Prima Games eGuides Dragon Age: Origins eGuide

Sign in or create an account

We'll email you a link. No password needed, and if you don't have an account yet, the link makes one.

Dragon Age: Origins eGuide Essentials Equipment

Weapons

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 7, and 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 on local vendors) and choose the highest damage score if other bonuses don't matter. See the following tables for more details on the different quality levels.

Weapon Tiers

Axes

Tier

Material Damage Armor Penetration Critical Chance Strength Required N/A
1 Iron 6 2 1 11
2 Grey Iron 6.6 2.3 1.1 13
3 Steel 7.2 2.6 1.2 15
4 Veridium 7.8 2.9 1.3 19
5 Red Steel 8.4 3.2 1.4 25
6 Silverite 9 3.5 1.5 27
7 Dragonbone 9.6 4.2 1.6 31

Battleaxes

Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Critical Chance Strength Required N/A
1 Iron 10 3 3 18
2 Grey Iron 11 3.45 3.3 20
3 Steel 12 3.9 3.6 22
4 Veridium 13 4.35 3.9 26
5 Red Steel 14 4.8 4.2 32
6 Silverite 15 5.25 4.5 34
7 Dragonbone 16 6.3 4.8 38

Crossbows

Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Range Critical Chance Strength Required
1 Horn 8 5 40 2 10
2 Ash 8.8 6 42 2.2 12
3 Yew 9.6 7 44 2.4 14
4 Whitewood 10.4 8 46 2.6 18
5 Ironbark 11.2 9 48 2.8 24
6 Sylvanwood 12 10 50 3 26
7 Dragonthorn 12.8 11 52 3.2 30

Daggers

Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Critical Chance Dexterity Required N/A
1 Iron 4 4 3 10
2 Grey Iron 4.4 4.6 3.3 12
3 Steel 4.8 5.2 3.6 14
4 Veridium 5.2 5.8 3.9 18
5 Red Steel 5.6 6.4 4.2 24
6 Silverite 6 7 4.5 26
7 Dragonbone 6.4 8.4 4.8 30

Greatswords

Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Critical Chance Strength Required N/A
1 Iron 11 3 1.5 18
2 Grey Iron 12.1 3.45 1.65 20
3 Steel 13.2 3.9 1.8 22
4 Veridium 14.3 4.35 1.95 26
5 Red Steel 15.4 4.8 2.1 32
Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Critical Chance Strength Required N/A
6 Silverite 16.5 5.25 2.25 34
7 Dragonbone 17.6 6.3 2.4 38

Longbows

Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Range Critical Chance Dexterity Required
1 Horn 6 4 35 1 14
2 Ash 6.6 4.8 36.75 1.1 16
3 Yew 7.2 5.6 38.5 1.2 18
4 Whitewood 7.8 6.4 40.25 1.3 22
5 Ironbark 8.4 7.2 42 1.4 28
6 Sylvanwood 9 8 43.75 1.5 30
7 Dragonthorn 9.6 8.8 45.5 1.6 34

Longswords

Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Critical Chance Strength Required N/A
1 Iron 7 2 2 11
2 Grey Iron 7.7 2.3 2.2 13
3 Steel 8.4 2.6 2.4 15
4 Veridium 9.1 2.9 2.6 19
5 Red Steel 9.8 3.2 2.8 25
6 Silverite 10.5 3.5 3 27
7 Dragonbone 11.2 4.2 3.2 31

Maces

Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Critical Chance Strength Required N/A
1 Iron 5 4 0.5 12
2 Grey Iron 5.5 4.6 0.55 14
3 Steel 6 5.2 0.6 16
4 Veridium 6.5 5.8 0.65 20
5 Red Steel 7 6.4 0.7 26
6 Silverite 7.5 7 0.75 28
7 Dragonbone 8 8.4 0.8 32

Mauls

Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Critical Chance Strength Required N/A
1 Iron 9 7 0.5 18
2 Grey Iron 9.9 8.05 0.55 20
3 Steel 10.8 9.1 0.6 22
4 Veridium 11.7 10.15 0.65 26
5 Red Steel 12.6 11.2 0.7 32
6 Silverite 13.5 12.25 0.75 34
7 Dragonbone 14.4 14.7 0.8 38

