Arcana is an active skill in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.
Contents
Description[]
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Arcana covers knowledge of all things magical that do not deal with metaphysics. In combat, it can be used to increase the power level of scrolls. |
Effects[]
Arcana has the following effects:
- Determines the maximum level of scrolls that can be used by a character. Unlike Lore in Pillars of Eternity, this is a direct comparison. The required Arcana level is shown on each scroll.
- Increases the power level of all used scrolls by
Arcana level x 0.5(or 0.5 per point)
As with all other skills, Arcana can be checked during conversations and scripted interactions.
Scrolls power level[]
Each power level in scrolls has the following effect (where applicable):
- +5% damage.
- +5% healing done.
- +5% duration (some exclusions, such as "per" intervals).
- +0.25 Penetration - rounded up to the nearest 0.1, though this may be for display only.
- +0.5 bounces - rounded down to nearest integer (truncated). Note that no tooltip is displayed for this bonus.
- +1 Accuracy - rounded down to nearest integer (truncated).
So, at 10 Arcana, the power level for scrolls would be 5 (excluding other potential power-level altering factors). At power level 5, the scroll gains +25% damage, +25% duration, +1.25 Penetration, etc. Note that power levels are rounded down to the nearest whole number, so a character with Arcana 3 would add 1.5 power levels to used scrolls, but the calculation will round this down to 1.
Power level scaling can be overridden on a per-item basis, meaning the above bonuses may not apply for every item! These figures are given as a guideline to the power level scaling values of most items.
All bonuses only apply to the scrolls direct effects, so if a scroll were to grant the caster Accuracy (for example), it would not gain an added bonus from power levels. The bonus only applies to the accuracy of attacks made by the scrolls casted ability, likewise with Penetration.
| Power level | Bonuses to scrolls | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | Rounded | Damage / Duration / Healing | Penetration | Bounces | Accuracy | ||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | |
| 1 | 0.5 | ||||||
| 2 | 1.0 | 1 | +5% | +0.25 (0.3) | +0.5 (0) | +1 | |
| 3 | 1.5 | ||||||
| 4 | 2.0 | 2 | +10% | +0.5 | +1.0 (1) | +2 | |
| 5 | 2.5 | ||||||
| 6 | 3.0 | 3 | +15% | +0.75 (0.8) | +1.5 (1) | +3 | |
| 7 | 3.5 | ||||||
| 8 | 4.0 | 4 | +20% | +1.0 | +2.0 (2) | +4 | |
| 9 | 4.5 | ||||||
| 10 | 5.0 | 5 | +25% | +1.25 (1.3) | +2.5 (2) | +5 | |
| 11 | 5.5 | ||||||
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | |
The above table outlines the bonuses received to scrolls at a specific power level (and in turn Arcana level). This assumes no other factors are influencing the power level for scrolls, but the effects should be the same either way.
Initial bonuses[]
The following bonuses are applied as a result of a character's class and background.
| Chanter | +2 |
| Paladin | +2 |
| Priest | +2 |
| Wizard | +2 |
| Apprentice* | +2 |
| Mystic | +1 |
| Scholar | +1 |
| Scientist | +1 |
Companions[]
When a companion is initially added to the party, their skill points are automatically distributed within a few predetermined skills, up to the current level of the player (at 1 active and 1 passive skill per level). When levelling up a companion already in the party, the player may still freely choose which skills to put their points into.
The following companions start with points in Arcana, including class/background bonuses.
| Arcana at initial level | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Companion | Level | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | |
| Aloth0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Fassina1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
| Maia Rua2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Pallegina3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Tekēhu4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Xoti5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
0 Includes Aloth's +2 bonus as Wizard
1 Includes Fassina's +2 bonus as Wizard class or Contemplative multiclass (her Sorcerer multiclass configuration only gets +1), and +2 bonus as Arcane Apprentice
2 Does NOT include Maia Rua's +1 bonus as Geomancer.
3 Includes Pallegina's +2 bonus as Paladin (her Crusader multiclass configuration gets +1)
4 Includes Tekēhu's +2 bonus as Chanter (his Theurge multiclass configuration gets +1, while his Druid class gets +0)
5 Includes Xoti's +2 bonus as Priest (all other class configurations get +0)
The following companions have an inherant bonus due to their class configuration or background. These bonuses will only be present if you selected the appropriate class option when the companion initially joined the party.
| Companion initial bonuses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Companion | Bonus | Source |
| Aloth | +2 | as Wizard |
| +1 | as Battlemage (Fighter + Wizard) as Spellblade (Rogue + Wizard) | |
| Fassina | +4 | as Wizard as Loremaster (Chanter + Wizard) AND as Arcane Apprentice |
| +3 | as Sorcerer (Druid + Wizard) AND as Arcane Apprentice | |
| Konstanten | +2 | as Chanter |
| +1 | as Howler (Barbarian + Chanter) | |
| Maia Rua | +1 | as Geomancer (Ranger + Wizard) |
| Pallegina | +2 | as Paladin as Herald (Chanter + Paladin) |
| +1 | as Crusader (Fighter + Paladin) | |
| Tekēhu | +2 | as Chanter |
| +1 | as Theurge (Chanter + Druid) | |
| Vatnir | +2 | as Priest as Celebrant (Chanter + Priest) |
| +1 | as Zealot (Priest + Rogue) | |
| Xoti | +2 | as Priest |
| +1 | as Contemplative (Chanter + Priest) | |
| Ydwin | +1 | as Scientist |
Buffs[]
Passive effects[]
unlimited – obtained during gameplay
| Name | Modifier | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Geirvard's Training | +1 | Permanent |
Equipment[]
unlimited – bonus while equipped
| Type | Item | Enchantment | Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gauntlets | The Left Hand of the Obscured [FS] | Handler of the Arcane | +3 |
| Gloves | Firethrower's Gloves | Spellbending | +1 |
| Ring | Chameleon's Touch | Versatile | +1 (as Wizard) |
Pets[]
unlimited – bonus while equipped to either self or party
| Pet | Target | Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| Animancy Cat | Self | +1 |
Consumable items[]
unlimited – for the user for a duration (sometimes only in combat)
| Type | Item | Modifier | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unguent | Arcanist's Balm | +2 | 120 sec |
Notable uses[]
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Items[]
| Type | Item | Enchantment | Stat | Formula |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arbalest | Spearcaster | Rune Bolts | Ranged accuracy | (Arcana * 0.5) + 5
|
| Arcane Bolts | ||||
| Elemental Bolts |
Misc[]
- The Ranger subclass Arcane Archer receives increased Accuracy with "Imbue" spell effects. The formula is
(Arcana * 0.5) + 5.
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