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Priests are one of the playable classes in Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire.

They are devoted followers of one or more deities, though almost all have a primary dedication to a single god above all others.[1] They are capable in combat, but their true power comes from their prayers. These prayers form the common spells priests use in battle, ranging from healing magic and divine attacks to a variety of blessings and curses.

Description[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Priests are devotees of Eora's deities and practitioners of religious magic. While all priests dedicate themselves to specific gods, priests' power is actually derived from their personal beliefs. In contrast to most paladins, priests tend to focus on philosophy, teaching, and the relationship of religious organizations with common folk. The reception of priests in any given part of the world depends largely on how their god is revered - or reviled - by the people who live there.

Background[ | ]

In a world with many gods, there are many different types of priests. Though the majority of priests spend their time tending to worshipers or engaged in relatively peaceful pursuits, there are ranks of dedicated adventuring or mercenary priests who have turned the flame of their faith into a spark to ignite the power of their souls. Such men and women have found a divine link to their chosen deity, but their abilities stem solely from within.[2]

Dedicated to spreading the news of their gods' dominions in the realms of mortals through their own deeds, adventuring priests thrust themselves into lethal conflict to prove their worth. Often trained to fight alongside soldiers of their respective churches, priests are capable in the fray (and near the fray, for those who follow less melee-oriented faiths), but their true power comes from their prayers, faith-inspired miracles that aid their allies and punish their enemies. These miracles range from combat blessings, weapon enchantments, and protective barriers to divine summons, sanctified wards, and crippling curses. In many ways, the prayers of priests have almost as much variety as wizards spells, though priests are restricted to invoking prayers that are aligned with their faith. Additionally, priests often specialize in the weapons, armor, and litanies of prayers most beloved by their church. Thus, the multitude of gods produces a multitude of different priests, each with their own unique array of abilities.[2]

Priests are well-versed in philosophy, myths, and legends, giving them an inherent bonus to the Lore skill. Additionally, the requirements of their faith often involve traveling long distances in difficult circumstances, giving them an inherent bonus to Athletics.[1]

Statistics[ | ]

Game Resources Endurance Health Accuracy Defenses Skill bonuses
DEF Deflection FOR Fortitude REF Reflex WIL Will
Pillars of Eternity Faith Faith Spells 36 + 12 per level 4x Endurance 20 15 20 20 20
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - 40 + 10 per level 20 20 20 20 25

Abilities[ | ]

Priests have few personal buffs, few single-target strike spells, some crowd control abilities,[3] many AoE buffs[4] and healing spells. They can use combo attacks with other priests[5] and are the first class that is able to provide party wide healing.[6]

List of abilities[ | ]

Spells[ | ]

Priests do not gain power directly from their deity, but from their belief in the deity and the tenets of their religion. Priests gather energy into their own souls and release it through the use of specific prayers. These prayers form the common spells priests use in battle, ranging from healing magic and divine attacks to a variety of blessings and curses. Relying on large area of effect bonuses mixed with small area offensive spells to direct combat from afar.[1]

Priests gain access to all spells of a given level as soon as he/she is able to cast from that level, but their overall access is limited by their faith.[7]

Compared to wizards, priests have access to a smaller number of spells overall but do not need to prepare those spells in a grimoire. And while priests do have offensive spells, they are smaller in area and generally weaker in power than similar effects available to wizards and druids.[1]

Talents[ | ]

The following talents are available only to priests of specific deities:

Moreover, the choice of Deity affects which 8th level spells will be available to the priest.

Progression[ | ]

In Pillars of Eternity[ | ]

  • At character creation, priests must select one deity, and automatically learn the ability Holy Radiance (the effects of which scale with their deity's favoured disposition - or with their level in the case of NPCs).
  • A priest's selected deity grants them one unique talent that can be learned at any time (see below).
  • As spellcasters, priests learn all spells at each new tier, but are limited to the amount of casts that can be made per rest at each tier (see the table below).
  • At every odd level (1, 3, 5, etc.), the next tier of spells are unlocked.
  • Spell Mastery allows the spellcaster to pick a single spell to switch to "per encounter" restoration. This occurs at level 9, 11, 13, and 15, for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th level (or lower) and spells respectively.
  • As with other classes, priests learn one talent at every even level (2, 4, 6, etc.).
Character
level
Ability level
learned
Maximum casts by ability level / tier Spell
mastery
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
1 1st 2
2 3
3 2nd 4 2
4 4 3
5 3rd 4 4 2
6 4 4 3
7 4th 4 4 4 2
8 4 4 4 3
9 5th 4 4 4 4 2 1st
10 4 4 4 4 3
11 6th 4 4 4 4 4 2 2nd
12 4 4 4 4 4 3
13 7th 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 3rd
14 4 4 4 4 4 4 3
15 8th 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 4th
16 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3

In Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire[ | ]

  • At character creation, priests must pick a deity, select one 1st level spell (active only), and automatically learn the ability Holy Radiance. This does not change for multiclass characters. A priest's subclass automatically grants them one spell at every power level.
  • As with other classes, priests pick 2 spells/abilities at every level where a new power level is unlocked excluding the first (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 19), and one spell/ability at all other levels (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20). Ability points may be spent on active or passive abilities, and on any currently-unlocked power levels.
    • Multiclass characters pick 1 spell/ability from either the priest ability tree or the other class tree at all levels where a new power level isn't unlocked, and 1 spell/ability for both classes at all levels where a new power level is unlocked (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19).
  • As spellcasters, priests are limited to the amount of spell casts that can be made per encounter at each tier, though this scales with their level (see the table below).
  • As with other classes, new ability power levels are learned every second level from level 1 (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13), then every third level from level 13 (16, 19).
    • Multiclass characters may only learn up to (and including) power level 7 spells, and unlock a new power level every third level from level 1 (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19).
Character
level
Power level learned Ability points Max spell casts at this ability power level
Single Multi Single Multi Single class Multiclass
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 1 (I) 1 (I) 1 1+1 2 2
2 1 1 2 2
3 2 (II) 2 1 2 1 2
4 2 (II) 1 1+1 2 1 2 1
5 3 (III) 2 1 2 2 1 2 1
6 1 1 2 2 1 2 1
7 4 (IV) 3 (III) 2 1+1 2 2 2 1 2 2 1
8 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 1
9 5 (V) 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 1
10 4 (IV) 1 1+1 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1
11 6 (VI) 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1
12 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1
13 7 (VII) 5 (IV) 2 1+1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 1
14 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 1
15 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 1
16 8 (VIII) 6 (VI) 2 1+1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1
17 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1
18 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1
19 9 (IX) 7 (VII) 2 1+1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1
20 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1

Deity[ | ]

When players create a priest character, they select a deity. Each choice highlights two types of behavior that are celebrated and two types of behavior that are condemned. For priests played as the main character, their Holy Radiance power will shift based on their behavior. Reinforcing their deity's preferred behavior will gradually increase their power, while playing against type will cause a small diminishment in their power. These changes are not dramatic, but reflect a measure of dissonance between the character's stated faith and how they choose to conduct themselves.[1]

In Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, a priest's disposition will affect the power of their Holy Radiance ability as well as the damage of Faith Attuned, an enchantment applied to Spiritual Weapon.

Deity Dispositions Favored weapons Playable
Favored Condemned poe1 poe2
Berath Yes Yes
Eothas Yes Yes
Gaun
(Xoti only)
- Yes*
Magran Yes Yes
Rymrgand
(Vatnir only)
- Yes*
Skaen Yes Yes
Wael Yes Yes
Woedica
  • Unarmed
No Yes

Moreover, in Pillars of Eternity, each deity will give access to an exclusive talent and one 8th level spell. In Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, each subclass has a unique variant of the abilities: Spiritual Weapon, "Symbol of" (with the exception of Woedica), and Incarnate (with the exception of Harvester of Gaun and Woedica).

