Home Gaming Dragon Age Inquisition – Character Class Guide

Dragon Age Inquisition – Character Class Guide

7 min read
22
 Cullen

You’re about to make an important choice. You’re going to decide whether you want to stick to the shadows and leave a dagger present in the back of a guard who has a wife and kids to support, or if you want to raise hell in the middle of an army and go down swinging. Dragon Age Inquisition is all about choice, and who you play as will decide how the game reacts to you. We’ve got a handy guide, to help inform that decision.

Rogue

DAI Rogue 2

You’re not going to go charging into battle as a Rogue. Instead, you’re going to stick to the shadows, waiting to stab an opponent in the back with such grave that you’d make a corporate hostile takeover expert weep with joy and admiration. Rogues rely on not being seen, using the shadows to hide themselves and hit enemies with heavy damage through the use of daggers or bows.

To really get the most out of your Rogue, you’ll need to learn to outmanoeuvre opponents,as Rogues cannot gain guard and must instead rely on a tactical awareness to evade strikes. Thanks to abilties such as Evade, Leaping Shot and Flank Attack, you’ll be able to counter big blows from brutes in order to strike back with maximum lethal force.

But remember, nothing beats a dagger in the back.

Unique Class Ability: Lock-picking

DAI Rogue

If there’s a  locked door in a dungeon, chances are that there happens to be some fine loot behind it. Even better chances are, that a Rogue can unlock it in order to grab all that loot. Some doors however, can’t be opened with the base lock-picking skill. For that, you’ll need to upgrade your Rogue to have the Deft Hands, Fine Tools perk. And open up more doors with great deftness. Deftly now.

Dual-Wielding starting abilities

  • Stealth – Become invisible as you blend into the shadows and gain an attack bonus. Attacking enemies while in stealth mode will also reduce the ability cooldown.
  • Twin Fangs – Sink both your daggers into the unprotected flesh of your foes, gaining bonus damage if you flank your enemy.

Archer starting abilities

  • Stealth – Become invisible as you blend into the shadows and gain an attack bonus. Attacking enemies while in stealth mode will also reduce the ability cooldown.
  • Long Shot –  One shot, one kill. The further away you are, the more damage this single shot will gain as it homes in on your target.

Specialisations

  • Artificer – Complete Way of the Artificer offered byThree-Eyes in Skyhold
  • Assassin – Complete Way of the Assassin offered by Heir in Skyhold
  • Tempest – Complete Way of the Tempest offered by Kihm in Skyhold

Attributes

Elves get a 25 percent bonus for ranged defense, dwarves benefiting from a 25 percent bonus to magic defense and Qunari having a 25 percent bonus to melee defense.

Multiplayer specialist classes

  • Archer – The Rambo of the group, the Archer can deal massive damage from afar while keeping away from enemies and creating choke points. His ability trees include  Marksman and Evasion.
  • Hunter – A trap master, the Hunter also keeps enemies at a  distance, while slinking into the shadows and dealing big damage to even bigger threats. His ability trees include Trapping and Survival.
  • Alchemist – A terrific scout, the Alchemist can keep to the shadows while throwing explosives and poison onto the battlefield in order to create chaos. Her ability trees include Alchemy and Cunning.
  • Assassin – A master of shadows, the Assassin will deal ludicrous damage without ever being seen, and will always have the back of an enemy. Or at least a dagger inside of it. Her ability trees include Assassination and Stalker.

Warrior

Warrior (2)

You all know and love the Warrior class. A meat-tank of unstoppable rage and fury, the warrior is first to enter and last to leave. They wield the heaviest of weapons and armour, but can pick up a shield for some added defense. Combined with the ability to taunt, warriors can soak up damage and dish it back out, while leaving their less hardy companions gaps in the defense of enemies that can be exploited. By switching into Charging Bull when the opportunity presents itself, warriors can move quicker and knock down more enemies.

Unique Class Ability: Wall Bash

Warrior (1)

Doors? Doors are for chumps and chumpettes. Warriors make their own doors with the Wall Bash skill, unlocking new areas in order to find better loot.

Two-handed starting abilities

  • Mighty Blow – A power attack that knocks down enemies and gives you bonus damage against attacking foes who have been downed.
  • War Cry – Shout, let it all out as you enrage foes and taunt them to attack while gaining extra guard in the process.

Weapon and shield starting abilities

  • Payback Strike – Instantly recover from any disabled condition and strike back with a blow that hits harder if you’ve just taken damage.
  • War Cry – Shout, let it all out as you enrage foes and taunt them to attack while gaining extra guard in the process.

Specialisations

  • Champion – Complete Way of the Champion offered by Lord Chancellor de Lion in Skyhold.
  • Reaver – Complete Way of the Reaver offered by Breaker Thram in Skyhold.
  • Templar – Complete Way of the Templar offered by Ser in Skyhold.

Attributes

Elvish warriors have a 25 percent bonus to magic defense, while Qunari gain a 25 percent bonus to melee defense.