Shortbows

Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Range Critical Chance Dexterity Required
1 Horn 5 3 20 1 10
2 Ash 5.5 3.6 21 1.1 12
3 Yew 6 4.2 22 1.2 14
4 Whitewood 6.5 4.8 23 1.3 18
5 Ironbark 7 5.4 24 1.4 24
6 Sylvanwood 7.5 6 25 1.5 26
7 Dragonthorn 8 6.6 26 1.6 30

Staves

Tier Material Damage Armor Penetration Range Spellpower Magic Required
1 Iron 4 20 50 1 16
2 Grey Iron 4.4 23 51.25 2 18
3 Steel 4.8 26 52.5 3 20
4 Veridium 5.2 29 53.75 4 24
5 Red Steel 5.6 32 55 5 30
6 Silverite 6 35 56.25 6 32
7 Dragonbone 6.4 40 57.5 7 36

Unique Weapons

Certain weapons have restrictions, such as Spellweaver, a unique sword crafted for a mage who specializes as an arcane warrior. Sell those if you receive one that nobody in your party can use. 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.

Axes

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Aodh Silverite +3% Melee Critical Chance +20 Fire Resistance -5 Cold Resistance +1 Fire Damage
Ash Warrior Axe All Metals +2 Attack
Axameter Silverite +2 Damage Lucky +10% Critical Damage +2 Damage vs. Dragons

Axe of the Grey Silverite +3% Melee Critical Chance +4 Armor
Penetration
+3 Damage vs. Darkspawn
Biteback Axe Silverite +3 Armor
Penetration
+15% Critical Damage Required: Rogue No Attribute Requirements
Bloodline Red Steel +3 Dexterity +10 Spirit
Resistance
+2 Armor
Penetration
+2 Damage vs. Darkspawn
Dal'Thanu All Metals
Darkspawn Waraxe Iron/Grey Iron/Steel +1 Armor
Penetration
-1 Dexterity
Deygan's Dal'Thanu Veridium +10 Nature
Resistance
+4 Attack
Everd's Axe Veridium
The Veshialle Dragonbone +2 Strength +5% Melee Critical Chance +1.0 Combat Stamina Regeneration +10% Critical Damage +2 Nature
Damage

Battleaxes

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Axe of the Vashoth Red Steel +1 Strength +2 Willpower +1 Damage
Barbarian Axe All Metals
Dal'Thanaan All Metals
Darkspawn Battleaxe Iron/Grey Iron/Steel +1 Armor
Penetration
-1 Dexterity
Faith's Edge Silverite +2 Willpower +5% Critical Damage
Griffon's Beak Silverite Required: Grey Warden Item Set 1
Maetashear War Axe Silverite +1 Damage +5% Melee Critical Chance -1 Dexterity

Crossbows

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Antivan Crossbow All Woods
Darkspawn Crossbow Ash +1 Armor
Penetration
-1 Dexterity
Dwarven Defender Sylvanwood +3 Dexterity +3 Damage vs. Darkspawn
Imperium Crossbow Dragonthorn
Nugbane Whitewood +3 Damage




Precision-Geared Recurve Sylvanwood +3 Armor
Penetration
+4 Attack
Sailor's Crossbow Sylvanwood 0.2s Faster Aim

Daggers

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Beastman's Dagger Red Steel +10% Critical Damage
Crow Dagger Iron/Grey Iron/Steel/
Silverite/ Dragonbone
+15% Critical Damage
Dar'Misu All Metals
Darkspawn Dagger Iron/Grey Iron/Steel +1 Armor
Penetration
-1 Dexterity
Enchanted Dagger Grey Iron +4 Attack
Fang Veridium +6 Attack
Gift of the Grey Silverite +5% Melee Critical Chance
Noble's Dagger Grey Iron +1 Electricity Damage
The Rose's Thorn Dragonbone +2 Dexterity +1.0 Combat Health
Regeneration
+3 Damage +5% Melee Critical Chance +30% Critical Damage
Thorn of the Dead Gods Silverite +3 Damage +6 Armor
Penetration
Thorn of the Dead Gods Grey Iron +2 Damage +4 Armor
Penetration
Thorn of the Dead Gods Steel +1 Damage +2 Armor
Penetration
Varathorn's Dar'Misu Veridium +4 Armor
Penetration
+6 Attack

