Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Mage Skill Tree and Best Skills

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Dragon Age The Veilguard - Mage Skill Tree and Best Skills

Mage Skill Tree and priority for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. See a list of all mage skills and which ones are the best to get!

Mage Guides
Best Builds Skill Tree
& Priority
All
Equipment
Spellblade
Builds
Death Caller
Builds
Evoker
Builds

Best Mage Skills to Get

Best Mage Skills

Your skill priority really depends on what Specialization you want, but here's what we think are the top Mage skills for each category.

  • Core: Fade Strike, Downfall, Quick Recovery
  • Sustain: Wall of Fire, Meteor, Demolisher, Bombastic, Inner Focus, Velocity
  • Antivan Crows: Medium Armor Mastery, Staggering Charge, Storm Surge, Spirit Blade
  • Burst: Chain Lightning, Perfect Cast, Killer Instinct, Elemental Catalyst, Tempest, Swift Infusion, Reclamation, Energy Burst
  • Shadow Dragon: Light Armor Mastery, Dark Squall, Bolt Volley, Multiplicity, Keen Insight, Early Frost
  • Control: Frost Nova, Ice Blast, Fade Reflex, Charging Spirit, Breathing Room, Meditation, Absorb, Deathfrost
  • Mourn Watch: Corrupted Ground, Eclectic Armorer, Imbued Duration, Channeled Thoughts, Insidious Rot, Breathing Room

Mage Skill Tree Progression

Spellblade Skill Progression

Spellblade Death Caller Evoker
Order Skill
1
Fade Strike
2
Downfall
3
Wall of Fire
4
Velocity
5
Essence Eater
6
Deterioration
7
Imbued Reaction
8
Staggering Charge
9
Storm Surge
10
Finale
11
Spirit Blade
12
Return Fire
13
Bigger Blast
14
Inner Focus
15
Wildfire
16
Meteor
17
Demolisher
18
Flames of Inspiration
19
Bombastic
20
Energy Burst
21
Thunderous End
22
Void Blade

Death Caller Skill Progression

Spellblade Death Caller Evoker
Order Skill
1
Mortal Concentration
2
Charging Spirit
3
Frost Nova
4
Bulwark
5
Fade Reflex
6
Deathfrost
7
Death's Blessing
8
Imbued Duration
9
Necessary Steps
10
Corrupted Ground
11
Time Management
12
Breathing Room
13
Insidious Rot
14
Channeled Thoughts
15
Enervation
16
Zone of Concentration
17
Collateral Damage
18
Arcane Defiance
19
Necessary Steps
20
Breathing Room
21
Further Torment
22
Desolate Malady
23
The Crypt's Herald
24
Spirit Bomb
25
Concentration
26
Death and Decay
27
Death's Blessing
28
Providence
29
Zone of Destruction
30
Death Surge
31
Fade Conduit
32
Invigorating Beam
33
Concentration
34
Degrade
35
Prolong
36
Return Fire
37
Providence
38
Tear Down
39
Inner Focus
40
Soulburn
41
Vitality
42
Desperation

Evoker Skill Progression

Spellblade Death Caller Evoker
Order Skill
1
Mind Blast
2
Charging Spirit
3
Frost Nova
4
Frostbite
5
Fade Reflex
6
Necessary Steps
7
Breathing Room
8
Shattering Control
9
Clarity in Suffering
10
Ice Storm
11
Ice Blast
12
Meditation
13
Absorb
14
Greater Authority
15
Zone of Infusion
16
Mana Infusion
17
Early Frost
18
Dark Squall
19
Desolate Malady
20
Salt in the Wound
21
Multiplicity
22
Bolt Volley

All Mage Skills

The Mage Skill Tree has 6 categories. Core, Sustain, Control, and Burst are generic skill tree areas, while the other three, usually named after a faction, unlock a Specialization.

