Larian Says Divinity Will Drop Original Sin 2’s Magic Armor System

Larian’s new Divinity will leave behind the magic armor system from *Divinity: Original Sin 2*, according to design lead Nick Pechenin. [PC Gamer reported his comments on January 9, 2026](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/divinity-will-officially-wave-goodbye-to-original-sin-2s-broken-armour-system/). He did not explain exactly how protection will work in the new game.

What Could Change in Combat

*Original Sin 2* has separate physical and magical armor values, worn down by different damage types. PC Gamer describes why concentrating a party’s damage on one type is often advantageous: it breaks the corresponding protection faster. The report also says players were often better off saving many of their more enjoyable skills until after breaking an enemy’s armor. That describes a tactical incentive, not a universal requirement for using those skills.

Pechenin said characters will still have ways to protect themselves from harm in Divinity, but players will not have to wait before using their “fun skills” on enemies. His comment concerns the old magic armor system and those skills; it does not establish that every defense is gone or specify how all abilities will work. Larian has not detailed the new protection rules.

A New Turn-Based Rule Set

In a [separate December 2025 interview with PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/its-not-a-clone-of-d-os2-6-big-takeaways-from-our-interview-with-larian-after-the-reveal-of-divinity/), Larian founder Swen Vincke said Divinity will be turn-based and use a new rule set built on lessons from the studio’s previous games. That interview did not specify rules for armor or skills.