Best Dragon Age: The Veilguard Reaper Build

Discover how to create the best Reaper build for Dragon Age the Veilguard, including faction, skills, companions, level progression, and more!

BioWare’s fourth installment of their hit series, Dragon Age the Veilguard, features deep character customization and build options. Players can earn skill points from level 1 to 50, selecting active, passive, traits, and ultimate abilities. Each protagonist, “Rook,” can bring two party members (companions) in exploration and combat, each with their own skills and equipment.

This guide will walk you through the best Reaper builds in Dragon Age: The Veilguard and explain critical choices: factions, specialization, companies, skills, and more.

Update: we’ve added 1-50 skill progression and will continue to update best in slot gear.

Everything About Reaper Build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

What makes the Reaper Specialization and build unique is that it can siphon off heal from enemies while doing damage. Both Bloody Advance and Spirit Storm provide the siphoning effect, giving the Warrior amazing survivability. This build aims to create too much rage and deal massive damage by spamming the abilities. Reaper Warrior has the best survivability in the game and should be used for players on the highest difficulty.

The Reaper build also uses a ranged shield throw as a primary damage attack. Therefore, you gain more range than your standard Warrior build. The downside that Darkspawn and other enemies consistently resist necrotic damage. However, one of your companions, Emmrich, can debuff enemies and make them vulnerable to necrotic damage, though it requires a weapon.

Play the Reaper if you want the highest survivability Warrior build with incredible survivability.

Reaper Build Pros	Reaper Build Cons
Best Survivability	Slowest Pace
Solo Build	Shield Spam
Life Siphon	Not Full Range

Reaper Build Features and Mechanics in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

The following list presents all the essential Wand Build Features and Mechanics in Dragon Age The Veilguard:

• Blocking: timing the yellow halo can reward players with a perfect defensive.
• Rage: a resource for Warrior gained by doing damage, lost when taking damage.
• Shield Throw: Range throw on a short cooldown.
• Faction: Grey Wardens
• Race: Humans
• Active Skills
  • Ability 1: Spectrual Bulwark
  • Ability 2: Bloody Advance
  • Ability 3: Reaper
• Ultimate: Spirit Storm
• Specialization: Reaper
• Best Companions: Emmrich and Neve
• Runes
  • Regroup
  • Crystallized
  • Overflow

Blocking and Dodging

The Warrior class excels at blocking incoming attacks, rewarding you with a “perfect block.”  Players will see a yellow halo above your character, press the block button the moment the yellow becomes brightest.  This will knock back the enemy and give you passive bonuses.  One skill gives flaming weapons after a perfect defense, thus making timing critical.   Moreover, the timing mechanic is dependent on your selected difficulty.

Dodging is another way to create space and avoid incoming damage.  Unlike other RPGs and action games, Dragon Age the Veilguard doesn’t have a stamina meter.  Thus, you can infinitely spam dodge. However, there is a slight delay in dodging where you are vulnerable.  

Overall, if your timing is good, perfect blocking should be your primary defensive mechanism as a Warrior due to the passive bonuses with the perfect defense.

Rage Resource Explained

The resource used to cast abilities and skills for the Warrior is Rage, which is gained when doing or taking damage.  Rage decreases after a few seconds of not doing or taking damage, so stay aggressive. Moreover, you can increase Rage with companion skills and passives throughout various trees. 

The best way to build Rage quickly with the Warrior is to have a companion like Neve with the “Time Stop” skill.  There’s a passive that gives 50 Rage after usage, giving you an opening combo with at least 50 for one skill.

Additionally, in later levels look to increase your maximum Rage so you can use higher Rage cost skills more frequently. 

Shield Throw

The range attack option for the Warrior is Shield Throw, which is activated by pressing the Q button on the PC.  The Shield Toss can be aimed and charged depending on your specialization and skill, and even hit weak points. 

Your User Interface in the bottom middle shows a Shield Icon, which represents the ability’s cooldown.  After using Shield Throw, you won’t be able to reactivate it immediately.  However, it’s a good filler attack at range to keep Rage from diminishing and doing some damage, especially if you can aim for weak points like the head.

Stagger and Takedown

The Stagger mechanic rewards players for filling up the purple bar under enemies’ health by attacking them with light and heavy attacks. Once filled, players can execute a “take down” which is a small cut scene where you do a “kill shot” or increased damage.  Most weak enemies this will immediately destroy, and do significant damage on boss enemies.

Throughout the game, you can take skills, companion abilities, gear, and runes to increase Stagger.  This is helpful if you intend to exploit stagger and takedowns for your build.

