Unlocking the Magick Archer in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a quest worth embarking on for any Arisen craving a powerful blend of ranged elemental magic and support skills. To gain access to this elusive vocation, you must complete the side quest “Put a Spring in Thy Step,” which begins by helping a dwarf named Gautstafr on Agamen Volcanic Island. This journey tests your endurance and strategy, but rewards you with devastating magickal bows and the potent Martyr’s Bolt skill, transforming your gameplay into a thrilling mix of long-range offense and party aid.
Unfortunately, the Magick Archer isn’t one of the game’s four starter vocations, and you’ll have to venture into the third area of the map – Agamen Volcanic Island – to get it. In this Dragon’s Dogma 2 guide, we’ll walk you through when and how to unlock the Magick Archer vocation.
Note: You can unlock the Magick Archer and Warfarer vocations within minutes of each other, but only if you do some prep work first. Before getting started, I recommend reading through our guide on how to unlock the Warfarer vocation as well.
When can you unlock Magick Archer in Dragon’s Dogma 2?
You can unlock the Magick Archer vocation in Dragon’s Dogma 2 by completing the side quest “Put a Spring in Thy Step.” This quest begins when you speak with a dwarf named Gautstafr on the dirt road near a campsite south of Windwalker’s Home on Agamen Volcanic Island, which is accessible after progressing through the story to the Battahl region and beyond. The quest involves gathering herbs for Gautstafr, escorting him safely to his home, and then taking him to the hot springs for relief. Upon completing this escort mission, you will meet Cliodhna, the Magick Archer Maister, who will unlock the vocation for you and reward you with powerful skills. Afterward, you can acquire the Magick Archer vocation at any Vocation Guild for 200 Dcp.
The Magick Archer is a late-game vocation, but only because you need to reach the third continent, Agamen Volcanic Island, to unlock it. While you can continue the main quest until it eventually takes you to the island, you can get there much faster by going a back way through Drabnir’s Grotto.
Drabnir’s Grotto is a mildly difficult dungeon in the southwestern part of Battahl. You can access it immediately after you enter Battahl – no additional main story missions required – and you can get there by taking the Battahl pulley platforms to their southernmost point. After you get off the platform, just follow the path south and you’ll find the entrance to the cave. You’re looking for this:
At the entrance, an NPC named Hillaire will confront you and tell you how dangerous and labyrinthine the cave is. If you’re over level 25, the cave isn’t much of a challenge at all, with just a few cyclopes, orcs, and rattlers blocking your way. Just make sure you have some camping gear, healing items, and a Wakestone, and are equipped with your highest leveled vocation. You won’t find a scary boss here – just slightly more difficult versions of things you’ve already fought.
How to unlock the Magick Archer vocation in Dragon’s Dogma 2
To unlock the Magick Archer vocation in Dragon’s Dogma 2, you need to complete the side quest “Put a Spring in Thy Step,” which is located on the path to Windwalker’s Home on the Volcanic Island in the southeastern part of the world map. The quest begins by speaking with Gautstafr, who asks you to find herbs for his back pain. After giving him the herbs, you escort him to a nearby hot spring, where you meet Cliodhna, the Magick Archer Maister. Completing this escort mission unlocks the Magick Archer vocation and grants you the powerful skill Martyr’s Bolt. Note that the Volcanic Island and the quest are accessible only in the latter half of the game, requiring upgraded gear and high-level stats to survive the challenges along the way.
Once you reach the far side of Drabnir’s Grotto, follow the path over to the island and you’ll find a dwarf just standing in the middle of the road, clutching his back – you can’t miss him. His name is Gautstafr, and he’ll give you the “Put a Spring in Thy Step” quest.
Follow the quest, which will direct you to pick some flowers for Gautstafr, and then find him at his nearby home (which he’ll mark on your map). Talk to him and his wife Cliodhna, and offer to escort Gautstafr to the hot springs.
This part of the quest is long and arduous, as you’ll need to move slowly so you don’t lose him – don’t worry, he’ll interrupt your travels and tell you if you’re getting too far away from him. Just make sure to camp before you start the escort if you’re still hurting from your trek through Drabnir’s Grotto – there are a handful of enemies along the way to the hot spring.
Follow whatever eastern path you’d like to the Volcanic Island Camp. Once inside, walk with Gautstafr up to the elevated cave in the southern part of the town. Here you’ll find the hot springs. Walk up to the counter with the dwarf and Cliodhna will pop out from behind the wall to talk to you. She’ll thank you for your service and offer to teach you her ways. Exhaust her dialogue options and you’ll unlock the Magick Archer vocation when you regain control of your character.
If you talk to her again, she’ll give you the Spellbow’s Paradox, which will unlock the Magick Archer’s ultimate skill.
What secret powers does the Magick Archer unlock hold in Dragon’s Dogma 2
The Magick Archer vocation in Dragon’s Dogma 2 unlocks a suite of secret powers blending potent offensive magic with versatile support abilities. It can cast spells that boost magick power and defense, provide resistance to debilitation, and even set magick traps to control the battlefield. Its signature attacks include firing ice-affinity bolts that freeze foes, a devastating multi-bolt Ricochet Hunter skill that bounces projectiles off walls to hit multiple enemies, and a powerful wide-area attack that subdues enemies but reduces the Arisen’s maximum HP, demanding strategic use. Additionally, it can revive fallen allies with magickal arrows and create temporary light sources, making it invaluable for both combat and exploration. This hybrid vocation excels in long-range precision magickal damage while also supporting the party with healing and buffs, making it a uniquely balanced and formidable choice.
What are the hidden offensive and supportive abilities of the Magick Archer in Dragon’s Dogma 2
The Magick Archer in Dragon’s Dogma 2 possesses a unique combination of hidden offensive and supportive abilities that set it apart:
Hidden Offensive Abilities:
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Utilizes elemental damage (fire, ice, lightning) to exploit enemy weaknesses and inflict debilitating effects such as frostbite and sleep, enhancing combat versatility.
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Ricochet Hunter: Fires a magickal arrow that bounces off walls, increasing power with each ricochet, ideal for hitting multiple enemies in confined spaces.
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Sixfold Bolt: Launches multiple magic bolts that can stagger and damage foes.
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Pinpoint Volley and Rivet Shot: Core skills that allow targeting multiple enemies or focusing on weak points of single targets with precise magickal arrows.
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Chain Lightning Stakes: Deploys lightning stakes that spark between each other to damage enemies caught in the area.
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Martyr’s Bolt: A powerful wide-area attack that sacrifices some of the Arisen’s maximum HP for massive damage.
Hidden Supportive Abilities:
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Health Sap Arrow: Fires arrows that drain health from enemies and transfer it to allied pawns, effectively healing the party.
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Revive Arrow: Shoots a fully charged arrow that can revive fallen pawns from a distance, one of the most valued supportive skills.
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Protective Barrier: Erects a barrier around an ally that blocks incoming attacks and retaliates against attackers.
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Elemental Buffs: After using elemental weapon skills, magickal arrows temporarily gain those elemental effects, enhancing both offense and support.
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Light Source Creation: Can conjure orbs of flame that illuminate dark areas and may cause enemies to catch fire.
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Auto-targeting system: Locks onto multiple enemies or specific parts of large monsters, easing precision aiming and increasing combat efficiency.
Together, these abilities make the Magick Archer a versatile hybrid class capable of delivering devastating ranged magickal damage while simultaneously supporting and sustaining the party in battle.
