Darkspawn talk. Broodmothers birth fiendish children. A more powerful dragon lurks in the ethereal regions of the Blackmarsh. In Awakening, more devastating monsters join the ranks of your original foes, and you'll be hard-pressed to stop the tide without a stalwart party.
As with Dragon Age: Origins, statistics for monsters are dynamic; they scale to the player's level. This makes for a challenging experience, because you won't run into an area that's way too easy or way too difficult; you can enjoy the gameplay right along with the story.
The following Bestiary showcases the game's monsters, including each one's rank, class, primary stats, description, and play tips on how to avoid the monsters' attacks and how to defeat the diabolical denizens.
Each creature falls in one of seven ranks. Normal is on par with the PC. Weak Normal, Critter, and One-Hit descend in power from a creature barely a challenge to the PC to a creature you can eliminate in a single stroke.
On the other side, Lieutenant is a creature slightly above the PC's level, Boss is a creature meant to take on an entire party, and Elite Boss is the toughest of the tough and taking it down will require an expert party and all their skills.
Rank Types & Monster Ranks
Label
Health Scaling
Bonus Stat Points
Level Scaling
Damage Capability
Resistance to Various Attacks
Resistance Maximum
Loot Drops
Chance to Steal From
Stealth Detection
One-Hit Kill
Very Low
N/A
2 behind player
Very Low
Average
0
Very Low
Very High
Average
Critter
Low
N/A
3 behind player
Very Low
Average
0
Very Low
Very High
Average
Weak Normal
Fair
N/A
2 behind player
Low
Fair
25%
Low
Very High
Average
Normal
Moderate
N/A
1 behind player
Moderate
Average
50%
Fair
Moderate
Average
Player
Average
N/A
Average
Average
Average
75%
N/A
Very High
Moderate
Lieutenant
Above Average
Fair
Average
Average
Above Average
75%
Above Average
Fair
Above Average
Boss
High
Above Average
1 ahead of player
Average
High
100%
High
Low
High
Elite Boss
Very High
Very High
2 ahead of player
Very High
Very High
100%
Very High
Very Low
Very High
The higher the rating, the higher the health.
The higher the rating, the more stat points each target gets.
Level target is compared to the PC.
The higher the rating, the more damage the target does.
The higher the rating, the greater the resistance to an array of things.
The maximum amount of damage this rank could possibly resist from a certain type of attack (in percentage).
The higher the ratings here, the better chance of loot drops.
The higher the rating, the harder it is to steal from the target.
The higher the rating, the easier it is for the enemy to detect a stealthed character.
Creature classes can include either the base classes (like Warrior or Mage) or monster-specific classes, which determine attributes and general combat roles. The possible monster-specific classes are:
Monster-Tank
Monster-High Damage
Monster-Agile
Monster-Balanced Physical
Monster-Spirit
Monster-Balanced Mental
Monster-Spellcaster
Creature attributes are all ranked on a ten-point scale, from Very Low to Superior. The possible attribute ranks, from best to worst, are:
Superior
Very High
High
Above Average
Average
Moderate
Fair
Meager
Low
Very Low
Knowing these attribute strengths can give you the advantage in combat. For example, a creature with a high strength score will deal significant melee damage and take less in return. A creature with low willpower won't have much stamina or mana and will not be able to continuosly hit you with abilities.
After each monster description, look for play tips on how to overcome the creature's abilities and how to defeat the beast. After you encounter a monster several times you'll probably know what to expect, but it's useful to study up on creatures for your first few encounters.
When you want to know more about the creatures that inhabit the arling of Amaranthine, check out your codex. The first time you encounter a monster, you receive a codex entry which contains interesting and useful information for that monster. You'll learn anything from the telekinetic abilities of revenants to the factions of the darkspawn disciples.
The following chart presents monster abilities. They are grouped by type but may not be exclusive because some monsters share abilities (for example, the Dark Theurge relies on an array of electricity-based spells). In addition, the last chart contains a shared group of general abilities.
Note that if a certain monster isn't on this chart, it's because it primarily uses basic attacks. Passive abilities cover general stats, resistances, and bonuses, while active abilities cover specific attacks or actions. You can generally react to active abilities either to prevent them by stunning the creature before it has a chance to follow through, or to escape the arrea of effect.
