Discover the best smithing styles in Dragon's Dogma 2. Learn which styles to use for early, mid, and late-game gear to maximize your melee and magick capabilities.
Choosing the best smithing style in Dragon's Dogma 2 is largely dependent on your playstyle, but some styles offer superior benefits. For early-game equipment, the Vermundian Style is a balanced choice, providing a moderate boost to all attributes without excelling in any single one. As you progress to the mid-game, consider Battahli for melee weapons to significantly increase Strength, and Elven for magickal weapons to boost Magick. In the late and post-game, the optimal choice often lies between Battahli, Elven, and Dwarven styles.
Weapon Enhancements
For melee weapons, the Battahli style generally pulls ahead in Physical Attack by rank 3. While its base damage might be slightly lower than other styles early on, the increased damage dealt when enemies are knocked down and vulnerable can be highly advantageous. This is especially true if your vocation has skills that can easily knock down enemies, such as Thief's Ensnare or Warrior's Knoll Breaker.
Magick weapons benefit most from the Elven style due to its significant enhancement of Magick Attack and its interaction with spell knockdown effects. Spells have varying knockdown powers, making Elven the go-to unless you're aiming for a highly specialized spell build.
| Weapon | Smithing Style | Rank | Physical Attack | Magick Attack | Knockdown Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon’s Vein (Dagger) | Dwarven | 1 | 30 | 0 | 34 |
| Dragon’s Vein (Dagger) | Dwarven | 2 | 43 | 0 | 43 |
| Dragon’s Vein (Dagger) | Dwarven | 3 | 59 | 0 | 52 |
| Dragon’s Vein (Dagger) | Battahli | 1 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| Dragon’s Vein (Dagger) | Battahli | 2 | 49 | 0 | 0 |
| Dragon’s Vein (Dagger) | Battahli | 3 | 82 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapon | Smithing Style | Rank | Physical Attack | Magick Attack | Knockdown Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon’s Wit (Archistaff) | Dwarven | 1 | 11 | 40 | 24 |
| Dragon’s Wit (Archistaff) | Dwarven | 2 | 16 | 57 | 30 |
| Dragon’s Wit (Archistaff) | Dwarven | 3 | 23 | 79 | 36 |
| Dragon’s Wit (Archistaff) | Elven | 1 | 6 | 44 | 0 |
| Dragon’s Wit (Archistaff) | Elven | 2 | 13 | 66 | 0 |
| Dragon’s Wit (Archistaff) | Elven | 3 | 19 | 110 | 0 |
Armor Enhancements
For armor, the differences between smithing styles are less pronounced. However, the Dwarven Style is recommended for its Knockdown Resist, which helps prevent enemies from stun-locking you. This bonus does add weight to the armor, but it can be mitigated by using the Wyrmfire style for a 50% weight reduction. If Knockdown Resist is not a priority, Battahli offers better defense, and Elven offers better Magick defense.
| Armor | Smithing Style | Rank | Physical Defense | Magick Defense | Knockdown Resist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vashara Scaleskin ( Warrior/ Mystic Spearhand) | Dwarven | 1 | 12 | 7 | 55 |
| Vashara Scaleskin ( Warrior/ Mystic Spearhand) | Dwarven | 2 | 23 | 10 | 62 |
| Vashara Scaleskin ( Warrior/ Mystic Spearhand) | Dwarven | 3 | 34 | 14 | 69 |
| Vashara Scaleskin ( Warrior/ Mystic Spearhand) | Battahli | 1 | 23 | 7 | 0 |
| Vashara Scaleskin ( Warrior/ Mystic Spearhand) | Battahli | 2 | 32 | 9 | 0 |
| Vashara Scaleskin ( Warrior/ Mystic Spearhand) | Battahli | 3 | 43 | 10 | 0 |
| Silhouette of Sorcery ( Sorcerer/ Mystic Spearhand) | Dwarven | 1 | 6 | 44 | 22 |
| Silhouette of Sorcery ( Sorcerer/ Mystic Spearhand) | Dwarven | 2 | 13 | 66 | 24 |
| Silhouette of Sorcery ( Sorcerer/ Mystic Spearhand) | Dwarven | 3 | 19 | 110 | 27 |
| Silhouette of Sorcery ( Sorcerer/ Mystic Spearhand) | Elven | 1 | 9 | 21 | 0 |
| Silhouette of Sorcery ( Sorcerer/ Mystic Spearhand) | Elven | 2 | 13 | 30 | 0 |
| Silhouette of Sorcery ( Sorcerer/ Mystic Spearhand) | Elven | 3 | 16 | 40 | 0 |
Summary of Smithing Styles
In summary, for most melee weapons, the Dwarven Style is optimal for its balance of stats and knockdown power. For magick weapons, the Elven Style is superior. If your build focuses on knocking down enemies, Battahli can be a strong contender for melee weapons. For armor, the Dwarven Style is generally recommended for its Knockdown Resist, though other styles can be chosen based on specific defensive needs.
All Smithing Styles and Locations
Note that shop locations may change post-game. You can find smithing styles at the following locations:
- Dwarven Smithing Style: Found at Brokkr’s Smithy in Bakbattahl. This style enhances Knockdown Power and Knockdown Resistance, with minor boosts to Defense and Magick Defense.
- Elven Smithing Style: Accessible at Sacred Arbor. This style significantly boosts Magick and Magick Defense, making it ideal for spellcasting vocations.
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