Best Mage Abilities In The Dragon Age Series

Key Takeaways

• Storm Surge in Dragon Age: The Veilguard applies significant damage and pushes enemies back.
• Barrier from Dragon Age 2 boosts damage resistance and can be upgraded to Arcane Fortress.
• Fade Step in Dragon Age: Inquisition allows mages to move quickly and avoid harm on the battlefield.

Mages are a fun class to play as in the Dragon Age series, as each game features various abilities to choose from as the player upgrades. Some of these abilities carry over from game to game, but others only appear in one game in the series.

There are a range of abilities in the series that cater to all kinds of players. Whether players are looking for an aggressive, fire mage build or a support mage with some ice-based skills on the side, there is sure to be an available build to interest anyone and everyone.

With this in mind, we’re going to be looking at some of the best mage abilities from the Dragon Age series, spanning the four mainline games: Dragon Age Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

1 Storm Surge

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

• Area and strike spell
• Deals 327 Electricity damage
• Applies Overwhelm
• 60-second cooldown

The Storm Surge ability in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a great way to inflict some electricity damage while also applying the Overwhelm effect. Players can choose to partner this skill with an ability that detonates Overwhelmed, which can lead to some significant damage.

As well as that, Storm Surge also pushes enemies backward. There are a fair amount of levels with ledges, so using Storm Surge during fights in these areas can lead to enemies falling to their deaths.

2 Barrier

Dragon Age 2

• Arcane spell
• Requires level 5 and the Mind Blast spell
• Activated spell
• Activation: 30 mana
• 45-second cooldown
• 6-second duration
• Adds 50% damage resistance to the target
• Can be upgraded to Arcane Fortress

Barrier is an invaluable mage ability first introduced in Dragon Age 2. It’s simple, but it does its job and can be a lifesaver in a difficult fight. When using Barrier, the mage casts a protective barrier onto the selected teammate. This barrier will give them a +50% boost to their damage resistance for six seconds.

Barrier doesn’t protect teammates from being knocked over by forceful effects – if they are vulnerable to those effects – but it does protect them effectively from most attack types. The Barrier ability can also be upgraded to Arcane Fortress, which adds +50% damage resistance, creating an even more effective shield.

3 Fade Step

Dragon Age: Inquisition

• Winter spell
• Activated spell
• 2-second duration
• 12-second cooldown
• Can be upgraded to Frost Step or Energizing Step (Energizing Step requires Trespasser DLC)

Fade Step is part of the Winter skill tree in Dragon Age: Inquisition, but the base skill doesn’t have any cold effect. It can be upgraded to Frost Step, which will then inflict Chill and Ice damage to enemies, but the initial purpose of Fade Step is to allow a mage to move quickly by rushing forward.

The ability turns a mage invisible for two seconds and carries them forward as a blur. This is particularly useful for mages, who often need to ensure they are out of harm’s way on the battlefield so they can attack from afar and buff or support allies. Fade Step allows a mage to get out of the way instantly, but it can also be useful for surprise attacks when playing with an aggressive mage build.

4 Walking Bomb

Dragon Age 2

• Spirit spell
• Requires level 4 and the Spirit Bolt
• Activated spell
• Activation: 30 mana
• 30-second cooldown
• 10-second duration
• 50 % additional spirit damage of victim’s maximum health vs nearby targets upon explosion
• Can be upgraded to Corrosovie Walking Bomb and Virulent Walking Bomb

Walking Bomb has been a spell available for mages from Dragon Age Origins through to Inquisition. The pick for this list goes to the Dragon Age 2 version of the spell, as it develops the spell well from Origins and lays the groundwork for the Inquisition version. Walking Bomb is a spell that does exactly what the name suggests. It turns enemies into walking explosives with a powerful curse. The curse takes effect when the enemy dies, hurting all enemies in the vicinity.

This is a spell that can be upgraded twice. The first upgrade is Corrosive Walking Bomb, which adds the corrosion effect along with the spirit damage that the spell already deals. The next upgrade is Virulent Walking Bomb, which allows the explosive effects to spread to enemies while also hurting them. As a destructive ability, Walking Bomb is super effective. However, upgrading it is the key to becoming a formidable foe on the battlefield while playing as a mage in Dragon Age 2.

5 Destructive Light

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

• Ultimate ability spell
• Deals 2,416 Fire damage
• Applies Burning

Dragon Age: The Veilguard changed the ability system for players by offering an ultimate ability that is particularly powerful. One of the best ultimate abilities for mages is Destructive Light, wherein the player will unleash a devastating laser-like beam on their enemies and do a ton of damage while also applying the Burning effect.

The only downside to this spell is that the beam is controlled manually, and it can sometimes be difficult to maneuver. It can miss the enemy completely, which can be more than a little frustrating. That being said, when implemented at the right moment, Destructive Light can become a game-changing and life-saving skill.

6 Mass Rejuvenation

Dragon Age: Origins

• Creation spell
• The last spell on the Healing tree
• The Healing tree also includes Heal, Rejuvenate, and Regeneration
• Medium activated range
• Activation: 45 mana
• 90-second cooldown
• Needs level 28 magic skill

Although healing is an important part of a mage’s skillset, keeping the party’s mana and stamina topped up is also a must, but it is often pushed aside in favor of healing. That’s why Mass Rejuvenation – a spell that regenerates mana and stamina – makes it onto this list.

It deserves some love, but it’s also a highly effective spell that can change the flow of battle when used at the right time. When activated, Mass Rejuvenation can stack with the Rejuvenate spell, which focuses on increasing the mana of the caster.

When paired with the Heal spell, Mass Rejuvenation can allow the mage caster to consistently increase their ally’s health, mana, and stamina (while also double boosting their own mana), and make the team an unstoppable force.

7 Master Shapeshifter

Dragon Age: Origins

• Shapeshifter mage specialization
• The last spell on the Shapeshifting specialization tree
• The Shapeshifting specialization tree also includes Spider Shape, Bear Shape, and Flying Swarm
• Passive skill
• Requires level 12

One of the most fun specializations for mages in the Dragon Age series is the Shapeshifter ability, which allows a mage to turn into a spider, bear, or a swarm of flies (when upgraded). When players have upgraded the specialization, they can upgrade to Master Shapeshifter, which turns them into stronger versions of each creature when they transform.

Shapeshifting wasn’t used again in the Dragon Age games after Origins, and it’s hard to see why this decision was made. It was such an engaging ability that allowed for a different style of mage gameplay. Here’s hoping that it might return in any future Dragon Age games.

8 Revival

Dragon Age: Inquisition

• Spirit spell
• Activated spell
• Activation: 85 mana
• 2-meter area of effect
• 60-second cooldown
• Can be upgraded to Life Ward or Desperation (Desperation requires Trespasser DLC)

Dragon Age: Inquisition has a fair amount of difficult fights, especially when playing at higher levels. A spell that is a necessity for a mage when playing Inquisition is Revival, which can bring unconscious players back into the fight.

Players can manually revive teammates in Inquisition, but this takes time and, when in the heat of a tough battle, it can be almost impossible to do so without dying. That’s where Revival comes in. It needs a lot of investment into the Spirit tree, as it’s one of the final spells, but it’s well worth it.

Players control the green circle that appears when choosing Revival and have to direct it as close to the body of their fallen teammate as possible. When close, activate Revival and a cool animation of the teammate rising from the ground via green spirit wings will play out on the battlefield. They’ll then be back in the fray and ready to keep fighting. Revival is an absolute must for any, if not all, mages on the player’s team during Inquisition, as it can literally save lives.