Influence & Power Gains

Mastering the acquisition of Influence and Power is paramount to your success as the Inquisitor. These two interconnected resources fuel the growth of your organization, unlock crucial War Table operations, and ultimately determine your progress through the main story and side quests. This detailed guide will illuminate every avenue for maximizing your gains, ensuring your Inquisition is always ready for the challenges ahead.

Understanding Influence and Power

Influence: This resource represents the Inquisition's growing reputation and sway across Thedas. Accumulating Influence allows you to unlock valuable Inquisition Perks at the War Table, providing passive bonuses such as increased experience gain, crafting recipes, or additional dialogue options. Influence is gained by completing quests, closing Rifts, and interacting with the world.
Power: Power is the currency used to initiate War Table operations. These operations are essential for advancing the main story, unlocking new regions, and completing companion quests. Each operation has a specific Power cost, and you'll often need to accumulate a significant amount to progress. Power is primarily gained through completing quests and closing Rifts.

Primary Sources of Influence & Power

1. Completing Quests and Side Quests

The most consistent and reliable method for gaining both Influence and Power is through quest completion. Virtually every quest in the game, from major story arcs to minor fetch quests, will reward you with a quantity of both resources.

Main Story Quests: These offer the largest chunks of Power, often ranging from 4-8 Power per completion, alongside substantial Influence. Prioritize these when you need to unlock the next major War Table operation.
Side Quests: While individual side quests offer smaller amounts (typically 1-2 Power and varying Influence), their sheer volume makes them a vital source. Explore every region thoroughly to uncover all available quests. Pay particular attention to quests that involve resolving local conflicts or aiding communities, as these often yield higher Influence.
Companion Quests: Progressing your companions' personal stories often rewards both Influence and Power, in addition to strengthening your bond with them. Don't neglect these, as they're rich in lore and resources.

2. Closing Fade Rifts

Fade Rifts are tears in the Veil that spew demons into Thedas. Closing these Rifts is not only a core duty of the Inquisition but also a fantastic source of Power and Influence.

Regular Rifts: Each standard Fade Rift you close typically grants 1 Power and a moderate amount of Influence. These are scattered generously throughout every open-world region.
"Greater" Rifts: Some regions feature larger, more challenging Rifts that require multiple waves of demons to defeat. These often reward 2 Power and a higher amount of Influence. Keep an eye out for these, as they offer a better return on your effort.
Strategy: When exploring a new area, make closing all visible Rifts a priority. They are often marked clearly on your map and provide a quick boost to your resources. Consider bringing a party with strong crowd control and single-target damage for efficient Rift closure.

3. Claiming Camps and Landmarks

Establishing the Inquisition's presence in new territories is crucial for logistical support and resource generation.

Claiming Camps: In each major region (e.g., The Hinterlands, Storm Coast, Crestwood), you can establish several Inquisition camps. Each camp claimed grants 1 Power and a small amount of Influence. These also serve as fast travel points and supply caches, making exploration easier.
Claiming Landmarks: Certain significant points of interest, such as ancient ruins or strategic overlooks, can be "claimed" by planting an Inquisition flag. These typically reward a small amount of Influence. While they don't grant Power directly, they contribute to your overall Influence pool, which in turn unlocks Perks that can indirectly boost your Power-gathering efficiency.

4. War Table Operations

While War Table operations consume Power, some specific operations can also generate Influence or even Power as a reward upon completion.

Resource-Generating Operations: Keep an eye out for operations that explicitly state "Gain Influence" or "Gain Power" as a reward. These are often repeatable or appear periodically. For example, operations like "Secure Resources in the Hinterlands" or "Investigate Val Royeaux Rumors" might offer Influence.
Agent Recruitment: Recruiting agents for the Inquisition through War Table operations (or directly in the world) often provides a significant boost to Influence. Agents also reduce the time it takes for certain War Table operations to complete, indirectly making your Power generation more efficient.

5. Inquisition Perks

Unlocking the right Inquisition Perks can significantly enhance your Influence and Power gains. These are purchased at the War Table using Influence.

"Forward Scout" (Connections Tree): This perk increases the Influence gained from discovering new areas and claiming landmarks. An excellent early-game choice.
"The Short List" (Connections Tree): Reduces the cost of War Table operations by 5%. While not directly increasing gains, it makes your existing Power go further.
"Master Builder" (Forces Tree): Increases the Influence gained from completing construction projects (e.g., building bridges or repairing structures in certain regions).
"Enhanced Studies" (Secrets Tree): Increases experience gained from codex entries and research, indirectly leading to faster leveling and quest completion, which in turn generates more Influence and Power.
Strategy: Prioritize Perks that directly or indirectly boost your resource generation early on. The "Connections" tree is particularly strong for early Influence gains.

Advanced Tips for Efficient Gains

Explore Thoroughly: Don't rush through regions. Every nook and cranny can hide a side quest, a landmark, or a Fade Rift. A comprehensive sweep of each area will yield maximum Influence and Power.
Prioritize War Table Operations: Always have agents working on operations. Even if you don't need Power immediately, accumulating it ensures you're ready for the next main quest.
Talk to Everyone: Many side quests are initiated by speaking with NPCs in towns, camps, and even random encounters. Exhaust all dialogue options.
Use the War Table Map: The War Table map clearly shows available operations and their Power costs. Plan your questing around what you need to unlock next.
Don't Overlook Minor Quests: While a single "find X items" quest might only give 1 Power, completing several of them quickly adds up. These are often quick and easy to complete.

By diligently following these strategies, your Inquisition will never be short on the resources needed to face the threats of Thedas and solidify your position as its savior.