Introduction
After a very long wait, Phantasy Star Online 2 finally arrived on western markets (The Windows 10 Launch for North America happened on the 27th of May 2020). The very long gap between Japanese and Western releases means that we should get a thoroughly polished and mature product that should conquer the Western MMORPG market (almost 8 years of post-launch development ensure that the game is balanced, content-abundant, and well-optimized). Now is the best time to start your adventure with this famous eastern MMORPG. This means that it is about time we introduced you to PSO2's Races, Classes, and Class/Subclass systems!
List of the best PSO Builds
Bouncer Builds:
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Braver Builds:
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Fighter Builds:
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Force Builds:
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Gunner Builds:
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Hunter Builds:
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Ranger Builds:
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Summoner Builds:
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Techter Builds:
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Scroll down for more in-depth Classes/Races description and comparison
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PSO2 Races
There are four races to choose from in Phantasy Star Online 2; Human, Newman, Dewman, and Cast, all of which have two genders, male and female. Like in some other MMORPGs Races differ in not only appearance but also stat distribution, however, in PSO2, these stat differences are a bit higher than in other similar titles (high enough to make minmaxers smile, but also low enough to be ignored by more casual players and people who don't care about ~1% differences). Moreover, not only Races differ in stat distribution, but genders too. For your convenience, here is a spreadsheet shows the differences:
Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk | |
CAST♀️ | ||||||||
CAST♂ | ||||||||
Dewman♀️ | ||||||||
Dewman♂ | ||||||||
Human♀️ | ||||||||
Human♂ | ||||||||
Newman♀️ | ||||||||
Newman♂ |
Spreadsheet Key: - High, - Average, - Low,
Note1: We didn't use the exact base stat values because not only Races but also Classes determine them and the differences are much easier to see when shown as above; spreadsheets for each of the Classes can be found further in the article, in Class-specific chapters.
Note2: As we mentioned earlier, the differences are very minor (the difference between Human's "High" base T-Def and CAST's "Low" base T-Def is only 7, for example.
None of the classes are race or gender locked, which means that all Class+Race combinations are allowed. If you are not a hardcore player, we highly recommend you to not base your race choice purely on stats; As mentioned before, stat disparities between Races are not that high and the biggest difference comes in the form of cosmetics. If you would like to play as a mech/robot, go for CAST as they look like taken straight from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Newmans have pointy ears; if you are looking for an Elf-like race, they will be perfect for you. Humans are, well... humans, they have nothing really special to offer, but are great for normies. Dewmans, on the other hand, have dichromic eyes and horns on their foreheads; if that's your thing, now you know which race to choose.
PSO2 Classes
There are nine Basic Classes in Phantasy Star Online; six of them are available during the Character Creation (Braver, Bouncer, Force, Hunter, Ranger, and Summoner), while the other three can be chosen only by talking to the Class Counter Attendant Bea at the Class Counter (Techter, Gunner, and Fighter)*.
*Please note that the 6 Classes, from the Character Creation window, are also available at the Class Counter.
Note1: As you probably deduced from the previous paragraph, all PSO2 Classes are available to all Characters and you can change them freely at the Class Counter.
Note2: We strongly advise you to run Class Training Missions, available from the Quest Counter, before switching to a Class. Doing this will give you a general impression of how a given Class works, what are its gameplay mechanics, and what to expect from it overall. These Missions will also teach you how to operate the given Class, which will make your gameplay experience with it much smoother and allow you to avoid unnecessary frustration.
Note3: The game also features three "Successor Classes", that are unlocked later in the game (Etoile, Phantom, and Hero). We will cover those three Classes in a separate article, or update this one (we have to decide which option will work better), at a later date, as these classes deserve a more in-depth look.
Important: While your Class can be freely changed, resetting a Skill Tree is associated with a substantial expense (on the Japanese server, the main way of resetting Skill Trees is associated with real-money transactions). Be mindful of that and consult experienced players or check what builds are recommended for your current Class before investing any points into your Skill Trees!
