Summary
Magic is an integral part of fantasy storytelling, andDragon Agemakes this very apparent across its game and other media. But the magic system has changed a bit from game to game, withDragon Age: Originsintroducing a moreElder Scrollsstyle of magic andInquisitionsimplifying the systems.
Magic works differently in each game, but the schools of magic remain present and active across allDragon Agegames. There does remain one, as yet, mysterious school of magic that first appeared in theInquisitionDLCThe Descent: Lyrium Titan magic. This may only be accessible to Dwarves and Shaper Valta used it and, according to trailers, Scout Harding seems to wield it now, too. But for now, let’s explore all magic types inDragon Agethat appear throughout the currently released games.
This article details information about the various schools of magic found inDragon Agegames. It does not include information on Red Templars, Red Lyrium, Fenris' abilities, Seeker abilities, or Time Magic (since it is only theoretical). There are minor spoilers for allDragon Agegames as well.
1Blight Magic
It’s Distinct And Definitely Has To Do With The Taint
Not much is known about Blight Magicin terms of how it works, but throughDragon Agelore, there are instances of Blight Magic use. For instance, Vivienne compares it to a combination of ordinary and Elven magic. Solas calls the “false calling” Corypheus created a form of Blight Magic and the Architect, fromOrigins: Awakening, utilizes a blast of black fire. Most humanoids infected with the Blight lose their sanity and become ghouls as seen with the Grey Warden Larius inDA2. Grey Warden utilizes the Joining to delay this but succumbs to it eventually.
It originated when the Tevinter magisters blackened the Golden City, creating the first Darkspawn. Corypheus contradicts this, stating that they just found it and brought it “into their world.” Blight Magic can infect living things other than humanoids such as mushrooms and even Lyrium and Eluvians. In fact, Red Lyrium is just blighted Lyrium! Dragons possess a natural resistance to the taint and can section off parts of infected tissue with cysts – something that can be seen in the trailers forVeilguard.
2Blood Magic
Blood Magic utilizes life force energy (blood) for spellcasting and is usually turned toward more nefarious ends such as summoning demons or inflicting mind control. Users do not require the Fade to cast Blood Magic spells and are highly susceptible to demonic possession. The first person to ever use it claimed to have been taught by the Tevinter God Dumat while others say that ancient Elves from Arlathan spread its use. There are also The Forbidden Ones, believed to use Blood Magic, of which only one has not appeared in some capacity (The Formless One).
Due to its volatility and moral ambiguity, most people disapprove of using Blood Magic – even in Tevinter, but that’s mostly lip service. All abominations aretreated with total hostilityand many mages in Fereldan are feared simply for having magic due to the threat of possession. However, there are some exceptions to that disapproval such as Templars using blood phylacteries to track and mages and Blood Magic being used to cure the Taint.
3Matter Magic
Dragon Age Games Started With A Very Different Magic System
Matter Magic encompassesfour schools found inOriginsincluding Spirit, Creation, Entropy, and Primal magic. Entropy magic is the opposite of Creation as Spirit is the opposite of Primal. With that in mind, entropic magic manipulates the natural world while Creation magic manipulates natural forces. Spirit magic draws upon invisible energies outside nature such as the Fade itself while Primal magic manipulates the tangible forces of nature (the elements).
Due to the amorphous nature of these descriptions, subsequent games have retooled the schools of magic to be better delineated and defined.
4Force Magic
A Short-Lived But Reworked Magical Focus
This magic school, found only inDA2, utilizes telekinesis abilities to focus the mind of a mage into a weapon. Many of the class specialization abilties were retooled into other specializations found inInquisitionsuch as “Pull of the Abyss” in the Rift Mage specialization and “Gravitic Ring” became “Disruption Field” in the Knight Enchanter specialization. Bethany can obtain this specialization and so can a mage Hawke; it is also rumored to be a popular tactic among mages in Kirkwall, though Force Magic is not effective at moving non-humanoid enemies with more than two legs.
5Elemental Magic
It Might Be Basic, But It Still Feels Awesome To Use
This magic type comprises the majority of spells found inInquisitionthat aren’t under a specialization but appear inDA2as a major category focusing mainly on Fire and Ice magic. It can be said that Elemental Magic, as utilized inDA2andInquisition, is an evolution of Primal Magic as seen inOrigins. It focuses magical energy into attacks centered around elements found in nature like lightning, fire, and ice.
