Warrior Skill Tree - Dragon Age: The Veilguard Guide - IGN (2024)

Warriors are a mix of brute strength and fighting prowess. They can wield large two-handed weapons or stick with a sword and shield. Experts in up close fighting, a shield toss can be a game changer when range is needed.

Warrior Core

• Driving Kick: Focus all your strength and determination into one mighty kick.
  • Type: Smash, Control
  • Damage: Physical
  • Cost: 50 Rage (1 Dot)
  • Detonates Weakened
  • Deals a very high amount of Stagger and very likely disrupts the target.
• Ultimate - Flashing Fists: Batter your enemies with repeated powerful blows.
  • Damage: Physical
  • Deals damage to a large area 4 times.
• Tumbling Blades
  • Use your speed to unleash a powerful attack immediately after performing a Combat Roll.
• Downfall
  • Jump attacks guarantee Critical hits if the target is Knocked Down.
• Counterblow
  • Deflect your enemy’s attack and perform a powerful counterattack after a Perfect Defense.
• Focused Retaliation
  • Gain Precision after a successful Perfect Defense.
• Shield Volley
  • Striking a Shield Toss with a Shield attack volleys the shield back at enemies up to 3 times, dealing damage each time.

• Rancor
  • Rage takes 50% longer to begin to decay.

Abilities Section

• Spectral Bulwark: Hone your guard and protect yourself from enemies foolish enough to attack.
  • Type: Smash, Duration
  • Damage: Necrotic
  • Cooldown: 60s
  • Enemies who hit you with a melee attack take damage and very high Stagger.
  • Increases Defense by 50% while active.
• Killer Instinct
  • Stagger from Abilities +20%
• Triple Threat
  • Equipping an Ability of each damage type increases Ability damage by 20%.
• Enraged
• Rage generation +10%
• Explosive Toss
  • Charging your Shield Toss at least one level and then pressing the left mouse button will toss an explosive version of the shield, causing it to deal damage in an area around the target. This attack has a high chance to disrupt enemies.
• Enervation
  • Damage vs. Barrier +20%
• Unyielding Focus
  • Upgrades Duration Abilities
  • Using a Duration Ability grants Immovable
• Shieldbreaker
  • Upgrades Smash Abilities
  • Breaking an enemy’s Armor or Barrier with a Smash Ability grants Enhanced Damage
• Enduring Rage
  • Your Rage no longer decays below 50, allowing you to sustain it between fights.
• Depth of Fury
  • Maximum Rage +50
• Insidious Rot
  • Maximum Necrosis stacks +1
• Deadly Ground
  • Type: Area, Duration
  • Damage: Necrotic
  • Cost: 50 Rage (1 Dot)
  • Create a Necrotic field at your current location
  • Enemies caught inside the field take constant damage until they escape. Grants Enhanced Damage while you are inside the field.
• Death’s Blessing
  • Necrotic damage +10%
• Critical Power
  • Gain Enhanced Damage on Critical hit kill.
• Salt in the Wound
  • Upgrades Duration Abilities
  • Hitting enemies with a Duration Ability adds 1 stack to all active Afflictions on the target
• Wrath
  • Critical damage +10%
• Arm’s Reach
  • Upgrades Smash Abilities
  • The effects of Smash Abilities cover a greater distance. The distance depends on the Ability
• Shellbreaker
  • Damage vs. Armor +20%
• Blunt Force
  • Enemies are Knocked Down when their Armor breaks
• Carom
  • Enemies take 100% more damage and Stagger from environmental impacts
• Providence
  • Advantage duration +20%
• Time Management
  • Upgrades Duration Abilities
  • Effects of Duration Abilities are increased by 50%
• Inspiring Strength
  • Upgrades Smash Abilities
  • Defeating an enemy with a Smash Ability grants Rally Party
• Seething Pitch
  • Shield Toss now generates 2 additional Rage on impact. Striking Weakpoints doubles the effect.

