Best Neve Companion Build Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Discover how to create the best Neve 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 Neve builds in Dragon Age: The Veilguard and explain critical choices: factions, specialization, companions, skills, and more.

Everything About Neve Companion Build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Neve Gallus is a cynic fighting for a better future in the jarring streets of Minrathous. She is both a private detective and a member of Tevinter’s rebellious Shadow Dragons, a secretive resistance group. Fighting against corruption and bringing justice to Tevinter is her top priority as she was born and raised in Minrathous. The game’s prologue takes place in Minrathous tracing Solas in which Neve will assist you.

Neve Gallus is primarily a Mage, with a specialization in Ice Mage. Most of her spells are cold-infused attacks that she can cast from a distance to deal damage. In addition to her potential abilities, she also has the healing ability to heal Rook. Moreover, due to the cold-infused spells, she can control enemies by applying cold, which is great for support during combat.

Since Neve is a Mage with the potential to deal Cold Damage, provide health, and cast control magic, it makes her a great support character in your party.

Neve Build Pros	Neve Build Cons
Range Support	Lower Base Damage
Control Magic and Chilled Damage for Crowd Control	Lower Stagger Rate than DPS Companions
Health Assistance for Rook	Slower Pace

Features and Mechanics for the Neve Build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Creating a companion build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard can aid you greatly in intense fights and turn the tides of the fight in your favor. Choosing a better skill set for active abilities and equipment is necessary for the companion to synergize the combos with Rook. Fortunately, it is less stressful than creating Rook’s build as you don’t have to be much concerned about which Faction and Race to choose for your companion because they are already set and cannot be changed.

The main things that you need to keep in mind are the best active skills and abilities for priming and detonating, along with Rook’s skills and equipment for best base damage. Before we discuss the class-specific Neve builds and what skills you have to set, let’s go over a basic overview of Neve Companion.

Neve’s Faction

Neve is from the Shadow Dragons faction, a secretive resistance group fighting against corruption to bring justice to Tevinter. You can select a similar faction as Neve and get bonus traits that provide you with more damage output against Venatori and replenish class-specific resources slightly faster.

Neve’s Race

Neve is the only female Human companion in the Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Human is one of the dominant races because of their widespread population, political dominance, and history in Thedas. Humans are traditionally Warriors and Mages in the series and fit nicely with Neve’s role in the game.

Best Skills and Abilities for Neve

The best skills for Neve are Icebreaker, Glacial Pace, and Replenish. Glacial Pace is a powerful single concentrated of ice magic that applies the Weakened status effect. You can upgrade this skill further to increase the duration of the status effect, making it a great combo for any build. Icebreaker is another combo ability that detonates the Sundered status effect. You can immediately combine this with another companion, Harding, for a powerful companion skill combo at the beginning of the game. Replenish is your companion healing skill with a lower cooldown. Not only does this skill heal immediately, but over time as well, it can be upgraded to heal Rook to full.

• Icebreaker: Neve fires 6 projectiles at the enemies using her wand and deals 363 cold damage. It detonates the Sundered status effect on enemies and has a base cooldown of 40 seconds.
• Blizzard: Neve summons a swirling vortex of ice to pin down the enemies and it deals 73 cold damage per second to all the enemies in the area of effect. It has a base cooldown of 36 seconds.
• Glacial Pace: Neve shoots a single bolt concentrated of ice magic at the enemy to stop them in their tracks. It deals 218 cold damage and applies a Weakened status effect on the target. It has a base cooldown of 30 seconds.
• Time Slow: Neve slows down time affects enemies and allies’ movement speed, but Rook’s movement stays at normal speed. It has a base cooldown of 48 seconds.
• Replenish: Neve provides Rook with a magical lifeline that instantly replenishes health by 580 points. It has a base cooldown of 36 seconds.

Level Progression for Neve Companion Build

The premise of our leveling progression section for the Neve build is to give you a step-by-step leveling guide, which skills to take, and why.

In Dragon Age, the Veilguard, level progressions are gained through experience points (EXP) through different activities such as completing quests and defeating enemies. Neve will advance to the next level upon crossing the threshold of EXP of a level, granting her two Skill Points per Level Up. The max level for Neve and all other companions is Level 10 which will grant 20 Skill Points in total for a companion. Meaning you cannot unlock all skills and abilities for Neve in the skill tree, but you do have the freedom to respec. The skill tree (honeycomb) comes in two main sections: Core class tree and specialization.

