Best Warrior DPS Build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

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

Everything About Warrior DPS Build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Warrior DPS build focuses on pure damage among the enemies to melt them with your hard-hitting strikes and abilities. This build uses two main elemental types of abilities, Fire and Necrotic to inflict the enemies around and deal overtime damage on top of the regular strikes. Moreover, it also allows you to carry two-handed weapons to deal AOE attacks and concentrated ground slams.

However, the survivability of this build is lower than that of the other as you have to be full of the Healing Potions at all times to replenish your health whenever it is low. It is because staying close to the enemies will often let you take hits from them. The best solution for this lack is to add companions with healing abilities to your party. Another thing that is lacking for this build is a weaker range as you will be more focused on striking the enemies with your main-hand/off-hand weapons. However, you can throw the Shield at enemies to deal some damage from the distance but it is less effective than the rest of the attacks.

This build is recommended for players who want to dish out the maximum damage to enemies in close range.

Warrior DPS Build Pros	Warrior DPS Build Cons
Best DPS	Lower Survival
Multiple Elements	Weaker Range
Huge AOE	Requires Skill Swapping

Warrior 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:

• 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: Shadow Dragons
• Race: Human
• Active Skills
  • Ability 1: Groundbreaker
  • Ability 2: Deadly Ground
  • Ability 3: Titan Stomp
• Ultimate: Spirit Storm
• Specialization: Reaper
• Best Companions: Emmrich and Harding
• Runes
  • Ravage
  • Scorch
  • Scourge

Best Faction

Shadow Dragons is the best faction choice because the Resourceful bonus grants faster resource generation. Moreover, it allows the build to deal additional damage against Venatori. The Shadow Dragons are also the healthy resistance and may fit a heroic warrior character.

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, loot, and taking down enemies.

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

Shadow Dragons Faction Bonus	Lords of Fortune Faction Bonus
Light in the Dark: gain reputation with the Shadow Dragons more quickly	Together in Glory: Gain reputation with the Lords of Fortune more quickly
Never to Rise: deal increased damage vs. Venatori	Healthy Competition: Deal increased damage vs. mercenaries
Resourceful: your class-specific resource regenerates slightly faster	Relentless: Perform takedowns on enemies with slightly less effort

Best Race

The best race for the Warrior DPS 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 Shadow Dragon’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 Warrior DPS are Groundbreaker, Deadly Ground, and Titan Stomp.

Deadly Ground

Deadly Ground is an area duration type ability that costs one rage pip to create a Necrotic field at your current location. Enemies caught within take constant Necrotic damage. Moreover, you gain the enhanced damage effect while you are inside the field.

Groundbreaker

Groundbreaker is a control-type ability that costs two rage pips to shake and shatter the ground with the weapon. It spreads cracks on the ground that explode after a short delay and deals fire damage. Moreover, it detonates the Weakened effect which you can apply initially with Emmrich’s Entangling Spirits ability.

Titan Stomp

Titan Stomp is an area control type ability that creates a shockwave around you by slamming into the ground. It deals physical damage to enemies and applies the Overwhelm effect. Moreover, this ability pairs well with Harding’s Heavy Draw ability as it detonates the Overwhelmed effect.

Forge of the Fury (Alternative for Deadly Ground)

In addition to these skills, you can replace the Deadly Ground ability with the Forge of the Fury ability if you want to apply the additional stack of Burning effect. It will increase the overall duration of the burning effect to deal overtime damage to enemies.

Best Trait and Ultimate

The best trait that you can use for the Warrior DPS is the Explosive Toss. Charge your shield for the ranged attack until you get the prompt to release an Explosive Toss. Press the respective button prompted on the screen to throw the shield at the enemy. The shield explodes on the impact and disrupts the enemy.

The best ultimate ability for the Warrior DPS is Spirit Storm which creates a whirlwind of Necrotic energy in front of you. It deals with Necrotic damage and applies the siphon effect, which deals with damage over time and restores your health.

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

• Abilities
  • Skill 1: Groundbreaker
  • Skill 2: Deadly Ground
  • Skill 3: Titan Stomp
• Ultimate: Spirit Stomp
• Best Trait: Explosive Toss

Best Specialization

The Reaper specialization is the best for survivability and damage 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 the Reckless Shot upgrade as it will ruin your survivability.

The Reaper’s unique ability and ultimate:

• 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.
• 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.

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

The premise of our leveling progression section for the Warrior DPS build is to give you 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 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 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.

Levels 1 – 10

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

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
1	Shield Volley	Core	Trait
2	Rancor	Core	Greater Passive
3	Spectral Bulwark	Abilities	Ability
4	Enraged	Abilities	Passive
5	Explosive Toss	Abilities	Trait
6	Enervation	Abilities	Passive
7	Enduring Rage	Abilities	Greater Passive
8	Depth of Fury	Abilities	Passive
9	Deadly Ground	Abilities	Ability
10	Death’s Blessing	Abilities	Passive

Skills at level 10: Spectral Bulwark, Deadly Ground, and Driving Kick.

Levels 11 – 20

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

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
11	Counter Blow	Core	Trait
12	Downfall	Core	Trait
13	Fury of the Forge	Abilities	Weapons
14	Focused Retaliation	Core	Greater Passive
15	Titan Stomp	Abilities	Survival
16	Seething Pitch	Mourn Watch	Greater Passive
17	Mortal Wounds	Mourn Watch	Passive
18	Master Throw	Mourn Watch	Trait
19	Save	–	–
20	Reaper Specialization, Spirit Storm, and Reaper	Reaper	–

Skills at level 20: Fury of the Forge, Deadly Ground, Titan Stomp, and Spirit Storm.

