Warrior Skills With The Highest Physical Damage

The hugely popular Dragon Age: The Veilguard features some of the best combat the series has ever had. Moving far and away from the tactical roots of the series has meant that in each game BioWare has tried to configure the ARPG combat in a satisfying. Though both Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition had some rough patches in its combat design because of this, the series has come full circle now to have combat that is as satisfying from an action standpoint as Origin‘s was from a tactical standpoint.

The Warrior class in Dragon Age: The Veilguard typically incorporates three damage types: fire, necrotic, and physical. These types also have three respective status effects attached to them: burning, necrosis, and bleeding. For players wanting to maximize their physical damage output, the Slayer specialization would be the best choice, but for any and all Warriors looking to use some high-power physical moves, here are all the physical abilities in the game ranked by their base physical damage.

7 Titan Stomp

A Great Early Game AoE

• Type: Area, Control
• Damage: 281 Physical
• Effect: A high stagger AOE that affects Overwhelm.

One of the first skills players will probably gravitate towards in Dragon Age: The Veilguard and for good reason, this attack might have some rather low damage, but the high stagger and overwhelmed application is great for weakening enemies who might be able to overwhelm the player at low levels.

Before players have increased access to potions, it’s best to take advantage of the weaker enemies by clearing them out as quickly and efficiently as possible, hence where this skill comes into play as great despite its low damage.

6 Driving Kick

A Powerful Knockback Attack

• Type: Smash, Control
• Damage: 468 Physical
• Effect: Extreme knockback with good detonations.

One of the great innovations that The Veilguard has made compared to other Dragon Age titles even stretching back to Origins is the work put into making sure Rogues and Warriors feel unique. Warrior’s unique battlefield control that no other class can compete with is perhaps exemplified by Driving Kick.

This skill is focused burst damage that sends foes flying, but the main reason why it has been so well-utilized by all players, despite its relatively low damage and effects, is the sheer cathartic joy of drop-kicking an enemy halfway across the battlefield.

5 Heroic Leap

A Mobile, Interesting AoE

• Type: Strike, Smash
• Damage: 468 Physical
• Effect: A great stagger-focused AOE that disrupts enemies.

At the same base damage as Driving Kick, the Slayer skill of Heroic Leap has been placed slightly higher in the listing because it’s an AoE and as such can theoretically damage more people at once for more physical damage dealt overall.

Heroic leap is a good, solid AoE attack for interrupting enemies and building up stagger. Players are encouraged not to discard any equipment that impacts stagger build to try and synthesize skills and equipment for quick executions, but otherwise, there isn’t a lot making this skill stand out.

4 Cleaving Strike

A Great Way To Close The Distance With Foes

• Type: Area, Strike
• Damage: 468 Physical
• Effect: Character charges forward, dealing more damage on hit based on distance from target.

Similar to the previous two skills this one has the same base attack, but if used correctly, Cleaving Strike will always deal more than base damage. This is a great skill for getting the range usually only exclusive to rogues or certain mages.

Cleaving Strike deals more damage to the enemy based on their distance to the player when the skill was used, building up over time and traveling a long distance. It takes the player with it and is a great way to move around the battlefield while also dealing damage.

3 Whirlwind

A Huge Area Attack With Great Stagger Build-Up

• Type: Area, Smash
• Damage: 999 Physical
• Effect: A moving AOE attack that ends on a high stagger hit.

Whirlwind is essentially a direct upgrade to cleaving strike, which is interesting considering it can be acquired earlier in the skill tree. This attack doesn’t have the same range as Cleaving Strike, true, but it’s a moving AoE that ends on a Staggering blow and has much higher base damage.

Essentially, for marginally better positioning, players get the highest non-ultimate physically damaging Warrior skill, alongside a greater boost to Stagger.

2 For Gold And Glory

The Signature Slayer Skill

• Type: Ultimate
• Damage: 1872 Physical
• Effect: Targeted AoE with high stagger and huge damage

The signature skill of the faction tied to Rivain, the Lords of Fortune, For Gold and Glory might have less physical damage than Flashing Fists, but for a player that prefers to have more control over their attacks, it might be their favorite skill of the game.

Players are able to choose where they land and subsequently deal huge AoE damage with this attack, letting them completely change their position and being a boon the the Slayer specialization, who pride themselves on mobility.

1 Flashing Fists

The First Ultimate Has The Greatest Physical Damage

• Type: Ultimate
• Damage: 2106 Physical
• Effect: Powerful repeated AoE attacks

As the default Ultimate skill in the game, Flashing Fists really just banks everything on high damage. It doesn’t have the mobility of Gold and Glory, or the status effects and elemental damage that comes with the other Specialization ultimates but, hey, damage is damage.

Hitting multiple times at such strength is a great way to break barriers and tear through enemy armor, and there’s a valid tactic in keeping this as the player’s assigned ultimate all the way through the game.