Blackwall Best Build - Ultimate Tank - Dragon Age: Inquisition (DAI)

Blackwall is a Grey Warden who will join the Inquisitor. You will meet him in the Hinterlands training the recruits. From the first meeting, you will see that he is an expert in close combat.

Moreover, once you unlock its specialization he is the best tank you can have. With this post, I will try to cover how to best build Blackwall in Dragon Age Inquisition

Important! The companion build is compatible with Nightmare difficulty, however, to pull it off correctly, be sure to have a good Inquisitor build

So let us get into it

Early game abilities, level 1 - 10

At the start of the game, it does not really matter which weapon you choose. Both shield & sword work.

Order	Skill	Description
1	Challenge + Call Them Out	This will be the main skill that Blackwall will use to Taunt enemies
2	War Cry	The secondary ability for taunting enemies
3	Grappling Chain	We take this to unlock other skills
4	Crippling Blows	We take this to unlock other skills
5	Coup De Grace	We take this to unlock other skills
6	Horn of Valor + Fortifying Blast	Horn of Valor is an important ability. It will ensure early in the game that Blackwall and party members don't die easily
7	Trust the Steel	Provides 20% armor bonus to Blackwall

If you will have any points left invest them in the weapon tree that you use. Otherwise, this will be enough before you unlock Champion specialization for Blackwall at level 11.

Blackwall Two-handed Tank build

Remember that you will need to respecialize skills before making this build

This build will be using a two-handed weapon. Even though you lose some defense you will gain the ability to knock out enemies more often.

Abilities investment - long version

In this section, I will go through all the skills and talents that need to be picked for this Blackwall build in the Dragon Age Inquisition.

IMPORTANT: Get a relevant Amulet of Power for Blackwall to maximize the number of ability points

Order	Skill	Description
1	Line in the Sand	This skill is only taken for progression
2	Bulwark	Increases maximum Guard for Blackwall
3	Adamant	Provides 20% armor bonus
4	Resilience	Provides a 5% chance that an enemy is stunned when it hits Blackwall
5	Unyielding	This ability gives a second chance. Instead of dying Blackwall becomes invulnerable for 5 seconds
6	Walking Fortress + Siege-Breaker	For 8 seconds you get invulnerability. This is the most overpowered ability that Blackwall has. By getting the upgrade each attack also increases Guard by 10%
7	Challenge + Call Them Out	Secondary ability to Taunt enemies that are not picked by Warcry
8	War Cry + Battle Roar	With the upgrade, Blackwall should attract most of the enemy's attention to him
9	Trust the Steel	Provides 20% armor bonus
10	Cutting Words	As most of the enemies on the battlefield will be Taunted, this passive ability will increase damage to them by 20%
11	Mighty Blow + Easy Target	A good Two-Handed skill to deal damage and knockdown enemies.
12	Shield-Breaker	A critical hit will reduce enemy armor by 20%
13	Whirlwind	We take this ability for progression
14	Clear a Path	Each swing that hits multiple targets will restore your stamina by 10%.
15	To the Death + En Garde	At this point in the game, you should have good equipment. This is when you take To the Death ability so that you could survive the increased damage from the enemy. The result is that the enemy takes more damage.
16	Shield Wall	We take this for progression
17	Bear Mauls the Wolves	Reduces damage taken from Blackwall's flanks
18	Untouchable Defense	Increases Guard bonus by 25%
19	It'll Cost You	Returns 50% melee damage received to the enemy
20	Livid + Still Standing	This ability will increase guard and reduce damage taken by each enemy that surrounds Blackwall.

If you have any points left feel free to put them anywhere else. However, I would say that the build is finished with the ones that I have listed above.

Abilities investment - short version

In this section, I will briefly show what skills should be picked for Blackwall. For a more detailed version check the next section.

Weapon and Shield tree

We only need to get the passive ability to reduce flanking damage

Two-Handed Weapon tree

By getting these abilities we will ensure that Blackwall will have sufficient stamina regeneration and Knockout skill

Vanguard tree

With this tree, you will get skills that ensure Blackwall ability to Taunt enemies.

Champion tree

The Champion tree provides the overpowered tanking abilities. Ensuring that Blackwall can become Invulnerable multiple times during a single encounter

Attributes and Stats

These are the stats that I suggest to prioritize when choosing equipment:

• Constitution – provides health and increases melee defense

• Willpower – increases the damage and provides magic defense

• On hit gain * guard – you will get more Guard on each hit. You can obtain this stat from Masterwork materials when they are used in crafting.

