The world of Dragon Age is rife with danger, and to survive, you need the best equipment. Armor is your primary defense against darkspawn hordes, mages gone rogue, and treacherous political rivals. But simply buying armor from merchants won’t cut it if you’re aiming for true power. You need schematics – blueprints that allow you to craft superior armor pieces, customized to your party’s needs. This guide will tell you where to find the most powerful armor schematics throughout the Dragon Age series, helping you transform your characters into unstoppable forces.
Dragon Age: Origins – Forging Your Destiny
Dragon Age: Origins marks the beginning of your Warden’s journey, and securing powerful armor schematics early on is crucial. While the crafting system is simpler compared to later installments, the right schematics can significantly enhance your survivability.
Acquiring Basic Schematics
Before diving into the truly exceptional, it’s important to understand where to find common schematics. Merchants across Ferelden, particularly those in Ostagar (before its fall), Lothering, and Denerim’s market district, offer a range of basic armor schematics. These are excellent for filling gaps in your party’s armor or crafting gear for companions who join later. Don’t overlook vendors in specialized locations like the Dalish Camp or Orzammar. These may stock schematics relevant to their respective cultures and fighting styles. Regularly checking merchant inventories is a worthwhile habit throughout your playthrough.
Unlocking Superior Sets: The Warden Commander Armor
One of the most coveted armor sets in Dragon Age: Origins is the Warden Commander Armor. The schematic for this set is obtained as downloadable content (DLC), specifically the Warden’s Keep DLC. This armor is not only aesthetically impressive but also offers excellent protection and stat boosts, making it ideal for your Warden, particularly warriors and rogues.
Delving Deeper: Special Merchants And Quest Rewards
Several quests offer unique armor schematics as rewards. While these rewards might not always be the best in terms of raw stats, they often come with valuable resistances or other beneficial properties. Keep an eye out for quests that involve retrieving lost relics or dealing with powerful enemies, as these are often associated with better-than-average loot. Specific merchants, like Bodahn Feddic in the party camp, will offer unique items as you progress through the game, including certain schematics.
Dragon Age II – Champion’s Arsenal
Dragon Age II introduces a more streamlined crafting system. While not as expansive as in Inquisition, finding the right schematics is still essential for outfitting Hawke and their companions. The game is divided into Acts, and merchant inventories often refresh with new and improved items, including armor schematics, at the start of each Act.
Exploring Kirkwall’s Merchants
Kirkwall’s merchants are your primary source for armor schematics in Dragon Age II. The Black Emporium DLC adds a hidden store accessible from your house, offering high-quality schematics that are otherwise difficult to find. Don’t neglect the shops in the Gallows and Lowtown. They frequently stock schematics relevant to your class and play style.
The Importance Of Side Quests
Many side quests in Dragon Age II reward you with valuable items, including armor schematics. Certain quests are specifically designed to reward class-specific armor, ensuring that Hawke and your companions have access to gear tailored to their roles. Complete as many side quests as possible to increase your chances of finding exceptional schematics.
Hidden Treasures And Secret Locations
Dragon Age II features several hidden locations and secret stashes that often contain valuable loot, including rare armor schematics. Explore every nook and cranny of Kirkwall and its surrounding areas to uncover these hidden treasures. Pay close attention to dialogue and environmental cues, as they can often lead you to these secret locations.
Dragon Age: Inquisition – Mastering The Art Of War
Dragon Age: Inquisition boasts the most complex and rewarding crafting system in the series. Finding the best armor schematics is critical for surviving the dangers of Thedas and defeating Corypheus. The game provides a vast array of schematics, allowing for extensive customization and optimization.
Early Game Acquisitions
Even in the early stages of Inquisition, you can find decent armor schematics. Exploring the Hinterlands and completing quests in the area will reward you with schematics suitable for the initial challenges. Merchants in Haven, and later Skyhold, offer a selection of basic schematics. Do not overlook looting containers and enemy drops.
Unlocking Tier 3 Schematics: The Endgame Goal
The ultimate goal in Dragon Age: Inquisition is to acquire Tier 3 armor schematics. These schematics allow you to craft the most powerful armor in the game, providing unparalleled protection and stat boosts.
- Emprise du Lion: This area is a goldmine for Tier 3 schematics. Vendors here, particularly the one in the merchant camp after claiming the area, sell schematics for heavy armor, medium armor, and rogue armor.
- Hissing Wastes: This desert region contains numerous hidden tombs and ruins. Some of these locations contain chests that have a chance to drop Tier 3 schematics.
- The Western Approach: Completing specific quests and exploring the Western Approach can lead to the discovery of unique armor schematics. Look out for quests involving Venatori activity.
Beyond Stats: The Power Of Masterwork Materials
While schematics determine the base stats of your armor, masterwork materials can significantly enhance its properties. These rare materials, found throughout Thedas, add special effects to crafted items, such as increased critical hit chance, healing on hit, or guard generation. Experiment with different masterwork materials to create armor that perfectly complements your play style.
Faction Reputation And Merchant Inventories
Increasing your reputation with certain factions, such as the Inquisition itself, can unlock access to special merchants who sell rare armor schematics. Completing quests and performing operations for these factions will gradually increase your standing, granting you access to their exclusive wares. Regularly check merchant inventories in Skyhold, as they often update with new and improved items as you progress through the game.
