Best Rogue DPS Build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

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

Everything About Rogue DPS Build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Rogue DPS build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is necrotic-focused, fast & highly maneuverable, and has some of the highest damage output in the game. As a Duelist specialized, this build is mostly melee that weaves in Bow shots to grant powerful effects and pick off ranged enemies. Working together with Taash and Bellara, you’ll be bursting in and blowing up enemies with the necrosis effect.

Use this build to provide high DPS and insanely high melee damage powering enemies and dodging out. However, this build is highly focused on a close-range battle, so using any ranged weapon with your double-hand weapon will definitely enhance the effectiveness of the build. For players looking to deal high necrotic damage or high DPS in combat then this build is for them.

Rogue DPS Build Pros	Rogue DPS Build Cons
Necro Damage	Lacks Crowd Control
Versatile Damage	Melee Dependent
High Survivability	Companion Dependent

Rogue DPS 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:

• Momentum: Rogue’s resource is generated when hitting targets but diminishes when you take damage.
• Bow: Secondary weapon that doesn’t require a bar swap but activation to use.
• Arrows: Limited resource used to fire your bow that regenerates love time.
• Weak Point: Increase damage hitting an enemy at their weakest point, like the head.
• Faction: Veil Jumpers, Shadow Dragon
• Race: Elf
• Active Skills
  • Ability 1: Toxic Dash
  • Ability 2: Hurricane of Blades
  • Ability 3: Pilfer
• Ultimate: Murder of Crows
• Trait: Evasion Maneuvers
• Specialization: Duelist
• Best Companions: Taash, Bellara
• Runes
  • Ravager
  • Scourge
  • Refresh

Bow

The Bow is your secondary weapon and, unlike other classes in Dragon Age, doesn’t require a bar swap to activate. Simply hold down your aim button and draw it back, and aim to hit a target. You can manually aim or press the button once to activate a quick shot. The benefit of aiming is that you can shoot the head, triggering weak point damage, which is sustainably more than a normal shot (roughly 4×0. However, that can be more difficult than simply pressing the button once at range.

Weak Point

Hitting enemies in their weakest point (headshots) triggers weak point damage with double the size of text and purple. The easiest way to hit a weak point is using the bow by manually aiming at range, specifically for the head. Other enemies will have vulnerable points flashing like a dragon’s legs. Therefore, experiment with different enemy types and aim for weak point damage when you can.

Arrows

The Rogue’s secondary weapon bow uses arrows, which are an automatically replenishing consumable item found in the bottom middle section of your User Interface. By default, players have eight arrows to show, which regenerate quickly. Therefore, watch your arrows and take passives that help with regeneration or max capacity if you use the bow frequently.

Momentum

Momentum is the Rogue’s combat resource that increases when you hit an enemy and decreases when the enemy hits. You need momentum to use skills, and the User Interface pink resource builds over time. Once you reach a threshold of one momentum, a small circle will light up giving you an indication that your attack is able to be used. Additionally, some skills have a cooldown rather than a resource cost, so consider having a balance of momentum skills and cooldown.

Best Faction

The best faction for a DPS build is Veil Jumpers because the Keen Eye bonus provides increased critical and weak point damage. This bonus is optimal for high burst damage and fits the Rogue narrative if you prefer to be an explorer of ancient elven ruins.

Shadow Dragons is the secondary faction choice because the Resourceful bonus grants faster resource generation. The Shadow Dragons are also the healthy resistance and may fit an assassin-type character better than Veil Jumpers.

Below are all the bonuses for the Veil Jumpers and Shadow Dragons faction in Dragon Age the Veilguard:

Veil Jumpers Bonuses	Shadow Dragon Bonuses
Attuned Strikes: Deal increased damage vs. Fade-Touched	Never to Rise: Deal increased damage vs. Venatori
Keen Eye: Deal slightly increased critical and weakpoint damage	Light in the Dark: Gain reputation with the Shadow Dragons more quickly
Close to the Veil: Gain reputation with the Veil Jumpers more quickly	Resourceful: Your class-specific resource regenerates slightly faster

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. Therefore, don’t let this selection be purely cosmetic and narrative, so feel free to deviate from our recommendation.

Best Race

Elf (Elves) is the best race for the DPS build, traditionally known to have strong connections with the Fade. Your race choice determines the story, dialogue choices, and how the world responds to you. Furthermore, you will not receive a combat bonus or be passive for a given race. Therefore, don’t let this selection be purely cosmetic and narrative, so feel free to deviate from our recommendation.

