All Classes and Specializations in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

No RPG is truly complete without some sort of class archetype mechanic in place, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard is no exception. The game features only the traditional triumvirate of warrior-wizard-rogue classes, but each of them also has three different Specializations that play a bit deeper into certain themes and playstyles.

While increasing your stats in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a surefire way to get stronger, picking the right class with the right Specialization should be the first thing players worry about. There’s no backing out once you pick what class to play, so if you’re unsure about which one to pick, here’s a quick guide covering all three playable classes and the subclasses you can spec into.

In terms of pure performance, all classes are fairly well-balanced. What class you choose mostly boils down to personal preference, but for those looking for ease-of-use, we specified the best Specializations per class at the bottom of each section.

The Warrior

Up Close and Very Personal

First, we have the traditional fighter class that focuses mainly on melee combat. Warriors act as the usual sword-and-board frontline tank as well as the slow-yet-devastating two-handed weapon wielder. Players can switch between these two weapon types with a press of a button, and they can throw their shield as well, giving them a ton of flexibility. Warriors use Rage to cast skills — this is earned by hitting or getting hit, and it decays over time when not in combat.

Warriors may not have the same DPS potential as other classes, but they have excellent defensive capabilities and a variety of crowd control abilities that can make the battlefield a little less chaotic, perfect for those higher difficulty settings. They can also deal massive Stagger damage, which opens enemies up to Takedowns. If you like stunning huge crowds with a ground stomp or drop kicking Darkspawn off a cliff, this class is for you.

Reaper is arguably the easiest Specialization to use since it gives players additional ways to heal themselves. It’s best used together with a full Shield Toss build using skills from the Mourn Watcher skill cluster.

The Rogue

Swift and Stylish

Rogues emphasize speed over strength, preferring to take enemies down with a thousand cuts, unlike Warriors, who tend to deal big damage numbers in as few hits as possible. They use dual blades and a bow in combat, and they use a resource called Momentum, which is earned by landing hits. Players can lose a large chunk (if not all) of their Momentum if they get hit, making this class much riskier to use.

Since Rogues rely on either ranged attacks or hit-and-run tactics, changing your companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard should be something that you should always keep in mind. It may be better to replace someone with a frontlline fighter like Davrin to create openings for the team.

Veil Ranger is the best Specialization for Rogues who are looking for comfort without sacrificing power. Invest enough points into skills that buff your ranged attacks, and you’re pretty much set. Duelist is also quite good, but it is much more reliant on player skill.

The Mage

Power Overwhelming

Mages are glass cannons capable of dealing serious damage to anything and everything, wielding Mana to power their spells and weapons. They can wield Fire, Electricity, Cold, and Necrosis to utterly devastate the battlefield, but such power comes at the cost of personal survivability. Like Warriors, Mages have two main weapons: the Staff, and the Orb and Dagger, and their playstyles are wildly different.

Staves are slow, but they hit hard and can reach long distances. They can be charged with Mana to unleash powerful Heavy Attacks. This weapon is more for players who want to play as a traditional backline mage. Meanwhile, the Orb and Dagger allows for quick, close-ranged attacks. Light Attacks build up Arcane Bomb stacks, and Heavy Attacks detonate them to cause explosions.

If you want the traditional backline mage experience, go with the Evoker Specialization. It mainly focuses on using the Staff to deal elemental damage from range, and its unique abilities let players group enemies up before destroying them in one fell swoop. Spellblade is also great if you want a faster-paced playstyle with the Orb and Dagger, but if you can’t choose between what weapon to use, try Death Caller.

You can respec your abilities at any time as long as you’re not in combat, but you cannot change classes, so make sure to pick a class that resonates with you before starting a new game.