The Trial Of The Archon Armor Set
This fantastic armor set is obtained via a treasure map found in the Western Approach, but the treasure can only be obtained if the “Trespasser” DLC is installed. This set is fantastic for warriors and rogues as it gives bonuses to both damage and critical hit chance.
In conclusion, finding the best armor schematics in the Dragon Age series requires exploration, quest completion, and a keen eye for detail. By exploring every corner of Thedas, completing side quests, and interacting with merchants, you can unlock the schematics needed to craft legendary armor and become a true champion. Remember to always check merchant inventories frequently and keep an eye out for hidden treasures and secret locations. The right armor can make all the difference in the fight against the forces of darkness.
Where Can I Find The Schematics For Superior Armor In Dragon Age: Inquisition?
Many superior armor schematics are found throughout the game world in Inquisition, often hidden within chests, looted from powerful enemies, or acquired as rewards for completing specific quests. Look for chests in areas like the Hissing Wastes, Emprise du Lion (once unlocked), and the Western Approach, as these are known to house some of the best schematics. Additionally, keep an eye out for rare or unique enemies, particularly in the Dragon territories, as they often drop high-quality schematics.
Several vendors across Thedas also sell valuable armor schematics. Blackwall, once recruited, offers armor schematics that he has collected on his travels. The merchant in the Skyhold Undercroft (once unlocked through the War Table) sells exceptionally rare and powerful schematics, rotating inventory periodically. Checking the stock of each vendor regularly after leveling up or completing significant story events can reveal new opportunities for acquiring top-tier armor crafting plans.
Are There Specific Factions Or Quests That Reward Unique Armor Schematics?
Yes, several factions and questlines are associated with unique and powerful armor schematics in Dragon Age: Inquisition. The Jaws of Hakkon DLC contains schematics for the excellent Hakkon armor, obtainable through the DLC’s main quest and associated side quests. Similarly, the Descent DLC provides access to the Tier 4 armor schematics found in the Deep Roads, making them among the most powerful in the game.
Furthermore, completing specific quests related to the Inquisition’s agents and advisors, such as Leliana and Josephine, can unlock unique armor schematics as rewards. These quests often require strategic decision-making and can significantly impact the quality of the rewards received. Always prioritize completing these agent-related quests to maximize your chances of acquiring exclusive armor schematics.
Do Armor Schematics Scale With My Character’s Level In Dragon Age: Inquisition?
While the availability of certain schematics may be tied to progression milestones or region unlocks, the schematics themselves do not inherently scale with your character level. Instead, the tier of materials used in crafting the armor, which can be influenced by your level and the regions you explore, determines the final stats and effectiveness of the crafted item.
The schematics provide the blueprint for the armor’s core design, but the materials you use will determine its final properties like armor rating and elemental resistances. Therefore, focusing on gathering high-tier materials like Dragonbone, Silverite, and Fade-Touched variants is essential for maximizing the effectiveness of your crafted armor, regardless of your current character level.
What’s The Difference Between A Schematic And A Crafted Armor Piece In Dragon Age: Inquisition?
A schematic is a crafting blueprint or recipe that allows you to create a specific piece of armor. It outlines the design, appearance, and potential properties of the armor. Once you obtain a schematic, you can use it at a crafting station to create the armor, provided you have the necessary materials.
A crafted armor piece is the finished product created using a schematic and the required crafting materials. It’s the actual piece of equipment that your character can equip and use. The stats and properties of the crafted armor piece depend on the schematic used and the type of materials incorporated during the crafting process.
Can I Find Schematics For Specific Armor Types Like Heavy, Medium, Or Light Armor?
Yes, schematics are categorized by armor type: heavy, medium, and light, catering to different character classes and playstyles in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Warrior classes typically benefit from heavy armor schematics, Rogue classes from light armor schematics, and Mage classes generally use light armor as well, though the armor can be customized to fit the specialization and party role.
Knowing your character’s class and desired playstyle helps you narrow down the schematics to prioritize. For example, if you’re playing a Reaver Warrior, focusing on heavy armor schematics that offer bonuses to damage resistance and health regeneration would be beneficial. Conversely, a Tempest Rogue would seek light armor schematics emphasizing critical hit chance and cunning.
Are There Missable Armor Schematics In Dragon Age: Inquisition That I Should Be Aware Of?
While most armor schematics can be acquired at any point in the game, several are tied to specific quests or areas that become inaccessible after certain story milestones, making them potentially missable. For instance, some schematics are found within areas that close off after completing a main quest or after selecting a particular option during a critical decision.
Pay close attention to any optional areas within main quest locations, as these may contain valuable chests or enemies that drop unique schematics. Furthermore, ensure you fully explore and complete side quests within regions before progressing too far in the main storyline to avoid missing out on any associated rewards, including potentially powerful and exclusive armor schematics.
How Do I Effectively Use The Crafting System With Armor Schematics To Create The Best Possible Gear?
Effective utilization of the crafting system starts with acquiring high-quality armor schematics relevant to your character’s class and role. Once you have the schematic, the next step is to carefully select crafting materials, considering their properties and how they will impact the final armor stats. Experiment with different combinations of materials to optimize the armor’s performance for your desired playstyle.
The materials you choose will drastically alter the base stats given by the armor schematic. For example, metal determines base armor rating, while cloth modifies resistances and utility bonuses. Utilize masterwork materials to add significant bonuses and abilities to armor pieces. Regularly review and upgrade your armor as you progress, consistently seeking out superior materials and schematics to remain at the peak of combat effectiveness.