Complete guide to all seven Dragon Age: The Veilguard companions with recruitment strategies and combat tactics
Introduction to The Veilguard Companions
Dragon Age: The Veilguard presents players with an exceptional roster of seven distinctive companions, each bringing unique combat capabilities, compelling backstories, and potential romance paths to your adventure. These characters form the backbone of your customized team, offering diverse tactical options against the game’s challenges.
The companion system represents a significant evolution from previous Dragon Age titles, with enhanced interaction mechanics and deeper relationship development. Unlike many RPGs where companions feel like interchangeable tools, The Veilguard ensures each character maintains strong narrative presence and gameplay relevance throughout your journey.
Strategic team composition becomes paramount as you’ll typically field three companions alongside your protagonist. Understanding each character’s strengths, weaknesses, and synergistic potential will dramatically impact your success in both combat encounters and narrative outcomes.
Lace Harding – The Inquisition Scout
Race: Dwarf
Class: Rogue
Faction: The Inquisition
Veteran Dragon Age players will recognize Lace Harding from her role as Lead Scout in Dragon Age: Inquisition, making her transition to full companion status a welcome development. Her inclusion stands out significantly as she represents the only companion originating from a faction unavailable as a player background option.
Harding’s character embodies moral integrity and compassionate determination, traits that make her instantly appealing to both series veterans and newcomers. She demonstrates unwavering commitment to rectifying the catastrophic consequences of Solas’ ritual, positioning herself as an invaluable strategic asset to your fledgling Veilguard organization.
Combat-wise, Harding specializes in long-range engagements utilizing her shortbow, with particular expertise in delivering precise lightning-based elemental damage. Her advanced alchemical knowledge enables her to craft potent buffing elixirs for allies while deploying debilitating concoctions against enemies, creating versatile support capabilities.
Pro Tip: Position Harding on elevated terrain during combat to maximize her ranged damage bonuses and field visibility. Her alchemical potions work exceptionally well when combined with area-effect spells from mage companions.
Recruiting Harding requires minimal effort as she essentially serves as your default first companion. Within the opening minutes of your adventure, you’ll encounter her providing aid to Minrathous citizens, after which she immediately pledges allegiance to your cause.
Neve Gallus – Shadow Dragons Mage
Race: Human
Class: Mage
Faction: Shadow Dragons
Neve Gallus operates as a powerful mage and private investigator within Minrathous, simultaneously serving as a covert operative for the revolutionary Shadow Dragons faction. This underground movement dedicates itself to combating systemic corruption and improving living conditions for Tevinter’s common citizens.
Her revolutionary activities frequently bring her into conflict with both the fanatical Venatori and the oppressive Magisterium, organizations that maintain iron-fisted control over the region. Neve’s character embodies righteous justice and protective instincts toward oppressed populations, driving her narrative motivations.
In combat scenarios, Neve commands devastating frost magic capable of controlling battlefield movement and dealing substantial damage. Her unique temporal manipulation abilities can dramatically slow combat flow, while her healing proficiency provides crucial sustainability throughout all game phases.
Common Mistake: Avoid positioning Neve too close to frontline combat—despite her healing capabilities, she lacks the durability to withstand sustained melee pressure. Use her time-slowing abilities to control enemy advances rather than as pure damage tools.
Similar to Harding, Neve joins your party during the early game by following main story progression. Your initial encounter occurs in Minrathous’ shadowy districts, where a brief introductory sequence precedes her integration into your team.
Bellara Lutare – Veil Jumper Archaeologist
Race: Elf
Class: Mage
Faction: Veil Jumpers
Despite her mage classification, Bellara Lutare primarily employs a remarkable prosthetic arm that transforms into an elaborate great bow through ancient Elven technological principles. This unique weapon acquisition stems from her membership in the Veil Jumpers faction, where she regularly explores forgotten ruins and experiments with recovered artifacts.
Bellara’s character radiates academic enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity, with her fascination for historical artifacts bordering on obsessive dedication. While she occasionally displays absent-minded professor tendencies that provide comedic relief, she maintains fierce loyalty to her faction and can reveal surprising ferocity when her comrades face threats.
Combat performance sees Bellara launching powerful magical projectiles from her prosthetic bow, with specialized capabilities for weakening enemy resistances to elemental damage types. Like Neve, she possesses healing abilities that enhance her party utility beyond pure damage dealing.
Optimization Tip: Coordinate Bellara’s elemental vulnerability effects with other companions’ elemental attacks for devastating damage multipliers. Her healing works best as emergency support rather than primary sustain.
You’ll encounter Bellara during early game progression when returning to Arlathan Forest following your intervention in Solas’ ritual. Initial contact involves meeting her Veil Jumper companions Strife and Irelin, who are searching for their missing colleague. Progressing through the forest and navigating a Veil Bubble leads to discovering Bellara, with recruitment following your assistance in her escape and aid against Darkspawn threats.
Lucanis Dellamorte – Antivan Crow Assassin
Race: Human
Class: Rogue
Faction: Antivan Crows
Lucanis Dellamorte epitomizes the classic dashing rogue archetype, operating as a supremely skilled assassin with established reputation for eliminating mage targets. His character conceals a profound secret: through forbidden blood magic rituals, he has bound a hostile demon to his soul, creating compelling internal conflict and moral complexity.
As a Treviso resident and high-ranking Antivan Crow operative, Lucanis stands as grandson to the organization’s current First Talon, positioning him for eventual leadership inheritance. Despite this lineage, he prefers maintaining active field status, deriving satisfaction from delivering lethal justice to deserving targets.
Combat differentiation from Harding emerges through Lucanis’ melee specialization, employing abilities focused on maximizing critical strike potential for burst damage elimination. His close-quarters approach complements ranged party members while demanding careful positioning management.
