Fire Rift Mage Build - Dragon Age: Inquisition (DAI)

Rift Mage Fire Build

This build's main concentration is crowd control through putting enemies in Fear or Knocking them down. You can be sure that by using Veilstrike enemies will stay down. Moreover, the applied Weakened effect will restore MP using the Restorative Veil passive.

Moreover, being able to use Pull of the Abyss together with Fire Mine will create an instant-killer combo against normal foes. So not only do you have extremely strong spells, but also ways to regenerate MP and put enemies under control.

Abilities - before Specialization, Levels 1-10

Early in the game, your inquisitor should be a simple mage with these core abilities:

Order	Skill	Description
1	Barrier	A great ability to survive critical encounters. Recommend having it at the start of the game, especially if you play on Nightmare.
2	Immolate + Wildfire	Easily accessible AOE fire ability. The upgrade gives more damage and a shorter cooldown
3	Peaceful Aura	The Inquisitor will generate less threat
4	Dispel	Good early in the game, when rift enemies can be strong. You can use it to take out summoning circles
5	Energy Barrage + Energy Bombardment	This is an amazing ability, releasing multiple particles. With it, there is a higher chance of generating a critical hit for the next passive ability. Moreover, the element damage depends on the staff you have equipped
6	Flashpoint	If you land a critical hit, your next spell does not have a cooldown
7	Pyromancer	We take this mainly to unlock the next ability
8	Fire Mine	Very strong ability allowing to deal 1600% of weapon damage.

It is a well-rounded skill allocation, allowing for an effective way to deal with enemies. At about levels 10-12, you should get Rift Mage specialization. Once you have it respec your abilities.

Abilities - Progression till Endgame

Here I will explain the order in which the abilities should be obtained for the Rift Mage build.

Order	Skill	Description
1	Stonefist + Shatterstone	This ability has a short cooldown and it can apply a weakened state. Moreover, it deals damage and also knockouts enemies in AOE with the upgrade.
2	Encircling Veil	Increases spell duration bonus against weakened enemies.
3	Veilstrike + Punching Down	This ability does not deal damage. However, it sets Weakened state + knockback enemies in the AOE range. However, for me, it gives a small breather as the ability enters the tactical camera to go through what is happening in the field
4	Restorative Veil	One of your main abilities that will restore mana when Inquisitor deals damage to weakened enemies.
5	Barrier	This is a good ability to put up a barrier when low on HP or starting a battle
6	Flashfire	This is a decent ability, but quite costly. You can keep it in the hot bar until you obtain Fire Mine
7	Flashpoint	If a spell scores a critical hit the next spell used will have no cooldown. Will work well with Energy Barrage
8	Cleanburn	Each spell used decreases spell cooldowns by 1 second
9	Wall of Fire	A great AOE ability that puts enemies into fear. Works well with Pull of the Abyss. However, you can use it to protect yourself or your allies from incoming enemies
10	Energy Barrage + Energy Bombardment	A staple ability for most mage builds. It works well with Flashpoint. However, the main reason why we take it is that it will use elements from the staff damage. This way you can have other elements that deal damage besides Fire
11	Fade Step + Energizing Step	A frost ability that has two purposes: - Reposition yourself and run away - Restore mana with each enemy you pass by
12	Twisting Veil	Damage bonus to weakened enemies
13	Pull of the Abyss + Shaken Veil	I prefer the damage upgrade for this ability in this particular build: - You already have two spells that apply weakened state - This upgrade will do Spirit damage, which is the least resistant by the enemies
14	Pyromancer	Although we take it for the next ability it still provides decent bonuses to fire and fear duration
15	Fire Mine + upgrade	One of the strongest abilities of the mage. Use it together with Pull of the Abyss to take out a group of enemies. Moreover, you can use it on yourself or your allies to protect from incoming enemies. Get Flaming Array upgrade if you feel confident getting close to enemies. Otherwise, choose Searing Glyph for knockdowns
16	Conductive Current	A good passive upgrade that increases the damage for each mana % that you miss.

Here are some additional abilities that you could consider once you get more points:

• Barrier upgrade Elegant Defense
• Peaceful Aura
• Gathering Storm
• Lasting Flames - Wall of Fire upgrade
• Winter Stillness
• Dispel

Abilities - Overview

Here is a short overview of how you should allocate your abilities. For a detailed explanation check the next section.

Spirit Tree

Storm Tree

Inferno Tree

Winter Tree

Rift Mage

Stats

As with most builds at the start of the game, your priority should be base stats and critical chance. Later on, you should be concentrating on critical damage to maximize your DPS.

• Critical chance - with Ring of Doubt, try to keep it at 20%, without it 50%+ is recommended

• Critical Damage – your priority from level 15~ or when you reach 50% critical chance

• Attack - boosts overall damage, usually, the bonuses are higher than attribute-based ones
• Willpower - boosts Rift mage overall damage and also gives magic defense.