Levels 21 – 30

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

Level	Skill	Tree	Type
21	Improved Throw	Survival	Passive
22	Return to Sender	Survival	Trait
23	Providence	Survival	Passive
24	Masochism	Survival	Greater Passive
25	Depth of Fury	Survival	Passive
26	Groundbreaker	Survival	Ability
27	Third Degree	Survival	Passive
28	Critical Power	Abilities	Greater Passive
29	Salt in the Wound	Abilities	Ability Upgrade
30	Insidious Rot	Abilities	Passive

Skills at level 30: Groundbreaker, Deadly Ground, Titan Stomp, and Spirit Storm.

For levels 30 to 50, you need to focus on boosting your regeneration and damage. Enraged is a passive that is used for Rage generation up to 10%. Traumatize for Takedown damage up to 15%. Depth of Fury increases the maximum Rage by 50. Desolate Malady boost Affliction damage +10%. Staggering Finale increases the Stagger from Final attacks by 20%. Increase your Critical damage by +10% with Wrath. Last but not least, acquire the Heavy Hitter to increase Heavy attack damage by 10%.

Best Companions

The best companions for the Warrior DPS build are Emmrich and Lace Harding because of their priming and detonating skill combos. Emmrich is a Mage necromancer who deals Necrotic Damage, applies the Weakened effect, and detonates the Sundered effect. Harding is a Rogue character who deals Physical Damage, applies the Sundered effect, and detonates the Overwhelmed effect. Moreover, Emmrich has the ability to slow down the time for enemies which allows you to continue dealing damage to enemies at a normal pace. Harding applies buffs to Rook’s attacks for enhanced damage. Last but not least, both of these companions have healing abilities that can heal Rook in an instant. However, make sure to take skills that heal and trigger combos for the best party composition.

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: Entangling Spirits
  • Ability 2: Final Rites
  • Ability 3: Replenish
• Main Hand Weapon: The Hermetic Pendulum
• Armor: Funeral Finery
• Keepsake: Metal-Plated Focus
• Trinket: Chittering Signet
• Primer Ability: Entangling Spirits (for applying Weakened)
• Detonator Ability: Final Rites (for detonating Sundered)

Companion 2: Lace Harding

• Active Skills and Abilities
  • Ability 1: Shred
  • Ability 2: Heavy Draw
  • Ability 3: Soothing Potion
• Main Hand Weapon: My Regards
• Armor: Scout Comparison
• Keepsake: Secrets and Memories
• Trinket: Dwarven Key
• Primer Ability: Shred (for applying Sundered)
• Detonator Ability: Heavy Draw (for detonating Overwhelmed)

Best Equipment, Items, Weapons

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

Gear Slot	Best Item	Best Stats	Properties
Main Hand	Spellbound Longsword	+370 Physical Damage +248 Stagger	Deal +40 added Fire Damage Gain Flaming Weapons on kill with this weapon Half of your Fire Resistance is added as damage to your Flaming Weapons
Off-Hand	Captain’s Heater	+216 Physical Damage +488 Stagger	+30 Defense +100 health +10% Resistances
Alternate Weapon	Emberborn Shard	+584 Physical Damage +260 Stagger	+25% Affliction Damage Apply Burning with your next attack after defeating an enemy with this weapon +20% Weapon per damage per Burning stack on target.
Helmet	Magebane	+144 Defense +15% Ability Damage	Rage generation: -75% All of your abilities now have a 60 second cooldown but no Rage cost Your damage is increased by 1% for every 2 Rage
Armor	Champion’s Brilliant Regalia	+168 Defense +40% Ability Damage	+25% Fire Resistance +5 max Fire Resistance Immune to Burning Deal 150 Fire damage and apply Burning to nearby enemies when you reach Low Health
Belt	Warping Wrap	765 Healing Grants Time Dilation on Potion use	+15% Rage generation Grants Precision on Potion use Time Dilation effect is increased by 20%
Amulet	Slightless Skull	–	+20% Control Ability damage +25% Stagger from Control Abilities Gain 1 Rage per 50 Stagger dealt by Control Abilities
Ring 1	Warden’s Signet	–	+15% Fire damage +25% Fire Resistance +20% Fire Ability damage against Armor 50% of all of your other damage type bonuses contribute to your Fire damage bonus.
Ring 2	Precious Decay	–	+15% Necrotic damage +25% Necrotic Resistance +20% Necrotic Ability damage against Armor 50% of all of your other damage type bonuses contribute to your Necrotic damage bonus.

Best Runes

The best rune is Ravage for the Warrior DPS build as it enhances the damage by 50% against enemy health, making it the best one to take down enemies in no time. The best way to use the Ravage rune is to combine it with a detonation combo, specifically the weakened status effect which increases overall damage.

Recommended Rune suggestion for Warrior DPS build:

1. Ravage
   • Active: +50% damage vs. Health for 20 seconds
   • Passive: +10% damage vs. Health
2. Scorch
   • Active: All of your weapon attacks deal Fire damage for 20 seconds.
   • Passive: +10% Fire damage
3. Scourge
   • Active: All of your weapon attacks deal Necrotic damage for 20 seconds
   • Passive: +10% Necrotic damage

Build Summary – Warrior DPS

FAQs About Warrior DPS Build in Dragon Age The Veilguard

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

Answer: Shadow Dragons and Lords of Fortune are the best factions to choose for the Warrior DPS build due to the Resourceful bonus from Shadow Dragons 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: 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. However, you cannot change the Faction.

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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