The Toughest of the Tough
You know when you see a red bar above your foe's name that it's going to be a long battle. Any boss-ranked creatures receive a bonus of 2,000 health while elite boss-ranked creatures receive a bonus of 5,000 health.
Monster Abillities
Abomination
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Rage
The abomination enters a rage, gaining bonuses to damage and movement speed for a short time.
Active
Slam
The abomination slams its target, dealing critical damage and draining it of mana or stamina. The attack knocks the target down unless it passes a physical resistance check.
Active
Triple Strike
The abomination strikes its target three times, dealing normal damage with each hit, and stunning on the third hit.
Active
Whirlwind
The abomination creates a whirlwind around itself, dealing spirit damage to all nearby enemies and stunning them unless they pass a physical resistance check.
Passive
Abomination Properties
The abomination has natural bonuses to strength and electricity resistance (strength +5, electricity +25).
Arcane Horror
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Drain
The arcane horror draws mana or stamina from all nearby enemies and deals spirit damage at the same time. It regains a fraction of the drained mana and stamina as health.
Active
Restore
The arcane horror restores some health and mana or stamina to nearby allies, including itself.
Active
Spirit Blast
The arcane horror shoots a blast of energy at its opponent, dealing spirit damage.
Active
Swarm
The arcane horror forces its allies to attack the target, which is rooted in place unless it passes a physical resistance check.
Passive
Arcane Horror Properties
The arcane horror has natural bonuses to magic, spellpower, and magic resistance (spellpower +10, magic +20, magic resistance +20).
The Architect
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Cataclysm
The caster summons a storm of flame and cascading rock that pelts targets with constant fire damage. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Flare
The caster hurls a violent burst of energy at the target, inflicting fire damage.
Active
Shivering Shot
The caster hurls an icy projectile at the target, inflicting cold damage.
The ash wraith leaps on its target, dealing critical damage and draining it of mana or stamina. The attack stuns the target unless it passes a physical resistance check.
Bear
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Overwhelm
The bear leaps upon its target, pinning it to the ground and attacking it repeatedly.
Active
Rage
The bear becomes enraged, gaining a bonus to strength and a penalty to defense for a short time.
Active
Slam
The bear slams the target. If the attack hits, it deals critical damage and knocks the target down unless it passes a physical resistance check.
Passive
Bear Properties
The bear has natural bonuses to nature resistance and armor (nature resistance +50, armor +10).
The sylvan enters a rage, giving itself a bonus to damage for a short time and waking up other nearby sylvans. If the sylvan is a boss-level creature, it also generates an insect swarm that inflicts damage over time and penalties to attack, defense, and movement speed.
Active
Roots
The sylvan snares nearby targets with its roots, immobilizing them and dealing physical damage for a short time. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Stomp
The sylvan stomps, damaging nearby targets and knocking them down. Friendly fire possible.
Passive
Wild Sylvan Properties
The sylvan has natural bonuses to armor and health, but a large penalty to fire resistance (armor +5, health +25, fire -50).
The Children
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Capricious Demise
If the childer dies while this mode is active, it detonates, inflicting significant nature damage to all nearby enemies.
Active
Leap
The creature jumps to a targeted location.
Active
Sprout
While this mode is active, the childer grub morphs into a more aggressive hatchling.
Active
Metamorphosis
The childer hatchling morphs into a more aggressive adult.
Active
Overwhelm
The childer leaps upon its target, pinning it to the ground and attacking it repeatedly. With each successful attack, the childer gains health.
Active
Pincer Flurry
The childer begins a furious series of attacks that inflict increasing damage with each consecutive hit.
Active
Spit
The childer spits acid at the target, inflicting nature damage.
Active
Virulent Burst
The childer snaps its arms out, splashing surrounding enemies with mucus that causes nature damage over time, inflicts a penalty to movement speed, and knocks foes down unless they pass a physical resistance check.
Passive
Childer Properties
Health +150, magic resistance +10.
Corpse
Category
Ability Name
Description
Passive
Cold Affinity
This creature has a large natural bonus to cold resistance, but a penalty to fire resistance (cold resistance +75, fire resistance -25).