• Magic - boosts overall damage

• Armor – a priority for low levels, up to level 12

Equipment Recommendations

In this section, I will go through the recommended equipment for the Dragon Age Inquisition Rift mage build

Weapons - obtainable

The staves are quite good, however, they are usually surpassed once you can get Tier 4 materials

Priority	Item	Description
1	Hakkon's Wisdom	This staff gives +100% critical damage. It is a good alternative to Isana's Song if you have at least a 50% Critical chance
2	Isana's Song	This staff can be obtained in The Descent DLC. Provides +41 to magic. In terms of pure damage, it has no equals. It also has a 10% chance to cast Chain Lightning.
3	Earnest Reprisal	I recommend this staff, only if you have a high critical chance of 50% or more. Or you have equipped Ring of Doubt
4	Staff of the Void	The staff is obtained from high dragon Hivernal. Moreover, it provides adequate stats

Weapons - craftable

Generally, I prefer craftable staves if you have good masterwork and other materials

Priority	Item	Description
1	Staff of Corruption Schematic	Although this is Tier 4, I would still go for Wrath of Lovias Schematic that provides better slots for the end game.
2	Encore Schematic	One of the best staves in the game as it gives offensive buffs for all party members
3	Wrath of Lovias Schematic	The stave gives leather slots for increased critical chance or critical damage

Helmets - obtainable

Priority	Item	Description
1	Cowl of the Pure	Can be an alternative to the Mask of the Grand Duchess. However, it will only increase attack and not critical stats
2	Helm of the Drasca	A mid-tier helmet, I would recommend equipping this if you do not have the Winter Palace masks or Cowl of the Pure
3	Ambassador's Mask	I would still recommend Mask of the Grand Duchess. However, if you have a high critical rate (50%+), this helmet is much better.
4	Mask of the Grand Duchess	The best helmet in terms of the boost to critical chance.

Helmets - Craftable

Priority	Item	Description
1	Superior Skirmisher Hat Schematic	Great slots for increasing critical stats. best craft
2	Battlemage Cowl Schematic	Upgraded version of Tier 2 schematic. Provides better utility slots. Similar to other Tier 3 schematics
3	Superior Seer Cowl	Similar to the other options in Tier 3.

Armors - obtainable

Here is a recommended list of obtainable armor that you can wear.

Priority	Item	Description
1	The Skin That Stalks	Obtainable only in the Trespasser DLC. Boosts Critical Damage, Critical Chance, and Attack.
2	Vestments of the Pure	Similar to craftable version. So choose the one that you prefer. Gives 45 points to willpower
3	Masterwork Battlemage Armor	Reduces the cost of the abilities and spells. Moreover, gives +6 to the magic attribute
4	Robes of the High Keeper	The Robe provides decent stats, especially if you use Focus abilities often. However, you have to be an Elf Rift Mage to wear it

Armors - craftable

I think all of the armors listed below are extremely good, choose the one to your liking

Priority	Item	Description
1	Superior Battlemage Armor Schematic	This version has one Cloth and a leather utility slot. Quite powerful and can be bought in Hissing Wastes. Moreover, you can add Arms and Legs upgrades to have an even larger boost to damage
2	Superb Antaam-saar Schematic	The schematic gives 3 Leather Utility slots to increase offensive stats. I think it trades blows with Superior Battlemage Armor Schematic, due to the leather slots that it provides
3	Vestments of the Pure Schematic	Top-tier armor schematic. However, it does not have leather utility/offensive slots

Amulets

Try to find and obtain amulets that have higher priority. They are better for this build

Priority	Item	Description
1	Andraste’s Sacrifice	The best amulet for a mage. Gives higher mana regeneration and decreases ability cooldown. However, you will constantly taunt enemies, so it can be risky without a good Tank.
2	Superb Amulet of Dexterity	Boosts dexterity, which increases your critical damage
3	Superb Amulet of Cunning	Equip this amulet if you do not have Ring of Doubt. This way you can increase the critical chance naturally.
4	Superb Amulet of Willpower	Boosts willpower which increases Rift mage damage health and magic defense

Belts

Try to find and obtain belts that have higher priority. They are better for this build

Priority	Item	Description
1	The Bind That Guides	Great belt, for this build. Unfortunately only available in the Trespasser DLC
2	Master Belt of Focus or Superior Belt of Focus	More Focus results in more often Mark of the Rift if you are the Inquisitor
3	Superb Belt of Health or Belt of Life	Boosts HP resulting in better survivability especially mid-game or in the end game encounters.

Rings

Try to find and obtain rings that have higher priority. They are better for this build

Priority	Item	Description
1	Ring of Doubt	Probably the best ring for the Rift mage. The character will enter stealth during combat which will guarantee a critical hit.
2	The Hand That Cuts	Only obtainable in Trespasser DLC. However, provides a large boost to critical damage
3	Superb Ring of Critical Damage	Boosts critical damage by 20%. A strong option that will work well with Ring of Doubt
4	Ring of Slicing	Expensive ring bought in Black Emporium. Boosts your critical damage and critical rate. I suggest getting this mid-game.
5	Superb Ring of Critical Chance	Boosts critical chance. Equip it, if the rift mage has a low critical chance.

Tactics and Tips

I would say this build will require a bit more micromanaging from the team. But it should still be enjoyable. Here are the main tips:

• The main thing that makes your party make or break is a good Tank. With it, this Rift Mage build becomes extremely powerful.
• Fade Step should be used to reposition and restore MP
• Throw out Flashfire after you have Fire Mine.

How to engage in combat:

1. At any time in the combat if you see an enemy getting close or targeting you cast Wall of Fire on them to incite Fear.
2. Cast Barrier on the Inquisitor + companions
3. Use Fade Step to get close to the enemies like archers that may be far behind.
4. Activate Veilstrike to weaken and knock down them
5. Use Fire Mine on the group of enemies.
6. If you took the Searing Glyph ability upgrade until the mine activates use Pull of the Abyss for a bit more damage and keep the enemy in place
7. Juggle between Veilstrike + Stonefist + Pull of the Abyss to keep enemies on the whole field in check

Conclusion

Thank you for reading the Dragon Age: Inquisition - Rift Mage Fire build. it is an amazing build and one of the most powerful options in the game. The fast mana regeneration, the all-powerful Fire Mine, and other Rift mage spells will be your bread and butter.