Octopath Traveler 2 characters and primary jobs, who to start with

Octopath Traveler 2The game features eight characters new to the series, although their jobs are slightly different from the last one. If you’re not sure who to start with or what each character and their primary job does, we break it down for you.

New additions to Octopath Traveler 2ArePotential latent, special abilities the characters can use in battle once a gauge fills up, similar to Final Fantasy’s famous limit break function. Octopath Traveler 2It also introduces a daytime/nighttime system that gives characters two Path Actions rather than just one.

Step actionsThese are skills characters have that can be used on NPCs, but they’re not combat-related. There’s lots of overlap between path actions, as they mostly result in knocking somebody out, getting information, or getting an item from an NPC. The characters’ methods of doing it however are very different.

You also have the option to add Secondary jobsThese are the jobs you’ll keep and the ones that will be useful later on. While secondary jobs can give you more stats and abilities, you won’t be able do all the things a primary character will be capable of. Ochette can hunt animals and fight for them, while a secondary hunter cannot.

Maybe you’re wondering. What character would you choose to begin withThat depends. It is up to you to decide how you play, but you will be able to unlock every character pretty quickly once you have started. Only one thing matters: Your first pick. You can’t swap them for your party until they win their last chapter. You’ll want to take everything into account when selecting your first character: their passive skills, latent ability, weapons and elements, path actions, and just how they play generally. Here are eight character profiles and their usefulness (or lack thereof) in the first game.

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Ochette (Hunter)

Ochette is able to capture and summon monsters. She can also turn their bodies into HP-restoring Jerky or other useful products like HP-restoring Jerky. She has latent powers that allow her to use special abilities, deal huge damage, hit multiple targets or boost her performance. An axe, bow, and electricity are her main tools.

Ochette is open during the day. ProvokeWhile they can go into combat, the woman at night is free to do whatever she pleases. Begin a friendshipTo get NPCs to follow her, they will use items that are familiar to them. The NPCs are then able to be used for battle.

Do you want to start with Ochette

While her animal companions can give her a wide-range of attacks, she’s pretty dependent on having strong monsters on her side. Her latent power isn’t anything particularly thrilling, though the debuffing and shield-breaking ability is strong. Her captured animals can be sacrificed to provide her with a variety of healing products.

Her journey does not stop at one of these continents. This allows you to quickly access other characters and gives her an early start.

Castti, Apothecary

Castti can mix items to apply status effects or deal elemental damage to her enemies. Her party members can heal themselves by mixing items. Because of her latent ability, she can create without needing any materials. Her melee weapons include an axe, and she also uses ice magic.

Castti can Get in touchInformation and advice is available to people in the morning. Use SootheNighttime is when people go to sleep.

Castti is the best place to start

Castti’s bread-and-butter skills involve having lots of ingredients to deal massive damage. Without them, she’s not great. However, the apothecaries have a quick heal, that doubles as a revive and can prove to be very useful for early games.

Castti can be found on the west continent near Hikari and south of Agnea, Partitio, but it is not locked.

Throné (Thief)

Throné is a sneaky thief with sticky hands, as she can steal from enemies. Her latent power gives her the ability to do two things at once. Throné uses a dagger, a sword, and dark magic.

She buffs the party before battle begins at night.

During the day, Throné can StealShe can access NPCs at night; she can also contact them. AmbushThey are knocked out by them without the need to fight.

Should you start with Throné?

Full disclosure: I started Octopath Traveler 2 with Throné. The Steal ability of her is very useful in the beginning. Being able to steal items from people helps you save money. Her damage is reliable, and she can steal items from townspeople. She also has many useful buffs as a thief. Her nighttime buff should not be ignored. You get three turns at the start each battle of nasty damage, which makes it easy to take down any boss. Paired with Temenos’ debuff at the start of battle, you can obliterate enemies no problem.

Throné is on the eastern continent, close to Temenos and Osvald.

Osvald (Scholar).

