Dragon Age The Veilguard combat basics explored

Dragon Age The Veilguard's combat system is inspired by some of the most well-known and acclaimed Action RPGs of our time. BioWare Studio has had a rough time this past decade. With the disappointing performance of Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda, the studio had lost the faith of their loyal fans.

However, with Dragon Age The Veilguard, BioWare is all set to make its return. This time, they have learned from their errors and developed a game that delivers exactly what their fans want: a narrative-heavy action RPG. Nevertheless, the combat system also needs to meet expectations, or BioWare may never regain its reputation.

In this article, we have shared everything that has been revealed about Dragon Age The Veilguard combat system in recent teasers.

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All the Dragon Age: The Veilguard combat basics we know so far

Take control of the fight (Image via Bioware)

Dragon Age The Veilguard combat type

• The basic combat system of Dragon Age The Veilguard is a third-person hack-and-slash with spells and abilities that can be used in combos. The combat seems to be inspired by modern Final Fantasy games such as Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy XVI. The player character will command allies and use abilities that synergize with theirs.

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Character Abilities and Skill Trees

• Each player character has three active abilities and one ultimate ability. These abilities are unlocked through progression via a skill tree. The specifics of progression haven't been revealed yet. However, we believe it will be fairly standard.
• In the last Dragon Age The Veilguard combat reveal teaser, the footage showcased a warrior character, and we could see that the player customized it to play as either a damage dealer or a tank.

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Dragon Age The Veilguard combat: runes and equipment customization

Runes are your main customization (Image via BioWare)

• Players will have access to runes that can modify both active and passive abilities. It appears players will be able to slot up to three runes, which will augment abilities beyond their base forms.
• Equipment is primarily defined by the damage and stagger effects it inflicts, showing a more streamlined design with minimal stats beyond attack and defense. Items seem to focus on modifiers rather than complex stat systems.
• Players can equip companions with items that complement their own character's abilities, creating synergies between the protagonist and the supporting cast.

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Mission-based structure and companion management

You will select your companion before starting each mission (Image via BioWare)

• The game uses a mission-based system where players select companions before embarking on quests. They can choose two companions and customize their abilities before each mission.
• While in combat, players have direct control over companions. They can target specific enemies for them and command them to use certain abilities. This system is very similar to the combat in modern Final Fantasy games.

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Combat Mechanics: Primers, Detonators, and Stagger

Utilize all the Combos opportunities (Image via BioWare)

• Enemy weaknesses are a key aspect of the Dragon Age The Veilguard combat system. Darkspawn, for example, are weak to fire but resistant to necrosis. Players can exploit these weaknesses through a well-designed UI that highlights the abilities most effective in a given situation.
• The ability wheel shows abilities that can prime enemies for combos and marks abilities that can detonate these primers. This system, similar to those in Mass Effect and Dragon Age: Inquisition, lets the player play both aggressively and strategically.
• Stagger mechanics play a significant role, particularly in crowd control and high-damage output situations. Weapons inflict stagger, and once the stagger meter (displayed as a purple bar) is full, enemies become vulnerable to finishers or take increased damage. This encourages players to maintain offensive pressure to incapacitate enemies swiftly.

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Dragon Age The Veilguard combat companions' role

• Companion abilities are vital to combat effectiveness, although their attack stats appear lower than the main character's. This could be a design choice to make the player character the focal point.
• Outside of companion abilities, general combat maneuvers like parries, blocks, and counterattacks are part of the melee system.

A recurring concern from the showcase is the limit on abilities—players can only use three active abilities at a time. This restricts the potential for variety in combat styles and reduces the opportunities for combos. A suggestion made was to increase the number of active abilities to five to add more flexibility to gameplay.