Dragon Age: Inquisition is a rich tapestry of storytelling, character development, and enthralling gameplay. As a mage in this immersive action RPG, equipping the best staff not only enhances your character’s magical prowess but also adds a unique flavor to your playstyle. In this guide, we will delve into the world of staffs in Dragon Age: Inquisition, pinpointing the strongest staff and offering insights into its attributes, crafting, and benefits.
Understanding the Role of Staffs
Before diving into the specific stats of the strongest staff, it’s essential to comprehend the significance of staffs in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Staffs serve as the primary weapon for mages, enabling them to cast spells efficiently while providing bonuses to magical abilities.
Why Choose a Staff?
The choice of a staff over other weapons hinges on several factors:
- Damage Output: Staffs typically deal magic-based damage, which can be enhanced with specific upgrades and runes.
- Spell Enhancement: Many staffs come with passive bonuses that boost spell effectiveness, make enchantments stronger, or provide unique abilities.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Some staffs possess intricate designs and lore, enhancing the overall immersion of your mage’s journey.
Even among the plethora of staffs available in Dragon Age: Inquisition, there emerges a few standout options. The strongest staff, however, can vary based on playstyle, but many players agree that the staff known as “The Descent” holds a prominent position.
The Descent: The Strongest Staff in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Arguably, The Descent staff is considered one of the strongest options available. With its unique balance of power and versatility, it’s the ideal weapon for any mage looking to dominate the battlefield.
Attributes of The Descent
The Descent features several attributes that set it apart from the competition. Here’s an overview of its stats:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Base Damage | 270 |
| Magic Modifier | +30% |
| Spell Speed | +15% |
| Critical Damage Bonus | +25% |
| Special Effect | Increases mana regeneration by 20% while active |
This diverse range of functionalities illustrates why The Descent is considered the strongest staff in terms of overall performance.
Crafting The Descent
One of the incredible aspects of Dragon Age: Inquisition is the crafting system. Players can customize their weapons, granting them a personalized touch. To craft The Descent, players need specific materials gathered from various regions of Thedas.
Materials Required
To successfully craft The Descent, you will need the following materials:
- Embers: Can be obtained from elemental demons and fire bodies in the Winter Palace.
- Arcane Ashes: Dropped by certain enemies in the Deep Roads.
- Mithril: A rare metal that can often be found in the Exalted Plains and Emerald Graves.
Once you gather these materials, visit a crafting table and choose to create The Descent. Ensure your staff has a solid base to capitalize on its final enhancements.
Other Notable Staffs in Dragon Age: Inquisition
While The Descent is certainly a prime contender for the strongest staff title, there are other excellent options worth mentioning. Each staff offers distinct advantages, posing a realistic alternative based on player preference.
The Staff of the Magister Lord
The Staff of the Magister Lord is a unique staff that hails from the “Trespasser” DLC. It provides a solid foundation for players who lean towards a more offensive magical build.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Base Damage | 250 |
| Magic Modifier | +25% |
| Special Effect | Grants a damage bonus when attacking from stealth |
This staff is perfect for those dealing with high burst damage and seeking to maximize their potential in surprise attacks.
Staff of the Chantry
The Staff of the Chantry is steeped in lore and delivers a unique package of benefits catered towards healing-themed mages. It enhances both healing spells and mana regeneration, making it ideal for team support in challenging scenarios.
Choosing the Best Staff for Your Playstyle
Selecting the right staff largely depends on your preferred playstyle as a mage. Whether you favor damage output or support abilities, understanding how each staff complements your build is vital.
Damage Dealer Mages
For players keen on maximizing damage, staffs like The Descent, The Staff of the Magister Lord, and the Veilfire Staff provide the needed critical hit and damage boosters. Investing in runes and upgrades will further elevate effectiveness, ensuring devastating spell casts.
Support and Healing Mages
Conversely, if you prefer a support role, staffs like the Staff of the Chantry are your go-to options. These staffs empower healing abilities and ensure that your allies remain intact throughout grueling battles. Focus on spells that enhance survivability and crowd control.
Enhancing Your Staff with Runes
Runes represent another layer of customization available to players. By embedding your staff with runes, you can tailor it further to suit your preferences. Whether by amplifying spell damage, increasing mana regeneration, or providing elemental bonuses, the right rune can optimize a staff’s effectiveness.
Types of Runes
Here are a couple of notable rune types to consider for your staff:
- Rune of the Lyrium: Increases magic damage significantly.
- Rune of the Dragon: Provides bonus damage against dragon-type enemies.
Applying these runes to The Descent or any of your preferred staffs will amplify its capabilities, pushing your enemies to their limits.
In Conclusion: Mastering Your Mage’s Arsenal
Selecting the strongest staff in Dragon Age: Inquisition is not merely about base stats; it encompasses crafting, enhancing, and adapting your playstyle to maximize potential.
