Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition

Crafting & Upgrading — Dragon Age: Inquisition Guide

Master crafting and upgrading in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Create and modify weapons and armor to tailor your gear and overcome Thedas's toughest challenges.

Crafting & Upgrading

Crafting and upgrading in Dragon Age: Inquisition is a powerful system that allows you to tailor your gear to your specific playstyle and overcome even the toughest challenges Thedas has to offer. Unlike previous Dragon Age titles, you won't be crafting potions or runes here; instead, you'll focus on creating weapons, armor, and modifying existing equipment. Mastering this system is crucial for optimizing your party's effectiveness.

Crafting New Gear

To craft new weapons and armor, you'll need two primary components: schematics and raw materials. Schematics dictate the type of item you can create, while materials determine its stats and appearance.

1. Acquiring Schematics

Schematics are blueprints for crafting. They come in various tiers, with higher tiers offering better base stats and more utility slots. Here's how to find them:

  • Merchants: Many merchants across Thedas sell schematics. Key vendors include the blacksmith in Haven (early game) and the various merchants in Skyhold's Undercroft. Look for specialized merchants in major cities like Val Royeaux and Redcliffe Village as well.
  • Exploration: Schematics are often found in chests, hidden areas, or as quest rewards throughout the game's many zones. Don't be afraid to explore every nook and cranny!
  • War Table Operations: Certain War Table operations, particularly those involving scouting or requisitioning, can reward you with valuable schematics. Keep an eye on the rewards listed before committing your advisors.
  • Dungeon Drops: Defeating powerful enemies or clearing specific dungeons can sometimes yield rare schematics.

Pro-Tip: Prioritize acquiring Tier 2 and Tier 3 schematics as soon as possible. These will provide a significant boost to your party's power. For example, the Masterwork Battleaxe Schematic (Tier 3) can be found in a chest in the Western Approach, specifically in the Coracavus area, after completing the "Sharper Edges" quest. Similarly, the Superior Battlemage Armor Schematic (Tier 3) is a rare drop from high-level demons in the Hissing Wastes.

2. Gathering Materials

Materials are categorized into metals, leathers, and cloths, each with different properties that affect the crafted item's stats. They also come in tiers, with higher-tier materials providing better bonuses.

  • Metals: Primarily used for weapon blades, armor plates, and shield bases.
    • Early Game: Iron (Hinterlands), Silverite (Storm Coast).
    • Mid Game: Veridium (Emerald Graves), Dawnstone (Western Approach).
    • Late Game: Dragon Bone (various Dragon lairs), Obsidian (Emprise du Lion).
  • Leathers: Used for weapon grips, armor padding, and shield straps.
    • Early Game: Ram Leather (Hinterlands), Bear Hide (Crestwood).
    • Mid Game: Great Bear Hide (Exalted Plains), Snoufleur Skin (Emerald Graves).
    • Late Game: Dragon Hide (various Dragon lairs), Lurker Scale (Still Ruins).
  • Cloths: Used for weapon hilts, armor underlays, and shield coverings.
    • Early Game: Cotton (Hinterlands), Fustian (Storm Coast).
    • Mid Game: Silk (Emerald Graves), Velveteen (Western Approach).
    • Late Game: Dragon Webbing (various Dragon lairs), Infused Vyrantium Samite (Emprise du Lion).

Farming Strategy: To efficiently gather materials, focus on zones appropriate for your current level. Repeatedly clearing areas with high concentrations of specific resource nodes or creature types is a common strategy. For example, the area around the Crossroads in the Hinterlands is excellent for early-game Iron and Ram Leather. Later, the Emprise du Lion offers rich veins of Obsidian and Infused Vyrantium Samite, while Dragon hunts are your best source for Dragon Bone, Hide, and Webbing.

3. The Crafting Process

Once you have a schematic and the necessary materials, head to a crafting station. The primary crafting station is located in the Undercroft at Skyhold. Interact with the weapon or armor crafting table.

  1. Select Schematic: Choose the desired schematic from your inventory.
  2. Assign Materials: Each schematic has slots for different material types (e.g., main material, utility, defense).
    • Main Material: This slot dictates the primary stats of the item (e.g., damage for weapons, armor rating for armor). Use your highest-tier materials here for maximum effect.
    • Utility/Defense Slots: These slots add secondary bonuses like Cunning, Strength, Constitution, critical chance, or elemental resistances. Carefully choose materials that complement your character's build. For example, using materials with +Cunning for a rogue's dagger or +Constitution for a tank's armor.
  3. Craft: Confirm your selections to create the item.

Upgrading & Modifying Existing Gear

Beyond crafting new items, you can significantly enhance your existing weapons and armor through modifications. This allows for fine-tuning and adapting your gear to new challenges without needing to craft an entirely new piece.

1. Weapon Modifications

Weapons can be upgraded with grips, hilts, and blades (for some weapon types). These modifications require specific schematics and materials.

  • Grips: Often provide bonuses to stats like Cunning or Dexterity, or improve critical chance.
  • Hilts: Can add elemental damage, armor penetration, or improve attack speed.
  • Blades: For certain weapons like daggers or swords, you can swap out the blade for one with different damage types or higher base damage.

Example: If you have a powerful unique sword like the Axe of the Dragon Hunter, you can find a Superior Grip Schematic (e.g., from the merchant in the Hissing Wastes) and craft a grip using Dragon Bone to significantly boost its damage or critical chance.

2. Armor Modifications

Armor can be modified with arms, legs, and utility slots, depending on the armor type.

  • Arms: Can provide bonuses to Strength, Willpower, or Guard generation.
  • Legs: Often increase Constitution, Dexterity, or provide movement speed bonuses.
  • Utility Slots: Can add elemental resistances, critical damage bonuses, or improve barrier duration.

Example: For your tank, equipping the Templar Armor, you could craft Superior Arms using Obsidian for increased Guard generation and Superior Legs with Dragon Hide for a boost to Constitution and overall survivability.

3. Masterwork Crafting

Once you've completed the "Master of War" War Table operation (available after reaching Skyhold), you unlock Masterwork crafting. This allows you to add a powerful, unique bonus to a crafted item using rare "Masterwork" materials.

  • Masterwork Materials: These are extremely rare drops from high-level enemies, particularly Dragons and unique demons. Examples include Dragon's Breath, Fade-Touched Obsidian, Everite, and Snoufleur Skin.
  • Masterwork Bonuses: Each Masterwork material offers a distinct bonus, such as a chance to cast a spell on hit (e.g., Fade-Touched Obsidian for a chance to cast Walking Bomb), increased Guard on hit, or a flat stat increase.

Strategy: Save your Masterwork materials for your best schematics and for items you intend to use for a long time. Consider what bonus best complements your character's role. A tank might benefit from Fade-Touched Everite for Guard on hit, while a damage dealer might prefer Fade-Touched Snoufleur Skin for a chance to apply a damage-over-time effect.

By diligently collecting schematics, farming materials, and strategically applying modifications, you'll transform your Inquisition into an unstoppable force ready to face any threat in Thedas!