Multiplayer specialist classes

  • Legionaire – When you need to tank or die, the Legionaire is your go-to class with his maximum attack and powerful taunts. His ability trees include Guardian and Combined Arms.
  • Templar – The Templar isn;t about big damage, but in fact, support. Able to buff comrades, the Templar puts the team before himself with many passive skill. His ability trees include  Divine and Sentinel.
  • Katari – A more subtle class, the Katari doesn;t pack as much power as other Warrior classes,but makes up for that with improved defense and crowd control. His ability trees include Onslaught and Tactics.
  • Reaver – Essentially a Rogue with a two-handed weapon, the Reaver strikes hard and fast while dealing amazing damage from a near-death state. Her ability trees include Bloodlust and Assault.

Mage

Mage (1)

Still one of the bigger and more variable classes in Dragon Age, Mages can cast various elemental magic to take down enemies, but they need decent support to ensure maximum damage. The specialist role, Mages don’t pack high armour and are particularly vulnerable, but keeping them at a distance and wielding spells such as Barrier and using support magic to buff your allies are the key to success here.

Unique Class Abilities:

  • Veilfire – Unique magical barriers can only be lit by a mage, which is where Veilfire comes into play. Lighting torches reveals mysic runes,allowing players to uncover new rune recipes to enhance party equipment.
  • Energise – Targeting debris, mages can create new bridges with their magic to access off-limit areas.
  • Destroy magical barriers – Wish you could get past certain magical barriers? With this skill, all you need is a staff that opposes the magic before you, allowing you to bypass these obstructions and get your hands on some loot.

Mage starting abilities

  • Chain Lightning – Unleash the thunder and blast opponents with lightning that shocks and arcs to the next vicitm.
  • Flashfire – Burn all the enemies, setting them on fire and causing panic amongst the horde.

Specialisations

  • Knight-Enchanter – Complete Way of the Knight-Enchanter offered by Commander Helaine in Skyhold.
  • Necromancer – Complete Way of the Necromancer offered by Viuus Anaxas in Skyhold.
  • Rift Mage – Complete Way of the Rift Mage offered by your trainer in Skyhold.

Mage (2)

Attributes

Base stats once again. Elves get a 25 percent bonus to ranged defense and Qunari get a 25 percent bonus to melee defense. Dwarves cannot be mages.

Multiplayer specialist classes

  • Keeper – When your team needs some form of defense, the Keeper is your ace in the hole with massive Barriers and shields that will keep death away. Her ability trees include Protection and Primal Spirit.
  • Elementalist – Pure destruction, the Elementalist bends fire, ice and various other elements to his whims to rain down pure carnage on foes. His ability trees includeDestruction and Control.
  • Arcane Warrior – Incapable of casting Barrier, the Arcane Warrior instead gets up and close and personal, while healing comrades. His ability trees include include Elemental and Mentalism.
  • Necromancer – Spirit and Ice spells are the specialty of the Necromancer, with this dark mage casting away Barrier spells in favour of pure destruction. Her ability trees include GraveLord and Permafrost.

Last Updated: November 21, 2014

22 Comments

  1. Hmm, speaking of multiplayer, have you guys given it a whirl yet?

    Reply

    • Travi the Batman

      November 22, 2014 at 02:26

      I can describe all of the passion and excitement I experienced in the multiplayer with my friends the first I laid my hands on it’s warm bosom. It is..

      Meh.

      Reply

    • Travi the Batman

      November 22, 2014 at 02:26

      I can describe all of the passion and excitement I experienced in the multiplayer with my friends the first I laid my hands on it’s warm bosom. It is..

      Meh.

      Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      November 24, 2014 at 02:01

      personally didnt buy it for the MP, so that hasnt even warranted a second thought yet tbh.
      bioware did pretty good with the mass effect 3 MP though, so maybe sometime.

      Reply

  2. geelslang

    November 21, 2014 at 15:35

    Im playing as a human warrior. A guy at my work says he always play as a woman and that I do not understand what role playing is.

    Reply

    • Graeme Willy

      November 21, 2014 at 22:12

      Guys like to build their “ideal” chica…I know, because I’ve gamed with people who would randomly blurt out something to the effect of, “man I would totally nail my broad…” but it’s becoming more of a thing you should branch away from, as more and more games are becoming multiplayer centric and/ or MMO’s…and MMO’s are pretty much extension of public space/ society where people converse, joke and be themselves, but in fantasy form and more and more females are playing than there ever has been. For me, I would feel awkward with an actual girl in the party, as girls tend to more or less play as their own sex. I have seen girls play as dude characters, probably for the same reasons as guys, but I usually find that in games like this and the host of MMO’s I have played, girls typically play as girls. That guy shouldn’t be telling you that you don’t know how to role-play. Everyone has their own idea of what role play is. There’s no right mentality to adopt.

