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Discover everything about Harding Companion in our Dragon Age: The Veilguard guide including her equipment, abilities, best possible build, and much more.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard offers seven different companions who will accompany Rook (protagonist) on a fantasy journey across Thedas. As you will get to choose your starting class from Mage, Rogue, and Warrior, every companion has a pre-defined class and faction that can synergize greatly with your build. In addition to the aid in encounters from the companions, they will influence the story, dialogue, and exploration.
Among the companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Lace Harding, a naturalist and adventurer. Harding is a Rogue with range abilities that allow her to engage with enemies from a distance. Bringing Harding along in your adventure will aid you in combat. Moreover, the overall involvement of Harding in your party will help you progress her, advancing her skill lines and equipment.
In this guide, we will cover companion Harding’s equipment, abilities, build, romance options, and more in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Everything about Harding Companion in Dragon Age The Veilguard
Lace Harding is a dwarven scout with a positive outlook. You might remember her from the previous title, Inquisition and now she is one of the companions in the latest installment. However, unlike other companions who belong to a certain faction, she does not have any associated faction. She is from Ferelden and fiercely protective of her friends and family. Despite having the look of a simple girl, she keeps her bow always ready.
Harding is primarily a Rogue with a specialization in the Veil Ranger. Most of her attacks include the bow that deals a high amount of damage from a distance. In addition to her potential abilities, she also has the healing ability to heal Rook. Moreover, she can also apply buff to allies to deal enhanced damage for a short period. Lastly, according to her description, she also has the ability to cast magic which seems to be unavailable at the start of the game. It would be something related to the actual story that she attains later in the game.
We know that every companion in the Dragon Age: The Veilguard has a unique ability that allows them to manipulate something in the game world. However, Harding’s game-world manipulative ability is unknown at this point.
The Lighthouse and Harding
The Lighthouse is the player hub area where you will get to gather with all of your recruited companions. You can interact and exchange dialogues to grow your relationship with them which can eventually turn into romancing options. The companions play a crucial role in the overall narrative of the game providing you with aid in both enemy encounters and exploration. Every companion is skilled in their pre-defined class and provides you with great assistance with the set of skills during combat.
Order your companions to use either priming or detonating abilities that will help you create unique combos to annihilate the fighting grounds. As you cannot use companions by yourself, synergizing your build with the companions’ abilities will help you outplay the strong enemies. Outside of combat grounds, each companion will often exchange dialogue with you upon progressing your character and provide you with more dialogue options whenever you are dealing with an NPC from a corresponding faction of your companion.
Speaking of companions and their related factions, here are all the companions associated with factions and classes in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
- Taash (Lords of Fortune): Warrior
- Bellara (Veil Jumpers): Mage
- Davrin (Grey Wardens): Warrior
- Emmrich Volkarin (The Mourn Watch): Mage
- Lace Harding (Inquisition): Rogue
- Lucanis Dellamorte (Antivan Crows): Rogue
- Neve Gallus (Shadow Dragons): Mage
Harding Faction
Selecting a Faction for Rook is a mandatory process at the beginning of the game as every faction provides certain traits. In Harding’s case, she does not belong to any faction. However, the only faction that becomes close to her overall specialization is Veil Jumpers. Bellara is from the Veil Jumpers faction and is a Mage. If you select the Veil Jumpers faction, you will get bonus traits providing you with more damage output against Fade-touched. Moreover, it allows you to deal more critical and weak point damage to enemies.
- Close to the Veil: Gain reputation with the Veil Jumpers more quickly.
- Attuned Strikes: Deal increased damage vs. Fade-Touched.
- Keen Eye: Deal slightly increased critical and weak point damage.
So, if you are considering a Melee DPS-focused build for your character, Veil Jumpers will give you a slight edge on dealing more critical and weak point damage to the enemies. It is best for a Melee DPS build with Duelist or Slayer Specializations. Moreover, with Harding on your side, she will be able to provide you with a buff that increases your damage output.
Here is a quick look at the characteristics of Harding in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
- Race: Dwarf
- Gender: Female
- Class: Rogue
- Specialization: Veil Ranger
- Faction: Inquisition
- Romance: Yes
Where to find Harding in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Lace Harding is the first companion in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which players meet during the prologue. During the intro sequence of the game, Harding will accompany you in locating Solas and stopping its ritual.
Harding Equipment
Harding is a Rogue who focuses on doing physical damage and supports her companions with buffs. She uses a Bow as her primary weapon to target enemies from a distance and equips an accessory item in her off-hand. In addition to the weapon and the accessory item, the rest of the equipment slots include an Armor Set, with 1 slot being empty. However, as Harding progresses, you can equip a trinket or another equipment item in the empty slot.
There are only four slots for all companions, which is less than Rook’s nine slots. The equipment slots on the left side for the companions include main weapons, and the slots on the right include armor set pieces and trinkets.
- Equipment Slot 1: Bow
- Equipment Slot 2: Accessory Item
- Equipment Slot 3: Armor Set
- Equipment Slot 4: Empty
While being a Rogue, Harding utilizes the Bow for most of the time to assist her companions from a distance. However, her buffs can be of great aid to deal potential damage to enemies.
Another thing that is worth mentioning is that all companions have their own progression system so as they gain experience and level up, they will gain access to better equipment options, and new skills. Speaking of skills, let’s discuss Harding’s starting abilities.
