Weapons — Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening eGuide

If your character loves to hack-and-slash, you'll be happy to scrutinize every weapon. Even if you don't jump into the thick of things often, a weapon can still provide valuable bonuses to attributes and special abilities.

What weapon is the right fit for you? First, identify what sort of weapon you want to carry around: a one-handed melee weapon, a two-hander, or a ranged bow or crossbow for distance damage. Next, check out the weapon's tier level. Tiers range from tier 1 to tier 9. Generally the higher tier equals more damage and will prove more useful. Compare the weapon's damage score to other weapons you have in your inventory (or at local vendors) and choose the highest damage score if other bonuses don't matter. For stats on the general Tier 8 and Tier 9 weapons in Awakening, see the following table.

General Weapon Stats

Type & Tier	Requirement	Damage	Armor Penetration	Critical Chance	Range	Spellpower	Rune Slots
Staff - Tier 8 - White Steel	40 Magic	6.8	45	NA	60	8	3
Staff - Tier 9 - Volcanic Aurum	46 Magic	7.2	50	NA	62.5	10	3
Axe - Tier 8 - White Steel	35 Strength	10.2	4.5	1.7	NA	NA	3
Axe - Tier 9 - Volcanic Aurum	41 Strength	10.8	5	1.8	NA	NA	3
Battleaxe - Tier 8 - White Steel	42 Strength	17	6.75	5.1	NA	NA	3
Battleaxe - Tier 9 - Volcanic Aurum	48 Strength	18	7.5	5.4	NA	NA	3
Dagger - Tier 8 - White Steel	34 Dexterity	6.8	9	5.1	NA	NA	3
Dagger - Tier 9 - Volcanic Aurum	40 Dexterity	7.2	10	5.4	NA	NA	3
Greatsword - Tier 8 - White Steel	42 Strength	18.7	6.75	2.55	NA	NA	3
Greatsword - Tier 9 - Volcanic Aurum	48 Strength	19.8	7.5	2.7	NA	NA	3
Longsword - Tier 8 - White Steel	35 Strength	11.9	4.5	3.4	NA	NA	3
Longsword - Tier 9 - Volcanic Aurum	41 Strength	12.6	5	3.6	NA	NA	3
Mace - Tier 8 - White Steel	36 Strength	8.5	9	0.85	NA	NA	3
Mace - Tier 9 - Volcanic Aurum	42 Strength	9	10	0.9	NA	NA	3
Maul - Tier 8 - White Steel	42 Strength	15.3	15.75	0.85	NA	NA	3
Maul - Tier 9 - Volcanic Aurum	48 Strength	16.2	17.5	0.9	NA	NA	3
Longbow - Tier 8 - Vhenadahl	38 Dexterity	10.2	10	1.7	49	NA	3
Longbow - Tier 9 - Ancestral Heartwood	44 Dexterity	10.8	11	1.8	52.5	NA	3
Short Bow - Tier 8 - Vhenadahl	34 Dexterity	8.5	7.5	1.7	28	NA	3
Short Bow - Tier 9 - Ancestral Heartwood	40 Dexterity	9	8.25	1.8	30	NA	3
Crossbow - Tier 8 - Vhenadahl	34 Strength	13.6	12.5	3.4	56	NA	3
Crossbow - Tier 9 - Ancestral Heartwood	40 Strength	14.4	13.75	3.6	60	NA	3

Certain weapons have restrictions, such as staves can only be used by mages. Sell those items you receive if nobody in your party can use them. Below your damage score, critical chance shows you the likelihood of dealing critical strikes, and armor penetration calculates how much more damage you can punch through armor. Higher values in critical chance and armor penetration can lean you toward one weapon over another that may have a similar damage score.

As you level up, more and more weapons (as well as armor and accessories) will come with attribute bonuses and special abilities. Now you must decide: Do you take the weapon with the greater damage score, or do you choose the weapon with the better bonuses? If you're playing pure DPS, damage may be the most important factor. If your play style is more versatile, bonuses tend to be the way to go. Ideally, you will find a weapon that has the maximum damage score for your level range and great bonuses to power your character up.

