This reference covers the original Pillars of Eternity’s class abilities, general skills, combat defenses, and recovery systems as described in the retrieved gameplay passage. It identifies the five skills and gives concrete examples of how Stealth and Mechanics apply during scouting. It also explains that class abilities differ, with examples for Cipher and Druid, and that enemy resistances can make weapon or spell selection relevant. Endurance and Health have different consequences when depleted, and resting can restore them and certain abilities. The passage does not provide named abilities, spells, equipment, numerical effects, or detailed progression paths. The Deadfire wiki passage is excluded because it describes the sequel.
If you are comparing class roles, read the class overview and its Cipher and Druid examples, then consider how damage type choices interact with enemy defenses.
Class-specific abilities Cipher soul attack Druid shapeshifting and spells Enemy defensive stats Adapting weapon and spell typesIf exploration utility is your focus, start with the five-skill overview, then read the specific Stealth scouting and Mechanics trap examples.
Five general skills Stealth and scouting Mechanics and trapsIf you are reviewing combat information and recovery, read how the bestiary adds enemy detail, then compare Endurance and Health and the stated rest options.
Bestiary combat information Endurance and Health Resting to recoverChoose a topic to see how it works, where it helps and what to consider.
Each of the eleven classes has unique abilities for battles against hostile enemies and creatures, with examples described for Cipher and Druid.
Understand this choiceA Cipher can use the soul of an enemy as a means of attacking that enemy in combat.
Understand this choiceDruids can shapeshift into a beast and cast spells, two functions identified as examples of class abilities.
Understand this choiceStealth, Athletics, Lore, Mechanics, and Survival confer situation-dependent bonuses, including utility during scouting and interactions with the environment.
Understand this choiceStealth affects scouting mode, which lets characters sneak around enemies and spot hidden items and traps.
Understand this choiceMechanics governs disarming traps found while scouting; the passage says disarmed traps can later be used against enemies.
Understand this choiceEnemies have distinct defensive stats and weapon, elemental, and status resistances that affect damage or the effects of abilities.
Understand this choiceDifferent weapons and spells can address enemies’ weaker defenses; the passage gives a piercing-resistant enemy as an example.
Understand this choiceThe bestiary records encountered creatures and enemies, adding information with further encounters that can help reveal their combat stats.
Understand this choiceDamage affects both Endurance and Health; depleted Endurance knocks a character out, while depleted Health causes permanent death.
Understand this choiceResting at a camp or buying a room at an inn can recover lost Health, Endurance, and certain abilities.
Understand this choiceSource s2 is a Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire wiki. Its claims about sequel classes, spells, ships, and systems do not establish mechanics for the original game.
The combat passage says enemies can resist weapon and elemental types. Its piercing example supports attacking a piercing-resistant enemy with a different weapon type.
The passage says depleted Endurance knocks a character out, while depleted Health causes permanent death. It also says post-combat Endurance regeneration depends on Health damage.
Selected systems and editions described by the linked references.