Antivan Crow unlocks Spellblade, Shadow Dragon unlocks Evoker, and Mourn Watch unlocks Death Caller. You can refund skill points and respec for your desired Specialization at anytime.

Core Mage Skills

COR SUS CON BUR ACR SDR MWA
Skill Description
Arcane Shot Conjure fiery arcane bolts that rip into your enemies. Launch up to 5 projectiles toward your target and any enemy unlucky enough to be nearby.
Charging Spirit Staff Energy generates passively when you are not in combat.
Destructive Light Summon a concentrated beam of primal elemental energy. Deals damage each second to all enemies caught in the beam while applying Burning.
Downfall Jump attacks guarantee Critical hits if the target is Knocked Down.
Fade Strike Use your speed to unleash a powerful attack with any weapon after using Fade Step. Also unlocks an additional follow-up attack while sprinting by pressing Light or Heavy attack.
Mind Blast While Defending, consume 50 mana to unleash a shockwave 6 meters in all directions. Deals damage based on your equipped staff.
Mortal Concentration Sustaining your Ranged attack gradually increases its damage output the longer it is active, to a maximum of 3 seconds.
Quick Recovery Mana regeneration restarts 25% faster when paused by spending Mana or taking damage.

Sustain Mage Skills

COR SUS CON BUR ACR SDR MWA
Skill Description
Battlecry Maximum Burning stacks: +1
Bigger Blast Arcane Bomb Damage: +15%
Bombastic Blast Abilities now deal 25% more Detonation damage. Arcane Shot now Detonates Sundered enemies.
Deadly Providence Defeating an enemy using a Duration Ability grants Precision.
Decaying Resolve Duration Abilities deal 25% more damage to enemies with Low Health.
Demolisher Maximum Arcane Bomb stacks: +1
Desolate Malady Affliction damage: +10%
Flames of Inspiration Defeating a Burning enemy grants Rally Party.
Inner Focus Successful Light attacks generate an additional 25% Mana. This value is doubled against enemies suffering from an Affliction.
Meteor Call down an elemental meteor that crushes and burns enemies in its way. Deals damage in an area around your target and applies Burning.
Prolong Affliction duration: +20%
Providence Advantage duration: +20%
Resistant Blasts Defeating an enemy with a Blast Ability grants Resistant.
Return Fire Use a Light or Heavy attack after a Perfect Defense to perform a counterattack.
Tear Down Hitting an enemy with a Duration Ability permanently reduces their Defense by 5.
Veil Blasts Apply 15% of your current Mana as bonus damage for Blast Abilities.
Velocity Stagger from weapon attacks: +20%
Wall of Fire Summon a flaming barrier, burning enemies foolish enough to cross it. Enemies incur damage and Burning each second they remain inside the wall.
Wildfire Fire damage: +10%
Wrath Critical Damage: +10%

Control Mage Skills

COR SUS CON BUR ACR SDR MWA
Skill Description
Absorb Whenever you Defend against an attack, Staff Energy is charged by 25%.
Block Mastery Block Mana cost: -30%
Breathing Room The radius of Area Ability effect is increased by 50%.
Bulwark Physical Resistance: +10%
Clarity in Suffering Whenever you take damage, you regenerate 5 Mana.
Ethereal Control Abilities grant Deflect after you deal a Critical hit.
Fade Reflex Timing your Dodge just before the enemy’s attack lands slows down time for a short duration. You can move and attack normally.
Frost Nova Freeze your enemies to the bone if they get too close. A wide area around you is Frozen.
Frostbite Damage vs. Frozen: +15%
Greater Authority Control Ability cooldown is 20 seconds faster. Ice Blast now has a cooldown of 40 seconds instead of costing Mana.
Ice Blast Hurl shards of ice, impaling enemies caught in the way. Deals damage in a tight radius around your target, leaving behind shards that render enemies Chilled when touched.
Ice Storm Cold damage: + 10%
Improved Health Health: +100
Meditation Mana regeneration rate: +15%
Necessary Steps Primer duration: +20%
Providence Advantage duration: +20%
Shattering Control Control Abilities deal 75% more damage vs. Armor.
Traumatize Takedown damage: +15%
Zone of Destruction Hitting 3 or more enemies with an Area Ability grants Enhanced Damage.
Zone of Infusion For every enemy hit with an Area Ability, you generate 10% Staff Energy.