Each skill point can be spent on a variety of skills (abilities):

• Diamond Nodes: Active abilities, which you can slot three at a time
• Smaller Circular Nodes: These are minor passives like small stat points.
• Larger Circular Nodes: These are the ability upgrades corresponding to a branch of the active ability.

Therefore, each build of Neve can equip three active skills with various passives and upgrades.

Levels 1 – 10 Progression for Neve

Here’s a list of skills, passives, and upgrades to select with the Best Neve Build in Dragon Age The Veilguard:

• Level 1: Icebreaker and Replenish abilities become available by default.
• Level 2: Glacial Pace, Time Slow, and Blizzard abilities become available by default. Unlock Cold Front passive and Cold Snap passive (Glacial Pace). Cold Front allows Glacial Pace to trigger automatically during combat, Cold Snap reduces the cooldown by 15%.
• Level 3: Unlock Chill Out passive and Frost Warning passive (Icebreaker). Chill Out increases the damage against Barrier by 50%, Frost Warning increases the Critical Damage by 25%.
• Level 4: Unlock Enervate ability upgrade (Glacial Pace) and Deep Freeze ability upgrade (Icebreaker). Enervate increases the Weakened effectiveness by 10%, Deep Freeze applies Frozen to the target on a critical hit.
• Level 5: Unlock Barrier Buster passive and Critical Shot passive (Glacial Pace). Barrier Buster increases the damage against Barrier by 50%, Critical Shot increases the critical damage by 25%.
• Level 6: Unlock Early Winter passive and Ice Cold passive (Icebreaker). Early Winter reduces the cooldown by 15%, Ice Cold increases the detonation damage by 25%.
• Level 7: Unlock Freezing Point ability upgrade (Glacial Pace) and Shattered Resolve ability upgrade (Icebreaker). Freezing Point applies Frozen to the target on a critical hit, Shattered Resolve deals an additional 100% Stagger on detonation.
• Level 8: Unlock Cold Comfort passive and Top Form passive (Replenish). Cold Comfort grants 20 Rage upon using the Replenish ability during combat, Top Form increases the healing by 25%.
• Level 9: Unlock Endure ability upgrade (Replenish) and Run it Back passive (Replenish). Endure increases the healing by 50% when low on health, Run it Back reduces the cooldown by 20%.
• Level 10: Unlock Watch Your Back passive and Spirit Shield ability upgrade (Replenish). Watch Your Back grants Resistant upon using the Replenish ability, Spirit Shield increases the Resistant duration by 50%.

Neve Abilities & Gear

With the above-level progression, you can equip yourself with the following abilities and gear for Neve Gallus.

• Active Skills and Abilities
  • Ability 1: Glacial Pace
  • Ability 2: Icebreaker
  • Ability 3: Replenish
• Main Hand Weapon: Scepter of Shadows
• Armor: Dragon Coat
• Keepsake: Old News Clipping
• Trinket: Exhaustive Notes
• Primer Ability: Glacial Pace (for applying Weakened)
• Detonator Ability: Icebreaker (for detonating Sundered)

Best Companion Alongside Neve

Harding is the best companion alongside Neve. It is because Neve synergizes greatly with Harding due to her Icebreaker ability that detonates the Sundered effect applied by Harding’s Shred ability. Moreover, she can enhance Rook’s attack damage with her Adrenaline Rush ability. Last but not least, she also has a healing ability, Soothing Potion which heals Rook instantly.

Companion 2: Lace Harding

• Active Skills and Abilities
  • Ability 1: Shred
  • Ability 2: Heavy Draw
  • Ability 3: Adrenaline Rush
• Main Hand Weapon: Bow
• Primer Ability: Shred (for applying Sundered)
• Detonator Ability: Heavy Draw (for detonating Overwhelmed)

How to Play Neve Companion With All Main Classes

Utilizing Neve’s potential with all main classes will require you to equip the best priming and detonating abilities corresponding to your class. As Neve can detonate the Sundered effect, it is best that your main class or a second companion have a priming ability for the Sundered effect. Moreover, with Neve in your group, you can use her Time Slow and Blizzard abilities to crowd control the enemies. Last but not least, Neve can provide you with instant health with her Replenish ability, which is great for survival.

