We’ll cover all of the details about the lore and abilities of each playable race in Dragon Age: The Veilguard Best Races Ranked.
Character creation in RPGs is something that a lot of players really enjoy, and it’s no different for fans of the Dragon Age franchise. In Dragon Age: The Veilguard you can choose your race, class, and faction, as well as personalize your character’s appearance in a variety of ways. The character creation process is an important one in Dragon Age: The Veilgaurd and the choices you make will set the tone for your entire playthrough. Your choice of which race to play will influence the story, dialogue choices, and how the world at large responds to you. In the following ranked list, we’ll cover the best races in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, their lore and place in Thedas, how they can influence your choice of class, and more!
What are the Races in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
There are four playable races in Dragon Age: The Veilguard: Elf, Qunari, Human, and Dwarf. Each of these races has its own rich history and lore within the world of Thedas.
Humans are numerous but contentious and often look down on the other races. The Qunari are a proud people with a strong stature who live by a strict cultural law. The Elves are a fractured group, descendants of a fallen civilization seeking to recover some of that old glory. Finally, Dwarves are strong but stocky and have a rich tradition as skilled builders and strong warriors.
Best Races in Dragon Age: The Veilguard Ranked
The best race in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is based on lore, history, background, and the potential dialogue choices that you would like to experience while playing as Rook. While previous games in the Dragon Age series have applied unique stat bonuses to each playable race, that does not appear to be part of character creation in Veilguard.
Therefore, the choice of the best race in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is largely subjective. However, the lack of stat bonuses also gives players the freedom to choose a race based on how they would like to roleplay and experience the story and world of the game.
Here is a list of the best races in Dragon Age: The Veilguard Ranked:
- Human
- Qunari
- Elf
- Dwarf
1. Human
In the world of Thedas, the Human race is the most numerous, and generally the most politically powerful as well. However, they are not well united among themselves, and in the long history of their civilization have only ever come together under one banner four times. There are now several major human nations in Thedas, including the Tevinter Imperium, the kingdom of Ferelden, the Orlesian Empire, Rivain, and several others.
Humans in Thedas are the most versatile of all the races and are fittingly suited for any of the three classes you can choose in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. They can become very skilled Warriors or Rogues but are equally suited to studying and wielding magic as a Mage. As a fighter, you will be more easily accepted and understood. However, your experience as a Mage can vary greatly depending on whether you are in the southern kingdoms or the Tevinter Imperium, and whether you are part of a Circle.
Overall, choosing to play as a Human in Dragon Age: The Veilguard would be a good, solid choice for your first playthrough of the game. The Human race may seem like a boring ‘default’, but it is likely the way that the developers expect most players to experience the game for the first time. Moreover, it will also really highlight the changes a different Rook will experience when you choose another race on a second run.
All Human race features and recommendations in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:
- Best Class: Warrior, Rogue, or Mage
- Best Specializations: Champion, Duelist, or Spellblade
- Best Factions: Grey Wardens, Antivan Crows, Shadow Dragons
- Most Challenging Roleplay Combination: Saboteur Rogue with The Mourn Watch faction
2. Qunari
The Qunari are a large humanoid race that are easy to identify by their large builds, metallic grey or brown skin, white hair, and horns. They currently rule the islands of Par Vollen and Seheron to the far north, where jungles and rain forests cover the land in a humid environment. Furthermore, they also have settlements in Rivain and the Anderfels. In recent years they have attempted to attack the Tevinter Imperium, but have been repulsed.
The Qunari live by a code of honor called ‘The Qun’, which strictly defines the role of everyone and everything in their society. Some Qunari rebel against this and leave, becoming ‘Vashoth’. On the other hand, members of other races who come to accept and live by the Qun are called ‘Viddathari’.
Like Humans, creating a character of the Qunari race will leave all three of the available classes open to you. Obviously, given their physique and strength, the Warrior is the strongest class choice. Nor are the skills of the Rogue beneath them, and they can be particularly effective with the Duelist specialization.
However, if you really wanted to go against the grain with your character, then the Mage would be a much more challenging roleplay option. The Qunari word for Mage is ‘Saarebas’, which translates to ‘dangerous thing’. In Qunari society, a mage is always kept under watch by a minder, and they wear chained armor. To reject this fate typically means death. Therefore, playing a free Qunari mage could be a very compelling experience.
All Qunari race features and recommendations in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:
- Best Class: Warrior or Rogue
- Best Specializations: Slayer or Duelist
- Best Factions: Grey Wardens, Antivan Crows, Lords of Fortune
- Most Challenging Roleplay Combination: Evoker Mage with the Antivan Crows faction
3. Elf
The Elves of Thedas are a race that has fallen from great heights of civilization, with little left of their cultural identity but ruins and mystery. Currently, most elves live as part of one of two groups. First are the Dalish, who live as nomads and strive to recover and restore their history and heritage. Second, are the city elves, who submitted to the Chantry’s terms after the destruction of their homeland and came to live alongside humans. However, they are essentially second-class citizens. Treated as servants at best, they face prejudice daily and live in poverty-stricken areas called alienages.
Traditionally, elves have had a strong connection to the Fade, which can make those who study magic potent Mages. Moreover, their lithe builds and natural agility can make them very physically adept at being Rogues. Elven warriors are certainly not unheard of, but their strength is unlikely to ever match that of a Qunari’s.
No matter which class you select, your experience as an Elf in Thedas will be vastly different than that of any other race. Many NPCs you interact with will likely choose to underestimate, or even ignore you. Your journey to gather allies may be more difficult and take more skill and persuasion. The elf race would be a thought-provoking choice if you are interested in playing an underdog who is fighting against all odds.
All Elf race features and recommendations in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:
- Best Class: Mage or Rogue
- Best Specializations: Evoker or Veil Ranger
- Best Factions: Veil Jumpers, Shadow Dragons, Antivan Crows
- Most Challenging Roleplay Combination: Slayer Warrior with the Lords of Fortune faction
4. Dwarf
The Dwarves of Thedas are similar to those of the typical fantasy trope. Powerfully built, but short, they are excellent craftsmen and strong fighters. They normally live underground, and at one time boasted an empire of twelve great thaigs that stretched underneath the length of the continent. However, nearly all of this was brought to ruin during the first Blight by darkspawn who swarmed into the Deep Roads.
Dwarves have exceptional martial skills, and consequently can become both strong Warriors or Rogues. If you want to lean into the idea of your dwarf being mechanically skilled, then the class and specialization of a Rogue Saboteur might be an interesting combat style to pursue.
Furthermore, dwarves have no connection to the Fade or magic, and consequently, you cannot choose the Mage class for them at all. It is the one lore-based limitation placed on any of the races/classes in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
All Dwarf race features and recommendations in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:
- Best Class: Warrior or Rogue
- Best Specializations: Champion or Saboteur
- Best Factions: Grey Wardens, Shadow Dragons, Lords of Fortune
- Most Challenging Roleplay Combination: Reaper Warrior with the Veil Jumpers
FAQs About Races in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Q1: Can any race play as any class in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
Answer: With one exception, yes, any race can play as any class in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The exception is that Dwarves cannot be Mages. Within the lore of Thedas, dwarves have never had magical ability. The story of Veilguard hints at the possibility of change, but we don’t yet know where that story thread might lead.
Q2: Who do you play as in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
Answer: You will take on the character of Rook in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Furthermore, you will be able to use the character creator to select the gender, race, class, and faction, and to modify the appearance of the Rook you wish to create.
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