
Cole - Assassin Archer Build - Dragon Age: Inquisition (DAI)
Contents
Cole Build - Assassin Archer
This part of the guide will cover how you should build Cole as an Assassin Archer. I recommend this build because it will ensure that Cole can survive more difficult encounters. Moreover, it will remove its weakest weakness: bad AI for Dual daggers.
Remember that you will need to respecialize skills before making this build
Abilities - Early Game, levels 1 - 10
Although you may recruit Cole close to level 10, here is what I recommend when starting. First, get a bow for Cole, early in the game this is the best option. Second, invest in these skills according to the priority:
Order | Skill | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Allows Cole to escape from enemies easily |
2 | ![]() |
Early ability to increase overall damage you do with skills and auto-attack |
3 | ![]() |
Does 600% weapon damage if shot from more than 15 meters |
4 | ![]() |
Passive skill that will increase damage if enemy health is full |
5 | ![]() |
We take it mainly for progression |
6 | ![]() |
Fire spell is cheap and deals decent damage |
7 | ![]() |
Effective knockback skill to take out a specific target. |
This way you ensure that Cole can survive encounters and does not die easily. The problem with dual wielding is that early in the game he may get hit a lot in melee range while not having good equipment.
Abilities - Full Progression
Here I will explain how you should prioritize what skills to invest in and when.
IMPORTANT: Get a relevant Amulet of Power for Cole to maximize the number of ability points
Order | Skill | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Gives a larger damage bonus the less HP the enemy has. |
2 | ![]() |
One of the main Assassin abilities. It will hit the enemy with six hits each having 300% weapon damage. |
3 | ![]() |
After killing the enemy Cole will enter stealth this ability will synergize well with the next one |
4 | ![]() |
Attacking from stealth will ensure that Cole deals critical hits |
5 | ![]() |
This is a powerful ability if used on bosses. I recommend taking the Lasting Mark upgrade for AI to use. The other upgrade may go to waste if AI does not activate it properly |
6 | ![]() |
A good ability when you need to escape enemies. Moreover, when you attack from stealth you will get guaranteed critical hits due to Knife in the Shadows passive ability. |
7 | ![]() |
We take this mainly for progression |
8 | ![]() |
Each critical hit will restore 10 stamina. An essential skill to have the stamina for all the skills |
9 | ![]() |
Archer skill to deal additional damage when attacking from long distances with Cole |
10 | ![]() |
We take this mainly for progression |
11 | ![]() |
With the upgrade, Leaping Shot will ensure that Cole enters stealth. This way you will be able to deal more critical hits. |
12 | ![]() |
Deals 15% more damage to enemies that have HP above 80% |
13 | ![]() |
We mainly take this ability for progression. |
14 | ![]() |
Each hit to the same enemy will increase the damage that Cole does |
15 | ![]() |
With this active skill, Cole will coat its weapons with Poison. This will make the bow do more damage. |
16 | ![]() |
Poison will last 25% longer |
17 | Explosive Toxin | If the enemy is killed while under the effect of poison, their bodies will explode releasing a cloud of poison. |
18 | ![]() |
Increases Armor penetration by 25% |
If you will have additional points left, feel free to take Toxic Cloud + upgrade for additional AOE damage.
Tactics and Behaviours
Let's take a look at how to set up Cole's behaviors in combat to maximize what it can do.
- Disable - Caltrops and Explosive Shot (if you are playing with Friendly Fire on)
- Set Preferred Poisoned Weapons. This way you ensure that Cole's poison explosion will activate after each enemy's death.
- All others can be set to Active
- You can also set Leaping Shot to Preferred. However, I have found that this way Cole leaves the battlefield too far. However, pick it up if it works well for you.
With these in mind here are some Behaviour recommendations:
- Mana and Stamina reserve should be set to 0%
- Targeting behavior - follow your tank.
Stats
Here is what Stats I recommend to best maximize Cole, in this priority:
- Critical Chance - 40%+. Due to Stealth and Knife in the Shadows synergy Cole will do many critical hits already
- Critical Damage - once you have reached the Critical chance threshold of 40%, concentrate on increasing this stat as it will scale your damage well.
