World Atlas - Character development - Talents and spells - part 2 Dragon Age: Origins Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

 

Unlocking specializations

Twelve specializations can be unlocked during the course of the game and they're divided into three groups - there are four specializations for a warrior, four for a rogue and four for a mage. Don't forget that each party member can have up to two specializations and the corresponding slots will be unlocked after advancing to 7th and 14th experience level. Sadly unlocking the slot is not everything, because you must first find a way to learn a specialization. This can be done by finding a teacher or buying a special book.

WARRIOR

1) Berserker - There are two ways for you to unlock this specialization. One of the solutions will become available after you've started completing main Orzammar quest - Paragon of her kind. Not long before your final trip to the Deep Roads in hopes of locating the anvil of the Void you're going to be stopped by a dwarf Oghren. This meeting will take place in the Commons area, near the miner checkpoint. After you've agreed to his request to join your team start building your relationship by talking to him and giving him presents (I would recommend doing this will resting in the campsite). Oghren will agree to teach other warriors in your team how to become a berserker after you've earned enough approval points.

If you don't wait to wait until Oghren joins your team or if you don't want to raise his approval rating you can choose an alternative solution and that is to buy a book from the merchant Gorim found in Denerim's market district. If you can't find the book among the things he is selling try visiting him later on when he'll have a new set of items.

2) Champion - In order to unlock this specialization you must finish one of the main quests of the game - Arl of Redcliffe. You will receive your reward after you've found the ashes (Urn of sacred ashes quest) and used them to heal arl Eamon. Talk to your new ally and the specialization will be unlocked during the conversation.

3) Reaver - In order to unlock this specialization you must start Urn of sacred ashes quest and choose an ending reserved for an evil character. This means you'll want to ally yourself with the cultists encountered in the caves. To be more specific - you must agree to destroy the ashes using dragon's blood. You would then have to complete all four trials and confirm using dragon's blood after approaching the urn. Don't forget that doing this will result in a battle with a powerful mini-boss (and with your team members if there are some good characters among them). Exit the urn room to end up at the top of the mountain. Talk to Kolgrim again and the specialization will become available after you've agreed to drink blood.

4) Templar - There are two ways for you to unlock this specialization. One of the solutions will become available after Alistair has joined your team and this will occur automatically while completing the main quests in Ostagar involving joining the Grey Wardens and travelling to the Ishal tower. Start building your relationship by talking to him and giving him presents (I would recommend doing this will resting in the campsite). Alistair will agree to teach other warriors in your team how to become a templar after you've earned enough approval points.

If you don't want to wait until you've raised your approval rating with Alistair you can decide to buy a book from a dwarven trader Bodahn. This person can be found in the campsite unlocked after your visit to Lothering, so thankfully you won't have to explore the world to locate him. If you can't find the book among the things he is selling try visiting him later on when he'll have a new set of items.

ROGUE

1) Bard - There are two ways for you to unlock this specialization. One of the solutions will become available after Leliana has joined your team and this will occur during your stay in Lothering (main quest Lothering and the imperial highway). In order to add her to your squad you must go to a tavern called Dane's refuge and defeat a group of soldiers. Leliana will automatically ask if she can come after the battle. Bear in mind that in this case scoring relationship points by talking to her and giving her presents won't be enough, because you'll also have to finish Leliana's quest. Once this is done she'll agree to teach other rogues from your team how to become a bard.

If you don't want to wait until you've raised your approval rating with Leliana or if you don't want to complete her quest you may decide to visit Alimar. This trader can be found in Orzammar and you'll have to go to his store located in Dust Town. If you can't find the book among the things he is selling try visiting him later on when he'll have a new set of items.

2) Ranger - This specialization can be unlocked very easily, because all you have to do is to purchase a certain book from a dwarven trader Bodahn. This person can be found in the campsite unlocked after your visit to Lothering, so thankfully you won't have to explore the world to locate him. If you can't find the book among the things he is selling try visiting him later on when he'll have a new set of items.