The Dark Theurge
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Lightning Spells
The Dark Theurge relies on its many electricity-based spells to hamper a party.
Deepstalker
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Acid Spit
The stalker spits at its target, dealing nature damage for a short time and possibly stunning the opponent.
Active
Overwhelm
The stalker leaps upon its target, pinning it to the ground and attacking it repeatedly.
Active
Scare
The stalker scares its target, giving it a penalty to attack for a short time.
Active
Slowing Spit
The stalker spits at its target, giving the target an attack penalty for a short time and slowing its movement rate unless it passes a physical resistance check.
Desire Demon
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Cursed Dance
The desire demon inflicts a curse on all nearby enemies. Females are knocked down and take penalties to all resistances. Males cannot heal for a time. Enemies also take spirit damage for a time and fall asleep unless they pass a mental resistance check.
Active
Scream
The desire demon lets out a horrible scream, dealing spirit damage to all nearby enemies and stunning them for a short time unless they pass a mental resistance check.
Disciple
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Cimmerian Might
For as long as this mode is active, the disciple gains a bonus to damage.
Active
Cimmerian Shield
For as long as this mode is active, the disciple gains a bonus to armor, although it becomes more vulnerable to damage from magic.
Active
Wraithwall
For as long as this mode is active, the disciple gains bonuses to fire, cold, electricity, nature, and spirit resistance, but becomes more vulnerable to physical damage.
The dragon flaps its wings, dealing physical damage to targets in the area and knocking them back. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Flame Breath
The dragon breathes flame, dealing major fire damage to all targets in the area.
Active
Overwhelm
The dragon leaps upon its target, pinning it to the ground and attacking it repeatedly.
Active
Rake
The dragon rakes its opponent, dealing critical damage and knocking it down.
Active
Roar
The dragon lets out a fearsome roar, stunning enemies within range and giving them a penalty to attack and defense for a short time.
Active
Shred
The dragon shreds a target, dealing normal damage on each hit, but penetrating armor easily.
Active
Slap
The dragon slaps with its tail, dealing normal damage to targets in the area and knocking them down. Friendly fire possible.
Passive
Dragon Properties
The dragon has a large natural bonus to fire resistance (fire resistance +90, armor +5).
Dragonling
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Flame Breath
The dragonling breathes flame, dealing fire damage to enemies in the area and making them burn for a short time. Friendly fire possible.
Genlock
Category
Ability Name
Description
Passive
Genlock Properties
Magic resistance +5, mental resistance +3.
Ghoul
Category
Ability Name
Description
Passive
Unholy Swarm
Ghouls try to swarm around their target to increase flanking damage.
High Dragon
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Buffet
The high dragon flaps its wings, dealing physical damage to all targets in the area and knocking them back. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Dragon Breath
The high dragon breathes fire, dealing major fire damage to all targets in the area. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Fire Spit
The high dragon spits a ball of fire, which explodes violently. All targets in the area take fire damage and burn for a short time. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Grab
The high dragon grabs a target and strikes it repeatedly, dealing normal damage with each hit.
Active
Roar
The high dragon lets out a fearsome roar, stunning targets within range and giving them a penalty to attack and defense for a short time. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Slap
The high dragon slaps with its tail, dealing normal damage to targets in the area and knocking them down. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Sweep
The high dragon sweeps the area around it, hitting all targets in the area and knocking them down. Friendly fire possible.
The golem becomes engulfed in flame, dealing fire damage to all enemies in the area.
Active
Searing Quake
The golem slams the ground three times, dealing continual fire damage to all nearby creatures and stunning them unless they pass a physical resistance check. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Searing Slam
The golem slams the target. If the attack hits, it deals significant fire damage and knocks the target down.
The Mother
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Animus Lash
The broodmother whips her tentacle in a wide arc, damaging all nearby creatures and knocking them down unless they pass a physical resistance check. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Grab
The broodmother grabs a target with her tentacle and crushes it repeatedly, dealing normal damage with each hit.
Active
Rotting Gas
The broodmother unleashes her built-up intestinal gasses on nearby targets, inflicting nature damage for the duration the cloud persists. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Scream
The broodmother lets out a horrible scream. Nearby targets are knocked off their feet, while those farther away are stunned and those farther still are merely disoriented. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Slam
The broodmother slams out her tentacles, dealing normal damage to targets in the area and knocking them off their feet unless they pass a physical resistance check. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Spit
The broodmother spits acid at its target, dealing nature damage.
