Table of Contents
Introduction
Armor plays a crucial role in “Dragon Age: Inquisition,” offering protection, enhancing attributes, and defining the aesthetic of characters. From basic leather armor to legendary sets imbued with magical properties, the game provides a wide range of options to suit different playstyles and preferences. This review examines the best armor sets across different categories, including unique benefits, crafting requirements, and strategies for obtaining and maximizing their effectiveness in combat and exploration.
Types of Armor
1. Light Armor
Light armor in “Dragon Age: Inquisition” is typically worn by rogues and mages, emphasizing agility and spellcasting abilities. Light armor sets provide bonuses to critical chance, armor penetration, and mana/stamina regeneration. They are suited for characters who rely on mobility and ranged attacks.
- Examples: Battlemage Armor, Scout Armor, Enchanter Mail.
2. Medium Armor
Medium armor strikes a balance between protection and mobility, making it suitable for rogues who engage in close-quarters combat. Medium armor sets offer bonuses to dexterity, cunning, and critical damage, enhancing rogue abilities like stealth, critical hits, and flanking maneuvers.
- Examples: Hunter Armor, Prowler Armor, Stalker Mail.
3. Heavy Armor
Heavy armor is designed for warriors who prioritize defense and survivability on the battlefield. Heavy armor sets provide bonuses to strength, constitution, and melee defense, allowing warriors to absorb damage and withstand prolonged engagements against powerful foes.
- Examples: Battlemaster Armor, Vanguard Mail, Legion of the Dead Armor.
Best Armor Sets in “Dragon Age: Inquisition”
1. Tier 3 Armor Sets
Tier 3 armor sets are among the most powerful in the game, offering superior protection and unique bonuses that significantly impact gameplay. These sets require high-level crafting materials and schematic knowledge to create.
- Superior Battlemage Armor: Provides bonuses to maximum health, magic defense, and mana regeneration. Ideal for mage characters focusing on spellcasting and survivability.
- Superior Prowler Armor: Enhances critical chance, armor penetration, and stamina regeneration. Well-suited for rogues specializing in critical hits and sustained combat.
- Superior Battlemaster Armor: Increases maximum health, melee defense, and guard generation. Perfect for warriors seeking increased durability and defensive capabilities.
2. Unique and Legendary Armor
Unique and legendary armor sets in “Dragon Age: Inquisition” offer exceptional bonuses and often come with unique visual designs and lore-related backgrounds. These sets are typically acquired through specific quests, exploration, or challenging encounters.
- Griffon Mail: A legendary heavy armor set known for its impressive protection and bonuses to constitution, melee defense, and guard generation. Requires materials obtained from hunting legendary creatures.
- Dalish Scout Armor: A unique medium armor set renowned for its bonuses to dexterity, critical damage, and flanking damage. Acquired through exploration and completing quests in Dalish regions.
- Inquisitor’s Armor: A special armor set customizable to the Inquisitor’s preferences, offering bonuses tailored to the chosen class and playstyle. Crafted with materials obtained from significant story milestones and Inquisition operations.
Crafting and Customization
1. Masterwork Crafting
Masterwork crafting in “Dragon Age: Inquisition” allows players to imbue armor with powerful masterwork materials that grant additional bonuses and effects. Crafting the best armor often involves using high-tier materials, masterwork components, and specific crafting schematics obtained from rare sources.
- Masterwork Crafting Benefits: Enhances armor attributes, grants elemental resistance, improves stamina or mana regeneration, or provides unique combat bonuses such as damage reflection or status ailment resistance.
2. Upgrades and Modifications
Armor in “Dragon Age: Inquisition” can be further customized through upgrades and modifications, allowing players to tailor their armor sets to specific combat scenarios or preferences.
- Armor Upgrades: Enhance armor rating, resistance to elemental damage, or provide additional utility such as increased potion capacity or reduced cooldown times for abilities.
- Modifications: Attachments that augment armor with specific bonuses, such as increased movement speed, enhanced stealth capabilities, or improved recovery from injuries.
Strategies for Acquiring the Best Armor
1. Exploration and Quests
Many of the best armor sets in “Dragon Age: Inquisition” are acquired through exploration of diverse regions and completing specific quests. Explore caves, ruins, and dungeons to find rare materials and schematics needed for crafting powerful armor.
2. Vendor and Merchant Purchases
Some armor schematics and materials can be purchased from vendors and merchants scattered throughout Thedas. Invest in merchant perks within the Inquisition to unlock discounts and exclusive inventory options.
3. Crafting and Schematics
Invest in the Inquisition’s crafting operations to unlock advanced crafting schematics and masterwork materials. Complete requisitions, side quests, and war table missions to obtain rare crafting resources required for crafting superior armor.
Conclusion
“Dragon Age: Inquisition” offers a wealth of armor options that cater to different playstyles and preferences, from light and agile sets for rogues and mages to heavy, durable armor for warriors. The best armor sets in the game provide not only enhanced protection but also unique bonuses that complement specific combat strategies and character builds.
By exploring the diverse regions of Thedas, completing quests, mastering crafting techniques, and acquiring rare materials, players can assemble formidable armor sets that define their characters’ roles and contributions to the Inquisition’s cause. Whether seeking the resilience of heavy armor, the finesse of medium armor, or the versatility of light armor, “Dragon Age: Inquisition” offers players the tools and customization options to forge their own path through a world brimming with danger, intrigue, and heroic deeds.