Transcendent | Pillars of Eternity 2 Wiki

Ascendant

 Bonus: Max focus is increased by 5. Reaching Max focus grants "Ascended" effect temporarily, increasing power level and reducing power focus cost to 0. Soul Whip does not turn off while Ascended and provides more bonus damage during Ascended.

 Penalty: While not Ascended, receive a penalty to Cipher's Power Level (-1). While not Ascended Soul Whip does much less damage, but generate more Focus. When Ascended fades, reduce focus to 0.

Beguiler

 Bonus: All Deception cipher spells have +20% range. +6 Focus on scoring Hits with Deception against Flanked, Body Affiliation, Mind Affiliation targets.

 Penalty: Soul Whip provides less bonus damage and reduced Focus against targets that are not vulnerable to Sneak Attack.

Soul Blade

 Bonus: Gains "Soul Annihilation" ability: a soul-enhanced melee strike that consumes the cipher's remaining power pool to converts it into Raw damage on the target. Shred Cipher spells cost less focus (-5). 
Downing an enemy with a Melee Weapon temporarily grants Concentration (Prevents Interrupts) and raises Max Focus by +10 for 30.0 seconds.

 Penalty: Max Focus is reduced by -5. (Combat starting amount as well begins at 2/25 vs 7/30 for Cipher)

Helwalker

 Bonus: Begin combat with +1 Wounds (3 total). Helwalker monks gain +1 Might for each Wound they have.

 Penalty: Helwalker Monks take 5% more damage for each Wound they have.

Nalpazca

 Bonus: All drug effects last longer. +1 wound and +50% Beneficial effect duration of drugs.

 Penalty: Crash penalties from drugs cause the monk to be unable to receive healing. -1 Wounds per 3s while not benefiting from drugs.

Shattered Pillar

 Bonus: Gain Wounds by melee weapon damage inflicted.

 Penalty: Cannot gain Wounds from damage received. The required threshold to gain Wounds is increased by 100%. Max Wound limit is decreased to 5.