Unique Weapons

Axes

Item Name	Material	Quality #1	Quality #2	Quality #3	Quality #4	Quality #5	Item Location
Ancient Dwarven Axe	Dragonbone	Damage +1	Armor Penetration +2	—	—	—	Sigrun
Aodh	Silverite	+3% Melee Critical Chance	+20 Fire Resistance	-5 Cold Resistance	+1 Fire Damage	—	Glassric’s Wares in Amaranthine
Biteback Axe	Silverite	Armor Penetration +1.5	+15% Critical Damage	Required: Rogue	No Attribute Requirements	—	Glassric’s Wares in Amaranthine
Daisycutter	Volcanic Aurum	Telekinetic	Melee Crit Chance +3	—	—	—	Avvar Sarcophagus in Vigil’s Keep Basement
Darkspawn Waraxe	All Metal	Cunning +2	Armor Penetration +2	—	—	—	Kal’Hirol
Heirsplitter	Dragonbone	Damage +2	Attack +4	Crit Damage +10%	—	—	Kal’Hirol

Battleaxes

Item Name

Material

Quality #1

Quality #2

Quality #3

Quality #4

Quality #5

Item Location

Darkspawn Battleaxe

All Metal

Cunning +2

Armor Penetration +2

—

Kal’Hirol

Darkspawn Ravager

Silverite

Melee Crit Chance +2

Attack +4

—

Oghren

Frenzy

White Steel

Combat Health Regen +0.5

Damage +5

Chance to Ignore Hostile Magic +10%

Attack +10

—

Shrine of Korth or Glassric’s Wares

Crossbows

Item Name	Material	Quality #1	Quality #2	Quality #3	Quality #4	Quality #5	Item Location
Beastmaster	Dragonthorn	Damage +2	Faster Aim +0.3	—	—	—	Chest on Vigil’s Keep Battlements
Darkspawn Crossbow	Ash Wood	Cunning +2	Damage +2	Ranged Crit Chance +3	—	—	Kah’Hirol
Longshot	Ancestral Heartwood	Faster Aim +0.4	Attack +10	Damage +10	Ranged Crit Chance +15	—	Glassric’s Wares in Amaranthine

Daggers

Item Name	Material	Quality #1	Quality #2	Quality #3	Quality #4	Quality #5	Item Location
Crow Dagger	Silverite	Critical/Backstab Damage +15%	—	—	—	—	Dwarven Bartender in Crown and Lion
Darkspawn Dagger	All Metal	Cunning +2	Damage +2	—	—	—	Kal’Hirol
Dumat’s Claw	Dragonbone	Attack +2	Damage +2	Defense +9	When equipped with the sword Dumat’s Spine, the character is immune to flanking.	—	Pirate Leader in Random Encounter
Fang	Veridium	+6 Attack					Crow Assassin
The Rose’s Thorn	Dragonbone	+2 Dexterity	+1.0 Combat Health Regeneration	+3 Damage	+5% Melee Critical Chance	+30% Critical Damage	Smuggler Leader
Scout’s Dirk	Dragonbone	—	—	—		—	Sigrun
Talon of the Skies	Dragonbone	Attack +4	Melee Crit Chance +10	Fire Damage +2	When equipped with the dagger Tooth of the Mountain-Father, the character gains a bonus to stamina regeneration.	—	Glassric’s Wares in Amaranthine
Thorn of the Dead Gods	Silverite	+3 Damage	Armor Penetration +3	—	—	—	Dwarven Bartender in Crown and Lion
Tooth of the Mountain-Father	Volcanic Aurum	Damage +1	Armor Penetration +5	When equipped with the dagger Talon of the Skies, the character gains a bonus to stamina regeneration.	—	—	Mosley the Snake in Forlorn Cove
Twinblade	Dragonbone	Restrict: Player	Melee Crit Chance +1	Armor Penetration +1	Attack +2	—	Player
Voice of Velvet	Volcanic Aurum	Damage +3, Cold Damage +5	Combat Health Regen +1	Melee Crit Chance +5	Chance to Dodge Attacks +25%	Crit Damage +100%	Dwarven Bartender in Crown and Lion

