Cipher abilities (Deadfire)

The following is a list of cipher abilities in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.

Ability tree[]

Active Abilities

Passive Abilities

Active abilities[]

Level	Ability	Activation	Cost	Effects	Description
1st Level Cipher Abilities
1 (I)	Antipathetic Field	Active	10 Focus	Beam: 5-10 \| Accuracy vs. Reflex per 1.0 sec	Creates a toxic physical manifestation of the mutual antipathy between the cipher and the enemy target. Enemies caught in the path between the two will suffer Corrosive damage.
	Eyestrike	Active	10 Focus	Foe Target + Foe AoE: Blinded for 12.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Fortitude	Shocks a target's visual receptors, Blinding them and nearby enemies.
	Mind Wave	Active	10 Focus	Foe Target: 10-15 \| Accuracy vs. Will Foe AoE: 12-20 \| Accuracy vs. Reflex	The cipher violently lashes out at an enemy, dealing Raw Damage and generating a cone of concussive force behind the target.
	Soul Annihilation (Soul Blade)	Active	10 Focus	Target: Primary Attack, 10 Raw Damage Caster: Lose All Focus	A soul enhanced melee strike that consumes the cipher's remaining power pool and converts it into Raw damage on the target.
	Soul Shock	Active	10 Focus	Foe AoE: 17-24 \| Accuracy vs. Reflex	Briefly transforms the outer shell of an allied target's soul into energy, releasing an electrical burst around them. Enemies standing in the area around the target take Shock damage.
	Telekinetic Burst (Psion)	Active	10 Focus	Target: Interrupt \| Accuracy vs. Will AoE: 2m Push \| Accuracy vs. Reflex	Channel a psionic burst of energy from within the target's mind, Interrupting them and throwing back all those nearby.
	Tenuous Grasp	Active	10 Focus	Foe Target: Shaken, Confused for 20.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Assails the target's grasp on reality, causing Shaken and Confuse.
	Valorous Echoes	Active	10 Focus	Allied Target: Strong, Insightful for 20.0 sec	The cipher brings echoes of an ally's past lives to the surface, inspiring the ally to greater feats of heroism. Provides Strong and Insightful Inspirations.
	Whisper of Treason	Active	10 Focus	Foe Target: Charmed for 15.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	The cipher bends the mind of an enemy to their will, Charming them for the duration.
2nd Level Cipher Abilities
2 (II)	Amplified Thrust	Active	20 Focus	Foe Target: 30-38 , 3m Push \| Accuracy vs. Deflection	Bounces psychic energy harmlessly off of an allied target and onto the closest nearby enemy, causing Pierce damage and violently pushing them backward.
	Mental Binding	Active	20 Focus	Foe Target: Paralyzed for 6.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will Foe AoE: Immobilized for 10.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Fortitude	Overwhelms the target's mental ability to communicate with its own body, Paralyzing it and causing its soul to emit a shockwave that can leave nearby enemies Immobilized.
	Mind Blades	Active	20 Focus	Foe Target: 9-14 \| Accuracy vs. Deflection Jump Targets (x5): 8-13 \| Accuracy vs. Deflection	Co-opts the target's essence, generating a Slashing blade of force that attacks them before leaping to additional targets.
	Phantom Foes	Active	20 Focus	Foe AoE: Flanked for 18.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Invades the minds of targets in the area of effect, causing them to believe they are surrounded by phantom foes - leaving them Flanked for the duration.
	Psychovampiric Shield	Active	20 Focus	Self: Steadfast for 20.0 sec Target: -10 Resolve for 20.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	The cipher uses the target's strength of mind against it, stealing a portion of its Resolve in order to gain the Steadfast Inspiration.
	Recall Agony	Active	20 Focus	Foe Target: 30% of received damage is reapplied as Raw Damage for 15.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Causes the target to relive the psychic trauma of an injury moments after receiving it, experiencing the Damage all over again.
3rd Level Cipher Abilities
3 (III)	Ectopsychic Echo	Active	30 Focus	Foe Beam: 7-13 \| Accuracy vs. Reflex per 1.0 sec	Generates a rebounding wave of psychic feedback between the cipher and an ally that causes Crush damage to enemies caught in between.
