The Dragon Age series takes place in a complex world setting, Thedas, featuring many intricate stories and hidden factions with their agendas. Although the setting is filled with intricacies, only small rumors have been sprinkled throughout the past entries, hinting at major plots or giving just enough info to spark interest. The Veilguard further expands on the game universe, directly tying the Rook to one of the six most prominent factions in Thedas. Factions offer direct bonuses and special interactions based on the specific background lore of each faction.
This guide will showcase the bonuses & lore behind each Faction, and offer recommendations on which Faction is the most optimal choice based on Class & Specialization.
This guide is currently a work in progress; it will be actively updated over time.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Factions
The Faction System in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is first encountered right at the beginning of the game, in the Character Creation screen. Players can select the Rook’s past before meeting Varric, beyond choosing what happened in the past such as whether the Inquisition was shattered or not.
Factions affect not only the initial encounter with NPCs but all future ones! NPCs from specific factions will interact differently with Rook, knowing all the previous events that the player took part in based on the faction’s background lore.
Each faction will grant the Rook 3 individual bonuses! One of the bonuses will be common among all factions — increased reputation gain with each faction. The rest of the 2 bonuses are unique among each faction; some are specifically suited for some Classes & Specializations while others fit a much more generic pattern.
In addition, note that each faction unlocks specific dialogue options which are faction-based! Rook will be able to engage in special conversations tied to the lore of their faction. While we do not know to what extent the special dialogue options will impact the gameplay. We expect them to offer unique scenarios that may unravel neat bonuses, especially when it comes to companions.
Regarded as the first and last line of defense against The Blight & Darkspawn, Grey Wardens are fierce and respected. Their resolve and tactics make them great leaders, valiantly charging in the front lines to protect allies and innocents with little regard for their safety. Yet, the ancient Grey Warden order harbors a dark secret, killing anyone who might attempt to share the details of their secret joining process.
- Bonuses:
- Bonded in Blood
- Gain reputation with the Grey Wardens more quickly.
- Blight Killer
- Deal increased damage vs. Darkspawn.
- Vigilant Training
- Base Health and Health are slightly increased.
- Surname: Thorne
- Associated Companions: Davrin
The Grey Wardens are among the most balanced factions that players can choose! Since the game will feature a considerable amount of Darkspawn, the Blight Killer effect comes in handy throughout the entire playthrough. In addition, Vigilant Training provides a decently high bonus that can benefit any Class & Specialization.
While the faction works amazingly on all types of characters, we recommend choosing the Grey Wardens for the Warrior Class and all its specializations and for the Mage Class. Specifically for Spellblade and Death Caller since they will be in close-quarters combat.
The Veil Jumpers are a band of explorers, initially formed by elves, who welcome anyone daring enough to join them in their pursuit of uncovering the secrets of the Arlathan Forest. Initially, a group strictly based in Tevinter, the Veil Jumpers value bravery, and wanderlust. They strongly oppose Templars and fight fiercely to protect elven heritage, even if that includes crossing the Veil and stepping into the Fade, dealing with Arlathan’s reality-warping magic.
- Bonuses:
- Close to the Veil
- Gain reputation with the Veil Jumpers more quickly.
- Atunned Strikes
- Deal increased damage vs. Fade-Touched.
- Keen Eye
- Deal slightly increased Critical and Critical and Weakpoint damage.
- Surname: Aldwir
- Associated Companions: Bellara Lutare
The Veil Jumpers are best suited for meticulous players who wish to interact frequently with the Weakpoint mechanic! Their Atunned Strikes bonus is somewhat questionable since we don’t know the extent of Fade-Touched enemies in the game, meaning that it’s situational at best. However, the Keen Eye mechanic fits perfectly for playstyles that focus on precision.
We recommend choosing the Veil Jumpers for the Rogue class, specifically for the Saboteur and Veil Ranger specializations since they can make the most out of the Keen Eye mechanic.
Formed in Tevinter and based in the city of Minrathous, the Shadow Dragons are a renegade resistance group, comprised of all walks of life, strongly opposing the Tevinter empire and the slavery that plagues it. This group primarily targets the Venatori, a malignant group aligned with the high class of Tevinter, and will allow anyone to join them as long as they seek justice against oppressors.
- Bonuses:
- Light in the Dark
- Gain reputation with the Shadow Dragons more quickly.
- Never to Rise
- Deal increased damage vs. Venatori.
- Resourceful
- Your class-specific resource regenerates slightly faster.