Greatswords

Item Name	Material	Quality #1	Quality #2	Quality #3	Quality #4	Quality #5	Item Location
Balanced Greatsword	Iron	No Attribute Requirements	—	—	—	—	Garevel
Darkspawn Greatsword	Grey Iron	Cunning +2	Damage +2	—	—	—	Kal’Hirol
Dragonbrand	Volcanic Aurum	Armor Penetration +3	Combat Stamina Regen +1	Attack +10	Constitution +5	—	Dragonhunter Corpse in Random Encounter
The Mother’s Chosen	White Steel	Cunning +2	Armor Penetration +2	Attack +4	—	—	The First
Ornamental Sword	Iron	Lucky	-5 Attack	-1 Damage	—	—	Garevel or Varel
Ser Alvard’s Sword	Dragonbone	Fire Resistance +20	Attack +10	Chance to ignite target +10%	—	—	Decomposing Crate in Blackmarsh or Avvar Lord
Warden’s Reach	Dragonbone	Restrict: Player	Crit Damage +15%	—	—	—	Player
Yusaris	Silverite	+20 Fire Resistance	Damage vs. Dragons +10	—	—	—	Glassric’s Wares in Amaranthine

Longbows

Item Name	Material	Quality #1	Quality #2	Quality #3	Quality #4	Quality #5	Item Location
Bow of the Golden Sun	Sylvanwood	+4 Attack	—	—	—	—	Dwarven Bartender in Crown and Lion
Chasind Arm	Dragonbone	Damage +3	Attack +8	—	—	—	Goodwife Turnoble
Commission	Dragonthorn	Restrict: Player	Faster Aim +0.1	Attack +4	Ranged Crit Chance +3	—	Player
Darkspawn Longbow	Ash Wood	Attack +2	Cunning +2	Armor Penetration +2	—	—	Kal’Hirol
Howe Bow	Ancestral Heartwood	Restriction: Nathaniel	Faster Aim +.2	Attack +4	Damage +3	Ranged Crit Chance +5%	Bag in Avvar Crypt
Mage’s Eye	Dragonthorn	+3% Ranged Critical Chance	+4 Attack	—	—	—	Dwarven Bartender in Crown and Lion
Misery	Ancestral Heartwood	Faster Aim +0.5	Armor Penetration +2.5	Attack +10	Ranged Crit Chance +10	—	Dwarven Bartender in Crown and Lion
Spear-Thrower	Sylvanwood	0.3s Faster Aim	+5 Armor Penetration	—	—	—	Smuggler Leader

Longswords

Item Name	Material	Quality #1	Quality #2	Quality #3	Quality #4	Quality #5	Item Location
Darkspawn Longsword	Grey Iron	Cunning +2	Damage +2	—	—	—	Kal’Hirol
Dumat’s Spine	White Steel	Combat Stamina Regen +0.75	Attack +6	Crit Damage +25%	When equipped with the dagger Dumat’s Claw, the character is immune to flanking.	—	Weapon Stand in Throne Room
Gorim’s Sword	Red Steel	—	—	—	—	—	Constable Aidan
Imperial Edge	Silverite	Damage +2	Melee Critical Chance +3%	Attack +6	—	—	Glassric’s Wares in Amaranthine
Kallak	White Steel	Crit Damage +10%	When equipped with the shield Partha, the character gains a bonus to stamina regeneration.	—	—	—	Avvar Lord in Vigil’s Keep Basement
Keening Blade	Dragonbone	+4 Armor Penetration	+6 Attack	Required: Warrior	+3 Cold Damage		Avvar Lord in Vigil’s Keep Basement
Warden’s Companion	Dragonbone	Restrict: Player	Armor Penetration +1	Attack +4	Dexterity +2	—	Player
The Winter Blade	Dragonbone	Armor Penetration +1	Attack +4	—	—	—	Utha in Drake’s Fall

Maces

Item Name	Material	Quality #1	Quality #2	Quality #3	Quality #4	Quality #5	Item Location
Chevalier’s Mace	Steel	+5 Cold Resistance	Spirit Resistance -5	+2 Cold Damage	—	—	Weapon Stand in Throne Room
Darkspawn Mace	Grey Iron	Attack +2	Cunning +2	—	—	—	Kal’Hirol
Engraved Mace	Veridium	+1 Dexterity	+1 Damage	+5 Mental Resistance			Glassric’s Wares in Amaranthine
The Lamented	Dragonbone	Strength +3	Constitution +3	—	—	—	Justice
Liberator’s Mace	Red Steel	+1 Dexterity	+3% Melee Critical Chance	—	—	—	Ser Rylock
Skullcrusher	White Steel	Armor Penetration +2	Attack +6	—	—	—	Chest in Blackmarsh
Vanguard	Silverite	+3 Strength	+3 Constitution	+1.0 Combat Stamina Regeneration	—	—	Kristoff’s Corpse in Blackmarsh

