Character Builds

Character Builds

Welcome, Inquisitor, to the definitive guide for optimizing your party members and your own Inquisitor for maximum impact across Thedas. This section delves into specific, powerful character builds, offering step-by-step instructions for skill point allocation, essential gear, and strategic combat approaches. Whether you seek to dominate the battlefield with raw damage, control the flow of combat, or provide unyielding support, these builds will equip you for success against any foe, from lowly Red Templars to formidable High Dragons.

The Reaver: Unstoppable Berserker (Warrior - Two-Handed)

The Reaver specializes in sustained, high-damage output, thriving on the brink of death. This build focuses on maximizing critical hits and leveraging the Reaver's unique abilities to regenerate health while dealing devastating blows.

Skill Point Allocation (Prioritized)

• Two-Handed Weapon Tree:
  • Mighty Blow: Your primary damage ability.
  • Pommel Strike: Excellent for stunning and interrupting.
  • Block and Slash: Defensive utility, especially useful when surrounded.
  • Clear a Path: Essential for mobility and dealing with groups.
  • Flow of Battle: Reduces cooldowns on critical hits, crucial for Reavers.
  • Earthshaking Strike: Area-of-effect damage and knockdown.
• Vanguard Tree (Early Game):
  • Challenge: Taunt for drawing aggro.
  • War Cry: Generates Guard, vital for survivability.
  • Untouchable Defense: Increases Guard generation.
• Reaver Specialization Tree:
  • Dragon-Rage: Your core damage ability, scales with missing health.
  • Devour: Health regeneration, key to Reaver sustainability.
  • Fervor: Increases attack speed.
  • Rampage: Boosts damage and attack speed significantly.
  • Ring of Pain: Area-of-effect damage that also damages the Reaver, synergizes with Dragon-Rage.
  • Blood Frenzy: Passive damage increase based on missing health.

Essential Gear & Crafting

• Weapon: Prioritize two-handed greatswords with high base damage and critical chance/damage bonuses. Look for schematics like the Axe of the Dragon Hunter (found in the Western Approach, after completing the "Sharper Edges" quest) or the Revered Defender Axe (crafted from materials found in Emprise du Lion). Craft with offensive masterwork materials like Fade-Touched Obsidian (10% chance to cast Walking Bomb on hit) or Fade-Touched Silverite (5 Guard on hit).
• Armor: Heavy armor with Constitution and Critical Chance bonuses. The Superior Battlemaster Mail schematic (found in the Hissing Wastes) is excellent. Craft with defensive masterwork materials such as Fade-Touched Silverite (10% chance to gain 5 seconds of Guard on hit) or Fade-Touched Obsidian (10% chance to apply a damage bonus for 5 seconds).
• Accessories:
  • Amulet of Cunning: Increases Cunning, boosting critical chance. Can be found in various locations or crafted.
  • Superb Ring of Critical Chance: Directly boosts critical chance. Looted from high-level enemies or found in chests.
  • Belt of the Stormcaller: Increases electrical damage, useful if you have electrical weapon enchantments. Found in the Emerald Graves.

Combat Strategy

Initiate combat with War Cry to generate Guard. Position yourself amidst enemies and activate Ring of Pain. Spam Dragon-Rage, using Devour to recover health when low. Utilize Mighty Blow and Earthshaking Strike for burst damage and crowd control. Keep an eye on your health; the lower it is, the more damage you deal, but don't overextend. Your goal is to constantly deal damage, triggering Flow of Battle to reset your cooldowns, and using Devour to sustain yourself through the onslaught.

The Artificer: Trap Master & Critical Striker (Rogue - Archer)

The Artificer excels at setting up devastating traps and delivering precise, high-critical damage from a distance. This build focuses on maximizing critical chance and damage, while leveraging the Artificer's unique abilities to reset cooldowns and provide powerful utility.

Skill Point Allocation (Prioritized)

• Archery Tree:
  • Full Draw: High single-target damage, especially against Guard/Barrier.
  • Explosive Shot: Excellent for clearing groups.
  • Long Shot: Increased damage at range.
  • Pincushion: Passive damage increase for sustained attacks.
  • Death from Above: Bonus damage from elevated positions.
  • Leaping Shot: Mobility and damage.
• Sabotage Tree (Early Game):
  • Caltrops: Area-of-effect slow and damage.
  • Poisoned Weapons: Adds damage over time.
  • Looked Like It Hurt: Generates stamina on critical hits.
• Artificer Specialization Tree:
  • Spike Trap: Your primary trap, deals massive damage.
  • Elemental Mines: Versatile traps for different elemental weaknesses.
  • Opportunity Knocks: Reduces cooldowns for the entire party on critical hits, incredibly powerful.
  • Hail of Arrows: Unleashes a barrage of critical arrows.
  • Fallback Plan: Teleports you back to a previous location, useful for escaping danger or repositioning.
  • And Take a Bow: Increases critical chance and damage for a short duration.

