Octopath Traveler 2: Best Starting Character [Tier List]

Octopath Traveler 2 is the sequel to the beloved Octopath Traveler. With an exceptional HD-2D art style and eight travelers to adventure with, this game has a lot to live up to.

When the game though starts you will need to pick one of the eight main characters to follow as make your first steps into this world. In this guide, I will list the best starting characters players should consider.

For those of you who don’t care why, or get spoiled and just want the names, here are the four best-starting characters in Octopath Traveler 2.

• Scholar Osvald
• Dancer Agnea
• Thief Throne
• Hunter Ochette

Below I will go into detail, about why these characters are the best-starting characters in Octopath Traveler 2, I will also briefly go over the rest of the cast to know what to expect from the others as well.

Keep in mind though, that saying some characters are the best to start the game with does not mean that the other are not good enough. Every character has the potential to be exceptional, and in the end, if you like someone more go for them.

As you play through the game, your characters will have the option to be able to unlock a secondary job. If you are unsure what to pick, check out our guide on the best secondary jobs in Octopath Traveler 2.

Best Starting Character: Scholar Osvald in Octopath Traveller 2

• Path Actions: Scrutinize to get extra information from NPCs and Mug to steal items from them.
• Talent: Study Foe, reveals enemy weaknesses in battle.
• Latent Power: Concentrate Spells. Focus spells on a single target, but with raised potency.

Osvald is the best choice to start the game with a more magical-focused character in Octopath Traveler 2.

He starts with powerful Fire, Ice, and Electrical elemental attacks both single-target and later on as you unlock more skills, an AOE option for each.

Combine that with his talent that lets you know your enemies’ weaknesses, and he will break any enemy you come across. The only thing players will find lacking is the ability to deal any real melee attacks on enemies.

Best Starting Character: Dancer Agnea in Octopath Traveller 2

Path Actions: Allure allows you to recruit NPCs to join and fight with you for a time, and Entreat makes NPCs give you their items.

Talent: Dance Session, which works to buff the NPCs you’ve recruited through Allure. 

Latent Power: All Together Now. Spread single-target skills to all targets. This does not affect divine skills or self-usage skills. 

I know Agena sounds like a terrible choice at first glance, but much like Primrose in the first game, it can provide a fun and different experience to other travelers.

The Dancer class on the surface seems like a class that can only provide party-wide buffs, but don’t let that fool you. Agnea has a trick up her sleeve, or more likely a talent to Allure people to her will.

Many of the NPCs will be able to be Allured by Agnea, and help you as you fight with different types of combat abilities. They can be surprisingly powerful, and get you through a tough battle with ease.

It is a very different way to play the game because you will need to strategize around what others can do for you and not how can your character fend for herself.

Best Starting Character: Thief Throne in Octopath Traveller 2

Path Actions: Steal to take items from NPCs and Ambush to knock enemies out to open up new areas and such.

Talent: Blessing of Darkness, which gives a buff to all allies any time a battle begins at nighttime. 

Latent Power: Leave No Trace. Throne can act twice in a single turn.

A Thief may not sound like the best starting class on paper, but in Octopath Traveler 2, Throne is a versatile Thief able to use Swords and Daggers, as well as some Dark magic.

Players may only struggle a bit because she lacks any true AOE attacks, so big groups of enemies will be hard to manage.

Throne’s Steal path action will be a great asset in the early game, keeping you stocked up in healing items, and materials an Apothecary will be able to use. Also, never forget unsuspecting people will always hold valuables for you to liberate from them.

Her starting city is a well-populated place with a lot of things to loot, as well as a relatively short distance between her and two mages to fill in your offensive and defensive magical capabilities.

Best Starting Character: Hunter Ochette in Octopath Traveller 2

Path Actions: Provoke to force NPCs to battle one of her tamed animals and Befriend to get enemies to join your side temporarily.

Talent: Capture / Prepare, which allows you to tame beasts you face in battle to summon later or use them for item crafting.

Latent Power: Animal Instinct. Let instincts take hold to unlock these skills without consuming SP.

In Octopath Traveler H’aanit was for most players the greatest starting choice in the game. Her Talent to capture beasts allowed players, to have the skills they need at their fingertips.

Unlike the Dancer or the Cleric, the Hunter has more slots open to them to capture, and use the enemies they encounter while they play. Ochette even has the talent to Prepare enemies and create items.

Equipped with both Axes and Bows, Ochetter will be your choice if you want to focus on raw physical power. She can be better than the traditional warrior character the game has to offer.

Keep in mind her abilities, and your overall experience with her will be affected by which ability you pick, and which enemies you recruit to round out your capabilities. Regardless, she is amazing, and one of the best characters to start with.

Information on the Remaining Characters

Apothecary Cassti

Path Actions: Inquire to get extra information from NPCs and Soothe to heal and help NPCs.

Talent: Concoct, allowing you to mix ingredient items mid-battle to create new offensive or defensive effects.

Latent Power: Every Drop Counts. You can Concoct without consuming any ingredients.

Fighting Style: Support Character, mostly by using special items, and item mixing to heal, buff, and debuff. She is very dependent on your stock of resources.

Cleric Temenos

Path Actions: Guide to recruit NPCs to follow you for a short while, and Coerce that forces NPCs to battle you to make them give up information.

Talent: Moonlight Judgment, which hits enemies with debuffs at the start of battles that take place at night.

Latent Power: Judgment. Breaks foe’s Shield Points easily with any attack regardless of their weaknesses. Also, bypass any Locked weaknesses.

Fighting Style: Support Mage, mainly using healing spells, and in time of need to break he can use light elemental offensive magic.

Merchant Partitio

Path Actions: Purchase allowing you to buy items from NPCs that aren’t shops themselves, and Hire – paying to get an NPC to join your side temporarily.

Talent: Business Partners, which has different effects depending on which NPC you’ve hired – though broadly, expect it to buff your hire.

Latent Power: Hoot and Holler. Partitio’s BP is replenished to the max.

Fighting Style: All-Rounder, with access to a few weapon types and some basic offensive magic. He can also Hire NPCs to fight for him.

Warrior Hikari

Path Actions: Challenge to battle NPCs and learn skills from some when you beat them, and Bribe to pay NPCs for information.

Talent: Learned Skills, allowing Hikari to master even more skills more quickly to diversify his skill set.

Latent Power: 

• Shadow’s Hold. Unleash the power of shadow within to unlock these skills without consuming SP.
• Light’s Radiance. Unleash the power of triumphant light within to unlock these skills without consuming SP. (Replace Shadow’s Hold after finishing Hikari’s story)

Fighting Style: The traditional close combat warrior, making use of swords and polearm weapons.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these have been the best-starting characters for Octopath Traveler 2. Each character has a unique way to match the way you want to play the game.

In a game with eight distinct characters, and many different combinations to try with the secondary jobs, do not worry if you started a game with a unit different than what was mentioned above.

If you are interested to play more RPGs, check out our guide on Engage Camilla for Fire Emblem Engage DLC Wave 2. With two waves left in the DLC, Fire Emblem Engage will have a lot to offer in the future.

Let us know in the comments down below, which character you started the game with, and what characters have you felt drawn to.