Mauls

Item Name	Material	Quality #1	Quality #2	Quality #3	Quality #4	Quality #5	Item Location
Darkspawn Maul	Grey Iron	Attack +2	Cunning +2	—	—	—	Kal’Hirol
Demonslayer	Dragonbone	Armor Penetration +2	Damage +5	Damage vs. Undead +20	—	—	Glassric’s Wares in Amaranthine
Exalted Maul	Silverite	+2 Willpower	+10 Mental Resistance	Damage vs. Undead +4	—	—	Glassric’s Wares in Amaranthine
Leg-Crusher	White Steel	Melee Crit Chance +5	—	—	—	—	Hurlock Dragno-Tamer in Silverite Mine
Thorval’s Luck	Silverite	+10% to Healing Spells	+4 Attack	+10 Physical Resistance	—	—	Glassric’s Wares in Amaranthine
Valos Atredum	White Steel	Combat Health Regen +4	Crit Damage +25%	—	—	—	Kal’Hirol

Shortbows

Item Name	Material	Quality #1	Quality #2	Quality #3	Quality #4	Quality #5	Item Location
Dragonspite	Vhenadahl	Damage vs. Dragons +20	Rapid Aim	Reduces Hostility	Damage +4	Attack +10	Silverite Mine

Staves

Item Name

Material

Quality #1

Quality #2

Quality #3

Quality #4

Quality #5

Item Location

Call of the Inferno

Vhenadahl

Cold
Resistance +5

Required: Mage

Faster Aim +0.2

Increases all Fire Damage +15%

Spellpower +10

Urn in Vigil’s Keep Deep Roads

Charlatan’s Walking Stick

Dragonbone

Required: Mage

Combat Mana Regen +1

Willpower +5

Spellpower +7

—

Yuriah’s Wares (upgrade 1)

Darkspawn Staff

Iron

Cunning +1

Required: Mage

Increases all Sprit Damage +5%

Spellpower +2

—

Kal’Hirol

The Dragon’s Call

Dragonbone

Restrict: Player

Combat Mana Regen +1

Willpower +3

Spellpower +5

—

Player

Flemeth’s Broomstick

Dragonbone

Required: Mage

Increases all Nature Damage (+2.5% per power)

Spellpower

—

Disciple General in Amaranthine Siege

Heart of the Forest

Dragonbone

Required: Mage

Increases all Fire Damage +10%

Spellpower +6

Willpower +6

Combat Mana Regen +8

Velanna

Item Name

Material

Quality #1

Quality #2

Quality #3

Quality #4

Quality #5

Item Location

Heaven’s Wrath

Silverite

+1.0 Combat Mana
Regeneration

+5 Spellpower

+10% to Electricity Damage

Required: Mage

—

Octham’s Goods in Amaranthine

Lamppost in Winter

Ancestral Heartwood

Fire
Resistance +5

Required: Mage

Faster Aim +0.2

Increases all Cold Damage +20%

Spellpower +12

Disciple General in Amaranthine Siege

Lightning Rod

Dragonbone

Required: Mage

Increases all Lightning Damage +10%

Spellpower +8

—

Crate in Abandoned Warehouse

Magister’s Staff

Silverite

+1.0 to Combat Mana Regeneration

+5 Spellpower

+10% to Spirit Damage

Required: Mage

—

Anders

Shaperate’s Blessing

Silverite

+2 Willpower

+0.5 Combat Mana
Regeneration

+10% to Cold Damage

Required: Mage

—

Octham’s Goods in Amaranthine

Spellfury

Ancestral Heartwood

Required: Mage

All Attributes +4

Faster Aim +0.4

Combat Mana Regen +1

Spellpower +20

Octham’s Goods in Amaranthine

Staff of Shadows

Dragonbone

Restrict: Player

Increases all Fire Damage +5%

Magic +2

Spellpower +3

—

Player

Staff of the Ephemeral Order

Silverite

+3 Willpower

+5% to Spirit Damage

Required: Mage

—

Octham’s Goods in Amaranthine

Staff of the Lost

Ancestral Heartwood

Required: Mage

Stamina +75

Spirit Resistance +15

Magic +10

Spellpower +15, Increases all Sprit Damage +50%

The Lost

Staff of Vigor

Ancestral Heartwood

Required: Mage

Faster Aim +0.3

Combat Health
Regen +4

Constitution +5

Spellpower +10

Hurlock Emissary in Kal’Hirol

Wintersbreath

Dragonbone

+25 Cold Resistance

+3 Spellpower

+10% to Cold Damage

Required: Mage

Octham’s Goods in Amaranthine

Vigilance

Once in a dozen generations, a truly legendary weapon is forged. This blade, created in a time of war from the bones of an ancient dragon, sings with power.