We have listed the abilities you can use for maximum potential damage for each main class. Moreover, we have also mentioned the second-best companion that you can use for priming and detonating combos for each class.

Neve Companion With Rook Warrior Class

Warrior is the best class that can pair with Neve as it completes the overall combat composition of your party. However, it is still necessary that you pick the potential abilities and an ultimate for your Warrior class build that synergize best with Neve and the second companion. Here is a list of skills and abilities that you should activate for Warrior Class with Neve.

• Abilities & Skills
  • Ability 1: Titan Stomp
  • Ability 2: Fury of the Forge
  • Ability 3: Ground Breaker or Blight Bane
  • Ultimate: Flashing Fists
• Primer Ability: Titan Stomp (for applying Overwhelmed)
• Detonator Ability: Ground Breaker or Blight Bane (for detonating Weakened)

The Ground Breaker or Blight Bane are two excellent choices from which you can equip any. Ground Breaker is an early ability that you get and the Blight Bane is from the Champion specialization that you get after Level 20. Both of these detonate the Weakened effect which pairs greatly with Neve’s Glacial Pace (ability). Use the Glacial Pace to apply the Weakened effect on a target and then use Ground Breaker/Blight Bane to detonate the Weakened effect.

Titan Stomp is an efficient ability that pairs with Harding’s Heavy Draw ability. Using the Titan Stomp will apply the Overwhelmed status effect on an enemy and then ordering Harding to use Heavy Draw ability on the same enemy will detonate the effect. Lastly, Fury of the Forge is a standalone ability for applying the Burning effect on enemies and it works greatly both in close and range quarters.

Second Companion Alongside Neve With Rook Warrior Class

Harding is the perfect companion that pairs with Neve while playing the Warrior Class for Rook. She synergizes perfectly with both Neve’s active abilities and Warrior’s abilities which we mentioned above. Moreover, here is a list of active abilities for Neve that you should equip.

• Active Skills and Abilities
  • Ability 1: Shred
  • Ability 2: Heavy Draw
  • Ability 3: Adrenaline Rush
• Primer Ability: Shred (for applying Sundered)
• Detonator Ability: Heavy Draw (for detonating Overwhelmed)

Neve’s Icebreaker ability will detonate the Sundered effect after applying it with Harding’s Shred ability. Adrenaline Rush will support you in dealing potential damage to enemies for a short period. Heavy Draw ability will detonate the Overwhelmed effect which you can apply with Warrior’s Titan Stomp ability.

Neve Companion With Rook Rogue Class

If you are playing the Rogue Class and want to bring Neve along on your journey, then you should activate the following abilities.

• Active Abilities and Skills
  • Ability 1: Static Strikes
  • Ability 2: Explosive Trap
  • Ability 3: Explosive Daggers
  • Ultimate: Concussive Barrage
• Primer Ability: Static Strikes (for applying the Weakened effect), Explosive Daggers (for applying the Sundered effect)
• Detonator Ability: Explosive Trap (for detonating the Overwhelmed effect)

For this set of abilities, Davrin is the best companion that you can pair up with Neve. Static Strikes will apply the Weakened effect on an enemy which you can detonate with Davrin’s Death from Above ability. The Explosive Trap ability detonates the Overwhelmed effect which you can apply by using Davrin’s Heroic Strike ability. Lastly, you can use the Explosive Daggers to apply the Sundered effect and then use Neve’s Icebreaker ability to detonate the effect.

Second Companion Alongside Neve With Rook Rogue Class

As mentioned above, Davrin will be the best companion alongside Neve while playing the Rogue class. Here is the list of abilities you should equip for Davrin.

