Ifan ben Mezd's Best Builds in Divinity: Original Sin 2

I have been dragging Ifan ben Mezd through Divinity: Original Sin 2 for years now, and as of 2026 the game still refuses to loosen its grip. The first time I met him, I thought, 'Great, another brooding mercenary with a dark past.' I was right, but I was also very wrong. Behind all that angst is a man who summons a spectral wolf, bonds with the party, and likely laughs when a Magister gets polymorphed into a chicken. The best part? He can be almost any class. Here are my favorite Ifan builds, balancing crunch and story.

Cleric: The Supportive Softie

I did not expect Ifan to be such an excellent support character, but here we are. Humans get the Encourage skill, which buffs allies' Vitality, defenses, and resistances. Lean into that and Ifan becomes a walking morale machine. Clerics mix Hydrosophist healing with Necromancy's blood-sucking tricks, which perfectly captures Ifan's two sides: the protector and the man who still has some darkness under his fingernails.

• Key attributes: Constitution, Intelligence, Strength

• Main combat skills: Hydrosophist, Necromancy

• Pro tip: Keep him alive, and he keeps everyone else alive. It is a beautiful codependent cycle.

Knight: Big Sword, Bigger Emotional Baggage

Ifan spent time with the Divine Order, so swinging a massive two-handed weapon feels right. The Ingenious human talent gives him an extra 5% crit chance and 10% crit damage, and Knights know exactly what to do with that. Warfare skills make him a frontline blender. Give him a big weapon, point him at a Magister, and watch him process his feelings through violence.

• Key attributes: Strength, Constitution

• Main combat skills: Warfare, Two-Handed

• Lore check: Old soldier habits die hard, and that training still shows up when a Voidwoken needs smashing.

Rogue and Shadowblade: Two Flavors of Backstab

Ifan is a mercenary and assassin, so of course he belongs in the shadows. Rogues get the Guerilla talent for extra sneak attack damage, and when you stack that with Ingenious, his daggers hit like small trucks. Scoundrel skills let him leap around, slit throats, and apply nasty statuses. It is ruthless, efficient, and very Lone Wolf.

If you want to add magical chaos, Shadowblade is my pick. It keeps the Scoundrel kit but adds Polymorph. There is something deeply funny about a brooding mercenary turning an enemy into a chicken before the backstab. Finesse and Intelligence are your main stats here.

• Key attributes: Finesse, Intelligence

• Main combat skills: Scoundrel, Polymorph, Dual-Wielding

• Civil ability: Sneak, because surprise is the best seasoning for murder.

Conjurer: The Ghost Wolf Handler

Ifan's innate Source skill is Summon Soul Wolf, which summons his loyal furry companion. Since the wolf scales with Summoning, pouring points into that skill is a no-brainer. Add Conjure Incarnate and Elemental Totem, and the battlefield suddenly looks like a weird family reunion.

• Key attributes: Constitution, Intelligence

• Main combat skills: Summoning, plus a splash of Pyromancer, Geomancer, and Polymorph

• Why it works: The wolf is a good boy. End of argument.

Wayfarer and Ranger: The Bow Is Mightier

Ifan grew up in the towering elven forests, so the nature-loving Wayfarer fits his upbringing. This class mixes Huntsman and Geomancer, letting him rain arrows from high ground and throw nature's fury at anything that moves. It is his default class for a reason.

For pure archery, Ranger is even better. Pump Huntsman, grab a bow, and position Ifan above enemies to nearly double his damage. Pyrokinetic support skills like Peace of Mind and Haste make him a fast, deadly problem.

• Wayfarer key attributes: Finesse, Intelligence

• Ranger key attributes: Finesse, Intelligence

• Main skills: Huntsman, Ranged, Geomancer or Pyrokinetic

Quick Build Summary

Build	Main Combat Skills	Key Attributes	Vibe
Cleric	Hydrosophist, Necromancy	Constitution, Intelligence, Strength	Supportive but spooky
Knight	Warfare, Two-Handed	Strength, Constitution	Frontline therapist
Rogue	Scoundrel, Dual-Wielding	Finesse	Stabby mercenary
Shadowblade	Scoundrel, Polymorph	Finesse, Intelligence	Chicken assassin
Conjurer	Summoning	Constitution, Intelligence	Spectral dog dad
Wayfarer	Huntsman, Geomancer	Finesse, Intelligence	Nature bro
Ranger	Huntsman, Ranged, Pyrokinetic	Finesse, Intelligence	High-ground sniper

No matter which path you pick, Ifan remains one of the deepest companions in Divinity: Original Sin 2. In 2026, he is still my go-to when I want equal parts tragedy, loyalty, and tactical flexibility. Just remember to give him a chance to smile occasionally, preferably by turning a Magister into a chicken.