The Slayer Build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard represents a Warrior class specialization designed for high damage output. This build sacrifices defensive strengths for maximum offensive capabilities, catering to players who prefer a straightforward approach to combat, allowing them to dispatch foes in just a few hits. This marks a departure from the former Reaver class, which inflicted damage upon enemies who dared to attack the player.
Originally meant to embody a high-risk, high-reward style similar to what Reavers showcased in earlier Dragon Age titles, this specialization now leans heavily towards pure damage dealing. This shift makes the Slayer easier to utilize, providing players with a simpler and more effective way to engage in battles.
Top Skills for a Slayer Build
Key Skills to Focus On
To excel as a Slayer in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you should focus on skills that enhance stagger damage, trigger status effects, and deliver powerful attacks swiftly. The goal is to eliminate enemies quickly, allowing you to move to the next target before suffering damage. Fortunately, several skills can assist with this.
|
Skill |
Function |
|---|---|
|
Heroic Leap |
Essential for detonating Weakened status, this skill inflicts substantial damage and knocks back opponents. It’s ideal for initiating fights and disrupting enemy lines. |
|
Driving Kick |
This ability detonates Weakened status and staggers foes without a cooldown, making it highly efficient. |
|
Whirlwind |
This area-of-effect (AoE) attack causes significant stagger and damage, perfect for handling groups and creating space. |
|
For Gold and Glory (Ultimate) |
This ultimate skill inflicts incredible AoE damage and stagger, allowing for rapid fight resolutions. |
|
Charged Smash |
This passive ability converts all Smash skills into Charged Attacks, amplifying damage and stagger effects significantly. |
Keep in mind that you’ll not be able to use every special move at once. These moves work best when utilized at the start of each encounter. If you prefer a straightforward approach—likely the case if you’ve chosen this specialization—using all your special moves early on can significantly weaken your enemies. Often, this strategy can lead to swift victories for your team.
Top Gear for a Slayer Build
Finding Optimal Gear
For a Slayer build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the best equipment centers around increasing damage, stagger, and rage generation while compensating for the build’s limited defensive capabilities. This gear setup emphasizes damage and rage to enable a Slayer to inflict substantial damage quickly. The Woodsong Cleaver or Blight Killer can significantly enhance damage, while the Captain’s Heater, with its stagger enchantment, helps disrupt foes for easier takedowns. Feel free to mix and match gear as needed, using this as a foundational guide.
|
Equipment Slot |
Recommended Gear |
Benefits |
|---|---|---|
|
Main Weapon |
Woodsong Cleaver or Blight Killer |
Offers a solid mix of damage and stagger; the Blight Killer provides extra damage against Darkspawn. |
|
Off-Hand |
Captain’s Heater |
Maximizes stagger potential, essential for setting up takedowns and keeping enemies disoriented. |
|
Alternative Weapon |
Winged Glaive |
A strong option for ranged damage, but choose one that complements your companions’ abilities. |
|
Helmet |
Carastes Double-Hat |
Enhances survivability for the Slayer, counteracting the class’s low defensive stats. |
|
Armor |
Brawler’s Decorated Leathers |
Provides extra defense, vital for the Slayer’s often-fragile survivability. |
|
Belt |
Reinforced Binding |
This belt adds a notable defense boost, even without enchantments. |
|
Amulet |
Heart of Andraste |
Increases critical hit damage, enhancing the Slayer’s high-damage potential. |
|
Ring 1 |
Bleeding Shard |
Boosts the duration and damage of necrotic effects, enhancing damage over time. |
|
Ring 2 |
Amaranthine Loop |
Accelerates rage generation, allowing for more frequent ability usage. |
Keep in mind, this is an RPG, so you’ll frequently find superior weapons and equipment as you progress. It’s wise to upgrade your gear whenever you discover something better.
Sticking with the suggested gear has its advantages, such as how Bleeding Shard boosts the effectiveness of necrotic weapons. Nevertheless, as you enhance your gear and discover superior options, you’ll naturally find preferences that align better with your playstyle. In an RPG setting, it’s essential to remain flexible with your loadout—holding onto old weapons or gear may not always be necessary. This guide serves as a great starting point for those seeking an effective build without delving into every detail.
Optimal Party Combinations for a Slayer
Choosing the Right Party Matters
Dragon Age: The Veilguard has embraced a more flexible approach regarding party dynamics, but certain class setups will significantly enhance your experience. Playing as the main damage dealer or tank necessitates adding a secondary combatant (either a rogue or warrior), a ranged archer, and a mage. To maximize your effectiveness in battles, consider these romanceable companions:
- Bellara (Veil Jumper), Harding (Scout), and Neve (Detective): This trio excels at inflicting Weakened and Sundered status effects. Both Bellara and Harding can apply Sundered status with their skills, while Neve passively applies Weakened, enabling massive detonation opportunities. Harding contributes additional ranged DPS and utility from her bow, while Neve’s control spells like Time Slow provide crucial support.
- Lucanis (Assassin), Taash (Dragon Hunter), and Emmrich (Necromancer): This combination balances damage, support, and crowd control. Lucanis can strip barriers from enemies, rendering them vulnerable to your attacks. Taash excels in close-quarters combat and crowd management, while Emmrich’s Necromantic skills can inflict various status effects and even resurrect fallen allies.
If you have preferred characters you’d like in your party, feel free to swap them out. Ideally, however, you want two front-line fighters, a rogue archer, and a mage to navigate all the game’s challenges effectively. For detailed information on companions, check out the video by Dantics, which showcases their appearances and roles. This strategy works across all Dragon Age games and will prove effective in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Video Credit: Dantics/YouTube