Greatswords

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Ageless Silverite Weakens Nearby Darkspawn Messy Kills +2 Damage vs. Darkspawn Increases Hostility and Intimidation +0.25 Combat Stamina Regeneration
Asala Steel +1 Willpower +3 Armor
Penetration
+12 Attack Required: Sten
Balanced Greatsword Iron
Chasind Flatblade Grey Iron +1% Melee Critical Chance +2 Armor
Penetration
Darkspawn Greatsword Iron/Grey Iron/Steel +1 Armor
Penetration
-1 Dexterity
Everd's Greatsword Steel
Magic Greatsword Veridium +1 Damage +4% Chance to Ignore Hostile Magic
Meteor Sword Silverite +2 Strength +3 Damage -25 Spirit
Resistance
Ornamental Sword Iron Lucky -5 Attack -1 Damage
Qunari Sword Red Steel
Shaperate's Blessing Silverite +5 Armor Penetration +6 Attack
The Summer Sword Silverite +20 Physical Resistance Chance to Knock Target Back
Yusaris Silverite +20 Fire Resistance +5 Damage vs. Dragons

Longbows

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Antivan Longbow All Woods +1% Ranged
Critical Chance
Bow of the Golden Sun Sylvanwood +4 Attack
Dalish Longbow All Woods 0.1s Faster Aim
Darkspawn Longbow Ash +1 Damage +1 Dexterity
Falon'Din's Reach Dragonthorn +2 Damage 0.3s Faster Aim
Far Song Dragonthorn +2 Damage 0.3s Faster Aim +3% Ranged
Critical Chance
+10 Attack +10% Critical Damage
Longbow All Woods
Mage's Eye Dragonthorn +3% Ranged
Critical Chance
+4 Attack
Marjolaine's Recurve Dragonthorn +3 Cunning +3 Damage 0.3s Faster Aim Required: Leliana
Spear-Thrower Sylvanwood 0.3s Faster Aim +5 Armor
Penetration
Wolf-Killer Ironbark

Longswords

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Dar'Misaan All Metals





Darkspawn Longsword Iron/Grey Iron/Steel +1 Armor
Penetration
-1 Dexterity
Dwarven Longsword Steel/Silverite
Dwyn's Sword Steel Messy Kills +2% Chance to Ignore Hostile Magic
Family Sword Grey Iron +1 Damage +4 Attack Required: Warrior or Rogue No Attribute Requirements
Fine Dwarven Blade Grey Iron +2 Attack
Gorim's Sword Red Steel
Imperial Edge Silverite +2 Damage +3% Melee Critical Chance +6 Attack
Keening Blade Dragonbone +4 Armor Penetration +6 Attack Required: Warrior +3 Cold Damage
King Maric's Blade Dragonbone +10 Cold
Resistance
+10% to Healing Spells Required: Warrior
Oathkeeper Steel +3 Armor
Penetration
+10% to Healing Spells
Saw Sword All Metals +1 Damage +1% Melee Critical Chance
Ser Garlen's Sword Grey Iron +2 Attack +10 Physical Resistance
Spellweaver Silverite +5 Magic +1.0 Combat Mana
Regeneration
+10% Chance to Ignore Hostile Magic Required: Arcane Warrior No Attribute Requirements
The Green Blade Veridium +10 Nature Resistance +3 Damage vs. Beasts
Topsider's Honor Dragonbone +20 Spirit Resistance +3 Damage vs. Spirits
Warden's Longwsword All Metals

Maces

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Aeducan Mace Grey Iron Messy Kills
Barbarian Mace Iron/Grey Iron/Steel +1 Strength
Chevalier's Mace Steel +5 Cold Resistance +5 Spirit Resistance +2 Cold Damage
Darkspawn Mace Iron/Grey Iron/Steel +1 Armor Penetration -1 Dexterity
Dwarven Mace All Metals
Endrin's Mace Silverite +15 Cold Resistance +10 Mental Resistance
Engraved Mace Veridium +1 Dexterity +1 Damage +5 Mental
Resistance
Everd's Mace Silverite
High Constable's Mace Silverite +1.0 Combat Stamina
Regeneration
+3 Damage vs. Darkspawn
Liberator's Mace Red Steel +1 Dexterity +3% Melee Critical Chance
Shaperate's Blessing Silverite +4 Attack
Vanguard Silverite +3 Strength +3 Constitution +1.0 Combat Stamina
Regeneration

