Dragon Agewould be nothing without its companions. It’s an RPG series, after all. Removing its charming characters would be like taking the music out of Hi-Fi Rush or fully understanding a Kojima game.
They’re all absolute treasures to have around in one way or another, Sebastian notwithstanding, but some of them tend to get the short end of the stick a bit too often in fan discussions. So which Dragon Age companions deserve higher praise than they currently enjoy?
10Sera
Arguably the most unfairly hated character in the entire series, Sera is the chaotic gremlin version of Robin Hood everyone deserves as a friend and one ofDragon Age’s funniest characters. The distaste often boils down to her rather loud personality and anger toward her fellow elves, but she’s a friend worth having.
Sera uses her contacts to mess with rich people inDragon Age: Inquisition, which alone should rocket her to star status. Her reactions to everything are possibly the most realistic of any character, which can keep you grounded when you’re feeling just a bit too big for your breeches (which she’ll probably steal at some point).
9Dog
It feels like genuine blasphemy that Dog (or Barkspawn if you’re nasty) doesn’t get quite as much focus in fan discussions as other Dragon Age companions. But given how he’s not exactly the most versatile party member when it comes to combat, it’s sort of understandable.
Even so, that’s no excuse, and you should bring Dog with you often inDragon Age: Originsbecause just petting him at camp isn’t enough. You deserve to have him around everywhere because such a good boy has earned it. Plus, he can help you break out of prison; now that’s man’s real best friend.
8Blackwall
Those who haven’t played Inquisition likely see Blackwall as a gruff and bearded dad-bod Grey Warden. Those who have played it likely see him as a gruff and bearded dad bodmaybe Grey Wardenwith a secret. That frankly devastating secret has dominated his whole deal, but there’s more to him.
Blackwall has to atone, it’s true. But you know what else? He whittles little wooden figures, he has a crush on your ambassador, Josephine, and he hits things with a sword. How is that not the full package? Oh, right, yes, the treason, that’s fair. But he’s still cool.
7Bethany Hawke
Your main character Hawke’s siblings inDragon Age 2kind of had to share the spotlight in a way. Since only one of them can survive the prologue, many players will completely miss out on one of them if they don’t change things up on a replay. But even then, it feels like Bethany deserved better.
She’s kind of precious, being a rather sheltered sort who gets rocketed into adulthood (doubly sowhen Isabela is around). But watching her mature over the game is a frankly fascinating experience, particularly the way her personality changes whether she becomes a Grey Warden or Circle mage.
6Vivienne
Like Sera, Vivienne rubbed some players the wrong way, and while it’s not hard to see why, it’s also similarly unfair. Yes, she comes from a place of substantial privilege and seems to think suffering mages are complaining too much, but look at that fashion sense.
Jokes aside, right from when she was revealed as a companion in Dragon Age: Inquisition, it was unfortunately clear she would be at a disadvantage with certain players purely because of how she looks. Her strong personality may not have helped, but if you get to know her, you’ll realize there’s some massive depth there.
5Shale
Shale suffers a bit from Dog syndrome, in that she’s an absolute joy to have around but has fewer customization options than other party members. Just an attack crystal and a defense crystal. The fact thatshe’s a DLC characterfurther alienated her from many players.
Still, those who did recruit Shale in Origins almost universally loved her. Her dry sense of humor and hatred of pigeons after serving as a poopy perch for them for years add some much-needed levity to the game’s dark tale. But she’s also got a compelling backstory. Bet Dog can’t say that, can he?
4Wynne
Sometimes the simplest character ideas work the best. A motherly mage like Wynn who can sew up battered socks and make judgmental comments on your relationships might not seem all that compelling on paper, but she’s one of a kind.
Aside from her magnetically warm personality (beyond the aforementioned comments), Wynn also has her own secret involving a spirit keeping her alive. It’s an interesting story to uncover, and her occasional points about being an old woman despite literally being in her 40s add some extra humor or spite depending on your own age.
3Sten
The Dragon Age series' first look at aqunari (or “kossith” technically)remains arguably its most impactful. Lacking the trademark horns of the race’s later iterations, Sten nevertheless embodied the classic qunari traits of powerful weapon swings and your grandpa’s sense of humor.
Sten is no fan of the banter you’d typically expect from a Dragon Age character, which makes it all the more endearing when he shows his respect for you. Plus, he bonds more quickly with Dog than any other party member, which is probably the most relatable thing about him.
2Anders (Dragon Age 2)
For many fans, Anders has two modes depending on which game they’re talking about. For his appearance in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening, annoying creep. For Dragon Age 2, annoying activist. But he’s so much more than that in 2, as tragic as his lack of a cat this time around is.
Despite seeming to some like a misguided revolutionary, Anders knows what he’s fighting for. He’s seen the oppression suffered by his fellow mages and wants to fix it by any means necessary. The catch is that he’s possessed by a demon of vengeance, which honestly makes the whole thing that much more interesting.
1Sigrun
Perhaps one of the greatest misstepsin Dragon Age historyis the lack of Sigrun in any mainstream materials since Awakening. Right from the start, the idea of a dwarven Legion of the Dead member joining a new cause on the surface is incredibly engaging, and she plays the part well.
Sigrun pretty much loses it all after already losing everything when joining the Legion, so you recruit her at a rather turbulent time. But her sense of humor creeps up over time, and she becomes a loyal friend if you do the same for her. Her fate is left up to your own decisions, but it would be a huge boon to see this driven dwarven legend return once again.