Harding Abilities
Harding’s set of starting abilities hold skills that allow her to inflict various status effects on enemies, such as Sundered, Stagger, and Detonate the Overwhelmed. In addition to these status effects, the hits with the bow and deal physical damage that can apply a bleeding effect. Here is a list of all Harding’s starting abilities and their effects.
- Seismic Shot: Harding lets loose a powerful bow shot that creates a midair shockwave, concussing enemies caught in the blast. It deals a high amount of Stagger and 505 physical damage. Moreover, the explosion can distract nearby enemies and this ability has a base cooldown of 24 seconds.
- Heavy Draw: Harding draws her bowstring back as far as it can go to unleash a devastating shot that deals 360 physical damage. Moreover, it detonates the Overwhelmed status effect on an enemy. It has a base cooldown of 38 seconds.
- Shred: Harding shreds her opponent’s defenses with a decisive shot dealing 217 physical damage. It deals a high amount of Stagger on hit and applies the Sundered status effect on an enemy. Lastly, this ability has a base cooldown of 36 seconds.
- Adrenaline Rush: Harding gives a rousing shout that grants the Enhanced Damage effect to Rook. It has a base cooldown of 24 seconds.
- Soothing Potion: Harding tosses a restorative tincture to Rook that grants the Rejuvenation effect. It heals Rook instantly for 600 health points and has a base cooldown of 38 seconds.
The overall composition of Harding revolves around dealing damage to enemies from a distance. With her hard-hitting shots and buffs to allies, players can play around her abilities to deal potential damage to enemies. Harding is a great support character and her powers synergize greatly with a Melee DPS build for your character.
Harding Build Guide
From Harding’s equipment and abilities, we know that she is a great support character and healer who can fill up the missing gaps from your Rook’s build. Melee DPS is the preferred build for your Rook with Harding as a companion. Because it will allow you to take advantage of various opportunities that Harding creates with her abilities, moreover, the second companion that we would recommend is Davrin. He is a great Tank character with close and ranged abilities. Also, it completes the overall composition of your party with 1 Melee DPS, 1 Ranged DPS, and 1 Tank.
Creating combos with companions will aid you efficiently in Dragon Age: The Veilguard which relies on prime and detonate attacks. With Harding and Davrin, you can use Davrin’s Heroic Strike (ability) to apply the Overwhelmed effect on an enemy. Then you order Harding to use Heavy Draw to detonate and amplify the effect’s impact.
Moreover, with your Melee DPS build, you can use abilities like Static Strikes to apply the Weakened status effect. Then you can order Davrin to use Death from Above (ability)to detonate the Weakened effect on the enemy. Lastly, in the time of need for healing, you can order Harding to heal your character instantly for 600 Health Points with Soothing Potion ability.
Now, you can alter the builds throughout your adventure, and as Harding progresses, you can freely select advanced skills from her skill lines for better composition.
Harding Companion Quest
In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, every companion has their own unique recruiting quest that players can undertake. And complete them to unlock the corresponding companions. It is the same case with Harding. Harding is one of the earliest companions in the game that players will meet during the prologue. Pursue the intro quest, “The End of the Beginning” to find Solas and stop its ritual to complete the quest. Upon completing The End of The Beginning quest, Harding will unlock as a companion and join you in your adventures. Moreover, you can also find her at The Lighthouse (player hub area) and bring her along to your next adventure by selecting her as your party member.
How to Romance Harding in DA: The Veilguard
Harding is a possible romanceable companion similar to all other companions in the game. Upon recruiting her and bringing her along on your adventure, you will get the opportunity to strengthen your relationship with her. And proceed to romance options by selecting corresponding responses during the dialogue choices. Similar to the Dialogue Choices Wheel in the Inquisition, The Veilguard offers multiple responses to a situation. These allow you to make a decision that aligns or conflicts with a companion.
For you to strengthen your relationship with Harding, you must make choices that align with her values and beliefs. Interact with Harding during the adventures to learn more about her and gain a deeper relationship. Moreover, progressing through the main story and side content around the world of Thedas will heavily impact your relationship with Harding. Unlocking more choices for you to make and possibly romance choices.
Since Harding is a naturalist and adventurer, the relationship with her will be unique and beautiful. A few of the basic steps that can lead to romancing Harding are as follows.
- Make a Choice that Harding Approves: During the quests, select the choice that aligns with Harding’s thoughts. Most of the time it is the “Thumbs Up” choice.
- Always Choose the Heart Choice: Select the “Heart” choice in the dialogue wheel during the conversation with Harding to strengthen the relationship with her.
NOTE: Upon making a choice that aligns with one companion’s thoughts might be disapproved by the other companion.
Upon completing a main story quest, return to the Lighthouse to speak with Harding. It will often start a conversation with her which will lead to a Heart Choice. It is always better to take advantage of this conversation to increase your relationship with her quickly.
Final Thoughts on Lace Harding Companion
Harding seems to be one of the most engaging characters in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. She is a Rogue with knowledge of unexpected magic and her training as a Rogue allows her to use Bow with hard-hitting shots. She has a strong line of starting abilities with various impactful spells that can make your encounters easy. Players should create various synergies with Harding to come up with priming and detonating combos. The best build composition that players can create with Harding is Melee DPS with Davrin as the second companion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Harding in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Q1. How do you unlock Harding Companion in Dragon Age the Veilguard?
Answer: Harding is unlocked by completing her recruiting quest, “The End of the Beginning”. It is a prologue quest of the game that you cannot miss.
Q2. Is Harding a romanceable companion in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
Answer: Yes, Harding is among the seven companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard who all are romanceable companions.
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