One of thebest dark fantasy RPGs,Dragon Ageis a repository of complex, well-written characters beset by world-ending, god-level catastrophes. Despite the many difficulties the main heroes and their allies face, they consistently rise above it all a better version of themselves - none more so than the franchise’s female characters.
From sharp-witted Morrigan to the tough, yet honourable Cassandra Pentaghast, these women are both formidable in their own right. As such, with the recent release of Veilguard, we thought it best to dedicate a list of the strongest women in the Dragon Age franchise.
11Lace Harding
Someone we first encounter in Inquisition, Lace Harding is the bubbly and cheerful face we meet whenever we travel to a new location. A skilled archer and scout, Lace proved reliable, observant, loyal, and very good at her job.
Lace returns to Veilguard as one of Rook’s main companions, having spent her time thus far hunting for information on Solas. After Solas is trapped in the Fade, Lace assists Rook in defeating the two escaped Evanuris, Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain before they can wreak further havoc on the world.
10Sera
Boisterous and energetic, Sera is a member of the Friends of Red Jenny, an organisation that protects the downtrodden from the claws of the nobility. Sera’s methods are unconventional, and she is a notorious prankster who targets anyone and everyone in the Inquisition with her pranks.
A skilled rogue, Sera is proficient with the bow and has a deft hand at creating bombs. She despises anything ‘elfy’ or remotely relating to magic, panicking outright if she falls into the Fade with you in the Here Lies The Abyss quest. However, Sera is never afraid to speak her mind, and you’re able to always count on her to side with the ‘little people’.
9Empress Celene Valmont
The ruler of the Orlesian Empire, Empress Celene was a controversial figure. She committed atrocities against the Elven population of Orlais and betrayed her Elven lover Briala to save her own skin.
However, Celene is proficient in the Grand Game. Instead of relying on brute force, she used her smarts to win the Orlesian throne over her cousin Gaspard and prefers diplomacy to war. Although she was briefly overthrown during The Masked Empire, you can’t deny that Celene has grit, cunning, and determination to keep her hard-won crown.
8Isabela
First encountered in Origins, Isabela is a complicated character, to say the least. She had a tragic and difficult background but managed to weasel her way out of troublesome situations, rising to commandeer her own ship and becoming a notorious pirate and smuggler.
Sly, cunning, and an incorrigible flirt, Isabela steals a prized relic from the Qun in Dragon Age 2, condemning Kirkwall to a near-massacre by the Arishok’s forces. She returns to Veilguard as the leader of an organisation of treasure hunters known as the Lords of Fortune and heads a battle arena dubbed the Hall of Valor.
7Briala
Briala hasn’t had the easiest life, doubly so since she was born an elf in a racially prejudiced Orlais. Despite the hurdles life throws at her, Briala has dreams of Elven emancipation and is determined to make it into a reality.
An ex-lover of Empress Celene, Briala maintains a network of spies and eluvians, the latter of which Solas attempts to gain control of. Whether you reunite her with Celene or have her exiled, there’s always something to be admired when someone strives towards a goal despite the overwhelming odds.
6Vivienne de Fer
When you first meet the indomitable Madame de Fer, you can’t help but feel she’s not someone you should cross. A master of the Grand Game with a killer sense of style, Vivienne voluntarily approaches the Inquisitor and offers her help.
Vivienne is a skilled mage and mistress to the Duke of Ghislain, who rose to become the Enchanter and advisor to Empress Celene. She is no-nonsense and extremely proud of her talent as a mage, regularly arguing with Solas and Dorian over magical concepts or issues. She is a great supporter of restoringthe Circles of Magi, believing it to be the best way to keep all mages safe.
5Aveline Vallen
A stalwart friend with a good heart, Aveline Vallen is a strong, experienced warrior and dependable ally. She became a member of the Kirkwall City Guard after entering the city alongside the Hawkes and rose to become its Captain.
As befitting her occupation, Aveline believes in the preservation of order and justice, intent on transforming the Kirkwall City Guard into a competent and reliable force. She warms to Hawke if they chooses a more moral path and backs them up in the brewing discontentbetween the Templars and Mages.
4Cassandra Pentaghast
Steadfast with a strong sense of duty and justice, Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast was first introduced in Dragon Age 2. She questioned Varric before bringing him along to Haven, which is where Inquisition starts. Although brash and strict at first, you slowly get to know Cassandra through the eyes of your Inquisitor.
A member of the Nevarran royal family, Cassandra does her best to separate herself from that life, refusing to be defined by her royal blood. A strong warrior and a tank on the battlefield, Cassandra is courageous, caring, and well-meaning. She regularly butts heads with Varric throughout Inquisition and has an intimidating facade, but deep down she is a romantic and a secret huge fan of Varric’s works.
3Morrigan
Morriganwas introduced back in Origins, living with her mother Flemeth in the Korcari Wilds. Pragmatic and tactical, Morrigan is a powerful mage in her own right. She was shown to be ruthless and quite callous when interacting with others. But what stands out is Morrigan’s power-hungry nature, willingly undergoing a ritual to gain possession of Urthemiel’s soul.
Her hunger for power never subsided, her obsession with recovering Ancient Elven magic was evident in Inquisition and it was amusing to see her and Solas snip at each other. However, we get to see a softer side to Morrigan emerge due to her son Kieran, growing to love the boy and seeing him beyond his utility.
2Leliana
Spymaster extraordinaire Leliana has been an iconic and defining character of the franchise. Once a Chantry sister, the sweet Leliana underwenta massive changesince she was the Hero of Ferelden’s companion, turning into a cold, ruthless woman determined to accomplish her goals whatever the cost.
Politically astute and a master manipulator, Leliana continues her spy work for the Inquisition, determined to avenge the Divine’s murder. Her bard skills remain sharp, and although you see softer sides to her when she interacts with characters like Josephine Montilyet, there are ways to go tofully bring out the lighter side of Leliana.