• Active Skills & Abilities
  • Ability 1: Death from Above
  • Ability 2: Heroic Strike
  • Ability 3: Assan Strike or In War, Victory
• Primer Ability: Heroic Strike (for applying the Overwhelmed effect)
• Detonator Ability: Death from Above (for detonating the Weakened effect)

Use the Heroic Strike to apply the Overwhelmed effect on an enemy and use Rogue’s Explosive Trap ability to detonate the effect. Activate Rogue’s Static Strikes ability to apply the Weakened effect and then use Davrin’s Death from Above to detonate the effect. Moreover, you can use Neve’s Glacial Pace ability to apply the Weakened effect and then use Davrin’s Death from Above to detonate the Weakened effect. Lastly, you can use the Assan Strike for additional fire damage on enemies, or you can use the In War, Victory to distract the enemies. Distracting the enemies will give you an edge to approach them from behind and land a surprise attack.

Neve Companion With Rook Mage Class

If you are playing the Mage Class and wish to bring Neve along on your adventures, then you should activate the following abilities.

• Active Skills & Abilities
  • Ability 1: Arcane Shot
  • Ability 2: Storm Surge
  • Ability 3: Meteor
  • Ultimate: Destructive Light
• Primer Ability: Storm Surge (for applying the Overwhelmed effect)
• Detonator Ability: Meteor (for detonating the Sundered effect)

Arcane Shot is a standalone ability that allows you to launch 5 projectiles toward the enemies. The Storm Surge ability pairs well with Lucanis as you can use it to apply the Overwhelmed effect and then use Lucanis’s Eviscerate to detonate it. Lastly, the Meteor ability can detonate the Sundered effect on an enemy which you can apply using Lucanis’s Debilitate ability. Moreover, you can use Debilitate ability of Lucanis and then use Neve’s Icebreaker ability to detonate the Sundered effect.

Second Companion Alongside Neve With Rook Mage Class

Lucanis is a good choice to bring along Neve while playing the Mage class. He can assist you in combat by fighting enemies in close quarters and distract them. Moreover, he synergizes well with Neve and Mage’s abilities we mentioned above. Here is a list of active abilities, you need to equip for Lucanis while playing Mage class.

• Active Skills and Abilities
  • Ability 1: Debilitate
  • Ability 2: Adrenaline Rush
  • Ability 3: Eviscerate
• Primer Ability: Debilitate (for applying Sundered)
• Detonator Ability: Eviscerate (for detonating Overwhelmed)

Use the Debilitate to apply the Sundered effect on an enemy and use Neve’s Icebreaker to detonate the effect. If Neve’s ability is not ready yet, use Mage’s Meteor to detonate the Sundered effect. Activate Mage’s Storm Surge ability to apply the Overwhelmed effect on an enemy and then use Lucanis’s Eviscerate to detonate the effect. Lastly, you can use the Adrenaline Rush ability throughout the fight to increase Rook’s damage output.

Best Equipment, Items, Weapons for Neve

The section is a work in progress during the release week of the game.

Beginner: Starting the Game

Gear Slot	Best Item	Best Stats	Best Properties
Main Hand Weapon	Scepter of Shadows	+137 Cold Damage +59 Stagger	Attack My Target deals +50% Barrier damage Deals 200 Cold damage to all nearby enemies if this attack breaks its target’s Barrier
Armor	Dragon Coat	+61% Bonus Ability Damage	Detonations deal 100 Cold damage This Cold damage is increased by +50% per stack of Chilled on the target
Keepsake	Old News Clipping	+15% Critical Damage	Neve’s Ability cooldowns are reduced by 10% Your other companion’s cooldowns are reduced by 10 seconds whenever Neve’s Abilities defeat an enemy.
Trinket	Exhaustive Notes	–	+50% Frozen duration Enemies have -25% to all their Resistances while Frozen

Advanced: Endgame

Work in Progress

Gear Slot	Best Item	Best Stats	Best Properties
Main Hand	–	–	–
Off-Hand	–	–	–
Alternate Weapon	–	–	–
Helmet	–	–	–

Build Summary – Neve Companion

FAQs About Neve Companion Build in Dragon Age The Veilguard

Question 1: What faction should I pick for Neve Companion build?

Answer: Shadow Dragons is the best faction to choose for the Neve companion build due to the Never to Rise and Resourceful bonuses. However, your faction choice doesn’t affect that much for a companion build as much as it does for the main (Rook) build.

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: Yes, you can change the whole playstyle of your build by simply refunding the Skill Points from the Skill Tree and spending them in a different branch.

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