Essential Gear & Crafting

• Weapon: Prioritize bows with high critical chance and critical damage bonuses. The Grunsmann's Bow schematic (found in the Hissing Wastes) is a top-tier choice. Craft with offensive masterwork materials like Fade-Touched Plush Fustian Velvet (10% chance to cast Chain Lightning on hit) or Fade-Touched Dawnstone (10% chance to apply a damage bonus for 5 seconds).
• Armor: Light armor with Dexterity and Critical Chance bonuses. The Superior Prowler Armor schematic (found in the Hissing Wastes) is ideal. Craft with defensive masterwork materials such as Fade-Touched Obsidian (10% chance to gain 5 seconds of Guard on hit) or Fade-Touched Silverite (10% chance to gain 5 Guard on hit).
• Accessories:
  • Amulet of Dexterity: Increases Dexterity, boosting critical chance and attack.
  • Superb Ring of Critical Damage: Directly boosts critical damage.
  • The Ring of Doubt: Grants invisibility after a kill, excellent for repositioning or escaping. Found in the "What Pride Had Wrought" quest.

Combat Strategy

Before engaging, place Spike Traps and Elemental Mines in enemy patrol paths or choke points. Initiate combat with Full Draw on high-priority targets. Continuously use your basic attacks and abilities like Explosive Shot and Leaping Shot to trigger Opportunity Knocks, reducing your party's cooldowns. When facing a tough enemy or boss, activate Hail of Arrows and And Take a Bow for a burst of critical damage. Use Fallback Plan to maintain optimal range or escape dangerous situations. Remember to keep your traps active and strategically placed to control the battlefield.

The Knight-Enchanter: Magical Blade & Unyielding Barrier (Mage - Spirit)

The Knight-Enchanter is a formidable close-range mage, weaving together powerful spells with melee attacks from their Spirit Blade. This build focuses on survivability through Barrier generation and sustained magical damage, making them incredibly resilient and versatile.

Skill Point Allocation (Prioritized)

• Spirit Tree:
  • Barrier: Your primary defensive ability, essential for survival.
  • Dispel: Removes enemy buffs and dispels magical effects.
  • Rejuvenating Barrier: Heals allies under Barrier.
  • Guardian Spirit: Passive Barrier generation.
• Storm Tree (Early Game):
  • Chain Lightning: Excellent for clearing groups.
  • Energy Barrage: Rapid-fire elemental damage.
  • Static Charge: Passive damage increase.
• Knight-Enchanter Specialization Tree:
  • Spirit Blade: Your signature melee weapon, deals spirit damage and generates Barrier.
  • Fade Cloak: Makes you invulnerable and allows you to pass through enemies.
  • Resurgence: Heals and generates Barrier for the party.
  • Combat Clarity: Increases damage while Barrier is active.
  • Veiled Riposte: Deals damage when Barrier is hit.
  • Defending Blade: Increases Spirit Blade damage and Barrier generation.

Essential Gear & Crafting

• Weapon: Staves with high Willpower and Magic bonuses. The Blade of Tidarion schematic (found in the Hissing Wastes) is excellent due to its unique ability to deal melee damage. Craft with offensive masterwork materials like Fade-Touched Obsidian (10% chance to cast Walking Bomb on hit) or Fade-Touched Dawnstone (10% chance to apply a damage bonus for 5 seconds).
• Armor: Medium armor with Magic and Willpower bonuses. The Superior Battlemage Armor schematic (found in the Hissing Wastes) is a strong choice. Craft with defensive masterwork materials such as Fade-Touched Silverite (10% chance to gain 5 seconds of Guard on hit) or Fade-Touched Obsidian (10% chance to gain 5 Guard on hit).
• Accessories:
  • Amulet of Power: Grants an extra ability point. Found in various locations.
  • Superb Ring of Barrier Generation: Increases Barrier generation.
  • Belt of the Archon: Increases spirit damage, synergizing with Spirit Blade. Found in the Hissing Wastes.

Combat Strategy

Always maintain Barrier on yourself and your allies. Engage enemies in melee range using Spirit Blade, which generates Barrier with every hit. Use Fade Cloak to become invulnerable, reposition, or pass through enemies to reach vulnerable targets. When surrounded, use Chain Lightning and Energy Barrage for area damage. Activate Resurgence when your party needs a significant health and Barrier boost. The Knight-Enchanter's strength lies in their ability to sustain themselves in close combat while dealing consistent magical damage, making them a frontline mage unlike any other.