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Proficiencies
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

Proficiencies

Learn about weapon and shield proficiencies in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. Understand how they affect combat, modal attacks, and character builds.

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Learn about weapon and shield proficiencies in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. Understand how they affect combat, modal attacks, and character builds.

In Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, you can choose proficiencies in 31 weapon and shield types. You select two at character creation and gain an additional proficiency every fourth level (4, 8, 12, etc.). There is no penalty for using a weapon you are not proficient in, but proficiency unlocks a weapon's special modal attack.

Devoted (Fighter) Subclass Note: Fighters with the Devoted subclass can only choose one proficiency. Using a weapon they are not proficient in reduces Accuracy by -10.

Unarmed Combat: All characters are proficient with fists. Unarmed combat is only effective if the character is a Monk or has the Monastic Unarmed Training passive ability.

Many two-handed ranged weapons are considered "unfit for combat," imposing a -10 Deflection penalty when used in melee. The most powerful ranged weapons also deal reduced critical damage. Some weapon modals offer +2 Penetration at the cost of +50% Recovery Time. This is generally not worth it unless it overcomes under-penetration, as it can lead to an overall reduction in damage output. The effectiveness of increased Rate of Fire (ROF) versus reduced Accuracy, or decreased attack rate versus improved Accuracy, depends on many variables. For simplified calculations, assuming Accuracy matches Deflection and Penetration is not an issue, certain modals can be beneficial.

Recommended Modals: Unless there's a strong reason not to, engage the modal on a Hunting Bow. The modal on a Pistol also works well when wielding a single pistol.

If micromanagement is not an issue, you can activate modals that reduce enemy defenses temporarily to inflict debuffs. A -25 Fortitude or Will can be devastating. For fighting casters, Arbalests and crossbows offer Interrupts. Spears and pollaxes grant Engagement, which is always valuable. The spear modal penalty is not severe. For casters, activating a dagger modal, for example, provides +10 deflection with no combat penalty. Medium shield modals offer a one-third chance to ignore incoming melee attacks, making them excellent for defense. The downsides of large shield modals can be mitigated by abilities like Charge or Escape.

Bows

Arbalest

  • Handling: 2h
  • Range: 12m
  • Attack Time: 0.7s
  • Reload Time: 6s
  • Damage: 17 - 25 Pierce
  • Penetration: 9
  • Special: -15% Crit damage, -10 Deflection vs. melee weapons
  • Modal (_Overbearing Shot_): -25% Action Speed, knocks target Prone on hit.

Crossbow

  • Handling: 2h
  • Range: 12m
  • Attack Time: 0.7s
  • Reload Time: 5s
  • Damage: 15 - 20 Pierce
  • Penetration: 9
  • Special: 10% Hit to Crit, -10 Deflection vs. melee weapons
  • Modal (_Interrupting Shot_): -25% Action Speed, Interrupts target on hit.

Hunting Bow

  • Handling: 2h
  • Range: 12m
  • Attack Time: 0.9s
  • Recovery Time: 4s
  • Damage: 14 - 24 Pierce / Slash
  • Penetration: 6
  • Special: +5 Accuracy, -10 Deflection vs. melee weapons
  • Modal (_Rapid Shot_): -50% Recovery Time, -15 Accuracy.

Warbow

  • Handling: 2h
  • Range: 12m
  • Attack Time: 1.1s
  • Recovery Time: 4s
  • Damage: 13 - 19 Pierce / Slash
  • Penetration: 8
  • Special: -10 Deflection vs. melee weapons
  • Modal (_Overdraw_): +2 Penetration, +50% Recovery Time.

Firearms

Arquebus

  • Handling: 2h
  • Range: 12m
  • Attack Time: 0.7s
  • Reload Time: 6.8s
  • Damage: 20 - 26 Pierce
  • Penetration: 9
  • Special: -5 Accuracy, -15% Crit damage, -10 Deflection vs. melee weapons, Veil Piercing
  • Modal (_Aimed Shot_): +20 Accuracy, -25% Action Speed.

Blunderbuss

  • Handling: 1h
  • Range: 4m
  • Attack Time: 0.7s
  • Reload Time: 5s
  • Damage: 3 - 6 Pierce (x4 projectiles)
  • Penetration: 6
  • Special: -10 Accuracy, -15% Crit damage, Veil Piercing
  • Modal (_Powder Burns_): 8 - 12 Burn damage in cone AoE, user _Distracted_ for 10s.

Pistol

  • Handling: 1h
  • Range: 8m
  • Attack Time: 1.1s
  • Reload Time: 5s
  • Damage: 15 - 19 Pierce
  • Penetration: 7
  • Special: -15% Crit damage, Veil Piercing
  • Modal (_Rushed Reload_): -50% Reload Time, -15 Accuracy.

Magical Implements

Scepter

  • Handling: 1h
  • Range: 8m
  • Attack Time: 0.7s
  • Recovery Time: 4s
  • Damage: 9 - 13 Crush / Slash
  • Penetration: 8
  • Modal (_Destructive Channeling_): +20% damage, +1 Penetration, inflicts 20% of damage done (as Raw damage) on wielder.

Rod

  • Handling: 2h
  • Range: 8m
  • Attack Time: 1.1s
  • Recovery Time: 4s
  • Damage: 15 - 24 Pierce / Slash
  • Penetration: 6
  • Modal (_Blast_): 50% damage in 1.5m radius around target, -50% Recovery Time.

Wand

  • Handling: 1h
  • Range: 8m
  • Attack Time: 0.7s
  • Recovery Time: 3s
  • Damage: 8 - 14 Pierce
  • Penetration: 7
  • Special: -5 Deflection vs. melee weapons
  • Modal (_Interfering Barrage_): -10 Accuracy penalty on target for 10s.

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