Exclusives abilities and talents
Deity In Pillars of Eternity In Pillars of Eternity
Talent 8th level spell Spiritual Weapon 8th level spell Incarnate
Berath The Pallid Hand Symbol of Berath Spiritual Weapon (Priest of Berath) Symbol of Berath Incarnate (Priest of Berath)
Eothas Hope Eternal Symbol of Eothas Spiritual Weapon (Priest of Eothas) Symbol of Eothas Incarnate (Priest of Eothas)
Gaun - - Spiritual Weapon (Harvester of Gaun) Symbol of Eothas Lashing Vine (Harvester of Gaun)
Magran Inspired Flame Symbol of Magran Spiritual Weapon (Priest of Magran) Symbol of Magran Incarnate (Priest of Magran)
Rymrgand - - Spiritual Weapon (Priest of Rymrgand) Symbol of Rymrgand Incarnate (Priest of Rymrgand)
Skaen Prey on the Weak Symbol of Skaen Spiritual Weapon (Priest of Skaen) Symbol of Skaen Incarnate (Priest of Skaen)
Wael Incomprehensible Revelation Symbol of Wael Spiritual Weapon (Priest of Wael) Symbol of Wael Incarnate (Priest of Wael)
Woedica - Symbol of Woedica Spiritual Weapon (Priest of Woedica) Hand of Weal and Woe Writ of Mending

Subclasses[ | ]

Priests in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire must select one of six subclasses as their deity: Berath, Eothas, Magran, Skaen, Wael, and Woedica. Two more subclasses, Harvester of Gaun and Rymrgand are exclusive to the companions Xoti and Vatnir respectively, and cannot be selected by the player.

A priest's subclass automatically grants them an ability at each new ability power level. These abilities are typically pulled from other classes, with some already in the ability tree, and others completely unique to the subclass.

Berath[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Berath is the god of death, doors, and the wheel of reincarnation itself. Portrayed as either a genderless deity or twinned male and female incarnation, Berath seldom speaks with their followers. Their priests are expected to be rational and unemotional, treating death with a dispassionate dignity.

Bonus
  • Priests of Berath automatically learn the following spells at the appropriate Power Level:
  1. Touch of Rot
  2. Holy Meditation
  3. Spreading Plague
  4. Divine Terror
  5. Rot Skulls
  6. Salvation of Time
  7. Rusted Armor
  8. Symbol of Berath
  9. Hand of Berath

Eothas[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Eothas is the god of light, redemption, hope, and rebirth. The god was believed to have been destroyed at the end of the Saint's War, but many of his priests and followers continued to worship him. His return to Eora at Caed Nua is not yet known to most mortals. Priests of Eothas are honest and kind in their dealings, condemning all expressions of cruelty and falsehood.

Bonus
  • Priests of Eothas automatically learn the following spells at the appropriate Power Level:
  1. Sunbeam
  2. Withdraw
  3. Watchful Presence
  4. Circle of Protection
  5. Revive the Fallen
  6. Minor Intercession
  7. Resurrection
  8. Symbol of Eothas
  9. Light of Eothas

Magran[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Magran is the goddess of war, fire, and struggle. She is invoked and revered by warriors of all culture, but especially by the people of the Dyrwood, who believe the goddess helped them defeat St. Waidwen during the Saint's War. Magran favors bold action and quick wits over emotion and diplomacy.

Bonus
  • Priests of Magran automatically learn the following spells at the appropriate Power Level:
  1. Fan of Flames
  2. Spiritual Weapon
  3. Ray of Fire
  4. Shining Beacon
  5. Flame Shield
  6. Pillar of Holy Fire
  7. Torrent of Flame
  8. Symbol of Magran
  9. Magran's Might

Skaen[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Skaen, known also as the Quiet Slave, is the god of secret hatred, resentment, and violent rebellion. He is usually depicted as a small, bald man covered in lash scars whose ears and nose have been cut off. He appears outwardly submissive, with downcast eyes. However, his eyes glitter black with quiet hatred, and his fist is clenched. He is known to manifest in a horrific incarnation known as the Effigy to followers desperate enough to perform certain unspeakable rites. In Dyrwood, Skaen's faithful often double as torturers and executioners, delighting in the fall of high-status prisoners.

Bonus
  • Priests of Skaen automatically learn the following spells at the appropriate Power Level:
  1. Barbs of Condemnation
  2. Escape
  3. Divine Mark
  4. Finishing Blow
  5. Shadowing Beyond
  6. Spiritual Ally
  7. Minor Avatar
  8. Symbol of Skaen
  9. Revenge of Skaen

Wael[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Wael is the god of dreams, secrets, mysteries, and revelations. Inscrutable even to the other gods, Wael has no determinate gender or consistent appearance. Its symbol is the eye, though the look and number of the eyes often change. People pray to Wael both to protect their secrets as well as to unravel the mysteries in front of them. Followers of Wael are known for many Strange and unusual practices, possibly for good reasons, possibly for no reason at all.

