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

All Skills and Skill Trees

Skills by Class

Rogue Skills

Warrior Skills

Mage Skills

All Skills Types

Abilities	Passives
Traits	Ultimates
Companion Skills