- Cunning - boosts critical chance (until 40% critical chance)
- Dexterity - boosts critical damage
- Attack - overall boost to damage
Items and Equipment
This section will cover some item recommendations for Cole
Masterwork crafting materials
If you want to take Cole's damage to the next level I recommend this:
- Hidden Blades - will enable making additional DPS when this procs. These materials will activate it: Fade-Touched Ring Velvet, Fade-Touched Velveteen, Fade-Touched Plush Fustian Velvet
- Abilities cost *% less Mana/Stamina -will reduce the cost of using active abilities. Materials: Fade-Touched Velveteen, Fade-Touched Ring Velvet, Fade-Touched Fustian Velvet
Weapons - obtainable
Unfortunately, there are no exceptional options for the bows. If you want to maximize Cole's DPS, you should invest in getting a crafted version.
Priority | Item | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Extraordinary bow, that provides 41 dexterity resulting in a 41% critical damage increase. Moreover, gives an effect that makes enemy bodies explode on kill |
2 | ![]() |
This bow is available during the Trespasser DLC. Gives 95% armor penetration. It is an interesting bow to try but you get it quite late in the game. |
3 | ![]() |
Obtained in Frostback Basin and provides adequate stats. |
Weapons - craftable
Priority | Item | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Obtained with Trespasser DLC. Has adequate slots and most importantly explosive arrow effect. |
2 | ![]() |
Provides 3 offensive leather slots excellent to maximize either critical chance or critical damage |
3 | ![]() |
Provides leather slots for maximizing critical chance and critical damage. |
Armors - obtainable
Priority | Item | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
This armor is a perfect match for this build as it provides a large boost to of 45 Cunning resulting in a much higher critical chance |
2 | ![]() |
Obtainable only in the Trespasser DLC. Boosts Critical Damage, Critical Chance, and Attack. |
3 | ![]() |
This armor reduces ability stamina cost by 20% if not attacked for 5 seconds. This should be easy for Cole as he will be avoiding enemies most of the time. |
Armors - craftable
Priority | Item | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | This armor has 23 utility leather slots if you include upgrades. Feel free to increase either dexterity or cunning based on what Cole needs more. | |
2 | This is a cheaper alternative to Superior Prowler Armor Schematic. It also gives less defense and 22 utility leather slots. | |
3 | Can be obtained from The Descent DLC. Has decent slots, but is worse compared to the options above. |
Helmets - obtainable
Priority | Item | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Has both good bonus stats and armor rating. Can be obtained in The Descent DLC |
2 | ![]() |
A decent mid-game option that gives a good boost to critical damage by increasing Dexterity. |
3 | ![]() |
Alternative to Mask of the Grand Duchess if you have a high critical chance (50%+) |
4 | ![]() |
Alternative to Ambassador's Mask if you have a low critical chance |
Helmets - craftable
Priority | Item | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
The best craftable helmet that gives 10 leather utility slots and is easy to obtain |
2 | ![]() |
A cheaper alternative to the Superior Skirmisher Hat Schematic. Has only 8 leather utility slots |
3 | ![]() |
Costs only 182 Sovereigns and gives 7 leather utility slots. Get it if you are short on money. |
Amulets
Priority | Item | Description |
---|---|---|
- | ![]() |
Gives Cole a single ability point. It is consumed once you use it. |
1 | ![]() |
As Cole will not concentrate on flanking damage this amulet will greatly increase the overall attack power. |
2 | ![]() |
This amulet will increase dexterity resulting in higher critical damage. |
3 | ![]() |
This amulet will increase both critical chance and critical damage |
4 | ![]() |
The amulet will increase the critical chance, allowing for a reduction of ability cooldowns. |
Belts
Priority | Item | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
This belt boosts the critical chance. Only obtainable in the Trespasser DLC. |
2 | ![]() |
This belt will allow Cole to stagger enemies |
3 | ![]() |
Gives a chance to decrease the enemy's armor. |
Rings
Priority | Item | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
You only obtain this ring in Trespasser DLC. However, it gives a +20% Critical Damage bonus |
2 | The rings boost critical damage by 10% and critical chance by 5%. It is one of the best rings for this build | |
3 | Gives +20% critical damage, equip it once you have a high enough critical Chance | |
4 | Gives a +10% critical chance. Great to boost it, if you have less than 40% | |
5 | Boosts overall attack damage |
Conclusion
I hope this Cole Archer in Dragon Age Inquisition will help you. It provides a good enough option for this companion to be able to effectively participate in combat and avoid dying too often.
Feel free to share your feedback in the comments
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