Because of this, next to nothing is officially known about Dragon Age 4. A few things have been pieced together with a high degree of certainty, such as the potential of Dorian’s appearance, a few resuming plot threads, and perhaps the most obvious thing: new companions. Dragon Age’s protagonists are always joined by a few likeminded (or ill-minded) individuals as they go about their journey, and while pinpointing exacts is impossible at this time, here’s a few things we’d love to see about Dragon Age 4’s companions.
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Dragon Age Inquisition’s 3/3/3 Divide
One thing, in broad strokes, that should return is Dragon Age Inquisition’s 3/3/3 class divide. This gave fans three rogues to choose from (Sera, Cole, or Varric), three mages to suspect of wrongdoings (Dorian, Vivienne, and Solas - it was Solas!), and three warriors to bring along (Blackwall, Iron Bull, or Cassandra). This means players had a variety of choice compared to past games when it game to compositions. Players could rock 4 warriors or 4 mages if so desired or have a more balanced team based on their character likes.
In past games, it was often more of a choice between having an additional mage, foregoing a rogue, or ditching out on the DPS of a warrior based on abilities, stats, and one’s investment in the story. Our Dragon Age companion tier list breaks down the most popular options, but what Inquisition did great was give fans more choice than past games. Dragon Age 4 should continue this, giving the new PC a wide swathe of companions to call their closest friends (except for the one mage that’s likely to betray the main character).
A Returning Dragon Age Companion
Dragon Age 2 introduced fans to Varric who made his return in Inquisition. As of its ending, however, he is the Viscount of Kirkwall making his third appearance dubious. It certainly makes sense, as Varric is still involved with the greater on-goings of Thedas, but Kirkwall is his home all at the same time. He’s not likely to abandon it, although Tevinter is not far from the Free Marches. Nonetheless, a returning companion to help bridge the games, much like Garrus in Mass Effect, would be ideal.
Varric seems likely given his appearances in the past two games, but if Kirkwall is keeping him too busy to travel alongside the new PC, Dorian is the best bet. It’s already clear that Dorian returns to Tevinter, the likeliest location for Dragon Age 4, and while he too is involved in politics (for Tevinter), it makes the most sense that he has the most freedom to move. Whether it’s Dorian, Varric, or any past companion, though, one should return.
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Dragon Age Awakening, The Architect, and the Darkspawn
This may seem strange, but a Darkspawn companion makes sense following the events of Dragon Age: Awakening, one way or the other. Right now, all conflicts seem to be converging on Tevinter: the Red Lyrium plot (via the books), Solas’ own plan, Tevinter’s own corruption, the Chantry vs. the Imperial Chantry, and of course, the Darkspawn. In some ways, it even appears the Dwarven Titans will play a role in the next game.
Darkspawn were created when Tevinter Magisters entered the Golden City, corrupting it, or so is the origin story of Dragon Age: Origins. Corypheus later reveals that the City was already black, and the Throne was empty, with he heeding Dumat’s call to enter the City. Solas created the Veil, though, right from Skyhold, not realizing the damage it was cause on his own people. Elves lost their way, Tevinter was blamed for their destruction, but that too goes untrue. As such, while there are theories that the Elven Gods, the Gods of Teviner, and the Maker are all somehow connected, Dragon Age 4 needs to provide answers.
What better way to come to understand the Darkspawn side of things than with a Darkspawn companion? After all and Corpyheus aside, Dragon Age Awakening establishes that there are more talking, intelligent Darkspawn without the call of the Old Gods. If it’s not a Darkspawn freed through Grey Warden Blood, then many believe The Architect was a high priest of Urthemiel, meaning other high priests run around in different mindsets than Corypheus. Freeing one of these and subsequently having it help end Solas’ plot, potentially freeing the Darkspawn and the Blight in the process, all makes sense from a narrative standpoint.
Sure, there would be some crazy in-game moments, but that would be unique for Dragon Age 4, unique for the series, and a solid continuation and resolution of the overarching story.
The Descent: Shaper Valta
There’s very little to go on for exact WHO could join the game, but there’s not a better candidate than Shaper Valta. In Dragon Age Inquisition’s Descent DLC, players take her on as a temporary companion and learn a ton of new dwarven lore about the Titans. Players also see her use some type of magic, which may not be the same as magic in general, but it’s something not really seen in Thedas. There’s Sandal, of course, but Sandal’s unique. Valta could be a companion, a Dwarven ‘Mage’ class, and bring the Titans into the overarching Narrative. After all, since players were in one, it stands to reason that they too are tied to the Darkspawn’s fate somehow.
Regardless, Valta would be a good choice and a way to address the Dragon Age franchises’s biggest romance criticism as well. She’s ideal and fits in a ton of ways, but when it comes to Dragon Age 4’s companions, fans will just need to wait and see what is up BioWare’s sleeves.
