Dragon Age The Veilguard Lace Harding guide: How to recruit, abilities, and equipment

Harding in Dragon Age The Veilguard is one of the first companions to join you in your journey across Thedas. A dwarf by race, Harding has appeared in previous Dragon Age games. While she doesn’t have any loyalties toward any particular faction, she proves to be an effective Veil Jumper.

In this guide, we have shared everything you will need to find and recruit Harding in Dragon Age The Veilguard, along with some other details to help you make the most of her abilities.

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Who is Harding in Dragon Age The Veilguard?

It's hard not to fall in love with her (Image via BioWare)

Lace Harding aka Harding, is a witty dwarven scout. Originating from Ferelden, she remains fiercely loyal to her roots and is very determined to save and protect her friends. If you are a fan of the series, then you may remember her as the cheerful scout from Dragon Age: Inquisition, where she assisted the Inquisitor throughout their journey.

In Dragon Age The Veilguard, Harding returns as a fully recruitable companion. She is the most effective as a Veil Ranger, it is a Rogue specialization focused on long-range combat, which unlocks her potential as a support and damage dealer. Additionally, Harding's romance route is one of the best romance options in the game.

Character summary:

• Race: Dwarf
• Gender: Female
• Class: Rogue
• Specialization: Veil Ranger
• Faction: None (formerly Inquisition)
• Romance Option: Yes

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How to recruit Harding in Dragon Age The Veilguard

She is one of the very first friends you make in the game (Image via BioWare)

Harding is the first companion you will encounter in Dragon Age The Veilguard. She joins Rook during the game's prologue, where she assists in locating Solas and disrupting his ritual. Unlike some other companions tied to specific factions, Harding is faction-neutral.

Recruitment process:

1. Prologue mission: During the initial story mission, you’ll meet Harding while tracking down Solas.
2. Automatic recruitment: She joins your party automatically after a brief cutscene where she offers her expertise.
3. Permanent companion: Once recruited, Harding will stay with your team for the rest of your journey, unless you decide to leave her at the Lighthouse.

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What are the abilities of Harding in Dragon Age The Veilguard?

Harding's powers (Image via BioWare)

Harding is the most effective as a ranged DPS and support character. Her abilities are designed to inflict status effects, control the battlefield, and support Rook with healing and damage buffs.

Below is a detailed breakdown of her starting abilities abilities:

Seismic Shot:

• Effect: Fires a powerful arrow that creates a shockwave, dealing 505 physical damage and high Stagger to enemies within range.
• Cooldown: 24 seconds
• Additional Effect: The shockwave can distract enemies, opening them up for follow-up attacks.

Heavy Draw:

• Effect: A slow, powerful shot dealing 360 physical damage and detonating the Overwhelmed status on enemies.
• Cooldown: 38 seconds
• Additional Effect: Ideal for bursting down single targets, especially when combined with crowd control abilities.

Shred:

• Effect: An armor-piercing shot that deals 217 physical damage, applying Sundered status and high Stagger to the target.
• Cooldown: 36 seconds
• Additional Effect: Great for debuffing tougher enemies, making them more vulnerable to damage.

Adrenaline Rush:

• Effect: Harding shouts, granting Enhanced Damage to Rook for a limited time.
• Cooldown: 24 seconds
• Additional Effect: This is an excellent buff for burst damage during intense combat scenarios.

Soothing Potion:

• Effect: Throws a healing potion at Rook, restoring 600 health points instantly.
• Cooldown: 38 seconds
• Additional Effect: Acts as a clutch heal during tough battles, making Harding a versatile support character.

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Best equipment for Harding in Dragon Age The Veilguard

Equipping Harding with the best gear will maximize her potential as a long-range damage dealer and support character. Here’s a rundown of the best weapons, armor, and accessories for her:

Best weapons:

Weapon	Effect	Best Use
Mayhem	"Attack My Target" deals +300% damage on first use, with a high chance to disrupt enemies.	Great for initiating combat with a powerful opening shot.
Mayhem in Gold	Adds +50% Stagger on attacks; staggering an enemy grants +25% damage on the next ability.	Ideal for chaining abilities and maximizing burst damage.
My Regards	Deals +300% damage to staggered enemies and extends stagger duration by +25%.	Best for high burst damage against staggered targets.
Secrets and Memories	Increases healing by 18%, boosts critical damage by +20%, and adds bleeding on crits.	Excellent for sustained combat and critical hit builds.

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Best Armor

Armor	Effect	Best Use
The Warden's Peer	Increases detonation radius by +50%; applies vulnerability to physical attacks if 3+ enemies are hit.	Ideal for area-of-effect damage and crowd control.
Spelunker's Gear	Extends Sundered status duration by +50%; boosts damage vs. sundered enemies by +50%.	Great for maximizing damage from Harding’s Shred ability.
Scout's Compassion	Detonations gain +50% penetration; grants the party +25% penetration for 10 seconds.	Perfect for dealing with heavily armored enemies and bosses.

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Accessories

Accessory	Effect	Best Use
Orlesian Sovereign	Grants Precision on first ability use per encounter; adds +25% penetration on critical hits.	Enhances burst damage at the start of combat.
Dwarven Key	10% chance to regain a potion after use; increases max potions by 1.	Ensures sustained healing support during long battles.
Bianca's Bolt	Adds +1 revival charge; reduces cooldowns by 50% when reviving a party member.	Crucial for challenging fights with frequent revives needed.

With the right equipment, you can optimize Harding for various combat scenarios, making her a flexible and reliable ally who can accompany you throughout Thedas.