Are you ready to embark on an epic quest in Dragon Age: Inquisition? If you’re aiming to play as a mage, optimizing your build is crucial to unleash your full potential. Fear not, for we have meticulously crafted a guide that will empower you to create the most formidable mage in all of Thedas. Get ready to harness the arcane’s immense might and become a force to be reckoned with on the Inquisition’s journey.
The key to unlocking the ultimate mage build lies in mastering specialization. By delving into the Rift Mage or Necromancer skill trees, you’ll gain access to an arsenal of powerful abilities. Rift Mages command the raw power of the Fade, capable of tearing rifts in the veil and summoning forth allies from beyond. Necromancers, on the other hand, delve into the forbidden arts of death magic, wielding the power to drain life and summon undead minions to their aid. Choose wisely, for your specialization will shape the very core of your mage’s identity and combat prowess.
Beyond specialization, a myriad of passive abilities and spells await your discovery. The Winter’s Grasp ability, for instance, encases enemies in a chilling embrace, while Stone’s Throw hurls a massive boulder at your foes. Furthermore, the Fade Step ability allows you to teleport short distances, enabling you to outmaneuver your opponents with ease. The possibilities are endless, and customizing your build to suit your playstyle is what truly sets this game apart. Whether you prefer to unleash a torrent of arcane energy or manipulate the very fabric of existence, Dragon Age: Inquisition offers you the tools to weave your own tapestry of magical might.
The Arcane Warrior: A Balanced Hybrid
The Arcane Warrior specialization is a versatile option for mages who want to mix magic and melee combat. It grants access to a variety of abilities that enhance both offensive and defensive capabilities, making the Arcane Warrior a formidable force on the battlefield.
One of the key abilities of the Arcane Warrior is the ability to equip heavy armor. This greatly increases their survivability, allowing them to withstand more damage in melee combat. Additionally, the Arcane Warrior gains access to a number of spells that grant them increased physical damage resistance and healing, making them even more difficult to take down.
In terms of offensive capabilities, the Arcane Warrior has access to a number of powerful melee abilities. They can unleash a flurry of attacks with their staff, or use their spells to empower their melee strikes. The Arcane Warrior also has access to a number of powerful crowd control abilities, such as Winter’s Grasp and Stone’s Throw, which can be used to disable or control multiple enemies at once.
Overall, the Arcane Warrior specialization is a great choice for mages who want to be able to both deal and withstand damage in melee combat. It grants access to a wide variety of abilities that enhance both offensive and defensive capabilities, making the Arcane Warrior a versatile and powerful addition to any party.
Ability Tree
The Arcane Warrior’s ability tree is divided into two main branches: one that focuses on melee combat and one that focuses on enhancing spells. The melee branch includes abilities such as Mighty Blow, which increases melee attack damage, and Shield Block, which increases defense against melee attacks. The spellcasting branch includes abilities such as Spellcasting Mastery, which increases spell damage, and Mana Clash, which deals damage to enemies within a radius and restores mana to the Arcane Warrior.
| Tier | Ability |
|---|---|
| 1 | Combat Magic |
| 1 | Shield Block |
| 1 | Winter’s Grasp |
| 4 | Might Blow |
| 7 | Stone’s Throw |
| 10 | Spellcasting Mastery |
| 10 | Mana Clash |
The Rift Mage: Mastering the Fade
If you seek to unravel the mysteries of the Fade and harness its raw power, the Rift Mage specialization will fulfill your aspirations. These mages possess an unrivaled ability to manipulate the ethereal realm, opening rifts and summoning spirits to their aid. As you delve deeper into this specialization, you will gain access to potent spells that can warp reality and control the flow of battle.
Stonefist: Defiance with Might
Stonefist imbues the Rift Mage with the resilience of the earth. This potent ability empowers your staff strikes with stone-like force, shattering enemies’ defenses and slowing their movements. Moreover, Stonefist grants you resistance to physical damage, making you a formidable opponent in close combat.
Here is a detailed breakdown of Stonefist’s abilities:
| Ability | Effect |
|---|---|
| Stone’s Throw | Hurls a boulder at a target, dealing physical damage and knocking them back. |
| Stone Shield | Creates a protective barrier that absorbs a portion of incoming physical damage. |
| Stone Strike | Empowers your staff attacks with stone energy, dealing additional physical damage and slowing the target. |
| Stone’s Throw Upgrade | Increases the damage and knockback range of Stone’s Throw. |
| Stone Strike Upgrade | Increases the damage and slowing effect of Stone Strike. |
The Necromancer: Commanding the Undead
The Necromancer, a master of the dark arts, commands the undead to devastating effect. Specializing in the manipulation of corpses and summoning powerful spirits, this mage excels in crowd control and sustained damage.