Best Faction

The best faction for a Reaper build is the Grey Wardens because of the Vigilant Training passive, increasing base defense and health. Additionally, the Grey Wardens gain increased damage vs. darkspawn and fit the narrative of a heroic warrior battling monsters. The Lords of Fortune is a secondary choice because their Relentless bonus increases takedowns (stuns). The Lords of Fortune factions are adventurous treasure hunters and fit a character’s background who loves exploration and loot.

Below are all the bonuses for the Grey Wardens and Lords of Fortune factions in Dragon Age the Veilguard:

Grey Wardens Bonuses	Lords of Fortune Bonuses
Bonded in Blood: Gain reputation with the Grey Wardens more quickly	Together in Glory: Gain reputation with the Lords of Fortune more quickly
Blight Killer: Deal increased damage vs. darkspawn	Healthy Competition: Deal increased damage vs. mercenaries
Vigilant Training: Base defense and health are slightly increased	Relentless: Perform takedowns on enemies with slightly less effort

Shadow Dragons Faction Store

In Dragon Age: The Veilgaurd, factions are organizations that give you three bonuses in character creation and reputation when you ally with them as part of the larger conflict. There are six factions to choose from, and this choice cannot be changed once made. Faction reputation is used in the faction-specific stores to buy weapons and armor. Ultimately, players should select the faction of their choice based on story narrative vs. a small bonus in combat.

Best Race

The best race for the Reaper build is humans because of their widespread population, political dominance, and history in Thedas. Humans are traditionally Warriors and Mages in the series and fit nicely with the Grey Warden’s faction choice, providing a solid RPG character foundation. The second choice would be the Qunari, who look physically daunting and are skilled in martial arts. Qunari are a race governed by the Qun code, dedicating their lives to discipline.

Your race choice largely influences the story, dialogue choices, and how the world responds to you. There are four playable races in Dragon Age: The Veilguard: Elf, Qunari, Human, and Dwarf. Each of these races has a rich history and lore within Thedas. Your race choice largely influences the story, dialogue choices, and how the world responds to you. Furthermore, you will not receive a combat bonus or passive for a given race. Your race selection is purely cosmetic and narrative, so feel free to deviate from our recommendation.

Best Skills and Abilities

The best skills for a Reaper are Spectral Bulwark, Bloody Advance, and Reaper.

Reaper is a skill that can detonate weakened people, but it also debuffs the enemy with siphon. This heals while doing damage, giving you incredible survivability. However, the skill requires two Rage and is difficult to aim and sometimes miss. The best combo with Reaper is to use Time Stop with the passive from your companions that gives you 50 Rage immediately. Then, you can debuff with another companion to trigger a detonation immediately in combat.

The Bloody Advance skills your ranged one Rage cost that applies Sundered. This skill doesn’t do much damage up front, but with passives can trigger necrosis and bleeding. Therefore, you will see enemies’ health melt and also trigger explosions with your companions.

The last skill of your “flex” is called Spectral Bulwark. This doesn’t require any Rage, increases your defense by 50%, and does necrotic damage back at attackers. You can gain increased survivability and obtain this skill early in the game.

However, you will want to flex in skills based on the situation. Driving Kick is useful when you need crowd control. Titan Stomp is great with specific companions that can trigger explosions. Also, Dealdy Groupd is another AOE skill that is also helpful here if you can build rage.

Below are the recommended skills, abilities, ultimate, and traits for Warrior build in Dragon Age the Veilguard:

• Abilities
  • Skill 1: Spectral Bulwark
  • Skill 2: Bloody Advance
  • Skill 3: Reaper
    • Flex: Driving Kick
• Ultimate: Spirit Storm
  • Flex: Flashing Fist

Best Specialization

The Reaper specialization is the best for survivability especially if you want additional range options with the Shield Throw. You can unlock this spec at level 20. Ideally, you want two extra skill points at level 20 so you can take the ultimate and skill immediately. You will reach barriers for skills at levels 30 and 40. Also, avoid Reckless Shot upgrade as it will ruin your survivability.

The Reaper’s unique ability and ultimate:

• Spirit Storm (Ultimate)- Creates a whirlwind of Necrotic energy in front of you. It deals Necrotic damage and applies the siphon effect which is a damage over time that restores your health.
• Reaper (Ability)- It calls forth a scythe that slashes in front of you dealing Necrotic damage, detonating the weakened effect, and siphoned effect as well.

Starting at level 20, players can select one of three specializations from their class honeycomb skill tree. Specializations are similar to “subclasses,” adding one ability, one ultimate, and a variety of other passives to your build and character. Your specialization choice will be vital because it determines your character’s overall gameplay in combat. However, you can participate in the character screen anytime to redo your skills and specializations.

