Summary
- Magic schools in Dragon Age include unique types such as Blight, Blood, and Elemental magic.
- Each game features distinct types of magic, like Healing and Matter magic, with varying applications.
- Arcane, Rift, and Nature magic each serve specific combat or narrative purposes in Dragon Age games.
Magic is an integral part of fantasy storytelling, and Dragon Age makes this very apparent across its game and other media. But the magic system has changed a bit from game to game, with Dragon Age: Origins introducing a more Elder Scrolls style of magic and Inquisition simplifying the systems.
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Magic works differently in each game, but the schools of magic remain present and active across all Dragon Age games. There does remain one, as yet, mysterious school of magic that first appeared in the Inquisition DLC The Descent: Lyrium Titan magic. This may only be accessible to Dwarves and Shaper Valta used it and, according to trailers, Scout Harding seems to wield it now, too. But for now, let's explore all magic types in Dragon Age that appear throughout the currently released games.
This article details information about the various schools of magic found in Dragon Age games. It does not include information on Red Templars, Red Lyrium, Fenris' abilities, Seeker abilities, or Time Magic (since it is only theoretical). There are minor spoilers for all Dragon Age games as well.
1 Blight Magic
It's Distinct And Definitely Has To Do With The Taint
- Utilized primarily by Archdemons, Corypheus, Darkspawn, and Grey Wardens
- Seems to possess no connection to the Fade
- Non-magical Wardens can utilize a type of Blight magic due to being tainted with Darkspawn blood
Not much is known about Blight Magic in terms of how it works, but through Dragon Age lore, there are instances of Blight Magic use. For instance, Vivienne compares it to a combination of ordinary and Elven magic. Solas calls the "false calling" Corypheus created a form of Blight Magic and the Architect, from Origins: Awakening, utilizes a blast of black fire. Most humanoids infected with the Blight lose their sanity and become ghouls as seen with the Grey Warden Larius in DA2. Grey Warden utilizes the Joining to delay this but succumbs to it eventually.
It originated when the Tevinter magisters blackened the Golden City, creating the first Darkspawn. Corypheus contradicts this, stating that they just found it and brought it "into their world." Blight Magic can infect living things other than humanoids such as mushrooms and even Lyrium and Eluvians. In fact, Red Lyrium is just blighted Lyrium! Dragons possess a natural resistance to the taint and can section off parts of infected tissue with cysts -- something that can be seen in the trailers for Veilguard.
2 Blood Magic
It's Not Inherently Bad, But Almost Everyone Who Uses It Is Bad
- Utilized primarily by apostates, Tevinter mages, some Dalish, and criminal mages
- Seen most in Origins, but pops up across all games in some capacity
- Merrill actually uses Blood Magic to purify a Blight Magic-tainted Eluvian
Blood Magic utilizes life force energy (blood) for spellcasting and is usually turned toward more nefarious ends such as summoning demons or inflicting mind control. Users do not require the Fade to cast Blood Magic spells and are highly susceptible to demonic possession. The first person to ever use it claimed to have been taught by the Tevinter God Dumat while others say that ancient Elves from Arlathan spread its use. There are also The Forbidden Ones, believed to use Blood Magic, of which only one has not appeared in some capacity (The Formless One).
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Due to its volatility and moral ambiguity, most people disapprove of using Blood Magic -- even in Tevinter, but that's mostly lip service. All abominations are treated with total hostility and many mages in Fereldan are feared simply for having magic due to the threat of possession. However, there are some exceptions to that disapproval such as Templars using blood phylacteries to track and mages and Blood Magic being used to cure the Taint.
3 Matter Magic
Dragon Age Games Started With A Very Different Magic System
- Utilized primarily by mages seen in Origins
- Encompasses Entropy, Spirit, Primal, and Creation magic
- Subsequent games have reorganized and incorporated the four schools of Magic into other specializations
Matter Magic encompasses four schools found in Origins including Spirit, Creation, Entropy, and Primal magic. Entropy magic is the opposite of Creation as Spirit is the opposite of Primal. With that in mind, entropic magic manipulates the natural world while Creation magic manipulates natural forces. Spirit magic draws upon invisible energies outside nature such as the Fade itself while Primal magic manipulates the tangible forces of nature (the elements).
Due to the amorphous nature of these descriptions, subsequent games have retooled the schools of magic to be better delineated and defined.
4 Force Magic
A Short-Lived But Reworked Magical Focus
- Utilized primarily by mages in DA2
- Abilities from this specialization were utilized in future specializations
This magic school, found only in DA2, utilizes telekinesis abilities to focus the mind of a mage into a weapon. Many of the class specialization abilties were retooled into other specializations found in Inquisition such as "Pull of the Abyss" in the Rift Mage specialization and "Gravitic Ring" became "Disruption Field" in the Knight Enchanter specialization. Bethany can obtain this specialization and so can a mage Hawke; it is also rumored to be a popular tactic among mages in Kirkwall, though Force Magic is not effective at moving non-humanoid enemies with more than two legs.
5 Elemental Magic
It Might Be Basic, But It Still Feels Awesome To Use
- Utilized by all mages
- Seen in DA2 as a specialization and across all mages who appear in Inquisition
- Mages in Inquisition have the most customization options for elemental builds
This magic type comprises the majority of spells found in Inquisition that aren't under a specialization but appear in DA2 as a major category focusing mainly on Fire and Ice magic. It can be said that Elemental Magic, as utilized in DA2 and Inquisition, is an evolution of Primal Magic as seen in Origins. It focuses magical energy into attacks centered around elements found in nature like lightning, fire, and ice.