	Fractured Volition	Active	30 Focus	Foe Target: Hobbled, Weakened for 20.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Violates an enemy's memories to bring vivid recollections of past failures to the surface, leaving the target Hobbled and Weakened.
	Pain Link	Active	30 Focus	Allied Target: 25% of Damage Taken is dealt to attackers for 15.0 sec	Mentally links an ally to those around them, forcing attackers to experience a portion of all damage the ally suffers.
	Puppet Master	Active	30 Focus	Foe Target: Dominated for 15.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Destroys a target's psychic defenses, leaving them Dominated by the cipher for the duration.
	Secret Horrors	Active	30 Focus	Foe AoE: Frightened, Sickened for 15.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Causes enemies in the area of effect to believe their worst fears have been realized, Frightening and Sickening them for the duration.
	Soul Ignition	Active	30 Focus	Target: 16 Burn Damage per 3.0 sec for 15.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Fortitude	Forces an enemy's soul to "leak" energy, igniting the air around them and Burning them over time.
4th Level Cipher Abilities
4 (IV)	Body Attunement	Active	40 Focus	Self: +2 Armor Rating Foe Target: -2 Armor Rating for 20.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Fortitude	The cipher probes the mind and soul of the enemy target, finding the strengths of its defenses and stealing them for their own. Drains a portion of the target's Armor Rating, granting the same amount as a bonus to the cipher.
	Mind Lance	Active	40 Focus	Target: 22-27 \| Accuracy vs. Will	Impales the target with a lance of pure force, inflicting major Pierce damage to all in the line of attack and interrupting enemy actions.
	Pain Block	Active	40 Focus	Allied Target: Robust for 18.0 sec	Provides an ally with a mental block on their pain, granting them the Robust Inspiration.
	Silent Scream	Active	40 Focus	Foe Target: 12-20 , Stunned for 6.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will Foe AoE: 12-20 \| Accuracy vs. Will	Produces a psychic howl in the target's area, Stunning the target as well as dealing Raw damage and interrupting all nearby enemies.
	Wild Leech	Active	40 Focus	Target (Random Effect): Tier 1 Affliction (Target), Tier 1 Inspiration (Self) \| Accuracy vs. Will	Latches onto some characteristic of the target's psyche and drains it, granting the same amount as a bonus to the cipher. Applies a random low tier Affliction to the enemy and the matching Inspiration to the cipher.
5th Level Cipher Abilities
5 (V)	Borrowed Instinct	Active	50 Focus	Self: +20 Accuracy, +20 All Defenses Foe Target: -8 Intellect, -8 Perception for 20.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Ransacks an enemy's Intellect and Perception for energy, causing damage to those enemy Attributes while boosting the cipher's Defenses and Accuracy.
	Detonate	Active	50 Focus	Target: 32-51 \| Accuracy vs. Fortitude Destroyed, 2m Push	Splinters the target's soul with sheer force, inflicting Raw damage to them - Near Death targets explode, causing Crush damage to all in the area of effect.
	Echoing Shield	Active	50 Focus	Allied AoE: Resolute for 30.0 sec Foe AoE: Immunity to Concentration attacks \| Accuracy vs. Will	Cause a reverberating wave to wash over all those near a target ally, granting friendly characters the Resolute Inspiration and removing Concentration from enemies.
	Ringleader	Active	50 Focus	Foe Target: Dominated for 15.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will Foe AoE: Charmed for 15.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Imprints an insidious and powerful compulsion to obey the cipher across all enemies in the area of effect, Dominating the target and Charming all others.
	Tactical Meld	Active	50 Focus	Allied Target + Self: Aware for 30.0 sec, +3 enemies Engaged for 30.0 sec	Connects the cipher's mind with an ally's, granting the cipher and their ally the Aware Inspiration and increased Engagement Limit.
6th Level Cipher Abilities
6 (VI)	Amplified Wave	Active	60 Focus	Foe AoE: 35-42 \| Accuracy vs. Fortitude	Manifests the target ally's mental strengths and projects them outward forcefully, causing a shockwave that inflicts Crush damage and knocks enemies in the area of effect Prone.