Advanced Tactic: Use Lucanis as your primary single-target eliminator, reserving his high-critical abilities for priority targets like enemy mages and commanders. His demonic connection provides unique dialogue options during certain story sequences.
Recruitment requires traveling to Treviso during the first act and establishing contact with Antivan Crow representatives. Completing their assigned tasks eventually leads to investigating Lucanis’ alleged demise at blood mage hands. During this investigation, you’ll discover and rescue Lucanis, securing his allegiance to the Veilguard cause.
Davrin – Grey Warden Monster Hunter
Race: Elf
Class: Warrior
Faction: Grey Wardens
Davrin originated from Dalish clan upbringing but sought greater adventures and historical significance beyond traditional elf limitations. This ambition led him to the prestigious Grey Wardens, where he advanced through ranks to establish himself as renowned monster hunter and Blight combat specialist.
His character exemplifies steadfast dedication to combating Blight threats and Darkspawn infestations, maintaining profound respect for defensive virtues and protective instincts. Beyond his warrior exterior lies compassionate nature, most evident in his role as primary caregiver for young griffon companion Assan.
Combat capabilities include summoning Assan for devastating divebomb attacks inflicting substantial fire damage, alongside taunting abilities that divert enemy attention from more vulnerable party members. This combination establishes him as ideal frontline protector.
Pro Strategy: Deploy Davrin’s taunt abilities when enemy forces threaten your backline companions. Time Assan’s divebomb attacks to coincide with area-effect spells for maximum combat impact.
Locating Davrin occurs in Anderfels’ Hossberg Wetlands, where he serves as your first warrior companion acquisition and fifth overall party member. Recruitment initiates after receiving monster hunter recruitment objectives, leading to wetlands exploration where you assist Davrin in rescuing fellow Grey Wardens during Blight outbreak. Successful Darkspawn elimination and comrade rescue secure his and Assan’s membership.
Emmrich Volkarin – Mourn Watch Necromancer
Race: Human
Class: Mage
Faction: Mourn Watch
Emmrich Volkarin presents as the party’s seasoned gentleman, his somewhat antiquated manners reflecting his status as most experienced Veilguard member. His affiliations connect to the Mortalitasi through their military division, the Mourn Watch, providing unique undead expertise.
As scholarly necromancer and accomplished mage, Emmrich demonstrates preference for elaborate discourse and intellectual contemplation. He maintains constant companionship with skeletal assistant Manfred, who evolves and develops throughout your journey. Party interactions often highlight societal discomfort with necromantic practices, creating compelling narrative tension.
Combat performance leverages his Mourn Watch training to deliver formidable damage output and debilitating status effects, specializing in necrotic damage application that bypasses conventional resistances. His capabilities fill unique tactical niches unavailable to other companions.
Optimization Advice: Pair Emmrich with warriors who can protect him while his necrotic damage-over-time effects accumulate. His debuffs work exceptionally well against high-health targets and boss encounters.
Emmrich represents one of your final companion acquisitions, with both him and Taash becoming available near Act Seven’s conclusion. Recruitment requires traveling to Necropolis Halls seeking Fade expertise to comprehend Blight complexities. Overcoming Venatori opposition in this region eventually secures his recruitment alongside his skeletal companion.
Taash – Lords of Fortune Dragon Hunter
Race: Qunari
Class: Warrior
Faction: Lords of Fortune
Taash stands as your exclusive Qunari companion in The Veilguard, with her distinctiveness extending beyond racial characteristics. Contrary to conventional warrior weapon preferences, she employs dual-wielded axes for unique combat style that differentiates her from other melee specialists.
As Lords of Fortune member, Taash exhibits passionate pursuit of valuable treasures and adventurous renown, preferring direct confrontation approaches to complex situations. Her extensive contact network provides valuable resources and information access throughout your campaign.
Battlefield performance incorporates dragon-slaying techniques learned through her professional experience, including fire-breathing capabilities that exploit Darkspawn elemental vulnerabilities. Her aggressive style complements defensive warriors like Davrin.
Combat Tip: Utilize Taash as your primary damage-dealing warrior, focusing her fire attacks on Darkspawn groups for maximum efficiency. Her dual-wield style generates exceptional damage but requires careful health management.
As previously noted, Taash ranks among final companion acquisitions during later game stages. Recruitment necessity arises when dragon attacks devastate specific villages, requiring dragon hunter expertise. Your mission leads to Rivain Coast, where assisting Taash in dragon lair exploration culminates in her joining your crew, facilitated by maternal persuasion.
Companion Strategy & Team Building
Effective party composition requires balancing damage types, defensive capabilities, and support functions across your four active members. Consider creating specialized teams for different encounter types—a balanced spread typically includes one warrior, one rogue, and two mages for versatility.
Advanced Team Compositions: For maximum damage output, pair Lucanis with Taash and two offensive mages. Defensive configurations might feature Davrin as primary tank with Harding providing ranged support and two healing-capable mages. Experiment with different combinations to discover synergistic abilities.
Common Recruitment Mistakes: Many players overlook companion-specific quest triggers by progressing too rapidly through main storylines. Ensure you explore each region thoroughly and complete faction-related objectives to avoid missing recruitment opportunities.
Romance Considerations: Building relationship values with potential romance interests requires consistent dialogue engagement, gift giving, and completing personal quests. Note that some companions have specific alignment or reputation requirements for romance initiation.
Endgame Preparation: By Act Seven, ensure you’ve recruited all seven companions and developed their abilities sufficiently. Late-game challenges often require specialized team compositions that may demand switching between rarely-used companions.
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