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Inquisition showcases the most elemental abilities with 25 total elemental abilities across fire, lightning, and ice. These include damaging abilities, shields, and passives that enhance those abilities. Mages can pair these with any specialization spells and Spirit magic, too, to craft a unique build for their characters. In Origins, Primal magic channeled the elements in the same way with "Devastation" being the only element not found in subsequent games.
6 Arcane Magic
Wield A Sword Made Of Magic To Wail On Enemies
- Utilized primarily by Circle Mages, combat mages, and Arcane Warriors (ancient Elven mages)
- Seen in all Dragon Age games in various states with Inquisition utilizing spells from previous games with no "Arcane" classification
- Seems to channel magical energy for the purpose of combat in either weapons or shields
Arcane Magic, since its introduction, has pivoted to more of a combat-oriented magic that can manifest as magical weapons. This can be seen in the Knight Enchanter class in Inquisition as a player character specialization or as Vivienne's specialization. Not only does it let the mage wield a magic sword, but they can generate a barrier with each hit of their weapon. The class echoes the lore around ancient Elven mages known as Arcane Warriors who wielded their magic as weapons and channeled it through their bodies on the battlefield to great effect.
In Origins, mages utilized spells like Arcane Bolt -- a spell still found in Inquisition -- as well as Arcane Shield which transformed into the Barrier spell introduced in Dragon Age 2 along with a retooled Arcane Shield, Mind Blast, and more. It's unclear if the title "Arcane" means traditional, academic, old, or something else in this context.
7 Nature Magic
Also Known As Dalish Keeper Magic
- Utilized primarily by Dalish Elves such as Merrill or Feynriel and Dalish Keepers
- Seen as a specialization option in Origins: Awakening
- Does not really appear in Inquisition
Keepers are generally the leaders of Dalish clans, honored for their wisdom and experience, and previously served as high-level servants of Elven gods and goddesses. They convene every decade to compare relics and knowledge their clans have recovered to add it to the historical tapestry of the Elves. This includes whatever magic-oriented knowledge that gets recovered. The best example of Keeper magic seen in the games is from Merrill and Marethari of the Sabrae clan in DA2. Dragon Age Origins: Awakening also makes the specialization available to mages.
This type of magic revolves around nature and a Keeper's bond with it, performing acts such as summoning vines, regenerating health when a nearby creature dies, or creating a shield using the earth. Given Solas' tearing down of the Veil in the upcoming game, perhaps there is a Dalish origin version of Rook with Nature Magic. Fans can only hope!
8 Necromancy Magic
Never Be Without Friends But Don't Expect Living People To Like You
- Utilized primarily by Tevinter mages and Nevarran Mortalitasi
- Though considered Blood Magic by some, Bioware has clarified that Necromancy does not require life essence to perform
- Seen as a specialization for mages in Inquisition and used by Dorian in the same game
The primary users of Necromancy in Dragon Age are Dorian Pavus, the trainer Viuus Anaxas, and Quentin from DA2. Though not forbidden like Blood Magic, many people don't like Necromancy as it feels unnatural. But in practice, the abilities as they appear in Inquisition feel much more akin to Spirit magic since abilities such as Walking Bomb deal Spirit damage.
In reality, the necromantic magic seen so far in Dragon Age serves more as a manipulation of Fade spirits than a true raising of the dead. We'll likely get a very good look at Nevarran death magic thanks to the announced companion Emmrich Volkarin (and his assistant skeleton Manfred) in the forthcoming game.
9 Fade Or Rift Magic
It's A Hulk Fist Created With Fade Bits
- Utilized primarily by the Rift Mage class in Inquisition
- Technically, all magic (except Blight Magic) is drawn from the Fade. But "Fade Magic" specifically utilizes the Veil as a resource for magical attacks
- There are only four known users of Rift Magic -- Solas, Your Trainer, Warden Clarel, and Elio Andante
Rift Magic operates similarly to the telekinetic school of Force Magic, but it utilizes energy from the edges of the Fade and the Veil itself. The magic is more raw and harder to control with only a few users known in existence. Elio Andante, who only appears in Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance, is trapped in the Fade by Solas during a Rift Magic ritual meant to serve Solas' plan of tearing down the Veil.
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The experience the Inquisitor has with Your Trainer in the third game is quite funny, but also disturbing, as the trainer seems utterly off. It's never clear if the character was just a gaffe that Bioware created because they didn't know how else to explain the specialization without spoiling Solas' backstory. But Your Trainer is definitely memorable as a Rift Mage.
10 Healing Magic
Like With All Video Games, Healing Magic Breaks Combat
- Utilized primarily by mages who are not in combat
- This differs from Spirit Healing -- a specialization that is very rare in Dragon Age lore
- Bioware tweaked how Healing Magic works for lore reasons
Instead of emulating magic systems where healing is an instant fix, Bioware approaches Healing Magic as something that takes immense focus and energy. As such, mages shouldn't be able to conduct Healing Magic while also in battle. Potions are still a very viable, legitimate, and prolific thing, after all, so it stands to reason that Healing Magic is a skill mages cannot utilize in tandem with combat magic. However, in Inquisition, mages can cast Revival that summons spirits to heal teammates and revive them.
The player can specialize in Spirit Healing in Origins, but this is different from regular Healing Magic as it leverages benevolent Spirits to heal others. Anders and Wynne are two notable Spirit Healers and Wynne may also have been possessed as Anders was but by an uncorrupted spirit. In Inquisition, the only mage who regularly conducts Healing Magic is a random NPC that appears in a quest with Cole. The third game in the series puts more of a focus on Alchemy instead.