Dragon Age: The Veilguard is BioWare's fourth entry in the Dragon Age series, moving to real-time action combat while retaining deep narrative choice and companion relationships. You play as Rook, leading a team of seven companions against the threat of two corrupted elven gods, Solas and the Dread Wolf's unleashed magic. The game features three base classes (Warrior, Mage, Rogue) with specializations and a combo system where setting up elemental primers and detonating with companion abilities is the core combat loop. With multiple factions across Thedas and companion loyalty missions, choices significantly affect the story's outcome.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greatsword | S | Warrior DPS builds, stagger-focused combat | Two-handed warrior weapon with slow but powerful swings. |
| Staff | A | Mage builds, elemental primer application | Mage's primary weapon that channels elemental magic. |
| Dual Daggers | A | Rogue melee builds, boss fights, stealth gameplay | Rogue melee weapons with extremely fast attack speed. |
| Sword and Shield | B | Warrior tank builds, co-op support | Warrior defensive option with block and parry mechanics. |
| Bow | B | Rogue ranged builds, Veil Ranger specialization | Rogue ranged weapon with charged shots for precision damage. |
S-Tier: Greatsword
Two-handed warrior weapon with slow but powerful swings. Heavy attacks stagger most enemies and combo finishers can launch lighter foes. Pairs well with the Reaver specialization for damage-focused warrior builds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Warrior DPS builds, stagger-focused combat |
| Key Mechanic | companion combos |
| Recommended Build | Warrior |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Greatsword: Pairs naturally with Warrior thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Staff
Mage's primary weapon that channels elemental magic. Light attacks fire projectiles while heavy attacks create AoE effects. Different staves change the base element of your auto-attacks. Cooldown reduction staves increase ability uptime.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Mage builds, elemental primer application |
| Key Mechanic | skill tree system |
| Recommended Build | Mage |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Staff: Pairs naturally with Mage thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Dual Daggers
Rogue melee weapons with extremely fast attack speed. Stealth attacks deal bonus damage and the flurry combo is the highest single-target DPS in the game. Lower range requires careful positioning against AoE enemies.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Rogue melee builds, boss fights, stealth gameplay |
| Key Mechanic | faction reputation |
| Recommended Build | Rogue |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Dual Daggers: Pairs naturally with Rogue thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Sword and Shield
Warrior defensive option with block and parry mechanics. Shield bash interrupts enemy attacks and the counterattack after a perfect parry deals bonus damage. Champion specialization enhances shield abilities for team protection.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Warrior tank builds, co-op support |
| Key Mechanic | dialogue wheel |
| Recommended Build | Specializations |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Sword and Shield: Pairs naturally with Specializations thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Bow
Rogue ranged weapon with charged shots for precision damage. The Veil Ranger specialization adds elemental arrows for primer application at range. Headshots deal critical damage. Slower than daggers but much safer positioning.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Rogue ranged builds, Veil Ranger specialization |
| Key Mechanic | real-time combat |
| Recommended Build | Companion synergies |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Bow: Pairs naturally with Companion synergies thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Minrathous
- Staff → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Dual Daggers → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Greatsword → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Combo damage multiplier stacks — primer from you, secondary primer from companion, then detonate for maximum effect
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Dragon Age: The Veilguard Guides
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Dragon Age: The Veilguard Overview
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Best Builds
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Tier List
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Walkthrough
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Beginner's Guide
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Tips & Tricks
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Combat Guide
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Boss Guide
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Maps & Locations
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Crafting Guide
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Dragon Age: The Veilguard, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