Bonus
  • Priests of Wael automatically learn the following spells at the appropriate Power Level:
  1. Arcane Veil
  2. Iconic Projection
  3. Mirrored Image
  4. Llengrath's Displaced Image
  5. Confusion
  6. Arkemyr's Wondrous Torment
  7. Gaze of the Adragan
  8. Symbol of Wael
  9. Blessing of Wael

Woedica[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

Priests and Priestesses of the Exiled Queen express their faith as lawyers and judges in towns and urban centers. The most prominent among them have served as advisers in royal court. They are of particular importance in the Empire of Aedyr, where business contracts require their endorsement. Woedica's devotees are typically found in the upper classes, but any tradition-minded person who longs for a vanished past will find a place in her faith. "When Woedica takes back her throne" is a common saying amongst her followers, signifying a utopian future when society will be properly ordered once again, and she will take her rightful place as ruler of the gods.

Bonus
  • Automatically learn the following priest spells at new power levels:
  1. Writ of Engagement
  2. Spiritual Weapon
  3. Writ of Consumption
  4. Divine Terror
  5. Writ of War
  6. Pillar of Holy Fire
  7. Writ of Sorcery
  8. Hand of Weal and Woe
  9. Writ of Mending

Harvester of Gaun[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

An aspect of Eothas, Gaun emphasizes the natural ending of mortal life. He is most often portrayed as a farmer with a lantern and sickle, implements his priests utilize in ceremonies and combat. The sickle represents the time of harvest, i.e. the natural end of life, and the lantern represents a light that guides dead souls to the Beyond.

Bonus
  • Gains Hatchet proficiency (Interfering Strikes).
  • Priests of Gaun automatically learn the following spells at the appropriate Power Levels:
  1. Blessed Harvest
  2. Withdraw
  3. Vile Thorns
  4. Circle of Protection
  5. Wicked Briars
  6. Minor Intercession
  7. Wall of Thorns
  8. Symbol of Eothas
  9. Lashing Vine

Rymrgand[ | ]

Items in italics are quoted directly from the game.

God of entropy, cold, winter, bad luck, famine, and natural disasters. Manifests as a giant albino aurochs, moving amidst a great blizzard, and in the plodding footsteps of Rymrgand come death and disintegration.

Bonus
  1. Touch of Rot
  2. Blizzard
  3. Spreading Plague
  4. Noxious Burst
  5. Blast of Frost
  6. Ninagauth's Freezing Pillar
  7. Death Ring
  8. Symbol of Rymrgand
  9. Call of Rymrgand

Suggestions[ | ]

Priest presents the best choice for sole healing. Depending on how well your group's front line holds things together, you may find your character either healing some or a lot. Priest very much defines what a back line healer consists of, but their spells easily reach any where. If someone goes below half health, a priest can quickly cast a Withdraw spell to temporarily take them out of battle for some seriously huge healing. The default AI tends to be somewhat intelligent about this, especially with Xoti. As a side note, Xoti performs best as a Contemplative (Priest + Monk multiclass). Otherwise, you may find the character passing out a lot as she tries to "reap" those souls from your enemies at the front line. This will tend to draw much aggression her direction that leads to her spells never going off, and no healing means you may quickly lose the battle.

Priest offers some of the best aggressively defensive spells available. This may involve laying down spell traps in the form of seals that damage your enemies as they walk through them. However, the class' direct damage spells lack much of the oomph seen in several other classes. A properly built Cipher or Wizard will out-perform well in that area given a long battle. If you want to engage often in melee with your opponents as a single class Priest, then you should learn to focus on Blessing and Dire Blessing. You can use the Withdraw spell for emergencies.

As mentioned earlier with Xoti, Monk makes a fantastic Multi Class option if you prefer mixing it in with melee on the front line in battle.

Related items[ | ]

Icon Name Item type Enchantments
Ring faith icon Seal of Faith Ring


Mace nightshroud icon Nightshroud Mace


Px4 club war club of the mataru icon War Club of the Mataru Club


Scepter gyrd haewanes stenes icon Gyrd Háewanes Sténes Scepter

Notable characters[ | ]

Pillars of Eternity
The White March - Part I
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

Gallery[ | ]

References


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