There is a vast selection of weapons, armor, and accessories to choose from in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. While differing in basic statistics, there are also distinctions in rarity, rank, and enchantments.
Most equipment can be upgraded at a vendor in-game to raise stats and add attributes, but the merchant itself must be ranked up as well in order to do so.
This guide is all about which weapons, armor, and accessories are some of the best in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and how to upgrade equipment in general.
| ITEM | PROPERTIES |
|---|---|
| Brute Hammer Maul | 400 Physical Damage 250 Stagger +100% damage vs. Armor Charged attacks apply Sundered vs. enemies with Armor |
| Meredith’s Legacy Longsword | 274 Necrotic Damage 160 Stagger +10% leech effectiveness This weapon leeches health on hit You no longer gain health from Potions or companion Abilities |
| The Hard Way Axe | 240 Physical Damage 200 Stagger Permanently reduces the target’s Defense by 5 on hit Enemies with 0 Defense are damaged for an additional 50% damage |
| Reptile Recurve Shortbow | +6 maximum Necrosis attacks Necrosis damage: -50% This weapon applies Necrosis on hit |
| Archon’s Gaze Elemental Stave | 240 Electrical Damage 188 Stagger Ranged attacks with this weapon now hit up to 3 enemies |
| Wedge Of Destiny Targe | 68 Physical Damage 42 Stagger +10 Shield Toss bounces This weapon deals very low base damage but ignores enemy Defense Shield Toss bounces may hit the same enemy multiple times |
| Iron Veil Light Helm | 44 Defense 30% Ability damage When an enemy dies, it spawns an apparition that attacks nearby enemies, dealing Necrotic damage |
| Field Commander’s Helm Heavy Helm | 131 Defense 15% Ability damage Rage generation: -75% All of your Abilities now have a 60-second cooldown but no Rage cost Your damage is increased by +1% for every 2 Rage |
| Commander’s Presence Light Armor | Rally Party effectiveness: +100% Gain Rally Party when combat starts Deal -30% from all sources |
| Pillar Of The Departed Heavy Armor | 200 Defense 0% Ability damage This armor has very high Defense but no Ability damage Gain Deflect and Resistant when you reach Low Health |
| A Pale Reflection Amulet | +20% damage vs. enemies with Low Health Standard enemies are now always considered to have Low Health (does not affect boss enemies) Defeating an enemy grants 5% Ultimate |
| Jenny’s Belt Grenade Belt | 500 Healing Using a Potion applies ‘Bees!’ to nearby enemies |
| Call of the Hall Ring | +50% Takedown damage +50% Stagger Gain a random Advantage on Takedown |
| The Last Resort Ring | Each time you use an Ability that hits an enemy, gain +20% damage and -20% to your Resistances. This bonus is reset if you Defend or Dodge. |
How To Upgrade Equipment
The Caretaker’s Workshop can be found at the Lighthouse, and is where all upgrades are performed. This shop eventually becomes accessible during the course of the game. Just like faction shops, the Caretaker’s Workshop has a rank progression bar of its own. But unlike faction merchants, this bar cannot be progressed through grinding for and trading ordinary items.
Instead, you will be primarily using Mementos that you find or buy from other merchants to advance the Caretaker’s Workshop all the way to Rank 10, which takes 12,000 points. These higher ranks unlock access to new enchantments for your equipment.
The Caretaker’s Workshop rank also determines the level of the equipment that you find or even buy elsewhere. Ideally, you will grind that rank as high as it can possibly be at any given point in your game, so that your potential loot gets the automatic ranking benefit as well.
Mementos can be bought from many shops, including faction shops, and other merchants such as the Black Emporium. There are 182 Mementos to be bought, found, or unlocked through progression.
A handful of quests can lend some points directly towards Caretaker rank as well, but not nearly enough to advance more than a few low ranks. Most other quests will bring you into the vicinity of Mementos, if not outright reward them. Remember that quest-specific areas will become inaccessible after completion, so take that one opportunity to find any and all secrets, including Mementos.
Those are all the best weapons, armor, and accessories to be found, as well as how to upgrade them in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.