Mourn Watch Section

• Enervation
  • Damage vs. Barrier +20%
• Eclectic Armorer
  • While wearing different classifications of Helm and Armor:
    • Shield Toss bounces: +2
    • Ranged attack damage: +15%
    • Weakpoint damage: +15%
• Desolate Malady
  • Affliction damage +10%
• Ignition
  • Gain Flaming Weapons after defeating an enemy with a Weakpoint hit
  • Flaming Weapons deals +25% damage
• Staggering Toss
  • Shield Toss converts 25% of your current Rage into Stagger
• Staying Power
  • Upgrades Duration Abilities
  • For each active Duration Ability’s effect, you take 5% less damage from all sources
• Double Shot
  • Upgrades Projectile Abilities
  • Activating any Projectile Ability also launches a projectile, dealing 100 damage to a nearby enemy
• Necessary Steps
  • Primer duration +20%
• Bloody Advance: Throw a fan of blades that seek out and impale nearby enemies.
  • Type: Projectile, Duration
  • Damage: Necrotic
  • Cost: 50 Rage (1 Dot)
  • Applies Sundered
• Ricochet Shot
  • Shield Toss bounces +1
• Shot Chaser
  • Upgrades Projectile Abilities
  • Using a Projectile Ability deals an additional 10% damage relative to the number of possible Shield Toss bounces
• Lingering Decay
  • Upgrades Duration Abilities
  • Duration Abilities apply Necrosis on impact
• Mortal Wounds
  • Weakpoint damage +10%
• Master Throw
  • Shield Toss can now be charged up an additional level
• Defy the Elements
  • Fire Resistance +10%
  • Cold Resistance +10%
• Slam
  • Performing a Takedown generations 20% Ultimate and 50 Rage

Reaper Specialization

Defender of the living and dead, the Mourn Watch Reaper leeches life from enemies, throws shields with precision, and turns their own pain into strength.

• Spirit Storm: Call upon the Mourn Watch’s occult knowledge to unleash a Necrotic storm.
  • Damage: Necrotic
  • A whirlwind moves toward your target, inflicting multiple hits and applying Siphon to enemies
• Reaper: Call forth an ethereal scythe that slashes and slices your enemies.
  • Type: Strike, Duration
  • Damage: Necrotic
  • Cost: 100 Rage (2 Dots)
  • Detonates Weakened
  • Applies Siphon
• Devastation
  • Affliction damage +10%
  • Affliction duration +20%
• Death’s Touch
  • Upgrades Duration Abilities
  • While any Duration Ability is active, your Charged attacks also apply Necrosis to enemies
• Perfect Throw
  • Release Shield Toss the moment a new Charge level is attained to gain bonus damage and bounces.
• Shattering Throw
  • Shield Toss damage +10%
  • Shield Toss bounces: +1
• Spirit of Hunger
  • Killing an enemy spawns a Necrotic projectile that follows enemies
• Let It Linger
  • Shield Toss bounces now apply an Affliction based on your Shield’s damage type.
• Death’s Blessing
  • Necrotic damage +10%
• Reckless Shot
  • Upgrades Projectile Abilities
  • Projectile Abilities deal 25% more damage but consume 10% health
• Death’s Throw:
  • Converts Shield Toss to deal Necrotic damage
• Invigoration
  • Leech effectiveness +20%
• Living Decay
  • Your Necrotic damage now has 50% Penetration and restores 2% of your health.
• Desperation
  • Gain bonus damage relative to the amount of health your target and you have lost.