Skills
Core skills for the Necromancer include:
- Death Siphon: Drains health from nearby enemies, restoring mana and increasing damage.
- Raise Dead: Summons undead minions to fight alongside the Necromancer.
- Spirit Mark: Marks an enemy, causing their attacks to heal the Necromancer.
Talents
Key talents to enhance the Necromancer’s power:
- Frightening Aura: Automatically applies Fear to nearby enemies, reducing their effectiveness.
- Soul Consumption: Consumes corpses, granting a damage bonus and additional health regeneration.
- Grave Robber: Significantly increases the chance of finding valuable loot in corpses.
Equipment
To maximize the Necromancer’s effectiveness, prioritize equipment that:
| Stat | Description |
|---|---|
| Critical Hit Chance | Increases the likelihood of dealing extra damage with necromantic abilities. |
| Mana Regeneration | Enhances mana restoration, allowing for more frequent ability use. |
| Spell Power | Boosts the damage output of necromantic spells. |
The Knight-Enchanter: Arcane Mastery
The Knight-Enchanter is a specialized mage class that combines the arcane prowess of a mage with the martial prowess of a warrior. This class is an excellent choice for players who want to be able to deal both magical and physical damage, and who want to be able to withstand more damage than a traditional mage.
One of the key abilities of the Knight-Enchanter is the ability to cast spells while wearing heavy armor. This allows the Knight-Enchanter to take on the role of a tank, absorbing damage for the rest of the party while still being able to deal significant damage. Additionally, the Knight-Enchanter has access to a variety of spells that can enhance their melee combat abilities, such as the ability to imbue their weapon with with fire damage or to cast a protective aura around themselves.
Arcane Blade
The Arcane Blade is a signature ability of the Knight-Enchanter. This ability allows the Knight-Enchanter to summon a magical sword that deals significant damage and can be imbued with a variety of elemental effects. The Arcane Blade can also be used to cast spells, making it a versatile and powerful weapon.
| Arcane Blade Damage |
|---|
| Scales with the Knight-Enchanter’s level and Intelligence |
| Deals bonus damage against barriers and guard |
| Can be imbued with elemental effects, such as fire, cold, or lightning |
The Tempest: Stormcaller Supremo
The Tempest specialization is the go-to pick for any mage who wants to harness the raw power of the storm. With their ability to channel lightning and ice, Tempest mages can unleash devastating attacks on their foes, controlling the battlefield with ease. This build focuses on maximizing the Tempest’s offensive capabilities, making them a force to be reckoned with.
Build Overview
This build heavily invests in the Stormcaller passive, which increases the damage and area of effect of Storm abilities. Additionally, it utilizes the Winter’s Grasp and Lightning Bolt abilities to deal massive damage and control the battlefield. A staff with the “Increase Storm Ability Damage” enchantment is highly recommended for further damage boost.
Abilities
Primary Abilities: Stormcaller, Winter’s Grasp, Lightning Bolt
Support Abilities: Energy Barrage, Fade Step, Stone’s Throw
Passives: Stormcaller, Elemental Mastery, Spirit Blade
Talents
Tier 1: Spellweaver
Tier 2: Winter’s Ruin
Tier 3: Chain Lightning
Tier 4: Tempest Master
Tier 5: Static Charge
The Tier 5 talent, Static Charge, is a game-changer for this build. It applies a stacking debuff on enemies hit by Storm abilities, increasing the damage they take from subsequent Storm attacks. With this talent, mages can unleash a continuous barrage of devastating spells, quickly eliminating their foes.
Equipment
| Item | Enchantment |
|---|---|
| Staff | Increase Storm Ability Damage |
| Armor | Increase Spell Power |
| Accessories | Increase Crit Chance |
The Vivienne’s Mark: A Diplomatic Mage
This build focuses on supporting allies and controlling crowds with a mix of frost and spirit magic. It’s particularly effective when paired with Vivienne’s unique specialization, the Knight-Enchanter, which grants her access to powerful barrier spells and melee combat abilities.
Spells
The Vivienne’s Mark build utilizes the following spells:
- Winter’s Grasp: Freezes enemies in place, dealing cold damage over time.
- Fade Cloak: Grants the caster increased magic resistance and barrier.
- Stone’s Throw: Launches a rock projectile that deals significant damage.
- Dispel Magic: Removes positive buffs from enemies.
- Barrier: Creates a protective shield that absorbs damage.
- Spirit Blade: Summons a blade made of pure energy that can be used in melee combat.
Perks
The following perks are recommended for The Vivienne’s Mark build:
| Perk Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Blizzard | Increases the area of effect of Winter’s Grasp. |
| Winter’s Touch | Adds damage over time to Fade Cloak’s effect. |
| Spell Shield | Further increases magic resistance while Fade Cloak is active. |
| Energy Barrage | Adds additional charges to Spirit Blade. |
| Bulwark of the Faithful | Increases the duration of barrier. |
| Fade Step | Allows the caster to teleport a short distance. |
Equipment
The following equipment is recommended for The Vivienne’s Mark build:
- Staff of the Arcane Warrior: Grants bonuses to magic damage and melee combat.