Burst Mage Skills

COR SUS CON BUR ACR SDR MWA
Skill Description
Amperage Electric damage: +10%
Catalyst Defeating an enemy with a Projectile Ability grants Rally Party.
Chain Lightning Charge the air and fire a bolt of lightning that splits to hit multiple targets in a chain reaction. The bolt bounces up to 3 times, dealing damage to each enemy hit and rendering them Shocked.
Concentration Charged attack damage: +10%
Conductor Strike Abilities deal 10% more damage to an enemy for each stack of Shocked.
Energy Burst Abilities that deal Fire or Electric damage increase the other type’s damage by 15% for 10 seconds.
Enervation Damage vs Barrier: 20%
Fade Conduit Maximum Mana: +50
Killer Instinct Stagger from Abilities: +20%
Nexus Shock Hitting enemies with at least 3 stacks of Shocked causes a chain of Electric damage that strikes up to 2 additional enemies within range.
Perfect Cast Releasing a Charged attack the moment it reaches the maximum charge level increases its damage by 50%.
Precision Strikes Strike abilities land a Critical hit against enemies who are Knocked Down.
Reclamation Mana restored after defeating enemy: +8
Shock Mastery Maximum Shocked stacks: +1
Shocking Strikes Using Strike Abilities applies Shocked to nearby enemies.
Spell Slinger Projectile Abilities deal 25% bonus damage to targets at least 20 meters away.
Swift Infusion Staff Energy: Empowers Staff attacks with bonus damage and applies an Affliction when full.
Tempest Weave a powerful thunderstorm around you. Lightning strikes a random enemy within 8 meters of the casting zone every 2 seconds. Deals Electric damage to all enemies caught by the blast, rendering them Shocked.
Traumatize Takedown damage: +15%
Vile Projectiles Projectile Abilities now deal Critical damage to enemies suffering from Necrosis.
Wrath Critical Damage: +10%

Antivan Crow Mage Skills

COR SUS CON BUR ACR SDR MWA
Skill Description
Baleful Blast Blast Abilities deal Critical hits to enemies with Low Health.
Breacher Blast Abilities deal 50% more damage vs Barrier and Armor.
Bulwark Physical Resistance: +10%
Debilitating Shocks Takes 15% less damage from enemies who are Shocked.
Deterioration Penetration: +15%
Elemental Executioner Final attacks are Critical against enemies with Low Health.
Essence Eater Performing a Takedown grants 250 health and 20 Ultimate.
Finale Final attack damage: +10%
Imbued Reaction Perfect Defense grants Shocking Weapons. Shocking Weapons deals 25% more damage.
Medium Armor Mastery While wearing a Medium Vitaar/Helmet and Armor:
Critical damage +20%
Final damage +20%
Charged attack damage +20%
Agile attack damage +20%.
Pressure Point Landing a Critical hit with Strike Abilities grants Quickened.
Shellbreaker Damage vs. Armor: +20%
Spirit Blade You can now use your Heavy attack at the end of a Light Attack Chain to conjure a blade and project it a short distance. The blade consumes an Arcane Bomb. Requires Orb and Dagger.
Staggering Charge Stagger from Charged attacks: +20%
Staggering Strikes Strike Abilities deal 50% more Stagger.
Storm Surge Leap backward, stirring up a storm of elemental energy in your wake. Deals damage to all nearby enemies.
Underestimated Light attack damage vs. health: +10%

