When it comes to choosing the best faction in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, you'll find that each has its unique appeal. Whether you're drawn to a faction's lore, its leader's charisma, or the utility of its member skills, this guide will help you make an informed decision.
Before delving into the factions, consider your playstyle. Are you seeking combat bonuses, stealth advantages, or perhaps a passive boost to your party's abilities? Let's explore the top contenders for the 'Best Faction' title, starting with the VIOLENT ARGENT EYE.
The Violent Argent Eye
The Argent Eye, led by the enigmaticoshi YЗаanРin, is a cult-like organization with a dark past. Their synergy lies in their unique ability to manipulate the minds of their enemies and allies alike.
Joining the Argent Eye grants access to powerful combat bonuses and control over your foes. Their signature ability, Tactics, allows for customizable team behavior during combat, adding an extra layer of strategy to your encounters.
Mind Control
Argent Eye's mind control abilities offer game-changing advantages in battle. With the right build, you can turn your enemies against each other and devastated your foes with their own hands. This utility is invaluable in the chaotic skirmishes of Deadfire.
Some abilities include Tactics: Stun which causes enemies to accidentally attack each other, and Tactics: Rage that prompts them to mindlessly attack the nearest target, be it friend or foe.
Synergistic Skills
The Argent Eye's skills offer further bonus benefits when applied to characters with their own mental or Arcane focus. For instance, using Lull on a character with a high Perception can stall their regeneration or remove their temporary hit points.
Moreover, their skills are not exclusively for offense. Inspire can grant allies temporary hit points, Support can increase companion's attack power, and Lull can hinder enemies' abilities.
Hollow Marshes
Now, let's examine the Hollow Marshes, a nascent faction seeking to unlock the secrets of ancient trickster god, Skaen. Lead by the charismatic N-for-C, the Marshes value stealth, cunning, and deception.
Joining the Hollow Marshes provides combat bonuses that enhance your stealth gameplay and reward strategic positioning and careful planning.
Stealth Efficiency
The Marshes excel in the shadows, Their faction bonuses improve your party's stealth, such as reducing the chance you're spotted or enhancing your sneak attack damage.
Skills like Fade Away make pursuing enemies futile, and Second Wind allows your party to regain health after a successful sneak attack, making stealthy encounters more manageable.
Divine Blessings
The Marshes' patron god Skaen offers unique blessings such as Aspect of the Fox, which further enhances your stealth capabilities, and Trickster's Guile, granting you bonus except width against tightly grouped enemies.
These blessings work well in tandem with the faction's bonuses, making the Hollow Marshes a formidable choice for a stealth-focused build.
The final decision between these factions, or any others in Deadfire, ultimately depends on your predilections. Whether you prefer Argent Eye's mind games or the cunning scheming of the Hollow Marshes, choose the faction that calls to you. Then, set sail and let theDeadfire be your playground.