Four playable races are available in Dragon Age: The Veilguard: Elf, Qunari, Human, and Dwarf. Each of these races has a rich history and lore within Thedas. The Rogue class can choose any of the four, so make the selection depending on your ideal character narrative. 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.

Best Skills and Abilities

Toxic Dash, Hurricane of Blades, Pilfer, and Murder of Crows are the best skills for the Rogue DPS build.

Toxic Dash is a slashing attack that deals necrotic damage and applies Sundered to weaken the target’s defense. Before using any combos or any major ability, use Toxic Dash on your enemies to make your other attacks effective. It dashes towards your target and applies the Necrosis status to the target. Bellara’s Fade Bolts can detonate the Sundered status effect, which can combo with the Toxic Dash.

Pilfer is an Ability Skill of the Rogue class that steals a Potion from an enemy after attacking them and deals 264 physical damage. This ability also detonates the Overwhelmed status of effect. Taash’s Spitfire can apply the Overwhelm status effect on the enemy, which can combo with the Pilfer.

Hurricane of Blades is your area-of-effect ability that is most effective if you trigger it while in the middle of a pack of mobs. Enemies can be hit up to four times, and the final strike does more damage.

The best trait for Duelist Build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Evasion Maneuver because it launches a strong attack from an Extended Dodge, or when recovering from being Knocked Down. Use this trait for a counterattack after a long dodge.

The best ultimate for the Rogue DPS build is Murder of Crows because it deals solid damage along with 3,088 necrotic damage. You can be a judge between targets in a large area to cut them.

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

• Abilities
  • Skill 1: Toxic Dash
  • Skill 2: Hurricane of Blades
  • Skill 3: Pilfer
• Ultimate: Murder of Crows
• Trait: Evasive Manuevers

Best Specialization

The Rogue DPS Build Unique ability and ultimate are:

• A Thousand Cuts: A strike control ability where you strike while stepping forward up to 10 times per high Necrotic damage with the final strike dealing more damage. A Thousand Cuts isn’t usually used because it’s a long channel and single target ability.       
• Murder of Crows: This ultimate ability deals with high necrotic damage in a large AOE with the final strike dealing more. Chop enemies that try to challenge an Antivan Crow using advanced agility.

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 at any time to redo your skills and specializations.

Level Progression

Our leveling progression section for the Rogue DPS build is to provide you with a step-by-step leveling guide, 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 advanced 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 earn 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 help you unlock 40-45% of the skill tree.

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

• Circular Nodes: these are minor passives like small stat points.
• Diamond Nodes: Active abilities, which you can slot three at a time
• Hexagonal: traits or passives.  Traits require a button combination to execute an additional ability, while passives give you a passive bonus.

Levels 1 – 10

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

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
1	Riposte	Center	Trait
2	Downfall	Center	Greater Passive
3	Hurricane of Blades	Burst	Ability
4	Powerful Rebuttal	Center	Greater Passive
5	Pilfer	Sustain	Ability
6	Staggering Blade	Burst	Passive
7	Necrotic Fog	Antivan Crow	Greater Passive
8	Death’s Blessing	Antivan Crow	Passive
9	Poisoned Reply	Antivan Crow	Greater Passive
10	Wrath	Antivan Crow	Passive

Skills at level 10:

Here are all the Skills at Level 10.

• Static Strikes (applies weakened)
• Hurricane of Blades
• Pilfer (Detonate overwhelmed)
• Murder of Crows

Levels 11 – 20

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

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
11	Toxic Dash	Antivan Crow	Ability
12	Assassination	Antivan Crow	Greater Passive
13	Insidious	Antivan Crow	Passive
14	Noxious Presence	Antivan Crow	Greater Passive
15	Necessary Steps	Antivan Crow	Passive
16	Adrenaline	Antivan Crow	Trait
17	Arcane Defiance	Antivan Crow	Passive
18	Overwhelming Tactics	Antivan Crow	Greater Passive
19	Save
20	Duelist Murder of Crows A Thousand Cuts	Duelist	Spec Ultimate Ability

Here are the Skills at Level 20.

• Toxic Dash (applies sundered),
• Hurricane of Blades,
• A Thousand Cuts (or Pilfer if you need survival),
• Murder of Crows.