- Surname: Mercar
- Associated Companions: Neve Gallus
The Shadow Dragons are great for players who enjoy the espionage background of the faction! Considering that Venatori will be a predominant type of enemy that you will encounter, Never to Rise will come in handy. This faction is best suited for either the Rogue class or the Mage Class, with the latter benefiting more.
We recommend choosing the Shadow Dragons for Mage due to the Resourceful effect which can amplify the performance of all Mage‘s specializations.
Daring adventurers, gritty explorers, and renowned treasure hunters, the Lords of Fortune stop at nothing to loot the most interesting artifacts of Thedas. The faction closely guards its secrets but offers extensive support to wealthy patrons and nobles who place sizable bounties. Beyond their epic heist & discovery tales, the Lords of Fortune are known as exceedingly competitive mercenaries, stopping at nothing to get the job done.
- Bonuses:
- Together in Glory
- Gain reputation with the Lords of Fortune more quickly.
- Healthy Competition
- Deal increased damage vs. Mercenaries.
- Relentless
- Perform Takedowns on enemies with slightly less effort.
- Surname: Laidir
- Associated Companions: Taash
The Lords of Fortune are fit for players who enjoy flashy attires and extravagant combat. Their Healthy Competition bonus is supposedly considered weak, as Mercenaries are not a predominant enemy. However, their Relentless bonus is great for any player who wishes to perform flashy and spectacular Takedowns more often.
These Lords of Fortune are similar to the Grey Wardens in the sense that the faction can fit just about any Class & Specialization. If not for any particular Class & Specialization bonus, we highly recommend this faction for their sense of fashion!
Members of The Mourn Watch are caretakers of the ancient Grand Necropolis and well-known elite members of the Mortalitasi. Those prestigious members are highly regarded in Nevarra, often occupying advisor positions and directly interacting with the royal family. They are said to hold intricate knowledge of Life & Death Magic, so much intimately so, that their powers instill fear and dread into foreign mages.
- Bonuses:
- Recognized Name
- Gain reputation with the Mourn Watchers more quickly.
- Return to the Grave
- Deal increased damage vs. Undead and Demons.
- Accute Afflictions
- You can apply an additional Affliction stack on targets.
- Surname: Ingellvar
- Associated Companions: Emmrich Volkarin
The Mourn Watch is fit for players who intend to use an Affliction-based playstyle! The faction’s huge bonus is Accute Afflictions which fits perfectly for multiple possible builds that depend on stacking effects. Return to the Grave will be situational yet still pretty strong considering that Undead will be a common occurrence in the game. From what we know, we also encounter enemies such as Pride Demons, making the effect quite valuable.
We recommend choosing The Mourn Watch if you intend to specialize in Affliction-based damage. Mage benefits the most from this faction, especially on Spellblade but specializations such as Veil Ranger and Reaper also find the effect very useful.
World-renowned assassins and masters of death, the Antivan Crows are a faction of shadowy figures, ready to plan & execute the most efficient and lethal murders for the right price. The faction is regarded as a group that upholds honor, holding their contracts in the highest esteem. Any member of the Antivan Crows would gladly forfeit their life rather than fail to assassinate their targets. Coincidentally, their work also won them the monicker of Antiva’s protectors, due to the malignant characters they’ve removed throughout history.
- Under their Wing
- Gain reputation with the Antivan Crows more quickly.
- Open Contract
- Deal increased damage vs. Antaam.
- Hidden Pouch
- Surname: De Riva
- Associated Companions: Lucanis Dellamorte
The Antivan Crows are fit for players who value subterfuge and prefer to remain in the shadows. Their lore is astonishing, yet their bonuses are rather common. The Hidden Pouch is a generally good bonus, offering an additional potion. The bonus will largely be useful for increasing survivability but does not hugely impact gameplay. Meanwhile, Open Contract is very situational, offering increased damage versus the Antaam.
We recommend choosing the Antivan Crows for their background lore rather than their bonuses. The Hidden Pouch bonus is generally good for any Class & Specialization, especially on higher difficulties, but it’s rather inconsequential when compared to other possible bonuses.
Hopefully, this article will give you insights into which Faction suits your character the best! Let us know in the comment section below if you have any suggestions about additional information that might guide players toward the perfect Faction & Class combination!
Grey Wardens
Veil Jumpers
Shadow Dragons
Lords of Fortune
The Mourn Watch
Antivan Crows
