Introduction: The Power of Source
In Divinity: Original Sin 2, Source Points are a crucial, finite resource enabling your most powerful abilities: Source Skills. As the Godwoken, mastering Source management is key to strategically deploying these skills and overcoming Rivellon's toughest challenges. This guide provides the knowledge and tactics needed to optimize Source Point acquisition and usage.
Understanding Source Skills: Costs and Impact
Source Skills are game-changing abilities requiring Source Points (SP) to cast. Their effects range from devastating damage and potent status effects to powerful summons and buffs. Utilizing them effectively involves balancing their high impact against the limited availability of Source.
- **1 SP Skills:** Offer solid effects with moderate Source cost, good for frequent tactical use.
- **2 SP Skills:** Provide significantly stronger impacts, often defining key moments in combat.
- **3 SP Skills:** Represent the pinnacle of power, capable of altering the course of major battles but demanding maximum Source investment.
Acquiring Source Points: Fueling Your Power
Source Points aren't automatically replenished and must be actively acquired. Knowing how to refill your Source is essential for consistent access to your strongest skills.
- **Source Puddles/Pools:** Standing in these glowing blue areas passively refills Source Points. Found in specific locations like The Hollow Marshes (Act 1) and the Wellspring Temple (Act 4).
- **Source Vampirism:** A vital skill (learned via the main quest) allowing you to drain Source from spirits, specific corpses (like Shriekers with Purge), or living NPCs (with negative consequences).
- **Consumable Soul Jars:** Found during quests (e.g., 'Withermoore's Soul Jar') or exploration, these can be consumed to grant one Source Point.
- **Source Fountains:** Specific environmental objects providing renewable Source, such as those near Meistr Siva's house (Act 2) or in the Decrepit Ruins (Act 1).
- **Source Orbs:** Rare consumable items granting Source Points upon use.
Increasing Your Maximum Source Capacity
You begin with a maximum capacity of one Source Point. Completing stages of the critical main story quest, 'Powerful Awakening,' involves rituals guided by powerful Sourcerers. These rituals are essential for unlocking your potential and increasing your maximum Source Point capacity, eventually reaching three points.
Strategies for Efficient Source Point Usage
Effective Source management means knowing *when* and *why* to spend your precious points. Consider these tactical approaches:
- **Control the Battlefield:** Use Source Skills like 'Mass Cryotherapy' or 'Thunderstorm' to disable multiple enemies, creating breathing room and tactical advantages.
- **Focus Fire with High-Impact Skills:** Eliminate high-priority threats quickly using potent damage skills like 'Meteor Shower' or 'Pyroclastic Eruption'.
- **Amplify Power with Buffs & Summons:** Turn the tide with skills like 'Summon Inner Demon' for a powerful ally or tactical buffs.
- **Unleash Combos with Apotheosis:** The Polymorph skill 'Apotheosis' temporarily makes all Source Skills free to cast. Plan devastating turns around this powerful ability.
- **Conserve for Crucial Moments:** Resist using Source on weak enemies. Save points for boss fights or challenging encounters where they will have the most significant impact.
Helpful Talents for Source Users
While no talent directly grants Source Points, some improve your Action Point (AP) economy or damage output, indirectly supporting Source Skill usage:
- **Executioner:** Gain 2 AP upon landing a killing blow (once per turn), potentially funding a Source Skill cast.
- **The Pawn:** Grants 1 AP worth of free movement per turn, saving AP for casting skills.
- **Savage Sortilege:** Allows your magical skills (including many Source Skills) to critically hit, boosting damage potential.
- **Elemental Affinity:** Reduces AP cost of skills when standing on a matching surface, potentially making Source Skills cheaper to cast in the right setup.
Synergistic Build Examples
Certain builds naturally excel at utilizing Source Skills:
- **Pyroclastic Geomancer:** Combines Geomancer and Pyrokinetic skills, culminating in the devastating 3 SP AoE skill 'Pyroclastic Eruption'.
- **Necro/Hydro/Aero Mage:** Utilizes a combination of skills like 'Blood Storm' (Necromancer/Hydrosophist) and 'Thunderstorm' (Aerotheurge) for massive area control and damage over time.
Conclusion
Mastering Source Point management transforms your Godwoken from a capable adventurer into a formidable force. By understanding how to acquire, conserve, and strategically spend Source, you can unlock the true potential of your builds and conquer the challenges of Divinity: Original Sin 2. For more in-depth information, check the resources linked below.