Sten

He was sent with a small group of qunari soldiers to investigate the Blight and report back. Near Lake Calenhad, they were ambushed by darkspawn.

They fought off the attack, but only Sten survived. Farmers found him dying and took him in, but when he awoke, alone and unarmed, he panicked, killing the entire family.

Realizing he had sacrificed his honor, Sten waited for the villagers to come, and surrendered, expecting death. Instead, your party arrived and offered him penance for his sins.

His sword and his honor restored, Sten chose to continue with you and take the battle to the archdemon.

Sten at a Glance

Starting Attributes

• Strength: 28
• Willpower: 15
• Cunning: 10
• Dexterity: 16
  
• Magic: 11
• Constitution: 13

Class : Warrior

Recommended Build: DPSer or Off-Tank

Sten enjoys grabbing a two-hander and cleaving skulls. The more damage, the better. In a pinch, Sten can tank a fight in place of Alistair or the PC, simply by dealing enough damage to hold the threat.

Starting Talents

• Warrior: Powerful, Threaten, Precise Striking, Taunt
• Two-Handed: Pommel Strike, Indomitable, Sunder Arms, Mighty Blow, Powerful Swings

Location

Lothering

Unlock Condition

Release Sten from his cage in Lothering before the town gets invaded by darkspawn (see the "Lothering" section of the Walkthrough chapter for complete details).

Combat Advice

Fill out Sten's Two-Handed school as soon as you get the chance. Capitalize on some of the top-tier talents quickly, which will seriously increase his damage potential and make him an excellent DPS addition to your party.

As with rogues, Sten should allow the tank to control enemy mobs and then attack from the rear or flank.

Because Sten is so durable, he doesn't have to watch his spacing as much as a rogue, and he can off-tank if you need him to grab a creature that the tank can't hold threat on.

His skills are best used with heavy or massive armor and two-handed weapons, with a crossbow for ranged attacks.

Dialogue Choices

As with any companion, Sten has dialogue choices whenever you interact with him, and sometimes he will pull you aside to speak with you about a topic. He's not a big talker but will interject if you aren't on a straight path toward the archdemon.

Gifts

Sten has an eye for paintings, an appreciation that might seem out of character, but is actually an extension of qunari discipline. He respects an artist for careful composition, a skill that is as much about where the brush stroke stops as where it begins.

Crisis Moment

If you travel to the Urn of Sacred Ashes, Sten will question your commitment to destroying the archdemon. If you are a bit too lippy with him, he'll challenge you for control of the party. If you beat him, he'll want to leave.

Personal Quest

• To complete Sten's personal quest, you must do the following, in order:
• Talk to Sten about his past. He should tell you about losing his sword.
• Start the quest for his sword at the beginning of Lake Calenhad. Near the entrance is a scavenger.
• You'll find Faryn at the Mountain Pass, just before the entrance to Orzammar. Ask him about the sword and bring Sten along.
• Find Dwyn in Redcliffe Village. Bring Sten along again to bully him into giving you the sword.
• Grab the sword from the chest in the back of Dwyn's room and gift it to Sten.

Highlights

Sten will not survive the darkspawn incursion against Lothering unless you free him from his prison before leaving town.

His no-nonsense attitude lets you know where he stands, but Sten won't be happy unless you stick with killing darkspawn.

Sten complements Alistair if you journey with two warriors. Alistair gains the one-handed weapons; Sten uses the better two-handers.

Sten cares nothing about romance. You can't seduce him as a female player.