Active
Sweep
The broodmother lashes out, dealing normal damage and knocking down or stunning targets in the area. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Tentacle Ward
For as long as this mode is active, the broodmother's tentacle curls into a defensive position, granting it a significant bonus to armor and a chance to resist hostile magic.
Active
Vomit
The broodmother spews vomit and bile, dealing nature damage to all targets in the area. Friendly fire possible.
Passive
Broodmother Properties
The broodmother has large natural bonuses to mental resistance, nature resistance, and armor (mental resistance +75, nature damage resistance +75, armor +2).
The ogre picks up its opponent, striking it repeatedly for normal damage while holding it in the air.
Active
Hurl
The ogre hurls a rock at the target, damaging all nearby targets and knocking them down unless they pass a physical resistance check. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Ram
The ogre gores its opponent with its horns, knocking the target off its feet and dealing critical damage unless it passes a physical resistance check.
Active
Stomp
The ogre slams the ground, sending out a shockwave. Targets in the area take physical damage and are knocked off their feet unless they pass a physical resistance check. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Sweep
The ogre slams its target with both fists, knocking the enemy down and dealing critical damage unless the target passes a physical resistance check.
Passive
Ogre Properties
Cold resistance +20, magic resistance +10. Ogres can only have one of the two possible passive ability sets.
Passive
Ogre Properties
Spirit resistance +15, damage + 1. Ogres can only have one of the two possible passive ability sets.
Pride Demon
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Drain
The demon grabs a target, creating a sinister bond that drains the target's life energy to heal the demon.
Active
Fire Blast
An explosion of flame bursts from the pride demon, doing fire damage to all nearby enemies and causing them to burn for a short time. Enemies are knocked back unless they pass physical resistance check.
Active
Fire Bolt
The pride demon shoots a bolt of fire at a target, inflicting fire damage and causing it to burn for a short time.
Active
Frost Bolt
The pride demon shoots a bolt of frost at an opponent, doing cold damage and freezing it solid unless it passes a physical resistance check.
Active
Frost Burst
An explosion of frost bursts from the pride demon, doing cold damage to all nearby enemies, who are frozen solid for a short time unless they pass a physical resistance check.
Active
Mana Wave
An explosion of mana bursts from the pride demon, dispelling all effects from opponents in the area and draining them of their mana or stamina.
Active
Shockwave
The demon slams the ground, creating a linear shockwave that deals normal damage to all creatures in the area and knocks them off their feet unless they pass a physical resistance check. Friendly fire possible.
Passive
Pride Demon Properties
The pride demon has natural bonuses to mana regeneration, spellpower, and armor (mana combat regen +1, spellpower +5, armor +5).
Queen of the Blackmarsh
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Lightning Breath
The dragon breathes lightning, dealing major electrical damage to all targets in the area. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Lightning Spit
The dragon spits a ball of lightning that explodes violently. All creatures in the area take electrical damage for a short time. Friendly fire possible.
The rage demon shoots a bolt of fire at a target, inflicting fire damage and causing it to burn for a short time.
Active
Fire Burst
The rage demon creates a burst of lava at a targeted location. Targets in the area take fire damage for a short time. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Slam
The rage demon slams an opponent, dealing critical damage, which ignores a portion of its armor.
Revenant
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Double Strike
The revenant strikes nearby targets twice. If the attacks hit, they deal less than normal damage. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Mass Pull
The revenant draws all nearby enemies into melee range.
Active
Pull
The revenant draws the target into melee range.
Passive
Revenant Properties
The revenant has natural bonuses to mental resistance, stamina regeneration, and armor (mental resistance +75, stamina regeneration +1, armor +2).
Shriek
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Frenzy
The shriek strikes at its opponent four times in a frenzy, dealing normal damage each time.
Active
Leap
The shriek leaps on its target, dealing normal damage and knocking the target down unless it passes a physical resistance check.
Active
Overwhelm
The shriek leaps upon its target, pinning it to the ground and attacking it repeatedly.
