Suit Up

As with any RPG, understanding gear is an important part of success in Dragon Age Origins. Having the right gear can make life much easier. There are numerous types of weapons and armor available, and there are subtle differences between each. This guide breaks down the differences and explains what to look for when trying to decide what gear is best for your characters.

Melee Weapons

Melee weapons in Dragon Age Origins are largely based off the strength stat and are therefore largely targeted towards Warriors and certain Rogue builds. The exception is daggers, which are half dexterity, half strength. The first and most straight-forward stat is damage. This is simply the unmodified amount of damage the weapon will do on a successful hit. The higher, the better. Different kinds of weapons have different base damage values, but the value is variable based on the type of material the weapon is made out of. In rank of quality from worst the best the materials are Iron, Grey Iron, Steel, Veridium, Red Steel, Silverite, and Dragonbone.

The attribute modifier determines how much of the governing stat is factored into damage. It can range from 85% for a dagger to 125% for a maul. In effect it means that all things being equal, a maul with a 125% modifier will do more damage than a sword with a 100% modifier, even if the weapons have the same stats otherwise. The gap between the maul and sword would increase as the wielder’s strength increased.

Armor penetration governs how well a weapon works against armor. It seems to work as simple addition and subtraction. The armor penetration, the more points of armor which are ignored. A weapon with ten armor penetration rating of ten would ignore the effect of armor against an enemy with an armor rating of ten.

SA-MP 0.3.7 (stable) Client Download. If you just want to play multiplayer, get this! Please note: SA-MP requires GTA:SA (DVD game for PC) v1.00 US/EU. Download san andreas multiplayer pc. SA-MP 0.3.7 is released! You can find it on the Download Page. SA-MP 0.3.7 updates - Over 500 new object IDs added, including stunt objects and land objects.

The speed modifier determines how quickly a weapon is swung relative to the base speed of the character’s attack animation. Lower is better.

Finally, critical chance is a stat added on top of the character’s melee critical chance. Higher is better.

Ranged Weapons

All of the above information applies to both melee and ranged weapons. However, ranged weapons also have the range stat and aim time stat. The range stat determines how far a character can be from an opponent before penalties are applied to attack rolls. The aim stat determines how long it takes a weapon to be aimed before firing.

Also, note that both Longbows and Shortbows rely 50/50 on the strength and dexterity stats when determining damage. Crossbows, on the other hand, rely entirely on dexterity.

Weapons – My Picks

The game’s weapons have their stats distributed so one type of weapon is clearly better in all situations. That said, I do have some favorites. For two-handed weapons I like Mauls for their high armor penetration and high attribute modifier. Among one-handed weapons I prefer swords for their fast speed and medium-high critical chance.

For bows the choice depends on the user’s best stat, since longbows are 50/50 strength and dexterity while crossbows are 100% dexterity.

These are not hard an fast rules, however, so your mileage may vary. Also, for much of the game you’ll be using the best weapon you can get your hands on, so don’t become so discriminatory towards a particular weapon type that you throw out a good one because it isn’t the type of weapon you typically use.

Origin

Armor

Dragon Age Origins Awakening Armor Sets

Like weapons, armor has its own stats which determine how effective it is. There are less stats to worry about, but they are still important.

The first state to worry about is the armor rating. This armor rating adds to your character’s overall armor rating which in turn determines how much damage is ignored when a blow lands. As you might expect, higher is better, with no exceptions.

Best armor dragon age origins

The second stat of concern is the fatigue rating. The fatigue rating applies a modifier to the stamina cost of using skills. This modifier can either increase or decrease the stamina cost of using skills. A lower modifier is always better since it allows your character to use skills more often.

Armor – My Picks

Dragon age origins armor sets

Of course, while both the armor and fatigue stats are clear cut in regard to what is best, they tend to oppose each other on any given set of armor. Armor with a high armor rating also tends to have a high fatigue modifier.

This is a balancing act and there is no clear-cut correct answer. That said, I usually give characters who are meant to do a lot of damage a set of armor with the lowest possible fatigue modifier. This allows them to continue to use their devastating offensive skills. Characters who exist to absorb damage, on the other hand, are given heavy armor to ensure they can soak up as much damage as possible before I have to heal them.

In Summary

Use this guide as a toolset. There are so many weapons in Dragon Age Origins and so many ways to play the game that no particular weapon is guaranteed to be the best. You’ll often receive new equipment, as well, so you’ll constantly have to re-evaluate how you judge weapons and armor. If you have come across two nice pieces of equipment and you don’t know which to pick, don’t. Try both out for the next hour or so and then pick the one which seems to work the best.

