Summary
The release ofDragon Age: The Veilguardis imminent, and the excitement surrounding the latest installment inBioware’scritically acclaimed ARPGhas been steadily increasing. A surge of newcomers will inevitably be diving headfirst into the dark world of Thedas for the very first time. MasteringDragon Agecan be quite challenging.Whether inexhaustibly scouring the Kokari Wilds for that elusive last Vial of Darkspawn Bloodor triumphantly closing the final Rift Incursion in the Hinterlands, it’s no simple task.
Specializations allow players to customize their builds furtherand are crucial for tailoring skill trees to specific archetypes. It’s a significant choice to make for players embarking on their first journey throughFereldento know which option to level with. Whether teetering on the edge of becoming an abomination or blinking in and out of sight to masterfully control the battlefield, here are the strongest specializations to see adventurers through their upcoming adventures.
10Necromancer
Wield The Very Essence Of Death
A relatively new addition to theDragon Agefranchise, the Necromancer has the potential to be an immensely powerful class. Turning foes inside out with “Walking Bomb” and theability to temporarily resurrect in battle with unlimited Mana- is a fantastic power trip.
The specialization falls short due to its lack of offensive spells, and its main strengths typically only come from exploiting its “Simulacrum” spell with heal-on-hit weapons to revive the fallen Inquisitor indefinitely. The main strengths of the skill tree seemingly come from its lore implications and how othercharacters react in caution to the Inquisitor’s use of it.
9Bard
Never Underestimate The Power Of Music
Akin to their Dungeons and Dragons counterpart, Bards inDragon Age: Originswield the immense power of song to buff their allies and demoralize their enemies.Through proper equipment, it can be a fantastic class for an Archer/Rogue building.
However, they lack the raw damage output of other specializations and require far greater precision and timing for their spells to be effective. When correctly wielded, however, they are indispensable in any roster.
8Duelist
Dodge And Dance Around Death
Perfect for one-on-one encounters,Duelists focus on critical hits and evasions. When used right, it excels at focusing on the more challenging enemies,allowing The Gray Warden’s alliesto focus on the smaller ones.
Although still incredibly potent, abilities such as “Pinpoint Strike,” which targets the enemy’s weak points with precision, have long cooldowns,potentially overwhelming the Duelist when not leveraging their strengths.
7Blood Mage
Abominably Evil
Not dissimilar from the Warrior’s “Reaver” specialization,Blood Mages sacrifice their life force for access to powerful magic. Though the specialization was seemingly truant fromDragon Age: Inquisition, and with recent statements from developers, it doesn’t look likeDragon Age: The Veilguardplayers will be able to delve back into the sinister world of Blood Magic anytime soon.
Skills like “Blood Sacrifice” and “Hemorrhage” completely immobilize enemies while dealing heavy damage with someimpressive, albeit grizzly, animations. The caster can also turn enemies against each other with the “Blood-Slave,” which gives much-needed assistance on greater difficulties. It can fall short, however - the Blood Mage is still very susceptible to all damage. If the player isn’t constantly managing their health, they may actually fall in battle before they’ve had a chance to get hit.
6Templar
They Don’t Just Kill Mages
The Templars in theDragon Ageseries are theclosest counterparts to Paladins. They are natural mage-hunters who consume small amounts of Lyrium to gain special abilities and prowess.Calling upon the power of The Maker to smite swarms of Demons, Mages - or Demonic Mages.
Templars are excellent at empowering both themselves and their allies. With skills like “Spell Purge,” Templars cancompletely negate all hostile magic surrounding their party. Additionally, “Rally” slowlybuilds up their party’s guard, stamina, and Mana over timewhile also increasing damage resistance to incoming attacks.
5Rift Mage
The Overwhelming Power Of The Rift
Wielding the very powers of The Fade to cast devastating spells, control the battlefield, and rain fiery destruction from above. Rift Mages are experts in Crowd Control.
Rift Mages can cast “Stone-Fist” to significantly damage a single target or wield “Firestorm” tosummon up to 55 meteors at once. This specialization is excellent for Mages, whoprioritize consistent damage output. The buffs to Mana regeneration also make it easier to cast spells continuously. Rift Mages have less defense, so it’s best to keep them a good distance from battles and purchase some gear to help alleviate this.
4Champion
One Man Barricade
With minimal effort, the Champion transforms warriors into nearly indestructible tanks, always deep in the center of any encounter.They play a crucial role in the survivability of Thedas' Inquisitor.
“Line in the Sand” turns Champions into a virtual barricade, halting enemies from moving past them. “Counterstrike,” the Champions' ultimate ability, instantlygrants them full guard and taunts nearby enemies, countering all incoming melee attacks at the cost of Focus. This is a specialization that excels at survivability.
3Tempest
Potions And Lotions For Every Scenario
Tempests excel at unpredictability and crowd control, using a variety of flasks to gain buffs and abilities.Capable of outright freezing timewith the “Lightning” Flask or temporarily removing all cooldowns with the “Fire Flask.” Tempests are always at the forefront of the fight, able to be anywhere and everywhere at any given time.
Thoughcoating one’s skin with a mysterious alchemical elixir does have its inherent risks. The Inquisitor, however, is yet to find any. This specialization is a fantastic example of a “Jack-Of-All-Trades” playstyle, providing anample answer to anything Thedas can throw the Tempest’s way.
2Reaver
Dragon-Blood Addicted Berserkers
An incredibly high-risk, high-reward playstylethat sacrifices health for devastating abilities - Reaver - is theepitome of Bloodlust- the ideal choice for fierce Warriors consumed by the blood-soaked frenzy of the battlefield.Rip-and-tear through hordes of Darskpawn, reshaping pain into overwhelming power.
It’s nearly impossible to mention this class without mentioning its inherent “cool” factor. The class is a dragon-blood-addicted Warrior who isinherently obsessed with fighting and subsequently revels in it. The class uses skills such as “Devour” to deal damage and heal simultaneously, or “Dragon-Rage,” a violent slash that deals more damage the more wounded the character may be.
1Knight Enchanter
Spirit Swords Aren’t Their Only Trick
The Knight Enchanter specialization allows mages, who are typically more vulnerable, to actively participate in frontline combat. They have the ability to summon a Spirit Blade,which enables them to deal considerable damage up closewhile also increasing their durability.
Spells such as “Fade Shield” and “Defending Blade” are a fantastic combination that can make encounters almost seem trivial,rewarding the player for consistent ferocity as The Inquisitor deflects enemy spells and projectiles alike. “Fade Cloak” also allows The Inquisitor to move through the battlefield and better position themselves with complete invulnerability.