Shadow Dragon Mage Skills

COR SUS CON BUR ACR SDR MWA
Skill Description
Bolt Volley Following a Light attack, tap Light attack again as the Bolt is shot from your Staff to spawn an additional Bolt with the same properties.
Dark Squall Harness elemental chaos, projecting a burst of entropic energy to knock your targets back.
Defy The Elements Fire Resistance: 10%
Cold Resistance: 10%
Desolate Malady Affliction damage: +10%
Early Frost Maximum Chilled stacks: +1
Elemental Catalyst Abilities gain +15% bonus damage based on the damage type of your Staff and Orb weapons.
Frost Shield Enemies who inflict damage on you are Chilled.
Imbued Takedown Performing a Takedown grants Shocking Weapons. Shocking Weapons now deal 25% more Stagger.
Keen Insight Control Abilities deal an additional 150% damage in a 6 meter radius when activated. The damage type matches the Ability type.
Light Armor Mastery While wearing a Light Helm and Armor:
Staff Energy charge rate +20%.
Staff Energy attack range +2.
Mana Infusion Performing a Takedown grants 50 Mana and 33% Staff Energy.
Meditation Mana regeneration rate: +15%
Multiplicity Projectile Abilities launch an additional projectile. The damage type charges based on your equipped Staff.
Prism of Resistance You gain 10% Resistance to the damage type of each mapped Ability.
Salt in the Wound For all active Afflictions for enemies hit by Control Abilities, receive 1 additional stack.
Shellbreaker Damage vs Armor: +20%
Supercharged Projectile Abilities deal 75% more damage vs Barrier.
Underestimated Light attack damage vs. health: +10%

Mourn Watch Mage Skills

COR SUS CON BUR ACR SDR MWA
Skill Description
Arcane Defiance Electric Resistance: +10%
Necrotic Resistance: +10%
Breathing Room The radius of Area Ability effect is increased by 50%.
Channeled Thoughts Focus your mind to generate up to 50 Mana per second on command.
Collateral Damage Hitting multiple enemies with a single Area Ability deals 10% more damage for each enemy hit.
Concentration Ranged attack damage: +15%
Corrupted Ground Weave the threads of life and death, corrupting an area of the battlefield. Enemies caught inside succumb to its deadly aura. Deals minor damage and applies Necrosis each second enemies are exposed to the corruption.
Death's Blessing Necrotic damage: +10%
Deathfrost Abilities that deal Necrotic or Cold damages increase the other type’s damage by 15% for 6 seconds.
Degrade Deal 5% bonus damage for each unique Primer and Affliction on your target.
Eclectic Armorer While wearing different classifications of Helm and Armor:
Mana regeneration +20%
Ranged attack Mana cost -20%
Weakpoint damage +15%.
Enervation Damage vs. Barrier: +20%
Even the Odds Each active Advantage increases your damage dealt by 10%
Further Torment Deals 20% more bonus Stagger to enemies with an Affliction.
Imbued Duration Executing a Detonation on an enemy grants Shocking Weapons. The duration of Shocking Weapons is extended by 50%.
Insidious Rot Maximum Necrosis Stack: +1
Necessary Steps Primer duration: +20%
Time Management Effects of Duration Abilities are increased by 50%.
Zone of Concentration After triggering a Duration Ability, wait 5 seconds to regain 25 bonus Mana.

