Demons

Following the tragic events at the Temple of Sacred Ashes, demons have invaded Thedas, emerging from Fade rifts scattered throughout Ferelden and Orlais. Most demons linger around Fade rifts, attacking anyone who approaches. The demons encountered at each Fade rift vary based on locale. Early on, you’re most likely to encounter wraiths, shades, and terrors. But as your adventures continue, expect to confront more powerful demons, including despair demons, rage demons, and massive pride demons. Therefore, exercise extreme caution when approaching Fade rifts—and don’t be afraid to retreat if you get in over your head. Demons are bound to the rift and will not travel great distances to pursue you and your party.

Despair Demon

Locale: Various

Level Range: 12-30

Health Modifier: 1

Armor: Very Low

Resistances:

Cold

Vulnerabilities:

Fire

Immunities:

Freeze
Sleep
Chill

Elemental Attack:

Cold

“Once upon a time, we classified these as demons of sloth, but we learned that despair demons are something quite different. They are not the antithesis of justice or valor, but rather hope. They form nightmares tearing away the foundations of self and purpose. When brought into the world, they are most attracted to places the downtrodden populate: alienages, slums, prisons, and the like. The miasma they spread can lead to extreme behavior. We look for a rash of unexplained suicides, men and women so filled with grief they lash out. The most intelligent of these creatures are to be feared, for they not only feed on despair, they understand its causes...and seek to bring it about. From the shadows they ruin lives, drinking the tears of those who have no idea the cause of their misery is not random chance.”

— From a lecture by renowned hunter Ser Hayward, of the Templar Order

Fear Demon

Locale: Various

Level Range: 12-30

Health Modifier: 1.75

Armor: Average

Resistances: None

Vulnerabilities:

Electricity
Spirit

Immunities:

Fear
Freeze
Sleep
Weaken

Elemental Attack:

Spirit

“Imagine, if you will, the most basic impulses possessed by mankind. Rage? Hunger? Perhaps the most primal is fear. Even the youngest of us understands this concept, and the raw power of it drives almost all else. A demon that preys upon fear is not the most sophisticated sort of creature. They mimic forms they see in the nightmares of mortals, hoping to elicit the response they crave. Some of the demons, however, stumble upon terrors that are much more deeply rooted: fears of the future, of chaos and disorder, of failure. This sort of demon develops a far more refined palate, attacking the psyche of their target rather than seeking a simple scare. Beware the fear demon that gorges upon the terror of not only a single nightmare but of a nation, for it will grow to such a size that it dominates the Fade.”

— From a lecture by renowned templar Ser Hayward

Pride Demon

Locale: Various

Level Range: 12-30

Health Modifier: 2

Armor: Very High

Resistances:

Electricity

Vulnerabilities: None

Immunities:

Physical Effects
Freeze
Sleep
Paralyze
Shock

Elemental Attack:

Electricity

“The most powerful demons yet encountered are the pride demons, perhaps because they, among all their kind, most resemble men; as clever and manipulative as the desire demon, with a penchant for cruel irony that is almost human. While the demons of desire largely engage in the bribery of mortals, pride will use mortals’ own best nature against them. Clever men outwit themselves. Strong men crush themselves. Humble men forget themselves. Jealous men fear themselves. They turn corruption and ruin into an art.”

— From Beyond the Veil: Spirits and Demons, by Enchanter Mirdromel

Rage Demon

Locale: Various

Level Range: 8-30

Health Modifier: 1.5

Armor: High

Resistances:

Fire

Vulnerabilities:

Cold

Immunities:

Burning
Physical Effects*
Fear*
Paralyze*
Sleep*
Taunt*

Elemental Attack:

Fire

* Only when enraged

“Encountered in the Fade, the true form of a rage demon is a frightening sight: a creature of pure fire, seemingly made of amorphous lava, its eyes pinpricks of baleful light radiating from its core. The abilities of such a demon center on the fire it generates. It burns those who come near, and the most powerful are able to lash out with bolts of fire and even firestorms affecting entire areas. Fortunately, even powerful rage demons are less intelligent than other varieties. Their tactics are simple: Attack enemies on sight with as much force as possible until they perish. Some rage demons carry their heat-based abilities into possessed hosts; otherwise one rarely sees their true form outside the Fade unless mages specifically summon one to do their bidding.”

— Transcript of a lecture given by Vheren, Templar-Commander of Tantervale, 6:86 Steel

Shade

Locale: Various

Level Range: 1-30

Health Modifier: 1.1

Armor: Low

Resistances: None

Vulnerabilities: None

Immunities: None

“These demons watch. They lurk. They envy. In time, such a demon will learn to drain energy from the psyche of those it encounters, just as it did in the Fade. Once it has drained enough, it has the power to manifest and will forever be known as a shade. Such a creature spurns possession. It instead floats as a shadow across its piece of land, preying upon the psyche of any who cross its path. Perhaps it believes itself still in the Fade? There is evidence to believe this is so.”

— From Beyond the Veil: Spirits and Demons, by Enchanter Mirdromel

Terror

Locale: Various

Level Range: 1-30

Health Modifier: 1.5

Armor: Low

Resistances: None

Vulnerabilities:

Spirit

Immunities:

Fear

“But we all heard something different, you see? One of the others said he’d run into darkspawn at Ostagar, and the scream he heard was from something called a ‘shriek.’ Another said it was a dragon roar, just like the beast that burned his family. That’s when I knew what was out there was a demon. Something that wasn’t just looking to make us afraid—it wanted us gibbering in terror. It wanted us running for our lives. And we did. I couldn’t rightly tell you what it even looked like. There was something in the shadows, and even though we were ready when it let out that howl, I turned and ran. I couldn’t even control myself. My bowels turned to water, I dropped my sword, and I took off. It was only later when I realized I was separated from the others, and that there were more of those demons out there, hungry for more of my panicked tears.”

— From a report given by Haren, soldier of the Ferelden Army, 9:15 Dragon

Wraith

Locale: Various

Level Range: 1-30

Health Modifier: 0.35

Armor: Very Low

Resistances:

Fire*
Cold*
Electricity*

Vulnerabilities: None

Immunities:

Physical Effects
Poison
Weaken*
Burning*
Shock*
Chill*

Elemental Attack:

Spirit**

* Gains special attributes depending on which demon is nearby:

Weaken Immunity: Fear Demon
Burn Immunity and Fire Resistance: Rage Demon
Chill Immunity and Cold Resistance: Despair Demon
Shock Immunity and Electricity Resistance: Pride Demon

** Wraiths take on the elemental attack of nearby demons. Otherwise they default to spirit.

“Like wisps, wraiths are sometimes thought to be the remains of spirits or demons that have been destroyed. They cannot shape the Fade around themselves, nor are they capable of mimicking forms they see in the minds of dreamers as many weaker spirits do. Instead, they are the scavengers of the Fade, dwelling in the shadows of stronger beings, feeding on scraps of thought and emotion.”

— From Beyond the Veil: Spirits and Demons, by Enchanter Mirdromel