- Ring of Winter’s Might: Increases the damage of Winter’s Grasp.
- Amulet of the Fade Walker: Reduces the cooldown of Fade Cloak.
The Cole’s Mark: A Rift-Manipulating Force
Cole’s Mark is a powerful ability that allows mages to manipulate the Fade and close rifts. It is a versatile ability that can be used to deal damage to enemies, heal allies, and control the battlefield.
Cole’s Mark is a passive ability that is activated when the mage casts a spell. When the spell is cast, it will leave a mark on the target. This mark can last for up to 10 seconds, and it will deal damage to the target every second. The damage dealt by the mark is based on the mage’s level and the spell that was cast.
In addition to dealing damage, Cole’s Mark can also be used to heal allies. When a spell is cast on an ally, it will leave a mark on them that will heal them for a certain amount of health over time. The amount of health healed is based on the mage’s level and the spell that was cast.
Cole’s Mark can also be used to control the battlefield. When a spell is cast on an enemy, it will leave a mark on them that will slow them down or immobilize them. The duration of the slow or immobilization is based on the mage’s level and the spell that was cast.
Cole’s Mark is a powerful ability that can be used to deal damage, heal allies, and control the battlefield. It is a versatile ability that can be used in a variety of situations.
Cole’s Mark Damage: 100-200 per tick Healing: 100-200 per tick Duration: 10 seconds The Dorian’s Mark: A Conjuror with a Flair
Dorian’s Mark is a distinctive specialization for mages in Dragon Age: Inquisition, offering a blend of conjuration and spirit manipulation. By focusing on this specialization, mages can summon powerful spirits, enhance their allies’ abilities, and manipulate the battlefield to their advantage.
This specialization revolves around the ability to mark enemies, granting bonus damage and allowing for targeted spirit abilities. Mages can specialize in either the Necromancer or Arcanist tree, each offering unique abilities and playstyles.
The Necromancer tree grants access to abilities like Soul Drain, which sacrifices the mage’s health to empower their attacks, and Devour, a powerful melee attack that deals damage based on the number of marked enemies.
On the other hand, the Arcanist tree focuses on elemental damage and support abilities. Mages gain access to powerful spells like Immolate, a fire spell that burns enemies over time, and Lightning Bolt, a devastating lightning attack that deals substantial damage.
**Passive Abilities:**
Ability Effect Mark of the Doom Marks an enemy, increasing damage dealt by the mage and their allies. Spirit Boon Every successful mark boosts the damage and duration of spirit abilities. The Blackwall’s Mark: A Tanky Mage
The Blackwall’s Mark is a unique shield that can only be obtained by completing the “Blackwall’s Shield” quest. It is a powerful shield that provides a significant amount of defense and health, making it an excellent choice for mages who want to be able to take a hit. In addition, the Blackwall’s Mark also has a unique ability that allows the wearer to taunt enemies, making it even more effective at tanking.
Attributes
The Blackwall’s Mark is a heavy shield, so it requires a high Strength attribute to equip. Mages typically have low Strength, so it is important to invest in this attribute if you want to use the Blackwall’s Mark. In addition, the Blackwall’s Mark also benefits from a high Dexterity attribute, as this will increase the wearer’s defense and evasion.
Abilities
The Blackwall’s Mark has a unique ability called “Provoke.” This ability allows the wearer to taunt enemies, causing them to focus their attacks on the wearer. This can be very useful for tanking, as it can keep the other party members safe from harm. In addition, the Blackwall’s Mark also has a number of other abilities that can be useful for tanking, such as “Shield Bash” and “War Cry.”
Runes
The Blackwall’s Mark can be further enhanced by using runes. Runes are special items that can be inserted into weapons and armor to provide additional bonuses. There are a number of different runes that can be used with the Blackwall’s Mark, but some of the best options include the “Health Rune” and the “Defense Rune.” These runes will increase the wearer’s health and defense, making them even more effective at tanking.
Specialization
The Blackwall’s Mark is a great choice for mages who want to be able to tank. However, it is important to note that mages are not typically as good at tanking as warriors. If you want to use a mage as a tank, it is important to invest in the right attributes and abilities. In addition, you should also consider using a specialization that is focused on tanking, such as the “Knight-Enchanter” or “Arcanist.”
|Attribute|Value|
|—|—|
|Strength|25|
|Dexterity|20|
|Willpower|15|
|Magic|10|
|Constitution|10|The Varric’s Mark: A Crossbow-Wielding Mage
The Varric’s Mark specialization marks a significant shift in the typical playstyle of a mage, empowering them with the proficiency of a ranged weapon: the crossbow. This unique combination grants versatility and adaptability to mage characters, opening up new strategic possibilities in combat.
