Tips and Tricks for Beginners in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Key Takeaways

• Character creation in RPGs influences outcomes and playstyle – choose factions carefully.
• Keep track of choices and make conscious decisions to navigate diverse gameplay options.
• Explore skills, including detonation combos, for impactful combat results in the game.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is quite different from past Dragon Age games, bringing a wide range of new features. There are many tips for new players and veterans alike to be aware of, ranging from combat tips to information regarding the very first steps players will take when making their characters.

Players can have a lot of questions, but thankfully, the game does a great job of telling players about its mechanics and making sure they understand all the important tidbits. Still, there are some things players will want to know in advance rather than stumbling through them once they become relevant.

7 Character Creation Matters

Read The Choices

• Pick a class that sounds fun.
• Players should choose a faction that fits their playstyle.

Character creation in RPGs is usually not as cosmetic as in other game genres. Some choices decide unchangeable outcomes throughout the game. Players can change their outfits and even their playstyle in Veilguard; however, their faction choice is not one they should make on a whim. Factions will affect the character’s backstory and affect how much reputation they gain with a particular faction within the game’s lore. Depending on the chosen faction, the player will also deal increased damage to certain enemies.

New players will not know much about these factions, so they should not worry too much about these two options. What they should take note of is the final bonus, which can affect how they intend to play the game. This ranges from critical hit builds to being able to hold an extra potion for glassier classes. Players should read each of these with care and pick the one that sounds like it would best fit their playstyle.

6 Keep Track of Choices

Experience Everything Through Multiple Playthroughs

• Replaying the game can reveal new outcomes.
• Making all the right choices is rewarding.

Players will be able to make many choices as they play the game. Players should keep track of all the choices they make as they make their way through their first playthrough, then play through the game again to see what comes from making the opposite choice.

One such choice involves deciding who will come with Rook in the tutorial, and who will stay. This will decide who gets hurt and can affect how Rook’s companions see them. The companion they choose to follow alongside them will be the one who informs the player that they are now in the Fade, leading to how the player may develop attachments to companions as they progress.

5 Be on the Watch for Treasure

Stop and Look Around When Prompted

• Explore when an icon appears under the minimap.
• Getting close will mark the minimap.

Players will occasionally see an icon appear under their mini-map; this means there is something nearby. When this happens, stop and explore the surroundings. Should a small chest or altar icon appear, it means there is one of these nearby.

Players should always be panning over to the minimap to see where they are going and if one of these icons is hovering below it. Once players approach the indicated object from the icon, it will appear on their minimap.

4 Check The Map

See What is Left to Discover

• Explore along the map’s edges.
• Take note of what has not been found yet.

While freely exploring areas, players will be able to see how much of the map they have discovered. They will also see how many collectibles are left to find on the map. There is a black border surrounding each map, so moving along the edges or looking around can help players chart every corner of each map to find everything there is for each of them.

Maps will not be available to freely explore from the start, and players will need to unlock them as exploration areas. This means players can stay invested in the goal of their current missions before worrying about looking around every corner.

3 Check in With Companions

The Map Shows Which Companions Have Something to Say

• Building bonds gives companions skill points.
• Versatile companions let gamers explore new playstyles.

Early in their adventure, players will reach a location known as the Lighthouse. This will serve as the player’s central headquarters, and they will return there frequently. Each time they return to the Lighthouse, open the map and see which companions have been marked. After all, these are some of the best companions in video games, and have a lot of lore to reveal.

Players will increase their bonds with companions through completing quests, but also by interacting with them at the Lighthouse. Increasing bonds with companions will give them more points to invest in them, so be sure to check in with all companions periodically.

2 Explore Skills

Free Respeccing is Liberating

• Respeccing is free.
• Explore new options for future fights.

Players are free to respec both their own allocated points, and those of their companions. This will let players explore many different options for how they can play, as well as how they can synergize with their companions. However, even though players can respec their character, they cannot change their class choice.

Players will need to create a new character if they want to use a different class, but that is not a bad thing. There are so many choices to explore that having multiple characters will allow gamers to experience everything that the game has to offer and see cutscenes they missed out on during their first run.

1 Don’t Sleep on Detonate

Always Detonate Applied States

• Apply and Detonate are immensely powerful.
• Find the right companions to synergize with.

Players will find skills that can Apply a state, and those that can Detonate them. If the player is fond of abilities that Apply states, then they will want to follow up with a companion using a skill that can detonate it. On the opposite side of the spectrum, some players may have their companions do the applying so they can be the ones doing the Detonating.

These combos make for some of the most impactful combat results. Not taking full advantage of them can lead to fights being significantly harder than they need to be, so don’t be shy about using them.