Level Progression

The premise of our leveling progression section for the Reaper build is to give you a step-by-step leveling guide on which skills to take and why. However, this section is complex and requires many hours of gameplay. Therefore, this section will be a work in progress and will be updated and advance more in the game.

In Dragon Age, the Veilguard, level progressions are gained through experience points (EXP) through different activities such as completing quests and defeating enemies. You reach a higher level at certain levels of EXP, rewarding you with a skill point. The max level is 50, with 50 skill points to spend. The skill tree (honeycomb) comes in two main sections: Core class tree and specialization.

Complete a basic puzzle or interact with the altars to gain one skill point as a reward. You will gain 15 skill points by tracking down all 15 altars in the game. Unselect the purchased skills to refund individual skill points, which will not cost you anything. Once you reach a max level and get all the Fen’Harel altars, you will get a total of 67 skill points that will help you unlock 40-45% of the skill tree.

Levels 1 – 10

The most important thing to do between levels 1-10 in Dragon Age is get an additional skill immediately. Therefore, spec into Spectral Bulwark so you have a non-rage-specific skill that can be used. Rage skills will be hard to maintain at this level until you advance. Getting Masochism at level 10 is a huge boost to resource sustain and highly recommended.

Moreover, you main gain additional skill points depending on your exploration. However, we will assume you won’t max out 67 skill points. Therefore, take extra points if you have them.

Here’s a list of skills to select from levels 1 to 10 with the Best Reaper Build in Dragon Age The Veilguard:

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
1	Shield Volley	Center	Trait
2	Rancor	Center	Greater Passive
3	Spectral Bulwark	Abilities	Ability
4	Enraged	Abilities	Passive
5	Focused Retaliation	Center	Greater Passive
6	Titan Skill	Survival	Ability
7	Improved Throw	Survival	Passive
8	Return to Sender	Survival	Trait
9	Necessary Steps	Survival	Passive
10	Masochism	Survival	Greater Passive

Skills: Spectral Bulwark, Driving Kick, Titan Stomp, and ultimate Flashing Fist

Levels 11 – 20

From levels 11 to 20, move toward the Reaper Specialization tree and save at least two skill points when you’re level 20. Then, immediately spec into Reaper, take the skill and ultimate, which will dramatically increase your survivability.

Here’s a list of skills to select from levels 11 to 20 with the Best Reaper Build in Dragon Age The Veilguard:

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
11	Explosive Toss	Abilities	Trait
12	Providence	Abilities	Passive
13	Enduring Rage	Abilities	Greater Passive
14	Insidious Rot	Abilities	Passive
15	Deadly Ground	Abilities	Ability
16	Death’s Blessing	Abilities	Passive
17	Seething Pitch	Mourn Watch	Greater Passive
18	Mortal Wounds	Mourn Watch	Passive
19	Bloody Advance	Mourn Watch	Ability
20	Master Throw Reaper Spec Spirit Storm Reaper	Mourn Watch Reaper	Multiple

Skills Spectral Bulwark, Reaper, Bloody Advance, and ultimate Spirit Storm.

Levels 21 – 30

At this stage, you’re focused on boosting your status effect stacks, shield throw, and detonation damage.

Here’s a list of skills to select from levels 21 to 30 with the Best Reaper Build in Dragon Age The Veilguard:

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
21	Critical Power	Abilities	Greater Passive
22	Salt in the Wound	Abilities	Ability Upgrade
23	Time Management	Abilities	Ability Upgrade
24	Ricochet Shot	Mourn Watch	Passive
25	Lingering Decay	Mourn Watch	Ability Upgrade
26	Death’s Blessing	Reaper	Passive
27	Devastation	Reaper	Passive
28	Save
29	Save
30	Death’s Throw Invigorates Living Decay	Reaper	Trait Passive Greater Passive

Skills Flex skill (Spectral, Titan Stomp, Deadly Ground), Reaper, Bloody Advance, and ultimate Spirit Storm.

Levels 31 – 40

Once you reach 30, you can advance further into the Reaper specialization and grab Perfect Throw. Living decay is another important passive activity to take, giving you more survivability.

Here’s a list of skills to select from levels 31 to 40 with the Best Reaper Build in Dragon Age The Veilguard:

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
31	Desperation	Reaper	Greater Passive
32	Improved Health	Survival	Passive
33	Depth of Fury	Survival	Passive
34	Groundbreaker	Survival	Ability
35	Third Degree	Survival	Passive
36	Pump the Primer	Survival	Greater Passive
37	Enervation	Abilities	Passive
38	Unyielding Focus	Abilities	Ability Upgrade
39	Death’s Touch	Reaper	Ability Upgrade
40	Perfect Throw	Reaper	Trait

Skills Flex skill (Spectral, Titan Stomp, Deadly Ground), Reaper, Bloody Advance, and ultimate Spirit Storm.