	Disintegration	Active	60 Focus	Target: Interrupt, Destroyed, 240 Raw Damage over 15.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Fortitude	Burns away the ethereal sinew that holds together the mind, body, and soul of the target enemy, causing it to rapidly take Raw damage. Targets that have their Health reduced to zero disintegrate into nonexistence.
	Mind Plague	Active	60 Focus	Foe Target + Jump Targets (x5): Dazed, Confused for 15.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Destroys an enemy's memory with calculated accuracy, Confusing and Dazing them before rapidly jumping to additional enemies.
7th Level Cipher Abilities
7 (VII)	Ancestor's Memory	Active	70 Focus	Allied Target: Brilliant for 12.0 sec	Unlocks the hidden repositories of an allies' mind and soul, granting them the Brilliant Inspiration for a short time.
	Screaming Souls	Active	70 Focus	AoE: 30-50 , Distracted for 18.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	The cipher targets a spirit or vessel and tears at the coalesced soul energy inside of them, causing them and any immediate spirit or vessels to emit a deafening scream that Distracts and deals Raw Damage to those nearby.
	Stasis Shell	Active	70 Focus	Foe Target: Untargetable, Stunned for 20.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	The cipher is able to isolate a single enemy from the world, leaving them unable to act, but also unable to be affected by outside parties.
8th Level Cipher Abilities
8 (VIII)	Defensive Mindweb	Active	80 Focus	Allied AoE: Share Defenses for 30.0 sec	Link to the minds of all allies within a short distance. Any incoming attack against an ally in the mindweb must overcome the highest applicable defense of anyone in the web. If a character in the mindweb takes damage, they are removed from the web.
	Reaping Knives	Active	80 Focus	Allied Target: Summon Weapon: Reaping Knives, 30% of Damage Dealt returned as Focus for 30.0 sec	The cipher uses an ally's soul to create "blades" of pure energy that emerge from both hands. The blades do Raw damage and generate Focus for the cipher who created them.
	Time Parasite	Active	80 Focus	Self: +25% Action Speed for 12.0 sec Foe Target + Jump Targets (x5): -25% Action Speed for 12.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	By siphoning power from enemies' souls, the cipher is able to slow them down and increase their own Action Speed.
9th Level Cipher Abilities
9 (IX)	Death of 1,000 Cuts	Active	90 Focus	Target: Interrupt, 31 Raw Damage, 19 Raw Damage per 3.0 sec for 30.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Fortitude Target when damaged: 31 Raw Damage, +10 sec Duration of Death of 1,000 Cuts effects \| Accuracy vs. Fortitude	Fracture the target's soul, causing them to receive Raw damage over time. Shred spells used on this target will cause another fracture, dealing Raw damage instantly and extending the duration of the effect.
	Driving Echoes	Active	90 Focus	Allied Target: +8 Penetration for 24.0 sec	Echo an ally's attacks with each of their soul's memories, granting them a significant Penetration bonus.
	Haunting Chains	Active	90 Focus	Target: Terrified, Hobbled for 20.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Haunt the target's mind with dark memories of those they've lost and killed, Terrifying and Hobbling them.

Passive abilities[]

Level	Ability	Activation	Cost	Effects	Description
Core Cipher Passives
Core	Ascendant (Ascendant)	Passive		Self: +5 Max Focus, +5 Max Focus every 2 levels	Ascendant ciphers train to use their powers when they are at full Focus. This can make their powers devastating when they are finally unleashed, but leaves them underpowered in other circumstances. Whether earned or not, ascendants have a reputation for being cocky and overconfident.
	Ascended (Ascendant)	Passive		Self: +3 Cipher Power Level, +20% Damage, -100% cost for Cipher abilities for 15.0 sec	When an ascendant has full Focus, they receive a damage bonus from Soul Whip and their cipher spells gain a large Power Level bonus and cost no Focus. When this effect ends, the cipher's Focus is reduced to zero.