Mauls

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Chasind Crusher Iron/Grey Iron/
Dragonbone
+3% Melee Critical Chance -5 Attack
Chasind Great Maul Dragonbone +5 Damage +5 Armor Penetration +0.5 Combat Stamina
Regeneration
+75 Stamina
Darkspawn Maul Iron/Grey Iron/Steel +1 Armor
Penetration
-1 Dexterity
Diamond Maul All Metals
Exalted Maul Silverite +2 Willpower +10 Mental
Resistance
+2 Damage vs. Spirits
Forge Master's Hammer Red Steel +25 Fire Resistance +6 Attack
Heavy Maul Steel +2 Damage
Spiked Maul Red Steel +3 Damage +2% Melee Critical Chance -1 Dexterity
Thorval's Luck Silverite +10% to Healing Spells +4 Attack +10 Physical Resistance
Trian's Maul Silverite

Shortbows

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Darkspawn Shortbow Ash +1 Armor
Penetration
-1 Dexterity
Orlesian Bow All Woods
Scout's Bow All Woods 0.1s Faster Aim
The Dark Moon Dragonthorn +2 Willpower +10 Nature
Resistance
+3 Armor
Penetration
The Fox's Bow Sylvanwood +5 Defense against Missiles
Whitewood Bow Whitewood +3 Damage +5% Ranged
Critical Chance
Wilds Bow Yew +10 Nature
Resistance

Staves

Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Name Material Quality #1 Quality #2 Quality #3 Quality #4 Quality #5 Quality #6
Acolyte's Staff Iron +2 Spellpower Required: Mage
Blackened Heartwood Staff Iron +2 Damage +2 Spellpower Required: Mage
Darkspawn Staff Iron +1 Spellpower +5% to Spirit Damage Required: Mage
Enchanter's Staff All Metals +1 Magic +10 Spirit
Resistance
+5% to Fire
Damage
+5% to Cold Damage +5% to Electricity Damage Required: Mage
Harrowmont's Staff Steel +1 Magic +2 Constitution Required: Mage
Heaven's Wrath Silverite +1.0 Combat Mana Regeneration +5 Spellpower +10% to Electricity Damage Required: Mage
Lightning Rod Grey Iron +10 Electricity Resistance +10% to Electricity Damage Required: Mage
Magic Staff Iron/Grey Iron/Steel +1 Magic Required: Mage
Magister's Staff Silverite +1.0 to Combat Mana Regeneration +5 Spellpower +10% to Spirit Damage Required: Mage
Malign Staff Veridium +1.0 to Combat Mana Regeneration +5 Spellpower +10% to Spirit Dmaage +10% to Electricity Damage -1 Willpower Required: Mage
Oak Branch Veridium +1 Magic +2 Constitution +10% to Nature Damage Required: Mage
Piece of Wood Veridium +1 Constitution +10 Nature
Resistance
Required: Mage
Pyromancer's Brand Grey Iron +1 Spellpower +10% to Fire Damage Required: Mage
Shaperate's Blessing Silverite +2 Willpower +0.5 Combat Mana Regeneration +10% to Cold Damage Required: Mage
Staff of the Ephemeral Order Silverite +3 Willpower +5% to Spirit Damage Required: Mage
Staff of the Magister Lord Dragonbone +6 Willpower +2.0 Combat Mana Regeneration +6 Spellpower +10% to Fire Damage +10% to Spirit Damage Required: Mage
Sylvan's Mercy Veridium +5 Nature
Resistance
+1 Spellpower +10% to Nature Damage Required: Mage
Torch of Embers Steel +10 Fire Resistance +3 Spellpower +10% to Fire Damage Required: Mage
Valor's Staff Iron Required: Mage
Wintersbreath Dragonbone +25 Cold
Resistance
+3 Spellpower +10% to Cold Damage Required: Mage