Active
Terrorize
The shriek wails, dealing spirit damage to nearby enemies and stunning them unless they pass a mental resistance check. Werewolves within the area are enraged, gaining a bonus to damage for a short time.
Skeleton
Category
Ability Name
Description
Passive
Rise from the Grave
Skeletons frequently lie on the ground as inert bones until enemies pass over them and then they rise up to ambush an unsuspecting party.
Spider
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Overwhelm
The spider leaps upon its target, pinning it to the ground and attacking it repeatedly.
Active
Web
The spider fires a web at the target, immobilizing it for a short time.
Passive
Spider Properties
The spider has a large natural bonus to nature resistance (nature resistance +75, fire resistance -10).
Steel Golem
Category
Ability Name
Description
Passive
Steel Golem Properties
The steel golem has large natural bonuses to electrical and cold resistance (electrical and cold resistance +50).
Stone Golem
Category
Ability Name
Description
Passive
Stone Golem Properties
The stone golem has large natural bonuses to fire resistance and cold resistance (fire and cold resistance +50).
Wild Sylvan
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Rage
The sylvan enters a rage, giving itself a bonus to damage for a short time and waking up other nearby sylvans. If the sylvan is a boss-level creature, it also generates an insect swarm that inflicts damage over time and penalties to attack, defense, and movement speed.
Active
Roots
The sylvan snares nearby targets with its roots, immobilizing them and dealing physical damage for a short time. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Stomp
The sylvan stomps, damaging nearby targets and knocking them down. Friendly fire possible.
Passive
Wild Sylvan Properties
The sylvan has natural bonuses to armor and health, but a large penalty to fire resistance (armor +5, health +25, fire resistance -50).
Wisp
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Lightning Strike
The wisp fires a bolt of lightning at its target, dealing a small amount of electrical damage.
Passive
Wisp Properties
The wisp has natural bonuses to armor and defense, but a penalty to health (armor +3, defense +10, health -20).
Wolf
Category
Ability Name
Description
Passive
Flank Attack
Wolves like to hunt in packs and surround their victims for easier attacks.
Shared Abilities
Darkspawn
Category
Ability Name
Description
Passive
Darkspawn Resistances
Darkspawn have a natural bonus to nature resistance, but a penalty to fire resistance. (fire resistance -15, nature resistance +25, attack +7 [off set all weapons giving -10 to attack])
Demon
Category
Ability Name
Description
Passive
Demon Properties
The demon has natural bonuses to spellpower, armor, and health regeneration (spellpower +5, armor +5, health regeneration in combat +1).
Passive
Demon Resistances
The demon has a large natural bonus to fire resistance (fire resistance +50, spirit resistance +5).
Golem
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Hurl
The golem hurls a rock at the target, damaging all nearby targets and knocking them down unless they pass a physical resistance check. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Lightning Burst
The golem unleashes a burst of energy at the target, dealing electrical damage to all enemies in the area.
Active
Quake
The golem slams the ground three times, dealing damage to all nearby targets and stunning them unless they pass a physical resistance check. Friendly fire possible.
Active
Slam
The golem slams the target. If the attack hits, it deals critical damage and knocks the target down.
Passive
Golem Properties
The golem has natural bonuses to physical resistance and armor, but a penalty to defense (physical resistance +50, armor +10, defense -10).
Select Monsters
Category
Ability Name
Description
Active
Aura of Corruption
The creature radiates a damaging aura to opponents in a small radius.
Active
Aura of Fire
An aura of flame surrounds the creature. Enemies within the aura take continuous fire damage until they leave the area.
Active
Aura of Healing
The creature is surrounded by an aura that heals allies continuously until they leave the area.
Active
Aura of Weakness
An aura of draining energy surrounds the creature. Enemies within the aura suffer penalties to attack and defense until they leave the area, as well as a penalty to movement speed unless they pass a physical resistance check.
Active
Corruption Burst
A burst of corrupted energy emanates from the creature. All opponents within the area affected take spirit damage for a short time and suffer a penalty to attack.
Active
Paralyze
The creature paralyzes its foe for a short time.
Active
Poison Spit
The creature spits poison on its target, dealing nature damage for a short time.
Active
Shred
The creature cuts through an opponent with a sharp melee attack.