• Ranged defense – bigger defense from ranged attacks

• Magic defense – overall more magic defense, better than specific element defense

• Attack – overall increase to damage

• Strength – provides damage boost and some Guard damage boost

Best Equipment

In this section, I will go through some decent equipment that you can equip or craft.

Weapons - obtainable

Priority	Item	Description
1	Edgewise	This is the best defensive sword. It gives constitution, bonus armor rating, and a chance to taunt enemies
2	Demon's Advocate	This Maul gives +19 Constitution and provides the effect of exploding bodies when an enemy is killed.
3	Chromatic Greatsword	Not only it gives a large boost to damage but also raises elemental resistance
4	Prismatic Greataxe	The weapon gives a large boost to damage and +15% elemental resistance.

Weapons - craftable

Schematics are usually better than obtainable counterparts. However, you need good materials for that.

Priority	Item	Description
1	Masterwork Brute Hammer Schematic	Due to a large number of metal utility slots, this Maul is perfect for a tank.
2	Masterwork Serrated Greatsword Schematic	This blade provides both offensive and utility metal slots. So you can equip it if you decide that Blackwall can deal a bit more damage.
3	Prismatic Greataxe Schematic	The schematic comes both with offensive and defensive slots. Moreover, the weapon effect doubles the damage dealt. Use it if you wish to deal higher damage
4	Chromatic Greatsword Schematic	The schematic comes both with offensive and defensive slots. Moreover, the weapon effect doubles the damage dealt. Use it if you wish to deal higher damage

Armors - obtainable

Priority	Item	Description
1	Revered Defender Armor	This is perfect for Blackwall Tank. It gives a +45 Constitution and decreases the cost of abilities.
2	Masterwork Battlemaster Armor	Increases base stamina and provides a decent defensive stats bonus

Armors - craftable

Priority	Item	Description
1	Revered Defender Armor Schematic	This schematic has the most metal utility slots in the game. Which makes it the perfect armor for Blackwall
2	Superior Battlemaster Armor Schematic	More expensive alternative to Battlemaster Armor Schematic. Although it has worse slots, the armor value is higher. Moreover, comes with upgrade slots.
3	Battlemaster Armor Schematic	Has the most utility slots if includes the upgrades. Perfect for maximizing Blackwall's defensive options and constitution

Helmets - obtainable

Priority	Item	Description
1	Revered Defender Helm	The Helmet can be obtained in The Descent DLC. Provides very good defensive bonuses: constitution, melee defense, etc.
2	Duke's Mane	A decent helmet that gives a bonus  +8 Strength and +8% Melee Defense

Helmets - craftable

Priority	Item	Description
1	Revered Defender Helm Schematic	Gives very good utility slots that you can use to increase constitution or strength
2	Duke's Mane Schematic	Provides 11 utility metal slots to increase constitution.
3	Helm of the Inquisitor Schematic	The schematic is quite cheap and provides 10 metal utility slots.

Amulets

The amulets are listed by Tier. Usually, the Best tier can be obtained late in the game, but it provides maximum bonuses.

Priority	Item	Description
-	Amulet of Power	Gives Blackwall a single ability point. It is consumed once you use it.
1	Master Cooldown Amulet or Superb Cooldown Amulet	Reduces the cooldown for skills. This way Blackwall can better handle aggro throughout the combat
2	Master Stamina Amulet or Superb Stamina Amulet	Increases the pool of stamina. Great for using abilities early in the fight
3	Superb Amulet of Constitution	Increases Consitution that results in higher melee defense and HP pool

Belts

Priority	Item	Description
1	Master Guard Belt of Superior Guard Belt	Increases the Maximum Guard for Blackwall. This way she can take more damage before HP will be affected.
2	Superb Belt of Health	Increases Health pool, allowing to soak more damage
3	Belt of Life	Increases Health pool, allowing to soak more damage

Rings

Priority	Item	Description
1	Superb Ring of Life-Drain	This ring will drain HP from dying enemies. However, look for other options if Blackwall always has his  Guard full.
2	Superb Ring of Staggering	Increases the chance to interrupt enemy attacks and stagger them

Blackwall Tactics

In this section, I will go through what Tactics you should use for Blackwall.

• War Cry - set to Preferred. Blackwall has to use it at the beginning of the combat
• Shield Wall - disable. Not relevant
• Line in the Sand - disable. Not relevant
• Whirlwind - disabled.

All other skills need to be set to active. This way Blackwall can correctly tank group enemies, deal damage with Mighty Blow and survive difficult encounters by using Walking Fortress.

Conclusion

Blackwall will be the only Grey Warden to join Inquisitor. Due to this, it is interesting to hear about him and his background. I hope this post will help you understand how to build him in the Dragon Age Inquisition.

Feel free to leave any comments below!