      For instance…
      I could never really fathom wanting to make my primaries female, as a mail gamer…it breaks the immersion for me, and severs the idea of me playing as a “fantasy me…” though, not at first simply because it’s a new experience. There quickly becomes a point, not too long into the game where, I want to play the game as a “fantasy me.” I’ve even bailed in the middle of my female lead’s story, to go and create a male and promised to return to where I left off with her and sometimes never have. This is how I know I can’t play as a female and take it seriously for very long. Also, I find that as playing a female, other male NPC’s flirt more than female NCP’s do with the male leads, which is a true reflection of life and makes it awkward for a dude playing as a dudette…and to think, women endure this all the time in real life.

      I have built female characters in Mass Effect and imported her across all 3 titles, though…after I had beat the game with my 3 other male leads, each playing as Vanguard, Adept, Infiltrator etc. with some being paragon, renegade and a mixture of both(to experience every possible scenario). Like most other games, I’ll play through with various configurations, decide on my favorite, then sometimes create a female based on my favorite of the classes, to experience the personality of the female and see how her lines and mannerisms differ and how she affects the story. It’s endearing for a campaign, but, again it wears off and I go back to wanting to one of my other favorite classes/ characters.

      Reply

      • geelslang

        November 22, 2014 at 10:46

        Great post. My co-worker said he would rather look at a woman while playing, I know its all good fun but it sounds a bit juvenile to me. He met his gf while playing WOW as a female elf and they now have 2 kids.

        I guess I play as a version of myself. I also always mess with the default looks of my character and end up with something that looks a bit weird, you cant place your finger on what exactly is wrong but something is.

        Reply

      • Reiznar

        March 27, 2015 at 06:38

        There are two types of people who play games. The type who imagine that they are a person in the world they are playing and the type that imagine it’s a story that is being told with unique characters. The first type of people make characters to resemble themselves or how they would like to be seen and usually choose the avatar gender to be the same as them. The second type choose whatever avatar type pleases them most. If they enjoy a story about a strong female protagonist (I know I do) then they may choose to make their character female. The second type doesn’t imagine that they are the character like the first type does. You can role play as male or female there is no right or wrong to it. But the people who roleplay as female generally don’t think of themselves as the character but instead invent an entire personality all it’s own act out the whims of the character.

        Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      November 24, 2014 at 02:00

      role playing is down to perspective and opinion, but you get what hes saying though right?
      why role play something normal when you have the chance to role play the impossible?
      i usually play as a bro, but i almost always change up the race when i have the option.

      Reply

  3. oVg Puer aeternus

    November 21, 2014 at 16:07

    Im the Invisible class as I am waiting for all of you to finish the BETA.
    GOTY edition already Pre-ordered 🙂

    Reply

    • Dakota Harrison

      November 22, 2014 at 01:38

      Uhh.. Not having any issues, so have fun waiting?..

      Reply

    • Sephir

      November 23, 2014 at 00:22

      uhm, you know that Bioware doesn’t even know if they are going to make a goty, and they don’t know their DLCs yet, so i would ask my money back since it’s clearly fake, also, this isn’t a BETA, there is no Invisible class, and you are an idiot since you pre-ordered the goty edition of a game that just came out, which means it CANNOT already have a goty

      Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      November 24, 2014 at 01:49

      the day one patch was a whole 76mb and the emphasis on DLC is minimal.
      seems pretty legit to me, stable and not at all broken.
      im having a blast with this.

      Reply

  4. Ghost In The Rift

    November 21, 2014 at 21:25

    I love the rogue class,quick on the feet,fast deadly dashes,and the lock picking,

    1st play-through is rogue,then mage and then warrior.

    Reply

  5. I DONT KNOW

    November 22, 2014 at 10:19

    Were do i find Viuus Anaxas in the skyhold? been searching for over an hr now. Do i have to do a certain quest for him to appear or is he there from the time i get to Skyhold?

    Reply

    • kid

      November 23, 2014 at 09:20

      You have to do the Inquisitor specializations operation on the war map, then all three trainers will appear in the courtyard where Cullen and Cole were.

      Reply

  6. Justin

    November 22, 2014 at 14:16

    Wow does anyone proofread these?

    Reply

  7. Demigod843

    November 23, 2014 at 01:49

    Going as human warrior

    Reply

  8. Aussious

    November 23, 2014 at 08:54

    No PS360 review for this game on the net, not sure whether to buy this on PS360 or wait and buy a PS4.

    Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      November 24, 2014 at 01:57

      the graphics in this deserve a ps4.
      im playing on pc on high settings at 30fps and its just gorgeous.
      visually atleast, its the skyrim we all wanted and modded, its all so bright and smooth.

      Reply

  9. Fred

    November 24, 2014 at 14:43

    Qunari get 10% melee defense, not 25%. Dwarves have 25% magic defense and Elves have 25% ranged defense. Humans get an extra ability point at the beginning, no extra defense that I know of though. Nice guide but some of it’s wrong.

    Reply

  10. Jan Robert Frantzen

    November 27, 2014 at 11:00

    Pure Awsome multiplayer! The co op game i’ve waited 10 years for finally arrived!

    Reply

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