How to change Pawn Inclination in Dragon’s Dogma 2

Pawn Inclinations dictate the battle flow of your companions; think of them as the infamous gambits from Final Fantasy XII. Although not as intricate, it's still ideal for you to know all about Pawn Inclinations in Dragon's Dogma 2.

In this guide, I'll show you how to change your Pawn Inclination and what you need to know about this mechanic in Dragon's Dogma 2.

Where to change Pawn Inclination in Dragon's Dogma 2

One of the biggest differences between Dragon's Dogma 1 and 2 is how you change Pawn Inclination. In the first game, you need to find a Knowledge Chair, talk to your Pawn, and "sort of" manipulate them to change their inclination. In Dragon's Dogma 2, the Knowledge Chair is gone, and in its place are Rift Incenses, which you can purchase from Neomith in Vernworth.

Here are all Rift Incenses and their corresponding prices from Neomith:

1. Kindhearted Rift Incense - 2000 RC
2. Calm Rift Incense - 2000 RC
3. Simple Rift Incense - 2000 RC
4. Ambivalent Rift Incense - 500 RC

If you've noticed that the currency is not gold, you are right. You have to spend your precious RC or Rift Crystals, the same currency you use to summon Pawns, to purchase a Rift Incense. You can quickly earn RC by finding broken Riftstones throughout the world or by allowing other players to use your Main Pawn through the Rift.

After you purchase your preferred Rift Incense, go to a nearby campsite and set up your camping kit. Talk to your Main Pawn, and you'll have the option to change their inclination. Your Pawn will consume your Rift Incense in the process, so make sure you purchase the correct item.

Related: How to pass the time in Dragon’s Dogma 2

All Pawn Inclination in Dragon's Dogma 2

There are four Pawn Inclinations in Dragon's Dogma 2, but the Rift Incense has an additional one called Ambivalent. Think of the Ambivalent Rift Incense as a Gacha machine, where the resulting Pawn Inclination is random (not the same as the one your Pawn currently has).

Going back to the four Pawn Inclinations, here's a list of all of them, along with their effects:

1. Kindhearted—A balanced A.I. system that devotes its time to aiding you in battle. This Inclination does not boast any offensive or defensive preference; rather, it adapts to the Arisen's needs. This is very useful for Pawns like Fighters (Shield Summons) and Mages (Healing and Elemental Magick) since they can either defend you or unleash all their powerful attacks at an enemy.
2. Calm—A defensive A.I. system in which your Main Pawn prioritizes evading and blocking attacks to survive for a long time. It is a fantastic Pawn Inclination if you only have your Main Pawn as a tank.
3. Simple—An exploration-driven A.I. system that allows your Main Pawn to constantly gather items from chests or pick flowers upon sight. This Pawn Inclination is useful if you're keen on finding upgrade materials for your weapons and armor. You should also remember to increase your Main Pawn's carrying capacity to fully utilize this inclination.
4. Straightforward—I'd like to call this the all-muscle-no-brains Inclination, as it essentially sets your Main Pawn to offense mode at all times, regardless of health or debilitation status. I only recommend using this Pawn Inclination if you have a support character for your party, whether it would be you or your other Pawns.

Pawn Inclinations can simply make or break your playthrough of Dragon's Dogma 2. Always remember to optimize them depending on your party's needs and recruit pawns with an ideal inclination for their roles.

For more guides in Dragon's Dogma 2, check out How to mod Dragon’s Dogma 2 only here at Pro Game Guides.