Bouncer |
The Bouncer is a Melee DPS Class known for very flashy Techniques he can weave into his attacks. Depending on the chosen weapon, the Class is capable of dishing out very high burst damage or supporting teammates in combat while still dealing solid DPS, which makes it very versatile. | |||||||
Stat | Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk |
Value | ||||||||
Class Weapons
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If you are looking for a very dynamic Class, able to exploit the enemy's elemental weaknesses, and you like the challenge, Bouncer will be a perfect choice. | ||||||||
PSO 2 Bouncer Builds |
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Braver |
As one of the most versatile classes in the game, Braver is capable of both long-range and close-quarters-combat, depending on his chosen weapon. While his melee attacks are very flashy, the long-range ones are rather tame (but still very deadly). | |||||||
Stat | Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk |
Value | ||||||||
Class Weapons
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If you like to take on your enemies up close and personal, but also know when to retreat and resort to long-range combat, Braver is the Class for you. | ||||||||
PSO 2 Braver Builds |
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Fighter |
As the designated glass-cannon melee class of the Phantasy Star Online 2, Fighter focuses on the raw power of his attacks and disregards any damage he suffers. As a Fighter, you walk a dangerous path of balancing between life and death, but this is your path; enemies unlucky enough to stumble on it will not live long enough to realize their mistake. | |||||||
Stat | Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk |
Value | ||||||||
Class Weapons
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If you like to get consumed by the battle rage and charge mindlessly into the heat of the action taking no prisoners, Fighter will work wonders in your hands. | ||||||||
PSO 2 Fighter Builds |
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Force |
As the "Caster" Class of the Phantasy Star Online 2, Force is capable of using very powerful Techniques (which are spells, basically). These Techniques come in a wide range of types and flavors and vary from purely offensive, through support, to healing, which makes Force a valuable addition to any group. The main downfall of Force is his lackluster defense; the Class can be very unforgiving sometimes. | |||||||
Stat | Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk |
Value | ||||||||
Class Weapons
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If ways of Fighters and Hunters are too barbaric for you and you think that close-quarters-combat is primitive, the Photon Technique-wielding Force will be the optimal choice. | ||||||||
PSO 2 Force Builds |
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Gunner |
An offensively-focused Ranged Damage dealer that excels at single-target engagements and is capable of dishing out devastating bursts of damage. Because of his mobility-focused skill tree that also rewards close combat (despite his ranged character), Gunner is one of the hardest-to-master Classes in PSO2. If you are up for the challenge, it is the Class for you. Gunner shares one of his weapons (Assault Rifle) with the other "ranged" class, the Ranger. | |||||||
Stat | Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk |
Value | ||||||||
Class Weapons
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If you like Fighter's aggressive playstyle and you also like guns, Gunner will be a good choice for you, as his long-range weapons don't stop him from engaging enemies from point-blank range. | ||||||||
PSO 2 Gunner Builds |
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Hunter |
As a typical melee fighter/brawler Class, Hunter focuses on both defense and offense, which makes him somewhat less bursty but also much more durable than the Fighter. His weaponry is hard-hitting but somewhat unwieldy and slow-to-use. With the balance of defense and offense comes great versatility that makes the Hunter one of the best Classes for solo play. Moreover, Hunter is as close to a Tank as it gets in Phantasy Star Online 2 because there is no designated "tank" role in the game. | |||||||
Stat | Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk |
Value | ||||||||
Class Weapons
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If the balance of offense and defense is your thing and you like to babysit the more hot-headed members of your groups, Hunter will work wonders in your hands. | ||||||||
PSO 2 Hunter Builds |
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Ranger |
Compared to the Gunner, Ranger is a more "standard" Ranged Damage Dealer who prefers to keep his distance at all times. He excels in long-range combat and long-range support, which makes him a worthy addition to any group. While he shares one of his weapons with the Gunner (Assault Rifle), his other weapon of choice is truly unique. | |||||||
Stat | Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk |
Value | ||||||||
Class Weapons