	Beguiler (Beguiler)	Passive		Self on scoring Hit (with Cipher Deception spells): +5 Focus Self: +20% Range with Cipher Deception Spells	Beguilers emphasize the mind-bending powers of ciphers, relying on deception and illusion to defeat their enemies. Some beguilers are known for their odd sense of humor, love of riddles, and fondness for Wael, god of dreams and secrets.
	Focus Starved (Ascendant)	Passive		Self: -1 Cipher Power Level	When an ascendant is below max Focus, their cipher spells receive a penalty to Power Level.
	Psion (Psion)	Passive		Self: Disable Soul Mind for 6.0 sec on receiving hit	Psions are quite rare, often beginning as prodigal young minds that slowly unlock secrets deemed incomprehensible to even the wisest scholars. Their powers require intense meditation, but can allow them to manipulate the conscious mind or move objects with incredible force. Bonus Gain Soul Mind passive ability. Gain Telekinetic Burst ability. Penalty Loses Soul Whip ability. Receiving damage disables Soul Mind briefly.
	Soul Blade (Soul Blade)	Passive		Self per kill (on kill): Concentration, +10 Max Focus for 30.0 sec Self: Cipher Shred abilities cost -5 Focus, -5 Max Focus	Soul blades focus all of their energy on offensive powers and the use of their soul whip. Among ciphers, they are known for their aggression and short tempers, though not all soul blades have such a hostile disposition.
	Soul Mind (Psion)	Passive		Self: +1 Focus per 1.0 sec	When free to focus, the cipher's mind sharpens, allowing them to tap into hidden power and generate Focus passively. However, if the cipher receives damage from an attack this effect is briefly disabled.
	Soul Whip (Ascendant)	Passive		Self: +10% Damage with weapons, +50% Focus Gain (0.75 Focus per point of weapon damage dealt to enemies), Soul Whip no does not turn off at max Focus.	Causes the cipher's weapons to generate a field of parasitic energy that lashes out at the target, increasing Damage inflicted and generating Focus for the cipher. (Ascendant) - Soul Whip does not turn off at Max Focus and provides more bonus damage when at Max Focus.
	Soul Whip (Beguiler)	Passive		Self: +10% Damage with weapons, 0.25 Focus generated per point of weapon damage dealt to enemies (restored to +20% Damage and 0.5 Focus if attacking Sneak Attack vulnerable target).	Causes the cipher's weapons to generate a field of parasitic energy that lashes out at the target, increasing Damage inflicted and generating Focus for the cipher. (Beguiler) - Soul Whip provides less bonus damage and generates less Focus if the cipher's target is not vulnerable to Sneak Attack.
	Soul Whip	Passive		Self: +20% Damage with weapons, 0.5 Focus generated per point of weapon damage dealt to enemies	Causes the cipher's weapons to generate a field of parasitic energy that lashes out at the target, increasing Damage inflicted and generating Focus for the cipher.
	Wild Mind (Wild Mind)	Passive		Self: 20% Chance for random "Wild Surge" effect on Cipher Spell cast	A cipher who developed their powers without formal training. Never learning to properly focus their energy, the wild mind is capable of violent surges of fantastic power that manifest in unpredictable ways. Bonus Cipher spells have a chance to trigger an unexpected effect, this can manifest in spectacular ways, often (but not always) aiding the party. Penalty Sometimes wild mind manifestations can cause undesirable effects.
1st Level Cipher Passives
1 (I)	Arms Bearer	Passive		Self: +1 Weapon Sets	Gain an additional Weapon Set.
	Iron Will	Passive		Self: +15 Will	The cipher's sense of self is much stronger than most, granting them a bonus to Will.
	Lingering Echoes	Passive		Self: +10% Outgoing Affliction Duration	Increases the duration of Afflictions caused by the cipher.
	Monastic Unarmed Training	Passive		Self: +5% Damage with Unarmed attacks, +2 Accuracy with Unarmed attacks, +1 Penetration with Unarmed attacks	Gain scaling effectiveness in Unarmed attacks. Though, not as effective as a Monk's unarmed strikes, benefit from Increased Accuracy, Damage, and Penetration as you gain levels.
