Like its predecessors, Dragon Age The Veilguard allows players to choose from three core classes: Warrior, Mage, and Rogue. Each class offers several distinct specializations, one of which can be selected when your character reaches Level 20.
Choosing a class may feel daunting, but there are no wrong answers—just considerations to keep in mind. While skill points can be reallocated outside of combat, including switching specializations, you won’t be able to change your class mid-game. Once chosen, you’re committed, so weighing the strengths and limitations of each option is wise.
This guide will detail the strengths and playstyles of each class in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, alongside available specializations, helping you to make the best choice for your adventure from the outset.
Key Considerations
At the beginning, you’ll select your class, faction, and lineage—choices that will shape your character and cannot be altered later on. Take some time to reflect on these questions as you select your class:
What Playstyle Suits You Best in Dragon Age The Veilguard?
Each class in Dragon Age The Veilguard has unique features, though all provide some degree of flexibility. Warriors, built for resilience, excel in defense and wield shields, though they are less agile and lack ranged options. Rogues, while lighter on defense, bring high mobility and skill in both melee combat (dual swords) and ranged attacks (longbows). Mages control various elemental forces like fire, ice, and lightning, and balance their arsenal with spells, scepters, and their mage knife, suited for both close and ranged combat.
Which Companions Will You Bring Along?
In The Veilguard, only companions who journey with you on quests or explorations will earn bond points, while those left at the Lighthouse will not. While you’ll have the chance to rotate through companions, it’s wise to consider which ones you’ll frequently team up with to create a balanced party. For instance, if you’re inclined toward Emmrich’s companionship, it could make sense to play as a Warrior or Rogue with necrotic magic to complement his necromancer Mage abilities.
Your companions consist of:
- Warriors: Taash (fire-focused) and Davrin (physical attacks).
- Rogues: Lucanis (dual-sword melee) and Harding (longbow for ranged attacks).
- Mages: Neve (ice-focused), Bellara (electricity-based), and Emmrich (spirit summoning).
What Lineage and Faction Will You Select?
Generally, any class can pair with any lineage or faction, with one exception: dwarves cannot be Mages. However, it might be advantageous to choose a class that complements your lineage and faction. For example, Warriors gain access to many Grey Warden-related abilities, while members of Mourn Watch tend to be Mages or specialize in necrotic magic.
Dragon Age The Veilguard Class Guide: Warrior
Warriors are adept in the art of weaponry and battlefield strategy, focusing on physical power and defensive tactics. Depending on their specialization, they may also incorporate fire into their attacks. Warriors can wield one-handed weapons, either dual-wielded or with a shield, and can switch to powerful two-handed weapons mid-battle.
- Melee Weapons: One-handed, Two-handed, Shields
- Ranged Weapon: Shield Throw
- Resource: Rage
- Ultimate Ability: Flashing Fists - unleashes massive physical damage across a wide area.
Reaper
Reaper Warriors embrace sacrifice, trading health for immense necrotic damage. With abilities like Shield Toss dealing necrotic instead of physical damage, they also weaken foes. Their Ultimate Ability, Spirit Storm, conjures a mobile whirlwind of necrotic energy, devastating enemies. Reapers are aligned with the Mourn Watch faction.
Slayer
Slayer Warriors thrive on risk, wielding dual weapons with high mobility. They unleash powerful multi-weapon attacks, applying effects like Weakened and Detonate on enemies. Their Ultimate Ability, For Gold and Glory, is a leap attack that deals physical damage. Slayers are associated with the Lords of Fortune faction.
Champion
Champion Warriors excel in defense and inspire allies with their leadership. With a focus on Perfect Defense and fire-infused bombs, they can weaken and burn enemies. Their Ultimate Ability, Warden’s Fire, is a succession of strikes dealing burn damage. Champions are closely associated with the Grey Wardens faction.
Dragon Age The Veilguard Class Guide: Rogue
The Rogue class offers versatility in both melee and ranged combat. With skill points, they enhance arrows with effects like necrotic or electric damage, allowing them to weaken and inflict lasting damage. Rogues excel at targeting multiple enemies with a "death by a thousand cuts" approach from afar.
- Melee Weapons: Dual Blades
- Ranged Weapons: Bows
- Resource: Momentum
- Ultimate Ability: Concussive Barrage – a bomb barrage dealing physical damage and causing high Stagger
Duelist
Duelist Rogues master close-quarters combat with dual blades, striking quickly to build Adrenaline while lowering the Defense of enemies. Their attacks also add necrotic damage. The Duelist’s Ultimate Ability, Murder of Crows, rapidly inflicts necrotic damage to multiple targets. Duelists align with the Antivan Crows faction.
Saboteur
Saboteur Rogues specialize in disrupting the battlefield by placing bombs and turrets. They amplify bow-based attacks and trigger explosions using Charged attacks. Their Ultimate Ability, Fortune’s Fury, releases a fast volley of projectiles that deals physical damage. Saboteurs are allied with the Lords of Fortune faction.
Veil Ranger
Veil Ranger Rogues blend magic with archery, using artifacts to add electrical effects to their arrows. Their shots can shock or detonate enemies, with charged arrows dealing substantial damage. The Veil Ranger’s Ultimate Ability, Twin Gifts of Arlathan, hurls twin relics that inflict electric damage. Veil Rangers belong to the Veil Jumper faction.
Dragon Age The Veilguard Class Guide: Mage
Mages command elemental forces, from fire to ice to spirit, to control the battlefield. At close range, they wield Mage Knives and Orbs for a more personal touch. Mage playstyles vary significantly depending on specialization.
- Melee Weapons: Orbs, Mage Knives
- Ranged Weapons: Staves, Spells
- Resource: Mana
- Ultimate Ability: Destructive Light – a concentrated beam of pure elemental force
Death Caller
Death Caller Mages are skilled in life and death magic, drawing health from enemies to replenish their own. Some powerful Death Callers can use health in place of mana. Their Ultimate Ability, The Crypt’s Herald, drains health from foes, followed by a powerful necrotic burst. Death Callers are connected to the Mourn Watch faction.
Evoker
Evoker Mages harness cold magic, freezing foes and rendering them vulnerable to allies’ attacks. Skilled in staves, they use wide-area spells to immobilize groups of enemies. Their Ultimate Ability, Vortex of Shadow, summons an icy vortex that deals massive cold damage. Evokers are aligned with the Shadow Dragons faction.
Spellblade
Spellblade Mages blend magic with close combat, dealing electric damage at melee range. Masters of the staff, they can throw their blade with deadly precision. Their Ultimate Ability, Thunderous End, summons an avatar of storm to deal damage and inflict Shocked. Spellblades are associated with the Antivan Crows faction.
