Summary
- Octopath Traveler 2 features eight new main characters with recurring classes, but unique stories.
- Each character starts with a specific Job that influences their playstyle and elemental abilities.
- Players can multiclass by choosing secondary Jobs for each character, eventually unlocking secret Jobs with distinct mechanics.
As a sequel to the original game released in 2018, Octopath Traveler 2 has eight main characters, one of which is chosen by the player as their main protagonist, with the other seven being recruitable as the player progresses through the game.
As always, each particular character also starts in a particular Job: a class that determines their equipment, stats, and abilities. Expanding on the first game, however, the sequel offers a few new takes on the systems of Octopath, with a day/night cycle for its new setting of Solistia, multiple Path Actions for each character depending on the time of day, and the addition of the Latent Power system to battles, which allows for the usage of special moves after building up a meter. But the main draw of the Octopath series has always been its diverse, engaging, and colorful cast of playable characters, and its daring innovation on the familiar Job System.
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Octopath Traveler 2: All New Characters & Their Starting Classes
Octopath Traveler's Base Classes Carry Over To The Sequel
As laid out by developer and publisher Square Enix, the main characters of Octopath Traveler 2 - Hikari, Agnea, Partitio, Osvald, Throné, Temenos, Ochette, and Castti - each have the same base classes as the original eight Octopath characters. Each character starts as a member of one of the classes listed below. Their starting Jobs cannot be changed, but they can take on Every new Octopath Traveler 2 main character and their associated starting class is as follows:
Character |
Starting Class |
|---|---|
Agnea Bristarni |
Dancer |
Castti Florenz |
Apothecary |
Hikari Ku |
Warrior |
Ochette |
Hunter |
Osvald V. Vanstein |
Scholar |
Partitio Yellowil |
Merchant |
Temenos Mistral |
Cleric |
Throné Anguis |
Thief |
Players can start as any of the characters above, making them in effect the main protagonist of the game. However, from then on, they're able to recruit the rest of the Octopath Traveler 2 party in any order.
Each Octopath Traveler 2 starting Job is associated with a particular loadout and playstyle. A player character's Job primarily determines the weapons they're able to equip, and the skills they're able to use with them. For example, Hunters can use both axes and bows, but Scholars can only use staves. Each class is also associated with a particular type (or, in one case, types) of elemental damage the character is able to deal. Some Hunter skills allow them to do Lightning damage in addition to Physical. But Scholars, through their studies, are able to sense enemy weaknesses and exploit them with either Fire, Ice, or Lightning damage.
Each starting Job is also associated with a deity, but these mostly just impact lore and have very little to do with gameplay.
The similarities between starting Jobs led some players to speculate about Octopath Traveler 2 theories regarding the original heroes' descendants. However, this is never addressed in-game: the sequel has a totally separate setting. All these similar Job compositions mean is that players will be working with familiar setups for much of the early game.
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How Multiclassing Works In Octopath Traveler 2
Secondary Jobs & Secret Jobs In Octopath
Additionally, as with the first Octopath, each character will be able to choose a secondary class. As they progress through the game, the party will come upon a number of Licenses - items that permit additional party to take on a particular Job as a secondary class. This allows for pretty flexible multiclassing. A secondary Job further raises the character's stats, allows them to equip additional weapons, and unlocks new skills for them to use in and out of battle.
In general, each License is found by completing a short quest for the relevant Guild. There are two Licenses for each starting Job, and the first one is usually easier to get than the second. Obtaining a Thief License in Octopath Traveler 2, for example, requires the party to steal a Thieves' Gem from an unsuspecting NPC. Obtaining a second requires them to steal the Master Thief's Sapphire Stone, a much more valuable item with a far lower chance of thieving success.
Best Party Combinations In Octopath Traveler 2
The best combinations of party in Octopath Traveler 2 give players a balanced team with different skills that can overcome various dangers.
In addition to these recurring classes, Octopath Traveler 2 also includes four secret Jobs. These are much harder to come by, but unlock truly unique playstyles that can't be replicated by any other class combination. The first secret Job, the Armsmaster, allows characters to equip any weapon type they want. The Arcanist is a -focused secret Job, allowing party to use single-target spells on multiple targets at once. Conjurers can add elemental damage to physical attacks, in order to more easily strike enemy weaknesses. And Inventors gain new skills as they gather disparate machine parts spread throughout the world, cobbling together new solutions in the heat of battle.
Thematically, the characters of Octopath Traveler 2 themselves each take a distinctly different approach from their predecessors. For example, Agnea the Dancer's story is far lighter than Primrose's from the first game. Hikari the Warrior is themed after a samurai, which contrasts with Olberic's more knight-oriented look and storyline in the first game. Osvald the Scholar has a dark past: he was framed for murder and seeks revenge, unlike the first game's nerdy Cyrus, on a quest for his library's missing book. This helps these characters feel distinct, despite their recurring classes.
Octopath Traveler 2 reuses many of the original game's features, including its character classes and revamp of the classic Job System. That said, its innovative secret Jobs, differing takes on character archetypes, and new mechanics ensure that the sequel feels just as fresh as the original. Choosing the right combination of starting and secondary Jobs is vital to each character's success, and mastering the Job System can be key to a smooth and varied experience in Octopath Traveler 2.
Sources: Square Enix, Nintendo of America/YouTube
Octopath Traveler 2
- Released
- February 24, 2023
- ESRB
- Rated T for Teen for Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, and Use of Alcohol and Tobacco.
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Acquire
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Franchise
- Octopath Traveler
Square Enix welcomes players to the world of Solista with Octopath Traveler 2, which will release on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Consoles, and PC. This sequel to the 2018 game will star eight new heroes players will switch back and forth with a new day and night system. Different stories play out at different times of the day, and the eight heroes will meet sooner than they had in the original entry. The day and night mechanic will also significantly impact the gameplay, as certain path actions and combat abilities will change depending on if the sun or moon is prevalent. Octopath Traveler 2 will feature the iconic HD-2D art style again, which places pixel art characters in a 3D drawn environment.
- Platform(s)
- Switch, PS4, PS5, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 60 Hours
- Metascore
- 84
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
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