Summary

  • Companion abilities in Dragon Age: The Veilguard are unlocked through relationship levels.
  • These relationship levels are not exclusive to romances.
  • Instead, we're told that companions' relationship levels will "progress as you play with them".

Dragon Age: The Veilguard's relationship levels can be earned through becoming friends with our companions, not just romancing them. This means it won't just be our character's partner who gets new abilities, as some had initially suspected.

This was explained by an executive producer at BioWare, Michael Gamble, when answering questions from fans on social media. Here, he shares a bit more detail on how relationship levels will work, reassuring fans that they won't be locked out of unique abilities because they didn't fancy any of their companions.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Relationship Levels Don't Require Romance

The wording here is interesting. Gamble says that the relationship levels of each companion will "progress as you play with them", which definitely confirms that we don't need to romance them, and friendships will be just fine. However, it could also be leaving the door open for other routes of unlocking abilities, perhaps by just having companions in our party, even if they don't approve of our choices.

With all this said, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is supposed to be the most romantic BioWare game yet, so you might not want to avoid this mechanic entirely.

If that is the case, it might work similarly to Dragon Age 2. This had a friendship and rivalry system, with rivalry points gained with companions who disagreed with your decision-making. Getting enough rival points would unlock a unique ability for the companion, just as enough friendship points would too.

Related

I Already Don't Trust Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Bellara

A mage we meet at the start of the game who ends up a core part of the main narrative? Stop me if you've heard this one before.

Posts

BioWare has previously gone into more detail on how relationship levels will work, explaining that this is how we'll gain new abilities for our companions. It's unclear if we'll also be able to level up our characters in the traditional sense, but this at least explains how everyone will unlock new powers to use in combat.

In any case, it won't be too much longer until we get our hands on the game ourselves. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is set to launch this autumn.

8 Images 8 Images Close

Your Rating

close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like Follow Followed

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

RPG Systems 4.0/5 65 5.8/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 80/100 Critics Rec: 71% Released October 31, 2024 ESRB M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) BioWare Publisher(s) Electronic Arts Engine Frostbite
Where to play Close

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the long-awaited fourth game in the fantasy RPG series from BioWare formerly known as Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. A direct sequel to Inquisition, it focuses on red lyrium and Solas, the aforementioned Dread Wolf. 

Powered by Expand Collapse