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If the Gunner feels too all-out and brutish to you, Ranger might be a perfect alternative; while Gunner resembles a Heavy Assault Trooper, Ranger is more like a long-range Heavy Weapon specialist. | ||||||||
PSO 2 Ranger Builds |
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Summoner |
This is is the "Pet Class" of Phantasy Star Online 2. Summoners shy away from direct combat and utilize their summons instead. This unconventional style of fighting makes them very unique, but also somewhat confusing for new players. Summoners have access to a wide range of different summons, which makes them extremely versatile and able to adapt to almost any combat situation. | |||||||
Stat | Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk |
Value | ||||||||
Class Weapons
Note: Pets are basically Summoner's "Weapons" (they all have their own Attacks and Photon Arts) and he has one for pretty much any combat role; Aero/Torim for single-target DPS, Jinga/Wanda for AoE DPS, Maron/Melon for cheesy self-destruct attacks, Popple/Cery for support and ranged DPS, Rappy for being an all-rounder, Synchro for prolonged engagements, Redran for ranged AoE DPS, and Viola for tanking. We plan on making a fully-fledged PSO2 Summoner Pets Guide in the future, so stay tuned! |
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If you like your loyal minions to do the dirty work in your stead because getting your hands dirty isn't really your thing, look no further as Summoner is the perfect Class for you. | ||||||||
PSO 2 Summoner Builds |
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Techter |
Techter is an interesting blend of support, melee, and Tech, which makes him incredibly versatile and fun to play, but also quite hard to learn and to master. He has the unique ability to combine magic-like Techniques with more standard, melee-oriented combat skills. On top of that, he also has access to some of the most potent support Techniques in Phantasy Star Online 2. | |||||||
Stat | Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk |
Value | ||||||||
Class Weapons
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If you are looking for an aggressive Caster Class that doesn't shy from melee combat and is capable of supporting allies, Techter is the only real choice. | ||||||||
PSO 2 Techter Builds |
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PSO2 Main Class/Sub Class System
After reaching level 20, you will be able to obtain the Sub Class License, which will allow you to select your Sub Class. To get the License, talk to Chief Administrator Koffie. From this point forward, you can have one Main Class as well as one Sub Class active on your character at all times; both of them can be changed freely at the Class Counter. Both Main and Sub Class affect your character's attributes, development, and combat potency, but in a bit different ways:
The Main Class:
The Sub Class:
PSO2 Title Rewards / Class Boosts
In Phantasy Star Online 2, your level 75 characters affect all characters on your account by effectively boosting their statistics. While the stat bonuses might appear minor at first, they are actually quite substantial (enough to warrant leveling multiple alts or leveling multiple classes on your main character). This "Title Rewards" system works as follows:
Here is a detailed breakdown of stat boosts provided by leveling up each of the available classes to level 75:
Dexterity | S-Def | R-Def | T-Def | Health | S-Atk | R-Atk | T-Atk | PP | |
Bouncer | 30 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 20 | --- | 20 | 2 |
Braver | 30 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 20 | 20 | --- | 2 |
Fighter | --- | --- | --- | 10 | --- | 50 | --- | 15 | 2 |
Force | --- | --- | --- | 40 | --- | --- | 15 | 20 | --- |
Gunner | --- | 10 | --- | --- | --- | 15 | 50 | --- | 2 |
Hunter | --- | 40 | --- | --- | 50 | --- | 15 | --- | --- |
Ranger | --- | --- | 40 | --- | --- | --- | 20 | 15 | --- |
Summoner | --- | 40 | 40 | 40 | 10 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
Techter | --- | --- | 10 | --- | --- | 15 | --- | 50 | 2 |
SUM | 60 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 60 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 10 |
PP (Photon Points) - Resource that fuels the majority of skills and abilities in Phantasy Star Online 2. Techniques and Photon Arts all have a certain PP cost. Think of it as your Energy/Rage/Mana pool of sorts (not exactly, of course). Photon Points recover over time and each successful normal attack restores some PP, the exact amount depends on the equipped weapon.
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END NOTE Your first PSO2 Class will, most likely, affect your overall reception of the game, so choose it wisely, and don't be afraid to swap it immediately if it doesn't float your boat. Don't force yourself to play a certain Class combo just because it is regarded as "the best", play for fun and learn the game - experience always beats pure stats and spreadsheets. We hope that you have found this PSO2 Guide useful and informative. If you liked it and want us to make more Guides and Articles about Phantasy Star Online 2, please let us know! Also, we will be happy to receive constructive criticism that will help us improve our future work so leave your suggestions in the comments section below. |