Dragon Age 4 is in development.
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title: “Dragon Age 4 Companion Wish List” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-04” author: “Steve Archibald”
The upcoming game will see the player backed up by a band of companion characters. Some of these are likely to be returning companions from previous games, while many will be completely new to the series. BioWare should include some major changes in its companions in Dragon Age 4.
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Different Factions, Different Goals
Dragon Age 4’s companions may be united in their desire to stop the Dread Wolf bringing down the Veil, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have totally different visions for a post-Dread Wolf world. The companion roster of Dragon Age: Origins contained a Witch of the Wild, a Templar-turned Grey Warden, an Antivan Crow, and a member of the Qunari army among others. While they all had their reasons to stop the Fifth Blight from overrunning Thedas, the fact that the Blight risked wiping out all life on the continent allowed for alliances between characters who otherwise would never have teamed up.
In contrast, the companions of Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition had a great range of personalities but little diversity when it came to actual allegiances. The companions in Dragon Age 2 all tended to be outcasts without allegiances to formal organizations, while the companions in Inquisition were joined by their allegiance to the Inquisition itself. While Sten in Dragon Age: Origins is determined to stop the Fifth Blight, there’s no doubt that his ultimate allegiance is to the Qunari. Similarly, Morrigan is sent by Flemeth to help stop the Blight, but both character clearly have ulterior motives.
As Varric puts it in the teaser trailer, Dragon Age 4’s villain Solas wants to “break the world” by bringing down the Veil between Thedas and the Fade. While the precise consequences of this have yet to be made clear, Solas intends to use the magic of the Fade to restore the long lost empire of the Elves. It is possible that in doing so the other races of Thedas will be destroyed, which is a price he is willing to pay if necessary.
The threat of extinction could unite people from a wide array of factions that would otherwise be totally opposed. A mage could find themself in an uneasy alliance with a female Qunari who, in different times, would have been responsible for turning any mage she encountered into a mindless worker using the Qamek poison.
An elf born into slavery in Tevinter and a Magister who presided over the Imperium’s government would suddenly have common cause, at least while the Dread Wolf remained a threat. Dragon Age 4’s main threat is a chance for BioWare put together a team of companions who aren’t just rag-tag outcasts, but represent a wide array of allegiances in the world of Dragon Age. This could even lead to some serious inter-party conflicts that need to be resolved.
RELATED: Dragon Age 4: 10 Things Players Should Know About The Fade & The Veil
An Executor
The Executors are a group that began to make their presence known throughout Dragon Age: Inquisition. The Executors claim to represent powers across the sea, but their exact motivations are unknown. Their identity has been a total mystery so far - some have even speculated that they may be a totally new race in the Dragon Age universe.
In Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, an Executor is present at a meeting of Thedas’ greatest spies. They are described as hooded, while it’s strangely difficult to identify their gender or age by their voice. In Inquisition player decisions can lead to several Inquisition outposts on the border with Nevarra being found abandoned. This will then lead to the Inquisitor receiving a letter form the Executors telling them that their agents left to join a higher cause.
Inquisition heavily implies that the identity of the Executors will finally be revealed in Dragon Age 4. It seems likely that the Executors would also want to avoid Solas’ plan coming to fruition, opening the door for a companion who is part of the faction. They could be a member of a new race if the Executors turn out to be a distinct people, or they could be someone who joined the Executors, like the missing Inquisition agents. In any case, an Executor companion would help add a familiar face to a faction that has had extremely ambiguous goals in the games so far.
Varric even suggests that the Executors could be behind the murder of Queen Madrigal at the end of the Exalted Age. An Executor companion could be one of the most interesting additions to Dragon Age 4, with players getting to know both the character and the strange history of the organization they belong to at the same time.
Dwarven Romance
Not a single Dragon Age game so far has included a companion character who has been both a Dwarf and a romance option. This limits the roleplaying opportunities of players who want to play Dwarves themselves, as well as more broadly. While Varric Tethras has been a fan-favorite companion in past games he has not been able to be romanced so far. The next game could finally give Varric a chance to find love, with his voice-over for the Dragon Age 4 teaser trailer heavily implying his return as a companion character.
It also seems likely that players will have another Dwarf companion in the next game. Dragon Age: Inquisition’s The Descent DLC saw a Dwarf named Shaper Valta struck by a vein of pure Lyrium. This then allowed her to cast something that the Inquisitor identified as a spell. Dwarves in Dragon Age are usually unable to become mages due to their resistance to Lyrium.
This makes it seem likely that Dwarf mages will be included in Dragon Age 4. This also makes a Dwarf mage companion - whether it’s Shaper Valta or not - seem likely. A new Dwarf companion would be a great opportunity for romance, especially if the writers wanted to keep Varric off-limits. Aside from Varric, however, the companions of Dragon Age 4 remain a mystery for now.
Dragon Age 4 is in development.
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