Levels 21 – 30

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

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
21	Concentration	Duelist	Passive
22	Quick Control	Duelist	Greater Passive
23	Death’s Blessing	Duelist	Passive
24	Sly Strike	Antivan Crow	Greater Passive
25	Decisive Finale	Burst	Trait
26	Underestimated	Burst	Passive
27	Piercing Strike	Burst	Greater Passive
28	Momentous Occasion	Burst	Greater Passive
29	Save
30	Mounting Thrill Shall We Dance	Duelist Duelist	Trait Trait

Here are all the Skills at Level 30.

• Toxic Dash (applies sundered),
• Hurricane of Blades,
• Pilfer (detonates Overwhelmed),
• Murder of Crows.

For level 30 to 50, you’re focused on boosting your regeneration and damage. Improved Health enhances your health to 100 and Burst of Speed increases Momentum generation by 10%. Desolate Maldy increases the Affliction damage. Utilize Sharper edge to increase the penetration by 15%. Determination is the best passive for maximum Momentum and Spill Blood for maximum Bleeding stacks. Boost Bow damage up to by utilizing Tipped Arrowhead and Shellbreaker for Damage vs. Armor up to 20.

Best Companions

The best companions for a Rogue DPS build are Taash and Bellara because of their ability to combo Sundered and Weakened. Taash can inflict various status effects on enemies, such as Overwhelm, Burning, Stagger, and Detonate the Weakened. Moreover, some of the abilities target multiple enemies and she also supports allies by applying invulnerability on them.

The other companion that works well in the rogue DPS build is Bellara. The best skills for Bellara are Enfeebling Shot, Fade Bolts, and Replenish. Enfeebling Shot is a powerful shot that applies the Weakened status effect. Fade Bolts is another combo ability that detonates the Sundered status effect. Replenish is your companion healing skill with a lower cooldown.

Companion 1: Taash

• Active Skills and Abilities
  • Ability 1: Fire Breath
  • Ability 2: Dragon’s roar
  • Ability 3: Fortune’s Favor
• Main Hand Weapon: Neckbreaker
• Armor: Plumed Platemail
• Trinket: Numbing Herbs
• Primer Ability: Dragonfire Strike (Detonates Weakened)
• Detonator Ability: Spitfire (Apply Overwhelm)

Companion 2: Bellara

• Active Skills and Abilities
  • Ability 1: Enfeebling Shot
  • Ability 2: Fade Bolts
  • Ability 3: Replenish
• Main Hand Weapon: Storm
• Armor: Camping Gear
• Trinket: Calibration Crystal
• Primer Ability: Enfeebling Shot (Detonates Weakened)
• Detonator Ability: Fade Bolts (Apply Overwhelm)

Best Equipment, Items, Weapons

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

Gear Slot	Best Item	Best Stats	Best Properties
Main Hand	Enchanted Longblade	20% + 10%	Final Attack Damage + Weapon Damage
Off-Hand	Cryptwood Bow	40 + 20%	Necrotic Damage + damage vs. Enemies suffering from Necrosis
Two-Handed Weapon	Arainai’s Talon	30% + 40 + 20%	Necrotic Damage + Added Necrotic Damage + Barrier Damage
Helmet	Antivan Parade Helm	25% + 25%	Necrotic Weapons duration + Necrotic Weapons damage
Belt	Jenny’s Belt	500	Healing
Amulet	A Pale Reflection	20%	Damage vs. enemies
Ring 1	Serpent’s Kiss	25%	Strike Ability Damage
Ring 2	Exacting Shard	25% + 15% + 25%	Necrotic Weapons duration + Necrotic Weapons damage + Necrotic Ability

Best Runes

The best Runes for the Rogue DPS build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Scourge because you get a short-time boost to Necrotic damage output along with a consistent passive increase, making it the best option for weakening enemies over time. All your weapon attacks deal Necrotic damage for 20 seconds.

Below are the recommended Runes for the Best Rogue DPS build in DA:V:

• Scourge: +10% Necrotic damage
• Ravager: +10% damage vs health
• Refresh: +10% Advantage duration

Build Summary – Rogue DPS

FAQs About Rogue DPS Build in Dragon Age The Veilguard

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

Answer: Veil Jumpers and Shadow Dragons are the best factions to choose for the Rogue DPS build due to the Ankle Strike bonus from Veil Jumper and the Never To Rise bonus from Shadow Dragons because they highly impact in combat.

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 – 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