1. Equipment and Abilities
The Varric’s Mark specialization unlocks the unique ability, “Artificer’s Arsenal,” which grants proficiency with the crossbow and provides various passive bonuses related to ranged combat. Additionally, the specialization offers access to a range of abilities, including “Artificer’s Bolt,” a powerful crossbow attack, and “Artificer’s Guidance,” which enhances the accuracy and damage of ranged attacks.
2. Stats and Skill Tree
To optimize the Varric’s Mark build, it’s essential to invest points in Dexterity, which increases the mage’s ranged attack damage and accuracy. The Cunning skill tree synergizes well with this specialization, as it offers abilities that enhance crossbow damage, critical hit chance, and evasion.
3. Ranged Combat Mastery
With the Varric’s Mark specialization, mages become formidable ranged combatants. They can unleash devastating crossbow attacks from afar, allowing them to strategically pick off enemies or support their allies from a safe distance.
4. Elemental Infused Crossbow Attacks
The “Improved Artificer’s Arsenal” upgrade allows mages to infuse their crossbow attacks with elemental effects. This versatility enables them to tailor their attacks to specific enemy resistances or vulnerabilities, maximizing their damage output.
5. Crowd Control and Support
Despite their focus on ranged combat, Varric’s Mark mages still retain their magical abilities. They can cast crowd control spells, such as “Stone’s Throw,” to disrupt enemy formations or provide support spells, like “Barrier,” to protect their allies.
6. Synergies with Other Specializations
The Varric’s Mark specialization can synergize effectively with other mage specializations, such as the Knight-Enchanter. The Knight-Enchanter’s ability to generate barriers from harm can enhance the mage’s survivability while engaging in ranged combat.
7. Tactical Advantages
The crossbow-wielding capabilities of Varric’s Mark mages offer significant tactical advantages. They can engage targets from afar, control enemy movement with crowd control spells, and effectively support their allies from a distance.
8. Maneuverability and Evasion
The Varric’s Mark specialization promotes maneuverability and evasion. Mages can use the “Vault” ability to quickly reposition themselves, avoiding enemy attacks and setting up advantageous positions for ranged combat.
9. Crossbow Damage Upgrades
The “Empowered Artificer’s Bolt” upgrade enhances crossbow damage even further, making mages a formidable threat in ranged encounters. Additionally, the “Craftman’s Mark” ability grants bonuses to crossbow damage and critical hit chance.
10. Versatility and Adaptability
The Varric’s Mark build offers unparalleled versatility and adaptability in combat. Mages can switch between ranged combat and spellcasting seamlessly, adjusting their tactics to meet the specific challenges and threats they encounter on the battlefield.
Dragon Age Inquisition: Best Mage Build
In Dragon Age Inquisition, mages are versatile spellcasters who can fill a variety of roles in combat. From nuking enemies with powerful spells to supporting allies with buffs and debuffs, mages are a valuable asset to any party.
The best mage build will vary depending on your playstyle and the specific challenges you face, but there are some general tips that can help you create a powerful and effective mage.
Focus on one or two schools of magic
Mages can learn spells from six different schools of magic: fire, cold, lightning, spirit, necromancy, and rift magic. Trying to spread your points too thin across all six schools will make you less effective in each one. Instead, focus on one or two schools that you want to specialize in.
Choose spells that complement your party
When selecting spells, consider the strengths and weaknesses of your party members. If you have a warrior who is擅长 dealing with melee enemies, you may want to focus on spells that can deal with ranged enemies or support your warrior in some way.
Don’t neglect your defenses
Mages are not naturally tanky, so it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from enemy attacks. This includes wearing sturdy armor, using spells that can protect yourself or your allies, and positioning yourself carefully in combat.
People Also Ask About Dragon Age Inquisition Best Mage Build
What is the best race for a mage?
All races have their own unique bonuses, but some of the best races for mages are elves, humans, and qunari. Elves have a natural bonus to magic damage, while humans can learn the Knight-Enchanter specialization, which is considered to be one of the best specializations for mages.
What are the best specializations for mages?
The best specializations for mages are Knight-Enchanter, Rift Mage, and Necromancer. Knight-Enchanter is a powerful specialization that allows mages to deal massive damage with their spells. Rift Mage is a versatile specialization that gives mages access to a variety of powerful spells, including the ability to close rifts. Necromancer is a more specialized specialization that allows mages to summon and control undead creatures.
What are the best weapons for mages?
Mages can use a variety of weapons, but the best weapons for mages are staves and wands. Staves deal more damage than wands, but wands have a faster attack speed and can be used to cast spells more quickly.