	Penetrating Visions	Passive		Self: +1 Penetration with Cipher Spells	Increases the Penetration of cipher spells.
2nd Level Cipher Passives
2 (II)	Biting Whip (Ascendant)	Passive		Self: +20% Damage with weapons, +50% Focus Gain (0.75 Focus per point of damage dealt to enemies), Soul Whip does not turn off at max Focus.	Causes the cipher's weapons to generate a field of parasitic energy that lashes out at the target, increasing Damage inflicted and generating Focus for the cipher. (Ascendant) - Soul Whip does not turn off at Max Focus and provides more bonus damage when at Max Focus. (Biting Whip) - The cipher's Soul Whip bites deeper, granting a greater bonus to Damage.
	Biting Whip (Beguiler)	Passive		Self: +20% Damage with weapons, 0.25 Focus generated per point of weapon damage dealt to enemies (restored to +30% Damage and 0.5 Focus if attacking Sneak Attack vulnerable target).	Causes the cipher's weapons to generate a field of parasitic energy that lashes out at the target, increasing Damage inflicted and generating Focus for the cipher. (Beguiler) - Soul Whip provides less bonus damage and generates less Focus if the cipher's target is not vulnerable to Sneak Attack. (Biting Whip) - The cipher's Soul Whip bites deeper, granting a greater bonus to Damage.
	Biting Whip	Passive		Self: +30% Damage with weapons, 0.5 Focus generated per point of weapon damage dealt to enemies	Causes the cipher's weapons to generate a field of parasitic energy that lashes out at the target, increasing Damage inflicted and generating Focus for the cipher. (Biting Whip) - The cipher's Soul Whip bites deeper, granting a greater bonus to Damage.
	Draining Whip (Ascendant)	Passive		Self: +10% Damage with weapons, 1.25 Focus generated per point of damage dealt to enemies (+150% Focus Gain), Soul Whip no does not turn off at max Focus.	Causes the cipher's weapons to generate a field of parasitic energy that lashes out at the target, increasing Damage inflicted and generating Focus for the cipher. (Ascendant) - Soul Whip does not turn off at Max Focus and provides more bonus damage when at Max Focus. (Draining Whip) - Enhances the draining power of the cipher's Soul Whip, regenerating Focus more quickly.
	Draining Whip (Beguiler)	Passive		Self: +10% Damage, 0.5 Focus generated per point of weapon damage dealt to enemies (restored to +20% Damage and 0.75 Focus if attacking Sneak Attack vulnerable target).	Causes the cipher's weapons to generate a field of parasitic energy that lashes out at the target, increasing Damage inflicted and generating Focus for the cipher. (Beguiler) - Soul Whip provides less bonus damage and generates less Focus if the cipher's target is not vulnerable to Sneak Attack. (Draining Whip) - Enhances the draining power of the cipher's Soul Whip, regenerating Focus more quickly.
	Draining Whip	Passive		Self: +20% Damage with weapons, 1.0 Focus generated per point of weapon damage dealt to enemies (+100% Focus Gain)	Causes the cipher's weapons to generate a field of parasitic energy that lashes out at the target, increasing Damage inflicted and generating Focus for the cipher. (Draining Whip) - Enhances the draining power of the cipher's Soul Whip, regenerating Focus more quickly.
	One-Handed Style	Passive		Self: 20% of Hits converted to Crits with weapons	While wielding a single one-handed weapon, some of the attacker's Hits are converted to Crits.
	Two Weapon Style	Passive		Self: -15% Weapon Recovery Time when dual-wielding	Specialized training increases the character's Action Speed while using a weapon in each hand.
	Two-Handed Style	Passive		Self: +15% Damage with two-handed weapons	Grants a Damage bonus while wielding a two-handed weapon.
	Weapon and Shield Style	Passive		Self: +6 Shield Deflection, Shield Deflection bonus also applies to Reflex.	Equipped shields' Deflection bonuses are increased and grant an equal bonus to the character's Reflex.
3rd Level Cipher Passives
3 (III)	Bear's Fortitude	Passive		Self: +10 Fortitude	Increases the character's Fortitude defense.
