Death Caller Mages are the spookiest Specialization inDragon Age: The Veilguard, not just for Mages but any of the classes in the game. They summon the power of death itself to their side to poison and wither their enemies, and as Emmrich proves, can be a fearsome presence on the battlefield.
However, their early game Skills don’t help them out as much here. While Evokers and Spellblades get the Cold and Electricity Abilities they need, Death Callers don’t get Necrotic damage as early. However, when they do it is well worth the wait. Here, we look at the best Skills to choose inside the Death Caller Specialization, as well as the best Sustain and Control Skills that will get you there.
All damage values are based on an empty Skill tree, and will rise as you level up and add new Skills.
1,553 Nectrotic damage, new Ultimate
518 Nectrotic damage (Duration, Blast)
+10% Necrotic damage
Restless Spirits
Upgrades Duration Abilities, spawns Necrotic bolt from enemies under Duration effects
Death Surge
Spend double the usual Mana for 200% damage on ranged attacks
Death always wins the long game in life, and that’s why Death Callers are so reliant on Duration Abilities. By the end of the game you’ll be able to choose every Death Caller Skill, but these will help you embrace the Specialization as soon as you unlock it (with the exception of Death Surge, which is locked until level 30).
The Crypt’s Herald is a brilliant Ultimate, leeching life and dealing that damage back as you become empowered by death, while Spirit Bomb performs the same role but in a more concentrated manner. Death’s Blessing and Restless Spirits are no-brainers with so many Necrotic Duration attacks, and Death Surge helps you target powerful and annoying enemies from distance.
Unlocks counterattack
5% bonus damage for each Affliction active
Tear Down
Upgrades Duration Abilities, Duration Abilities permanently reduce enemy Defense by 5
Affliction damage +10%
Inner Focus
Light attacks generate additional +25% Mana, or +50% if enemy has Affliction
Death Callers kill their enemies slowly, so adding to your Affliction Skills gives you a greater opportunity to strike back hard. Mostly though, you want to use the Sustain Skill to add value to what you already offer, as its focus on Fire means there’s less chance to lean into Necrotic damage.
Fire Mage is a solid way to play, though it lacks any Ultimate so should be combined with either Death Caller or Spellblade. However, neither are a perfect match.
Return Fire is a basic Skill but an early one to grab, while Degrade, Desolate Malady, and Inner Focus all build on the Affliction-heavy playstyle. Then Tear Down helps those Duration Abilities you’ve grabbed in the Specialization and along the way (Wall of Fire also counts if you’re embracing being a Fire Mage).
5 Mana every time you take damage
+20% Primer duration
+10% damage for each Advantage active
Deathfrost
Cold Abilities boost Necrotic damage by 15% for six seconds, and vice versa
Since Death Caller is such a niche, most of the Control Skills are either better suited to an Evoker or a generalist. In fact, even with these suggestions you’ll need to grab at least one Cold Ability along the path, but can’t get Necrotic until much later, like the Corrupted Ground on the path to Death Caller itself. Still, these take you closer to the connecting branches, and improve your magic overall.
Clarity In Suffering and Improved Health are both natural ways to do that, while Necessary Steps helps set up Detonations, wile Even The Odds works well with the Afflictions and Advantages Death Callers create. Deathfrost may seem out of place, but in order to start this path you’ll need to grab the Cold Ability Frost Nova, and will also have access to Ice Blast on this tree, so will get use out of Death Caller Skills, even if you need to compromise early on.