3) Assassin - There are two ways for you to unlock this specialization. One of the solutions will become available after Zevran has joined your team and you'll meet him in unusual circumstances. Start off by completing one of the main quests and you'll then witness a cut-scene informing you that Loghain has hired Antivan Crows. The next time you try to go to a different location you're going to be stopped by a woman asking for help. Once you've followed her you'll end up in a trap and being surrounded by the assassins lead by Zevran. Defeat all the hostiles to trigger a scene showing the main character standing next to unconscious Zevran. You must SPARE HIS LIFE and agree for him to join your team. Once he's on board start building your relationship by talking to him and giving him presents (I would recommend doing this will resting in the campsite). Zevran will agree to teach other rogues in your team how to become an assassin after you've earned enough approval points.

If you killed Zevran by mistake or if you don't want to develop any relationships with him you can choose an alternative solution and purchase a book from the elven trader Alarith. This person runs a store in the Elven alienage in Denerim and you should know that you won't be allowed to go there unless you've started Unrest in the alienage quest. Even then buying items from Alarith will only be possible after you've figured out what happened to the sick elves. If you can't find the book among the things he is selling try visiting him later on when he'll have a new set of items.

4) Duelist - You can unlock this specialization during your first visit to Denerim and it won't be tied to any quests. Open the city map and decide that you want to travel to a brothel called Pearl. Look around after your arrival and wait for a woman named Isabela to deal with a small group of hooligans. Talk to her once it's safe and ask her to teach you a few tricks. Isabela will respond that you'll have to beat her first, but you won't actually be playing. If you've sufficiently developed dexterity you'll be able to catch her cheating during the card game. If you can't make this happen return here after you've spent more points on that attribute.

MAGE

1) Blood mage - This is by far the most difficult specialization to unlock, mostly because you'll have to be playing as a mage to gain access to it. Otherwise it won't be possible, even if you have other mages in your team. Start off by completing the first part of Arl of Redcliffe main quest and save your game before deciding what to do with Connor. Inform the others that you want to defeat him in the Fade and pick yourself to travel to the Void to kill the demon (it can't be anyone else, even Jowan). After you've arrived in the Fade you'll have to step through a couple of portals and defeat several of Connor's demon forms. Eventually you'll initiate a final conversation with the demon and this is when you must agree to the situation being resolved peacefully. In exchange for allowing the demon to posses Connor again in the future you will be granted all the knowledge needed to unlock the blood mage specialization.

2) Arcane warrior - In this particular case you'll also be given only one way to unlock the specialization and this can be achieved while trying to complete Nature of the beast quest. Find a way to cross the magical barrier in the forest and start exploring the ruins. You'll have to make a stop when you've reached the lower level of the ruins (after exploring the upper level and prior to going to the lair). Explore the side corridors and eventually you'll find a phylactery in a dark area. Click on this object to trigger a subquest (Arcane warrior). Agree to help the being trapped inside the object and in return you'll acquire all of its knowledge. You can now hold on to your part of the deal or you can refuse to comply to its wish.

3) Spirit healer - There are two ways for you to unlock this specialization. One of the solutions will become available after Wynne has joined your team and this will occur at the beginning of the Broken circle quest (Wynne will join you in a small room located on the lowest level of the tower). It's important that you don't kill her during your time spent in the tower as a result of telling her that you're a blood mage or by letting her know that you plan on killing everyone you meet, including innocent mages. You'll also have to ask her to remain as a member of your team after you've successfully defeated the main boss at the top of the tower. Bear in mind that in this case scoring relationship points by talking to her and giving her presents won't be enough, because you'll also have to finish Wynne's quest by locating her first apprentice. Once this is done she'll agree to teach other mages in your team how to become a spirit healer.

If you don't want to wait until you've raised your approval rating with Wynne or if you don't want to complete her quest you may decide to visit the owner of Wonders of Thedas store located in the market district in Denerim. If you can't find the book among the things he is selling try visiting him later on when he'll have a new set of items.

4) Shapeshifter - There are two ways for you to unlock this specialization. One of the solutions will become available after Morrigan has joined your team and this will occur as soon as you've finished Tower of Ishal quest (last one in Ostagar and prior to heading on to Lothering). Start building your relationship by talking to Morrigan and giving her presents (I would recommend doing this will resting in the campsite). The witch will agree to teach other mages in your team how to become a shapeshifter after you've earned enough approval points.

If you don't want to wait until you've raised your approval rating with Morrigan you can ask the elven smithy Varathorn for help. You can find him by travelling to the Dalish camp located next to the Brecilian forest (this is also a part of Nature of the beast quest).