Survival Section

• Titan Stomp: Create a shockwave around you by slamming into the ground
  • Type: Area, Control
  • Damage: Physical
  • Cooldown: 60s
  • Applies Overwhelm
  • Deals a very high Stagger to nearby enemies
• Improved Throw
  • Shield Toss damage +10%
• Return to Sender
  • Send incoming projectiles back at your attacker with Perfect Defense.
• Bulwark
  • Physical Resistance +10%
• Reinforcement
  • Each of your active Advantages increases damage dealt by 10%
• Providence
  • Advantage duration +20%
• Fortifying Shots
  • Upgrades Projectile Abilities
  • Defeating an enemy with a Projectile Ability grants Resistant. The duration of Resistant resets if it is already active
• Reinforced
  • Upgrades Control Abilities
  • Defeating an enemy with a Control Ability grants Deflect
• Masochism
  • You generate 4 Rage when taking damage
• Necessary Steps
  • Primer duration +20%
• Conditional Surrender
  • Upgrades Control Abilities
  • Primers applied by Control Abilities last 20% longer. Detonations triggered by Control Abilities deal 20% more damage
• Supercharged
  • Upgrades Projectile Abilities
  • Projectile Abilities deal 75% more damage vs. Barrier
• Depth of Fury
  • Maximum Rage +50
• Improved Health
  • Health +100
• Groundbreaker: Shake and shatter the ground around your weapons spreading cracks that explode after a short delay.
  • Type: Strike, Control
  • Damage: Fire
  • Cost: 100 Rage (2 Dots)
  • Detonates Weakened
  • Damage is applied on the initial strike and again a short time later. The secondary explosion applies Burning and is highly likely to disrupt enemies
• Third Degree
  • Maximum Burning stacks +1
• Ready Guard
  • Gain Deflect at the start of each encounter
• Traumatize
  • Takedown damage +15%
• Battlefield Awareness
  • Upgrades Control Abilities
  • Control Abilities now deal Critical hits vs. enemies recovering from Knocked Down
• Refract
  • Maximum Deflect stacks +1
• Good Arm
  • Upgrades Projectile Abilities
  • When a Projectile Ability hits an enemy, the damage ignores all Resistances
• Pump the Primer
  • Overwhelmed and Sundered are 20% more effective

Grey Warden Section

• Enraged
  • Rage generation +10%
• Heavy Armor Mastery
  • While wearing Heavy Helm and Armor
    • Defense +20%
    • You are now less likely to be disrupted when getting hit
• Fiery Resolve
  • Gain Flaming Weapons on Perfect Defense
  • Flaming Weapons lasts 50% longer
• Wildfire
  • Fire damage +10%
• Heavy Hitter
  • Heavy attack damage +10%
• Collateral Damage
  • Upgrades Area Abilities
  • Hitting multiple enemies with a single Area Ability deals 10% more damage for each enemy hit
• Battlefield Awareness
  • Upgrades Control Abilities
  • When you interrupt an enemy in the middle of an attack with a Control Ability, you deal 15% bonus damage
• Arcane Defiance
  • Electric Resistance +10%
  • Necrotic Resistance +10%
• Grappling Spear: Harpoon your targets with a strong throw and drag them in for a closer encounter.
  • Type: Projectile, Control
  • Damage: Fire
  • Cooldown: 60s
  • Applies Overwhelm
  • Perform a follow-up attack that deals Physical damage with a high chance to disrupt enemies
• Traumatize
  • Takedown damage +15%
• Breathing Room
  • Upgrades Area Abilities
  • The scope of Area Abilities is greatly increased
• Falter
  • Upgrades Control Abilities
  • Using Control Ability attacks vs. enemies with High Health deals 100% additional stagger
• Sly Strike
  • Agile, Charged, and Final attacks deal 15% bonus damage to enemies suffering from an Affliction
• Explosive Anger
  • Spending Rage deals 200% of the cost as Fire damage to enemies within 6 meters
• Staggering Charge
  • Stagger from Charged attacks +20%
• Unbroken Finale:
  • Add a powerful Shield Final attack to the end of your Attack Chain

Champion Specialization

The pinnacle of Grey Warden combat prowess. The Champion is a born leader who rallies their allies, turns their fervor into flame, and wields a shield as a deadly weapon.