	Combat Focus	Passive		Self: Concentration	Gain Concentration at the start of each combat.
	Hammering Thoughts	Passive		Self: +1 Penetration with weapons	The cipher is able to use the echoes of time to drive home strikes from their weapons, increasing their Penetration.
	Psychic Backlash	Passive	1 per encounter	Attackers: Stunned for 10.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Invokes a retaliatory strike, Stunning an enemy whenever they target the cipher's Will defense.
	Snake's Reflexes	Passive		Self: +10 Reflex	Increases the character's Reflex defense.
4th Level Cipher Passives
4 (IV)	Greater Focus	Passive		Self: +10 Max Focus	The cipher has an increased maximum and starting Focus.
4 (IV)	Tumbling	Passive		Self: +20 Defense when Disengaging	Gain additional defense against Disengagement attacks.
5th Level Cipher Passives
5 (V)	Brutal Backlash	Passive	1 per encounter	Attackers: 20 , Stunned for 10.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will	Invokes a retaliatory strike, Stunning an enemy whenever they target the cipher's Will defense. (Brutal Backlash) - The cipher's backlash becomes especially traumatic inflicting additional Raw damage to the target.
	Farcasting	Passive		Self: +20% Range with Spells	Gain the ability to cast ranged spells over longer distances.
	Keen Mind	Passive		Self: +10 Focus	The cipher begins combat with additional Focus.
	Rapid Casting	Passive		Self: +10% Action Speed with Spells	Reduces the time it takes to complete a spell's cast.
	Tough	Passive		Self: +2 Max Health	Increases the base maximum health that you gain with each level.
	Uncanny Luck	Passive		Self: 5% resistance, 5% of Hits converted to Crits	Gain a small chance to completely avoid any attack and to convert some Hits to Critical Hits.
6th Level Cipher Passives
6 (VI)	Improved Critical	Passive		Self: +10% Crit damage	Increases the amount of damage dealt by Critical Hits.
	Spell Resistance	Passive		Self: 10% resistance against Spells	Grants a chance to completely resist the effects of a hostile spell.
	The Empty Soul	Passive		Self: +10 Accuracy with Cipher Spells vs. Will	Cipher spell effects that target the enemies' Will gain bonus Accuracy.
7th Level Cipher Passives
7 (VII)	Accurate Empower	Passive		Self: +10 Accuracy with Empowered attacks	Empowered attacks gain increased Accuracy.
	Echoing Horror	Passive		Foe AoE per kill: Frightened for 12.0 sec \| Accuracy vs. Will per 3.0 sec	When the cipher kills an enemy, a nearby enemy may become Frightened.
	Lasting Empower	Passive		Self: +20% Affliction and Inspiration duration on Empowered attacks	Empowered attacks gain increased duration on Affliction and Inspiration effects.
	Penetrating Empower	Passive		Self: +1 Penetration with Empowered attacks	Empowered attacks gain increased Penetration.
	Potent Empower	Passive		Self: +15% Damage with Empowered attacks	Empowered attacks gain increased Damage.
	The Complete Self	Passive		Self on Critical Hit (when scoring a critical hit): +5 Focus	When the cipher critically hits with a cipher spell, there is a chance to recover some of the focus spent.
8th Level Cipher Passives
8 (VIII)	A Soul's Echo	Passive		Self: 15% of Hits converted to Crits with Cipher Spells vs. Will	The cipher's spells that target Will convert some of their Hits to Crits.
8 (VIII)	Great Soul	Passive		Self: +1 max Empower points	Increases the maximum number of times Empower can be used before resting.
9th Level Cipher Passives
9 (IX)	Prestige	Passive		Self: +1 All Power Levels	Increases your Power Level, increasing the effectiveness of all abilities.
	Protective Soul	Passive		Self when critically hit (when critically hit): 25-pt All Damage Shield for 6.0 sec	When the cipher is struck by a critical attack, he or she builds a protective barrier that prevents some damage, until broken or fading naturally.
	Shared Nightmare	Passive		Self: +1% Area of effect size per Focus	The cipher's area effects increase in size the more Focus the cipher has.