This legendary weapon is crafted for your character when you complete the "Worked to the Bone" side quest from Master Wade in Vigil's Keep. During your conversation with him, he will ask you a series of questions which will ultimately determine what type of weapon he crafts. Below you can find each dialog selection, along with the stats for each weapon variation.

Greatsword Dialog Options

Flexible, Sharp	Greatsword 1
Flexible, Defense	Greatsword 2
Flexible, Effortless	Greatsword 3
Flexible, Wade's Recommendation	Greatsword 4
Power, Sharp	Greatsword 5
Power, Defense	Greatsword 6
Power, Effortless	Greatsword 7
Power, Wade's Recommendation	Greatsword 8

Longsword Dialog Options

Flexible, Sharp	Longsword 1
Flexible, Defense	Longsword 2
Flexible, Effortless	Longsword 3
Flexible, Wade's Recommendation	Longsword 4
Power, Sharp	Longsword 5
Power, Defense	Longsword 6
Power, Effortless	Longsword 7
Power, Wade's Recommendation	Longsword 8

Crafted

Item Name	Material	Quality #1	Quality #2	Quality #3	Quality #4	Quality #5	Item Location
Heartwood Bow	Ancestral Heartwood	Attack +6	Faster Aim +0.3	Ranged Crit Chance +5	Dexterity +5	Cunning +5	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Greatsword 1	Volcanic Aurum	Armor Penetration +1	All Attributes +1	Melee Crit Chance +3	Crit Damage +15%	Attack +8	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Greatsword 2	Volcanic Aurum	All Attributes +1	Armor Penetration +1	Chance to Dodge Attacks +10%	Defense +6	Attack +8	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Greatsword 3	Volcanic Aurum	All Attributes +1	Armor Penetration +1	Combat Stamina Regen +0.5	Stamina +50	Attack +8	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Greatsword 4	Volcanic Aurum	Armor Penetration +1	Attack +8	All Attributes +4	—	—	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Greatsword 5	Volcanic Aurum	All Attributes +1	Attack +2	Crit Damage +15%	Melee Crit Chance +3	Armor Penetration +4	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Greatsword 6	Volcanic Aurum	All Attributes +1	Attack +2	Chance to Dodge Attacks +10%	Defense +6	Armor Penetration +4	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Greatsword 7	Volcanic Aurum	Attack +2	All Attributes +1	Stamina +50	Combat Stamina Regen +0.5	Armor Penetration +4	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Greatsword 8	Volcanic Aurum	Attack +2	All Attributes +4	Armor Penetration +4	—	—	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Longsword 1	Volcanic Aurum	All Attributes +1	Armor Penetration +1	Melee Crit Chance +3	Crit Damage +15%	Attack +8	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Longsword 2	Volcanic Aurum	All Attributes +1	Armor Penetration +1	Chance to Dodge Attacks +10%	Defense +6	Attack +4	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Longsword 3	Volcanic Aurum	All Attributes +1	Armor Penetration +1	Combat Stamina Regen +0.5	Stamina +50	Attack +8	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Longsword 4	Volcanic Aurum	Armor Penetration +1	Attack +8	All Attributes +4	—	—	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Longsword 5	Volcanic Aurum	All Attributes +1	Attack +2	Crit Damage +15%	Melee Crit Chance +3	Armor Penetration +4	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Longsword 6	Volcanic Aurum	All Attributes +1	Attack +2	Defense +6	Chance to Dodge Attacks +10%	Armor Penetration +4	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Longsword 7	Volcanic Aurum	All Attributes +1	Attack +2	Stamina +50	Combat Stamina Regen +0.5	Armor Penetration +4	Crafted by Master Wade
Vigilance Longsword 8	Volcanic Aurum	Attack +2	All Attributes +4	Armor Penetration +4	—	—	Crafted by Master Wade