In fact, it is often not a bad idea to bring multiple sets of equipment. For example, you might want your DPS melee characters to bring both one fast weapon with good base damage and one slower weapon with a high armor penetration rating. This kind of min/maxing isn’t required to win the game on normal difficulity, but as you ramp up the difficulty you’ll find that even these kind of minor adjustments in your equipment can make a difference.

This post is part of the series: A Guide to Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins isn’t an easy game. Even on normal difficulty you’ll want to use every advantage you have to gain an edge against the Darkspawn. This guide will help you defeat the hoard.
Requirements

This mod does not have any known dependencies other than the base game.

Mods requiring this file

Mod nameNotes
Companions and NPC Morph Collection by ViLiSSa
Grey Warden Armor Retex DAO
Spirit Healer Trainerat least the main file: Core Mod GWoF - REQUIRED or one NPC will be naked.
Valor the Warden
Warden Alistair wears Warden Armour - DA-2 style medium
Warden Alistair Wears Warden Armour - DA2-style heavy
Warden Alistair Wears Warden Armour - DA2-style massive
Warden Armor Chest
Wood Mage Staff
Permissions and credits

File credits

0

Donation Points system

This mod is not opted-in to receive Donation Points
- - - 2 Hoover Dam 'Hoover Dam' - Visitor Center - Large curved desk near the terminal. Snow Globe Locations # LOCATION: DESCRIPTION: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 1 Goodsprings Cemetery 'Goodsprings' - North end of the cemetery atop a grave. Fallout new vegas location map.
Changelogs
Posted by2 years ago
Archived
So I ran into a very irritating glitch while replaying Dragon Age: Origins. Namely, no armor set gives its proper item set bonus anymore. Everything was working fine, then some time around entering Denerim for the first time, I noticed that the fatigue reduction from Cailan's armor set was gone. I tried un-equipping and re-equipping the armor and the item set bonus still didn't kick in. Even loading earlier saves (when the set bonus was working fine) and un-installing and re-installing the entire game won't fix the issue, which also extends to every other armor set I've tested. I'd really appreciate it if someone could help me out with this, because I'm at my wits' end here.
EDIT: I never figured out what caused this, but I did figure out a fix--I got the Warden Commander's armor and, upon equipping it, found out that it still had its set bonus; apparently, only the armor I had at the time the bug occurred was affected. Not sure why loading didn't fix it then, but there it is. After figuring that out, I removed Cailan's armor set and re-added a new set of it via the console (using that one mod that adds an 'additem' console command), and the set bonus works!
2 comments

Dragon Age Origin Armor Sets For Girls

For the item sets in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening, see Item sets (Awakening).
For the item sets in Dragon Age II, see Item sets (Dragon Age II).
Throughout Dragon Age: Origins characters can collect item sets that provide extra benefits when equipped together.
The various pieces of each set can come from various tiers and still return set benefits. For example, a tier 4 (hardened leather) leather armor will reduce skill costs when matched with a tier 2 (cured hide) leather boots and a tier 1 (rough hide) leather gloves. However, tier 4 studded leather boots would not enable that benefit, belonging to another item set. Also, helmets are not required to complete most sets, nor do they usually benefit from being equipped with 'matching' gear.
Note that set bonuses for party members only show when not in the Party Camp. Furthermore, Shale's crystals can form item sets as well.
Note: This page also lists the item sets found in the downloadable content of Dragon Age: Origins. See Notes section on each item set row for more information.

Light armor sets Edit

Name Armor
Fatigue Runes Enhancements Notes
Leather armor set
Varies		 4.25 3.50% 0Set: -5% fatigue A rough (Tier 1) version of this armor is provided as default equipment for Human Noble rogues
Dalish Leather armor set
Varies		 4.25 3.50% 0+2 dexterity
+3 defense
Set: +5 defense		 A Rough (Tier 1) version of this set is provided as starting armor for Dalish elves.
Duster Leather armor set
Varies		 4.25 3.50% 0Set: +2 armor A Rough (Tier 1) version of this set is provided as starting armor for Dwarven commoners.
Studded Leather armor set
Varies		 4.25 3.50% 0Set: +1 defense A rough (Tier 1) version of this armor is provided as default equipment for Human Noble warriors
Wade's Drakeskin armor set
Drakeskin		 12.75 4.02% (before set bonus) 0+35% fire resistance
Set: -10% fatigue		 Crafted by Wade.
Wade's Superior Drakeskin armor set
Drakeskin		 12.75 4.02% 0+4 dexterity
+70% fire resistance
Set: -10% fatigue
Set: +5 defense		 Crafted by Wade after obtaining three DrakeScales

