Levels with the Arisen | Build a dependable complementary role |
| Support pawn one | Fixed hired version | Fill a missing damage or support need |
| Support pawn two | Fixed hired version | Add coverage against the expected enemies |
Hire support to fill missing roles
Two support pawns complete the usual party. Inspect vocation, skills and equipment before hiring; a Mage without the desired healing or support spell does not provide it simply because of the class name.
| Check | Reason | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Skills | Class alone does not guarantee a spell | Look for desired healing support |
| Level | Support does not level during the hire | Refresh after substantial growth |
| Equipment | Affects damage and survival | Avoid badly outdated weapons |
| Inclinations and knowledge | Influence pawn behavior | Select behavior that supports the plan |
Replace support as levels diverge
Hired pawns retain the level at which they were hired rather than gaining levels with the Arisen. Revisit the Rift as the campaign progresses and replace underpowered support with appropriate alternatives.
Revive a fallen pawn promptly
A downed pawn can be helped before it is lost from the current outing. Keep the route to it safe; rushing through a large monster’s attack can down the Arisen as well.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen publisher listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Publisher game manual | static.capcom.com |