Osvald can cast area-of-effect spells with ease. His high mana costs are there for a reason: When he casts a fire-spell, it’ll hit every monster in the fight. Because of his latent ability, he can direct that energy to one target and strike that target extremely hard. A staff is his weapon and he employs electric, fire and ice magic.

Osvald can ExaminizeInformation is sought by people during daytime. MugYou can trade them in for valuable items at night. He can also reveal some weaknesses of his enemy during battle.

Do you want to start with Osvald or not?

Osvald can do a lot of damage but his mana pool is very limited in the beginning game. He doesn’t have much, and his skills are expensive to use. That said, he’s quite good at taking out many enemies at once. His ability to reveal weaknesses at the start of battle is also great, so you don’t have to spend a few turns guessing.

Osvald starts at the northern part of the eastern continent, near Throné and Temenos.

Partitio (Merchant)

Partitio is an west merchant. He can hire soldiers to his side in battle by using money. His latent ability allows him to immediately restore BP. He can use fire magic and uses both a bow and polearm as his weapons.

Partitio is open during the day. BuyItems from NPCs and at night, he is able to RentHe can summon NPCs to follow him. These NPCs, just like Tenemos and Ochette can also be summoned to battle. He can get discount coupons and other benefits through shops by having his NPCs hired.

Do you want to start with Partitio or not?

Partitio is more of a support, but he can help you make lots of money early by using the merchant’s Collect ability on weakened monsters, along with his money-boosting support skills. Partitio can help you supply BP to your party by donating his to them, allowing them continue to throw attacks.

Partitio begins on the west continent, in the northern region near Agnea.

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Agnea, (Dancer).

Agnea is known for buffing her team, and even summoning NPCs to help. Agnea’s latent power allows her to spread single-target buffs across the entire party. Agnea employs wind magic as well as a dagger.

Agnea has the ability to use her AllureIn the morning and night, ability to persuade townspeople to join her cause (and even fight for her). StartNight NPCs to purchase items

Do you want to start with Agnea

Agnea, like Partitio, is more of a support character, but she’s still quite useful. Agnea’s Entreat ability lets her ask NPCs to give them their items. This is very useful in the early stages. Her damage is lacking, but she can buff up your team’s attack and bump their turns up in battle, allowing you to get some extra powerful hits in.

Agnea is located in northern Italy, close to Partitio.

Temenos (Cleric)

Temenos can cast healing spells and holy magic across the party. His latent power allows you to deplete enemy Shield Points even if they’re not weak to his attack type. He has a staff, and uses holy magic.

Temenos can be used at night to debuff enemies.

Temenos can GuideNPCs are available during the day. CoerceThey are often asleep at night so they can get the information that they need. In order to successfully Coerce them, you’ll have fight them and break their shield in a battle.

Tenemos’ guided NPCs can be summoned into battle to help you fight as well.

Do you want to start with Temenos or not?

Temenos’ partywide heal is useful and his holy magic does a ton of damage. He is a boss-destroyer because of his latent ability to break shields. It’s also easy to defeat bosses thanks to his nighttime ability, which debuffs them. Pair him with Throné (who is nearby!) You can really take out enemies during the nighttime starting turns.

Temenos is on the eastern continent below Osvald and above Throné.

Hikari, (Warrior)

Hikari, a warrior prince who fights for his kingdom. He can unleash powerful attacks due to his latent power. His weapons of choice are a polearm and a sword. Natively, Hikari doesn’t do magic.

Hikari may be found during daytime. Challenge You can use NPCs against them to get rid of them and gain new skills. He can also sleep at night. Bribe People are looking for information.

Hikari is the best option.

Hikari can be described as a JRPG veteran through and through. His damage is massive and he can taunt the enemy to protect his allies. His ability to learn new skills from NPCs is valuable, but in general, he’s a reliable tanky boy who can dish what he takes. His lack of magic makes him hard to start with, as you’ll only be sporting two ways (sword and polearm) to break shields early.

Hikari is located in the northern part of western continent, close to Castti. It can be found below Agnea or Partitio.

Get more information at Octopath Traveler 2Check out our guide on best job combinations and hidden job locations to learn more about how you can farm EXP faster.