Medium armor sets Edit

Name Armor
Fatigue Runes Enhancements Notes
Chainmail armor set
Varies		 6.00 9.75% 0Set: -2.5% fatigue
Scale armor set
Varies		 6.00 9.75% 0Set: +4.50 missile deflection
Splintmail armor set
Varies		 6.00 9.75% 0Set: +1 armor
Dwarven Medium armor set
Varies		 6.00 9.75% 0Set: +1 armor
Ancient Elven armor set
Veridium		 11.20 12.95% 0+1 constitution
+2 dexterity
+4 armor
+4% spell resistance
+35% spirit resistance
Set: +5 defense		 It can be acquired in Brecilian Forest during the Nature of the Beast quest, in the Ruined Temple during the Urn of Sacred Ashes quest and in the Lothering chantry.
Wade's Dragonskin armor set
Dragonbone		 15.01 12.68% 0+35% fire resistance
Set: -25% fatigue		 Crafted by Wade.
Wade's Superior Dragonskin armor set
Dragonbone
Requires: 34 Strength		 15.01 12.68% 0+70% fire resistance
+2/+4 stamina regeneration in combat
+25 stamina
Set: -25% fatigue
Set: +5 defense		 Crafted by Wade.

Heavy armor sets Edit

Name Armor
Fatigue Runes Enhancements Notes
Darkspawn plate armor set
Steel		 12.00 7.90% 0Set: +3 defense
Set: +2 constitution		 Automatically equipped on all Enthralledhurlocks and genlocks in The Darkspawn Chronicles.
Dwarven Heavy armor set
Varies		 8.50 18.00% 0Set: +1 armor
Heavy Chainmail armor set
Varies		 8.50 18.00% 0Set: -3% fatigue
Ceremonial armor set
Red Steel		 15.30 21.6% 0-3 armor
+10 mental resistance
Set: +6 missile deflection
Diligence armor set
Silverite
Requires: 34 strength		 18.03 22.5% 0+0.5/+1 health regeneration in combat
+8 armor
+6 defense
Set: +5 willpower		 Acquired from Redcliffe, Orzammar, and Ruined Temple
Wade's Heavy Dragonscale armor set
Dragonbone		 21.26 23.40% 0+35% fire resistance
Set: -20% fatigue		 Crafted by Wade.
Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale armor set
Dragonbone
Requires: 38 Strength		 21.26 23.40% 0+70% fire resistance
+2/+4 stamina regeneration in combat
+25 stamina
Set: -20% fatigue
Set: +5 defense		 Crafted by Wade.