Mage Specialization Skills

Spellblade Specialization Skills

Spellblade Death Caller Evoker
Skill Description
Antivan Kiss Maximum Shocked stacks: +1
Maximum Burning stacks: +1
Arcane Strike Strike Abilities now hit with an Arcane Bomb.
Blast Efficiency Blast Abilities cost 50 less Mana.
Conductivity Defeating an enemy with one or more Arcane Bombs still active causes the effect to jump to the nearest enemy within 10 meters.
Demolisher Maximum Arcane Bomb stacks: +1
Deterioration Penetration: +15%
Electrical Burns Applying Burning also applies Shocked. Applying Shocked also applies Burning.
Finale Final attack damage: +10%
Orbital Burst When triggering an Arcane Bomb, deal 100% of the damage in a 6 meter radius. Also deals significant Stagger to targets.
Shocking Tactician Achieving maximum Shocked stacks on an enemy triggers an Electric burst in an area around them.
Spirit of Vengeance You can now throw your Spirit Blade a second time by pressing Heavy attack when it returns to you. Requires Orb and Dagger.
Thunderous End Conjure a deadly avatar of the storm to seek vengeance on your enemies. Deals heavy damage and applies 2 stacks of Shocked to enemies within a large radius.
Veil Flurry Hold Light attack at the end of Light Attack Chain and release at the right moment to unleash your Orb in a circle around you.
Void Blade Harness the agility of the Antivan Crows, dashing forward in a flash of dark energy before landing a deadly slash that explodes a moment later. Deals damage twice.

Death Caller Specialization Skills

Spellblade Death Caller Evoker
Skill Description
Concentration Ranged attack damage: +15%
Death and Decay Area Abilities now deal Necrotic damage. Corrupted Ground now deals increased damage when activated.
Death Surge Overcharges your Ranged attack, spending 200% of the usual Mana to deal 200% damage.
Death's Blessing Necrotic damage: +10%
Desperation Gain bonus damage relative to the amount of health your target and you have lost.
Fade Conduit Maximum Mana: +50
Invigorating Beam Your Ranged attack now deals Necrotic damage and leeches 10% of damage done, replenishing your health.
Mortalitasi Actions that consume Mana now consume health when Mana is depleted.
Overdraw Abilities cost an additional 50 Mana but gain 50% Penetration.
Restless Spirits Defeating an enemy under the effects of Duration Abilities spawns a Necrotic bolt from the corpse that seeks out a nearby enemy.
Soulburn Expend 50 Mana to create a powerful surge in your Ranged attack, giving it the power to Detonate Sundered targets.
Spirit Bomb Drain the life out of enemies, then throw it back at them in an explosion of necrotic energy. Applies Siphoned and deals damage each second you are connected to a target, before a final blast deals bonus damage that intensifies the longer the target is exposed to it.
The Crypt's Herald Be like death, drawing in the power of the Fade and surrounding yourself with a necrotic storm. Slowly absorbs life from all nearby enemies before ending in a punishing burst, causing massive damage.
Vitality Health: +100
Health leech effects: +50%

Evoker Specialization Skills

Spellblade Death Caller Evoker
Skill Description
Bonechiller When you have Low Health, Frozen is applied to all nearby enemies. This can happen only once every 120 seconds.
Controlled Infusion Using a Control Ability generates 35% of your Staff Energy.
Cryomancy Damage vs. Frozen targets: +15%
Frozen duration: +1 second
Entropic Sphere Launch a sphere of entropic energy that damages all enemies in its path before exploding in a punishing final blast.
Heavy Weaponry Heavy attack damage: +10%
Ice Shatter Charged attacks are Critical against Frozen enemies. A successful attack removes Frozen.
Ice Storm Cold damage: +10%
Knight of Staves Perform a Heavy attack after two Light attacks to unleash a heavy bolt at your target. The damage and radius increases based on your current Staff charge level.
Onslaught Hold Light attack at the end of a Light attack Chain and release at the moment it fires to unleash an additional barrage of projectiles.
Quickened Strikes Final Staff attacks reduce the cooldown of your Abilities.
Staff Mastery Staff Light attack damage: +25%
Maximum Staff Energy charges: +1
Two Fires After using a Projectile Ability, your Staff attacks fire an additional bolt at your targets for the next 6 seconds.
Vortex of Shadow Concentrate entropic energy on a single point until it reaches critical levels, creating a vortex. The vortex appears in front of you, dealing damage each second while pulling nearby enemies toward its center.
Withering Charges Light Staff attacks reduce an enemy’s Resistance to your Staff’s damage type by 5% for 10 seconds.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Related Guides

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