Already, Capcom has confirmed that pawns will be making a return in Dragon's Dogma 2 as companions to the Arisen. If you missed the precursor to Dragon's Dogma 2 and you're unfamiliar with what pawns are, we've got everything you need to know.
In this guide, we'll not only be giving you the low-down on what pawns are in Dragon's Dogma 2 and how they work, but we'll be taking a look at the expected changes to pawns coming in Dragon's Dogma 2, making pawns more unique and memorable for each playthrough.
Looking for more details on Dragon's Dogma 2? We've got all the details on whether the game will feature co-op multiplayer when it's released. Plus, we've got all the information on Dragon's Dogma 2's release date, following the game's release date being leaked by PEGI.
Dragon's Dogma 2 pawns
From a lore and world-building perspective, pawns in Dragon's Dogma 2 seem no different from the original Dragon's Dogma. Pawns are beings who don't age or act independently, whose purpose is to serve the "Arisen", also known as the player character.
In Dragon's Dogma 2, players will be able to customise their "main" pawn, to accompany their Arisen, as well as being able to enter into a covenant with two further pawns to complete a party of four. These pawns can be recruited offline, or you'll be able to recruit your friend's pawns to your party if you have an internet connection.
Dragon's Dogma 2 pawn specialisations
As you progress through Dragon's Dogma 2 and you become stronger as the Arisen, your pawns will increase in power alongside you. Capcom says that the experiences your pawns have, both on your own adventure and on your friends, will shape their personalities and traits.
A new feature coming to pawns in Dragon's Dogma 2 is the specialisation system. This mechanic means your pawns will have specific unique traits to them, which will have substantial gameplay consequences.
While Capcom is keeping quiet on all the different specialisations we might see, we can make some educated guesses as to what they may feature. At least a few specialisations will likely revolve around being able to interpret a range of different languages, whilst classic RPG abilities such as lockpicking and persuasion could also be tied into specialisation.
That's all there is to know about what pawns are in Dragon's Dogma 2. For more guides like this one, check out whether Dragon's Dogma 2 will be coming to Xbox Game Pass, or whether the game will be released on the Nintendo Switch. Alternatively, we've got the latest on all the trophies and achievements for Dragon's Dogma 2.