Inquisitionshowcases the most elemental abilities with 25 total elemental abilities across fire, lightning, and ice. These include damaging abilities, shields, and passives that enhance those abilities. Mages can pair these with any specialization spells and Spirit magic, too, to craft a unique build for their characters. InOrigins, Primal magic channeled the elements in the same way with “Devastation” being the only element not found in subsequent games.
6Arcane Magic
Wield A Sword Made Of Magic To Wail On Enemies
Arcane Magic, since its introduction, has pivoted to more of a combat-oriented magic that can manifest as magical weapons. This can be seen in the Knight Enchanter class inInquisitionas a player character specialization or as Vivienne’s specialization. Not only does it let the mage wield a magic sword, but they can generate a barrier with each hit of their weapon. The class echoes the lore around ancient Elven mages known as Arcane Warriors who wielded their magic as weapons and channeled it through their bodies on the battlefield to great effect.
InOrigins, mages utilized spells like Arcane Bolt – a spell still found inInquisition– as well as Arcane Shield which transformed into the Barrier spell introduced inDragon Age 2along with a retooled Arcane Shield, Mind Blast, and more. It’s unclear if the title “Arcane” means traditional, academic, old, or something else in this context.
7Nature Magic
Also Known As Dalish Keeper Magic
Keepers are generally the leaders of Dalish clans, honored for their wisdom and experience, and previously served as high-level servants of Elven gods and goddesses. They convene every decade to compare relics and knowledge their clans have recovered to add it to thehistorical tapestry of the Elves. This includes whatever magic-oriented knowledge that gets recovered. The best example of Keeper magic seen in the games is from Merrill and Marethari of the Sabrae clan inDA2.Dragon Age Origins:Awakeningalso makes the specialization available to mages.
This type of magic revolves around nature and a Keeper’s bond with it, performing acts such as summoning vines, regenerating health when a nearby creature dies, or creating a shield using the earth. Given Solas' tearing down of the Veil in the upcoming game, perhaps there is a Dalish origin version of Rook with Nature Magic. Fans can only hope!
8Necromancy Magic
Never Be Without Friends But Don’t Expect Living People To Like You
Theprimary users of NecromancyinDragon Ageare Dorian Pavus, the trainer Viuus Anaxas, and Quentin fromDA2. Though not forbidden like Blood Magic, many people don’t like Necromancy as it feels unnatural. But in practice, the abilities as they appear inInquisitionfeel much more akin to Spirit magic since abilities such as Walking Bomb deal Spirit damage.
In reality, the necromantic magic seen so far inDragon Ageserves more as a manipulation of Fade spirits than a true raising of the dead. We’ll likely get a very good look at Nevarran death magic thanks to the announced companion Emmrich Volkarin (and his assistant skeleton Manfred) in the forthcoming game.
9Fade Or Rift Magic
It’s A Hulk Fist Created With Fade Bits
Rift Magic operates similarly to the telekinetic school of Force Magic, but it utilizes energy from the edges of the Fade and the Veil itself. The magic is more raw and harder to control with only a few users known in existence. Elio Andante, who only appears inDragon Age: Vows & Vengeance, is trapped in the Fade by Solas during a Rift Magic ritual meant to serve Solas' plan of tearing down the Veil.
The experience the Inquisitor has with Your Trainer in the third game is quite funny, but also disturbing, as the trainer seems utterly off. It’s never clear if the character was just a gaffe that Bioware created because they didn’t know how else to explain the specialization without spoiling Solas' backstory. But Your Trainer is definitely memorable as a Rift Mage.
10Healing Magic
Like With All Video Games, Healing Magic Breaks Combat
Instead of emulating magic systems where healing is an instant fix, Bioware approaches Healing Magic as something that takesimmense focus and energy. As such, mages shouldn’t be able to conduct Healing Magic while also in battle. Potions are still a very viable, legitimate, and prolific thing, after all, so it stands to reason that Healing Magic is a skill mages cannot utilize in tandem with combat magic. However, inInquisition, mages can cast Revival that summons spirits to heal teammates and revive them.
The player can specialize in Spirit Healing inOrigins, but this is different from regular Healing Magic as it leverages benevolent Spirits to heal others. Anders and Wynne are two notable Spirit Healers and Wynne may also have been possessed as Anders was but by an uncorrupted spirit. InInquisition, the only mage who regularly conducts Healing Magic is a random NPC that appears in a quest with Cole. The third game in the series puts more of a focus on Alchemy instead.