Massive armor sets Edit

Name Armor
Fatigue Runes Enhancements Notes
Heavy Plate armor set
Varies
Requires: 22 strength		 11.50 27.00% 0Set: +7.5% missile deflection
Commander's Plate armor set
Varies
Requires: 22-42 strength		 11.50 to 28.76 27.00% to 35.10% 0Set: +5 willpower
Dwarven Massive armor set
Varies
Requires: 22 strength		 11.50 27.00% 0+1 armor
Set: +2 armor
Chevalier armor set
Varies		 11.50 27.00% 0Set: -3 willpower
Set: +3 constitution		 This armor can be found at Frostback Mountain Pass and randomly in certain places in Denerim.
The quality of the armor depends on the level of the Warden when they are found.
Warden Commander armor set
Varies
Requires: 42 strength		 13.80 28.35 0+1 armor
+0.5/+1 stamina regeneration in combat
+15% critical/backstab damage
+10 physical resistance
+50 stamina
+10% fire resistance
Set: -12% fatigue
Set: +2 constitution		 Requires the Warden's KeepDLC.
Cailan's armor set
Varies		 23.40 39.00% 0+4 armor
+10 mental resistance
+15% critical/backstab damage
+15 physical resistance
20% chance to dodge attacks
Set: -25% fatigue
Set: +5 health regeneration in combat		 It can be acquired in Ostagar as loot off the darkspawn generals in the Return to OstagarDLC mission. This set consists of the chest, helm, gloves and boots.
Juggernaut armor set
Silverite		 27.31 37.50% 0+20% fire resistance
+20% cold resistance
+20% electricity resistance
+20% nature resistance
+20% spirit resistance
+1 armor
+10 mental resistance
Set: +3 strength
Set: +3 constitution		 It can be acquired in Brecilian Forest as part of The Mage's Treasure quest.
This set consists of the chest, helm, gloves and boots.
Effort armor set
Silverite		 27.31 37.50% 0+2 Constitiution
+15% to healing effects received
+1 strength
+1 armor
Set: -10% fatigue		 It can be acquired in Dust Town in Orzammar; and in the Dead Trenches and Caridin's Cross in the Deep Roads.
This set consists of the chest, helm, gloves and boots.
Blood Dragon armor set (v1.0)
Silverite		 27.31 37.5% 0+3 strength
+3 willpower
+4 armor
+50 health
-10% fatigue
Set: +3 armor
Set: +1 defense		Blood Dragon Armor has been updated to version 1.1 in early December 2009 for PC users. The XBox continues to use this version of the armor.
Requires Blood Dragon Armor (v1.0) DLC. The chest piece begins in your inventory. Helmet, boots, and gloves can be brought from Bodahn Feddic in the party camp. The helmet is not required for the set bonus.
This set consists of the chest, helmet, boots and gloves.
Blood Dragon armor set (v1.1)
Silverite		 27.31 37.5% 0+6 defense
+40 health
Set: +3 armor
Set: +1 defense		 This is version 1.1 of Blood Dragon Armor introduced in early December 2009. The XBox version has not been updated.
Requires Blood Dragon Armor (v1.1)DLC. The chest piece begins in your inventory. Helmet, boots, and gloves can be brought from Bodahn Feddic in the party camp. The helm is not required for the set bonus.
This set consists of the chest, helmet, boots and gloves.
Legion of the Dead armor set
Dragonbone		 28.76 35.10% 0+3 willpower
+4 attack
Set: +3 damage
Set: +3 constitution		 It can be acquired in The Dead Trenches.
This set consists of the chest, gloves and boots. The helmet and the shield are not required for the set bonus.
Wade's Dragonbone Plate armor set
Dragonbone		 28.76 35.10% 0+35% fire resistance
Set: -15% fatigue		 It can be acquired in Denerim.
This set consists of the chest, gloves and boots.
Wade's Superior Dragonbone Plate armor set
Dragonbone
Requires: 42 Strength		 28.76 35.10% 0+70% fire resistance
+2/+4 stamina regeneration in combat
+25 stamina
Set: -15% fatigue
Set: +5 defense		 It can be acquired in Denerim.
This set consists of the chest, gloves and boots.
Vanguard plate armor set
Veridium		 20.80 34.50% 0+6 defense
+10 mental resistance
+10 physical resistance
+2 attack
+3 constitution
Set: +3 defense
Set: +2 constitution		 The Hurlock vanguard begins The Darkspawn Chronicles equipped with this armor set.

Miscellaneous item sets Edit

Name Enhancements Acquisition
Cailan's Arms+1 armor
Chance to avoid missile attacks
+0.75/+1.5 Healing Regen in Combat
+6 damage vs. darkspawn
Weakens nearby darkspawn
+0.75/+1.5 stamina regeneration in combat
Set: +5 damage
Set: +5 stamina regeneration in combat		It can be acquired in Ostagar as loot in the Return to OstagarDLC mission.
This set consists of Maric's Blade and Cailan's Shield.
Imperium ring set+4 strength
+3 cunning
-1 cunning
-1 strength
Set: +2 armor		It can be acquired in Brecilian Forest and during The Final Battle.
This set consists of two rings - Dawn and Dusk.
Griffon's Ensemble+15% electricity resistance
Set: Flank immunity		This set can be acquired as a reward from Zathrian for the quest Nature of the Beast and from the Grey Warden Vault.
This set consists of Griffon's Beak and Griffon's Helm.

Shale-specific item sets Edit

Name Enhancements Acquisition
Fire crystals setVaries
Set: +10% fire resistance
Ice crystals setVaries
Set: +10% cold resistance
Lightning crystals setVaries
Set: +10% electricity resistance
Natural crystals setVaries
Set: +10% nature resistance
Spirit crystals setVaries
Set: +10% spirit resistance
Dragon Age: Origins equipment
Armor
Chestpieces
Cloth chestpieces·Light chestpieces·Medium chestpieces·Heavy chestpieces·Massive chestpieces
Helmets
Cloth helmets·Light helmets·Medium helmets·Heavy helmets·Massive helmets
Gloves
Light gloves·Medium gloves·Heavy gloves·Massive gloves
Boots
Light boots·Medium boots·Heavy boots·Massive boots
Shields
Other types
Kaddis·Collars·Large crystals
Accessories
Amulets·Belts·Rings
Weapons
Battleaxes·Greatswords·Mauls·Daggers·Waraxes·Longswords·Maces·Longbows·Shortbows·Crossbows·Staves·Small crystals
Other
Magic item properties·Unique equipment (Origins)·Unique equipment (Awakening)·Item sets (Origins)·Item sets (Awakening)