• Ultimate - Warden’s Fire: Unleash a barrage of strikes with the burning strength that resides within every Grey Warden
  • Damage: Fire
  • Applies Burning to enemies
• Blight Bane: Throw a Warden Siege bomb that bursts into a cluster of explosives after a short delay
  • Type: Area, Projectile
  • Damage: Fire
  • Cost: 100 Rage (2 Dots)
  • Detonates Weakened
  • Each explosive is capable of applying Burning to enemies in a small radius
• Shield Bearer
  • Shield damage +10%
• Bulkhead
  • Upgrades Control Abilities
  • For each equipped Control Ability, you gain 20 Defense
• Inspiring Guard
  • Executing a Perfect Defense now guards against otherwise unblockable attacks. Doing so grants Rally Party.
• Battle Cry
  • Health +10%
  • Defense +10%
• The Best Defense
  • Gain 50% of your Defense as bonus Shield attack damage
• Aftermath
  • Unbroken Finale now also deals its damage in a large cone behind the target. The radius is doubled if you have Rally Party.
    • This damage does not count as a Final attack
• Wildfire
  • Fire damage +10%
• Endless Fire
  • Upgrades Area Abilities
  • Area Abilities now deal Fire damage
  • Blight Bane deals additional blasts
• Reverb
  • Trigger a powerful shockwave when executing a Perfect Defense. The shockwave deals 300 Fire damage and applies Burning to enemies.
• Flare-Up
  • Maximum Burning stacks +1
• Enflamed
  • Burning damage increases by 20% of your current Rage
• Ring of Fire
  • Burning is now also applied to enemies around the target.

Weapons Section

• Fury of the Forge: Burning steel blades rain down on your enemies.
  • Type: Strike, Projectile
  • Damage: Fire
  • Cost: 50 Rage (1 Dot)
  • Applies Burning on impact
• Decisive Finish
  • Agile attack damage +10%
  • Charged attack damage +10%
  • Final attack damage +10%
• Velocity
  • Stagger from weapon attacks +20%
• Guardian’s Reprieve
  • Performing a Takedown heals you for 250 health and grants Deflect
• Determined Death
  • You can now hold down your Final attacks, strengthening their impacts. Releasing with perfect timing adds a powerful effect based on your weapon type.
• Wrath
  • Critical damage +10%
• Critical Leverage
  • Upgrades Strike Abilities
  • Strike Abilities are guaranteed to do Critical damage vs. enemies more than 10 meters away
• Dazzle
  • Upgrades Area Abilities
  • Hitting multiple enemies with a single Area Ability grants Quickened
• Executioner’s Gaze
  • Final attacks are Critical hits vs. enemies with Low Health
• Concentration
  • Charged attack damage +10%
• Bloody Vengeance
  • Charged attacks with Swords or Axes apply Bleeding to enemies
  • Charged attacks with Mauls or Shields deal 15% bonus damage vs. Bleeding enemies
• Fighting Dirty
  • Upgrades Strike Abilities
  • Hitting enemies with a Strike Ability applies an Affliction aligned with the Ability’s damage type
• Spill Blood
  • Maximum Bleeding stacks +1
• Wear and Tear
  • Upgrades Area Abilities
  • Damage from Area Abilities gain 30% Penetration
• Depth of Fury
  • Maximum Rage +50
• Cleaving Strike: A large, sweeping strike pushes a damaging wave over the battlefield.
  • Type: Area, Strike
  • Damage: Physical
  • Cost: 100 Rage (2 Dots)
  • Damage deal increases with distance from the target while applying Bleeding on hit
• Concentration
  • Charged attack damage +10%
• Staggering Finale
  • Stagger from Final attacks +20%
• Incite Violence
  • Generate 15% more Rage from weapon attacks
  • This value is doubled vs. enemies suffering from an Affliction
• Desolate Malady
  • Affliction damage +10%
• Underestimated
  • Light attack damage vs health +10%
• Breathing Room
  • Upgrades Area Abilities
  • The scope of Area Abilities is greatly increased
• Punisher
  • Upgrades Strike Abilities
  • Damage dealt by Strike Abilities vs. enemies with Low Health increases by 25%

