How To Keep The Black Cat Alive Divinity 2
Okay, let's be real. We've all been there. You're strolling through Fort Joy in Divinity: Original Sin 2, feeling like a powerful god in the making, when BAM! You stumble across a little black cat. "Aww, cute!" you think. "I'll pet it! I'll protect it!" Famous last words, my friend. Famous. Last. Words.
Because keeping that little furball alive is like trying to herd squirrels riding tiny, explosive scooters. It's chaos. It's frustrating. It's almost certainly going to involve reloading… a lot.
So, let's talk about how to actually, legitimately, for real keep that black cat alive in Divinity 2. Consider this your unofficial survival guide, written by someone who's definitely, totally, 100% not bitter about the multiple cat-related deaths they've experienced. (Okay, maybe a little bitter.)
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The Black Cat: A Walking, Talking (Well, Meowing) Time Bomb
First, let's understand what we're dealing with. The black cat isn't just some random NPC fluff. He's a quest-giver-adjacent, semi-immortal, oddly-shaped liability. He follows you around, which sounds adorable until you realize he has absolutely zero self-preservation instincts. He's basically a furry, four-legged magnet for every single bit of AoE damage in the game. And let's be honest, in Divinity 2, AoE is king.
Think of him as that one friend who always manages to step in front of your camera at the worst possible moment, except instead of ruining a photo, he's ruining your entire tactical plan and forcing you to watch him get vaporized by a stray fireball. Fun times!

Step-by-Step: From Fort Joy to… Well, Not Death
Okay, here's the breakdown of how to keep this little rascal breathing. Buckle up, because this is going to be a bumpy ride.
Phase 1: Fort Joy – The Land of Fire and Fury (and Magisters)
This is where the real challenge begins. Fort Joy is basically a giant obstacle course designed specifically to torture black cats. Here's your survival plan:
- Recruit the Cat: You'll find him near the beach entrance to Fort Joy. Talk to him (Pet Pal talent is required, of course). He'll agree to follow you. Congratulations! You've just adopted a furry death wish.
- Stealth is Key: Seriously, embrace your inner ninja. Avoid unnecessary fights. Sneak around whenever possible. The fewer explosions happening, the better. Think of the cat as a delicate china teacup. A teacup that really likes running headfirst into danger.
- Positioning, Positioning, Positioning: This is the most crucial aspect. Keep the cat far, far away from the battlefield. Think of him as a VIP guest at a very dangerous party. You want him in the VIP section, sipping a fancy drink, while you and your friends are in the mosh pit.
- Teleportation is Your Friend: Use teleportation spells (or scrolls) to move the cat to safety. He's got a teleportation skill later but before that you’re his ride. See a burning patch of ground? Teleport him away. See a Magister casting a spell with a suspicious-looking animation? Teleport him away. See a butterfly? (Okay, maybe not butterflies, but you get the idea.) Teleport him away!
- The Collars: There's a part in Fort Joy where everyone wears source collars, and they explode if you're disobedient. The cat is not immune to this effect. Do everything you can to remove the collars from yourself and him as quickly as possible.
- The Arena: In the arena under Fort Joy, keep your feline friend away from the fight by teleporting or using “come here” orders.
- Heal, Heal, Heal: If the cat does get hit (and he will), heal him immediately. Restoration spells, potions, whatever it takes. Keep his health topped up at all times. He is your responsibility now.
- The Crocodile Fight: Ugh, crocodiles. This fight is notorious for cat casualties. Pre-position the cat way back, and focus on eliminating the crocodiles as quickly as possible. Use crowd control (like freezing or stunning) to keep them from getting near him.
- The Torturer: One of the torturers on the beach will kill the cat if you fail a speech check. Be prepared for this before it happens, and back away from him if you are not strong in persuasion.
Phase 2: Escaping Fort Joy – A Leap of Faith (for You and the Cat)
Okay, you've (hopefully) managed to keep the cat alive through the first few hours of the game. Congratulations! You're only 90% of the way there. Escaping Fort Joy presents its own set of challenges.

- The Sewer Maze: The sewers are dark, dank, and full of… well, sewer stuff. And enemies. Navigate carefully, and keep the cat close (but not too close – remember, positioning!).
- The Teleportation Pyramid Trick: If you have the Teleportation Pyramids, use them to your advantage. Leave one pyramid near the exit of Fort Joy, and keep the other with you. When you're ready to leave, teleport the cat (and yourself, if necessary) to safety.
- The Boat Ride: Once you're on the boat, the cat is (relatively) safe. Huzzah! You've made it through the worst of it… for now.
Phase 3: Beyond Fort Joy – New Dangers, Same Cat-astrophe
Don't get complacent just because you've left Fort Joy. The world outside is just as dangerous (if not more so). The key is to continue using the strategies you've learned.
- Stay Vigilant: Keep an eye on the cat at all times. He's still going to run into trouble.
- Evasive Maneuvers: When in doubt, teleport! Seriously, teleporting is the duct tape of Divinity 2. It fixes everything. (Except maybe your relationship with your teammates after you've accidentally teleported them into a pool of lava.)
- The Cat's Quest: Eventually, the cat will lead you to a specific location. This is part of his questline. Be prepared for a tough fight at the end of it. (Of course there's a tough fight! This is Divinity 2, after all.)
- Guardian Angel: In a later stage of his quest, the black cat turns into a guardian angel. If you succeed in keeping him alive this long, he becomes a very strong ally.
Pro-Tips and Tricks of the Trade (Because You'll Need Them)
Okay, now for some advanced techniques. These are the things that separate the cat-savers from the cat-losers.

- Pet Pal is Mandatory: Seriously, don't even try this without the Pet Pal talent. It's essential for understanding what the cat is doing (or, more likely, what he's about to do wrong).
- Resurrection Scrolls: Keep a stack of Resurrection Scrolls handy. You're going to need them. Trust me on this one.
- Save Often: This should be obvious, but save, save, save! Especially before any potentially dangerous encounters. Think of it as your "cat insurance."
- Don't Be Afraid to Run Away: Sometimes, the best strategy is to just cut your losses and run. Leave the cat behind (temporarily!) and deal with the enemies. Then, go back and rescue him. (He'll probably be fine. Probably.)
- Mods: If you're really struggling, there are mods that make the cat invincible. I'm not saying you should use them, but I'm not not saying you should use them. No one will judge you. (Okay, maybe some people will judge you. But who cares? You're keeping a cat alive!)
Why Bother? The Million-Dollar Question
So, why go through all this trouble? Why subject yourself to the stress and frustration of keeping a black cat alive in Divinity 2? Here's why:
- The Challenge: It's a fun challenge! It adds an extra layer of difficulty to the game.
- The Reward: You eventually get the black cat as an incarnate summon. It's very powerful at this stage.
- The Lore: The cat has a surprisingly interesting backstory.
- The Bragging Rights: You can tell all your friends that you kept the black cat alive. They'll be impressed. (Or they'll just think you're crazy. Either way, you win.)
- Because You Can: At the end of the day, it's about proving to yourself that you can do it. You can conquer the odds. You can tame the chaos. You can keep that damn cat alive!
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Madness
Keeping the black cat alive in Divinity 2 is not for the faint of heart. It's a test of your patience, your tactical skills, and your sanity. But it's also a rewarding experience. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll probably reload a million times. But in the end, you'll have a furry friend who (hopefully) survived the adventure with you.
So, go forth and conquer! And remember: teleport, heal, and always blame the cat when things go wrong. Good luck! You'll need it.