Levels 41 – 50

Here’s a list of skills to select from levels 41 to 50 with the Best Reaper Build in Dragon Age The Veilguard:

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
41	Necessary Steps	Abilities	Passive
42	Double Shot	Abilities	Greater Passive
43	Staying Power	Abilities	Greater Passive
44	Arcane Defiance	Grey Warden	Passive
45	Grappling Spear	Grey Warden	Ability
46	Traumatized	Grey Warden	Passive
47	Breathing Room	Grey Warden	Greater Passive
48	Spirit of Hunger	Reaper	Greater Passive
49	Shattering Throw	Reaper	Passive
50	Let it Linger	Reaper	Greater Passive

Skills Flex skill (Spectral, Titan Stomp, Deadly Ground), Reaper, Bloody Advance, and ultimate Spirit Storm.

Best Reaper Build Companions

The best companions for a Reaper build are Emmrich and Neve because of their skill combos from Weakened and Sundered status effects. Neve’s main benefit is Time Stop, which boosts your Rage, slows Time, and allows for an immediate combo at the start of combat. Moreover, she can heal and detonate combos as well. Harding and Bellara are good alternatives to Neve, make sure to take skills that heal and trigger combos.

Emmrich fills the role of range DPS with a powerful healing ability called Replenish. Moreover, Emmrich has a staff during his companion quest that can boost vulnerability to Necrotic damage. This is essential for fighting enemies who are resistant to Necrotic damage, which are the majority of creatures in the game.

Companion 1: Emmrich

• Active Skills and Abilities
  • Ability 1: Final Rites
  • Ability 2: Entangling Spirits
  • Ability 3: Replenish (heal)
• Weapon: Staff
• Primer Ability: Entangling Spirits (applies Weakened)
• Detonator Ability: Final Rites (Sundered)

Companion 2: Bellara

• Active Skills and Abilities
  • Ability 1: Icebreaker
  • Ability 2: Time Stop
  • Ability 3: Replenish (heal)
• Weapon: Staff
• Primer Ability: None
• Detonator Ability: Icebreaker (Sundered)

Best Equipment, Items, Weapons

The Reaper builds the best gear choices to increase necrotic damage, detonation damage, and rage generation. You want to increase or equip anything that increases shield toss, max stacks of status effects, and elemental resistance.

Item	Best Item	Best Upgrades	Properties
Main Hand	Dark Shade	Necrotic Damage	+ Necrotic Damage
Off-Hand	Necropolis Defender	+1 Shield Toss	+ Necrotic Damage
Alternate Weapon	Vigilant Defender	Stagger	Defense
Helmet	Helm of Knight and Shadows	Elemental Resistance	+ Detonation Damage
Armor	Striking Misfortune	Elemental Resistance	Necrotic Damage
Belt	Golden Halla Sash	N/A	Invulnerability on Potion
Amulet	Token of True Flight	+1 Max Necrosis	Rage on Throw
Ring 1	Precious Decay	Max Rage	+ Necrotic Damage
Ring 2	Bleeding Shard	Bleeding Damage	Rage Generation

Best Runes

The best Runes for the Reaper build in Dragon Age the Veilguard is Regroup because it refreshes your companion’s ability to cool down instantly. This allows you to either heal or produce multiple combos and detonations quickly. While there are other great Runes, having back-to-back healing, combos, or detonations with a short cooldown makes it the strongest.

Below are the recommended Runes for the Reaper build in DA:V:

• Regroup: all companion’s cooldowns are refreshed.
• Crystallized: all enemies in 10 meters are frozen.
• Overflow: increases potions by +1.

Build Summary – Reaper

FAQs About Reaper Build in Dragon Age The Veilguard

Question 1: What faction should I pick for a Reaper build?

Answer: Grey Wardens and Lords of Fortune are the best factions to choose for the Reaper build due to the Bounded in Blood bonus from Grey Wardens and the Relentless bonus from Lords of Fortune.

Question 2: Does race matter in Dragon Age the Veilguard?

Answer: Race is a part of Rook’s identity as their Dragon Age class or faction, and their ancestry can affect dialogue choices in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The selection of race to play will also determine the story and how the world at large responds to you.

Question 3: Can builds be changed in Dragon Age the Veilguard?

Answer: There are certain things like appearance that you can change. However, you are unable to change the faction after picking up one and you can change the specialization but not the class.

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• Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Backgrounds (Factions) Explained
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard – All Companions and Everything We Know
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard Classes and Specializations
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard – All Playable Races