Lord of Fortune Section

• Concentration
  • Charged attack damage +10%
• Medium Armor Mastery
  • While wearing a Medium Helm and Armor
    • Final attack damage +20%
    • Charged attack damage +20%
    • Agile attack damage +20%
    • Takedown damage +20%
• Shellbreaker
  • Damage vs. Armor +20%
• Flames of Victory
  • Gain Flaming Weapons on a successful Takedown
  • You generate 25% more Stagger from weapon hits while Flaming Weapons is active
• Bulwark
  • Physical Resistance +10%
• Quick Strikes
  • Upgrades Strike Abilities
  • Defeating an enemy with a Strike Ability replenishes 25 Rage
• Concussive Smash
  • Upgrades Smash Abilities
  • Hitting enemies with a Smash Ability permanently reduces their Defense by 20
• Whirlwind: Unleash a whirlwind of steel that damages everything it hits and ends with a final massive blow.
  • Type: Area, Smash
  • Damage: Physical
  • Cost: 100 Rage (2 Dots)
  • The final hit deals increased damage and Stagger. It is also highly likely to disrupt enemies
• Staggering Charge
  • Stagger from Charged attacks +20%
• Overhand Smash
  • Upgrades Smash Abilities
  • Smash Abilities now deal an additional 50% damage vs. Armor and deal 50% more Stagger
• Precision Strikes
  • Upgrades Strike Abilities
  • Hitting enemies with a Strike Ability deals increased damage equal to 50% of your base Weakpoint damage
• Rolling Thunder
  • After Charged attacks, use a Light or Heavy attack to follow up with an additional, powerful Charged attack.
  • Requires maximum Charge

Slayer Specialization

Reckless in battle, the Lords of Fortune Slayer specializes in two-handed weapons, breaking enemy defenses, and quick movements around the battlefield.

• Ultimate - For Gold and Glory: Glory favors the bold. Leap into the fray.
  • Damage: Physical
  • Deals very high Stagger to enemies within range
• Heroic Leap: Leap forward and deal heavy damage to any nearby enemies.
  • Type: Strike, Smash
  • Damage: Physical
  • Cost: 50 Rage (1 Dot)
  • Detonates Weakened
  • Deals high Stagger and is highly likely to disrupt enemies
• Sharper Edge
  • Penetration +15%
• Charged Smash
  • Upgrades Smash Abilities
  • Smash Abilities are now Charged Attacks
  • For Whirlwind, this applies only to the final hit
• Two-Handed Wind-Up
  • Charged attacks with your Two-Handed Weapon can be charged even further, unlocking a powerful new attack and greatly increasing its effectiveness
• Decisive Finish
  • Agile attack damage +10%
  • Charged attack damage +10%
  • Finale attack damage +10%
• Furor
  • Charged attacks generate more Rage relative to Charge level
• Blindside
  • After a short delay, Charged attacks deal an additional 150 Physical damage
• Determination
  • Physical damage +10%
• Striking Precision
  • Upgrades Strike Abilities
  • Hitting an enemy with a Strike Ability grants Precision. The duration of Precision resets if it is already active.
• Arc of Destruction
  • After Sprint Attack, use a Light or Heavy attack to follow up with an additional Final attack
• Harder Hits
  • Weapon damage +10%
  • Ability damage +10%
• Double-Edged
  • Bonus Ability damage also applies to Weapon damage at 20% of its value
  • Bonus Weapon damage also applies to Ability damage at 20% of its value
• Violent Catharsis
• Expending Rage heals you for 100% of the Rage spent