The consensus that The Descent is among the strongest stems from its well-rounded stats, crafting potential, and significant impact on gameplay. However, your ultimate choice should integrate personal preferences and the synergy between your character’s skills and the selected staff.
As you journey through the enchanting world of Thedas, remember that a mage’s power comes not just from spells and staffs, but from understanding the art of combat and strategy. Experiment with different staffs, identify the one that resonates with you, and masterfully wield it to face the challenges that lie ahead.
What is the strongest staff in Dragon Age: Inquisition?
The strongest staff in Dragon Age: Inquisition is often considered to be the “Mordred’s Staff,” which provides significant boosts to spell power and mana regeneration. This staff can be obtained through specific quests or crafted using rare materials, making it highly sought after by mage players. Its attributes not only enhance the damage dealt by spells but also improve overall magical efficiency, allowing mages to unleash more powerful abilities during combat.
Additionally, players who focus on crafting can create other powerful staffs by combining the right materials and runes. While Mordred’s Staff stands out, options like the “Wicked Ocularis” and “The Staff of the Magister” also offer strong benefits. Ultimately, the best choice often depends on the player’s specific build and playstyle, and experimenting with different staffs can lead to discovering unique strengths in combat.
How do I obtain the best staffs in the game?
To obtain the best staffs in Dragon Age: Inquisition, players generally have two main routes: finding them through exploration or crafting them. Some of the most powerful staffs can be located in specific locations, often tied to quests or treasures scattered throughout Thedas. For instance, exploring ancient ruins, defeating specific enemies, or completing unique missions can yield high-quality staffs. Make sure to thoroughly investigate each area and complete side quests that may unlock additional items.
Crafting is another effective method to obtain strong staffs. Players can gather materials from defeated enemies, plants, and mining nodes, then head to a crafting bench. By using rare materials and the right schematics, you can create staffs that may surpass the found ones in power and attributes. Additionally, leveling up your crafting skills will unlock better schematics and recipes, enhancing your ability to create powerful gear.
What materials are necessary for crafting a powerful staff?
When crafting a powerful staff in Dragon Age: Inquisition, several key materials are essential. The primary components include wood, cloth, and metal, with each type determined by the specific schematic used. Additionally, rare materials like “Titanium” and “Lesser Blackrock” can greatly enhance the staff’s attributes and potency. To maximize the staff’s abilities, it’s also vital to incorporate runes and special crafting components that can add elemental effects or boost spell power.
Players should be mindful of gathering materials from various regions, as some are unique to specific areas or quests. Resources can also be obtained by completing missions or defeating certain enemies. Investing time in gathering these materials not only allows for crafting powerful staffs but can also open the door for creating other legendary gear, ensuring your character is well-prepared for the challenges in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
What role do runes play in enhancing staffs?
Runes are critical in enhancing staffs in Dragon Age: Inquisition. They can be embedded into the weapon to provide additional bonuses, such as increased damage, elemental effects, or improved spell efficiency. Each rune offers unique benefits, making it essential for players to choose ones that complement their build and playstyle. For instance, runes that add fire damage are excellent for players focusing on fire-based spells, while those that increase mana regeneration would benefit any mage looking to sustain their spellcasting over longer battles.
To apply runes to a staff, players will need to access a crafting bench and ensure they have the necessary materials for the runes they want to use. It’s worth experimenting with different combinations of runes to find the best setup for your character’s abilities and the challenges in the game. By effectively utilizing runes, players can dramatically increase the potency of their staffs and elevate their overall performance in combat.
Are there specific subclasses that benefit more from certain staffs?
Yes, specific subclasses in Dragon Age: Inquisition benefit more from certain staffs due to their specialized abilities and playstyles. For example, the “Elementalist” subclass thrives with staffs that enhance elemental damage, such as those providing bonuses to ice or fire spells. Choosing a staff that complements these attributes can significantly amplify the class’s effectiveness, allowing players to execute more devastating abilities during encounters.
Conversely, “Healing Mages” would benefit from staffs that provide bonuses to healing powers, mana regeneration, or reduced cooldown times. These attributes are essential for players focused on supporting their parties. By aligning the chosen staff with the specific requirements and strengths of a subclass, players can ensure they are maximizing their character’s potential in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Can I upgrade staffs once I obtain them?
In Dragon Age: Inquisition, players can upgrade staffs through crafting, but it requires gathering specific materials and unlocking better schematics. Once you have a staff, you can improve its attributes by disassembling other items to gain materials and then crafting a new version of the staff with enhanced properties. This process allows for tailoring the staff to better fit your character’s needs and playstyle, ensuring that it remains a viable option throughout your journey in Thedas.
Additionally, while you can’t truly “upgrade” an existing staff in the traditional sense, infusing it with runes can significantly change its effectiveness. Players are encouraged to continually experiment with runes and adjust their staff setup based on their evolving strategies and gameplay styles. With the right materials, you can keep your staff competitive and ensure it serves you well against increasingly challenging foes.