Dual-Wield Warrior Build - Dragon Age: Origins (DAO)

A build for those who wish to use Dual weapons with their warrior class. With the selection of talents and equipment below you can have a nimble warrior. You will also have decent armor by using Heavy armor sets.

I definitely recommend this as you do not have the drawbacks of rogue, which needs to use backstabs to deal the maximum amount of damage.

Attributes

The damage is split between 50% strength and 50% dexterity for dual wielders

• Strength – invest 36 attributes, you will need 38 for Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale armor set. The additional two you will get from equipment. Of course, you can even try lower with 32 points.

• Dexterity – invest the rest of your attributes here. As mentioned this stat will provide half of your damage. However, it will also increase attack and defense. This means that you will land hits more often and be harder to hit by enemies.

Skills

This section will cover what skills you should get for the Dual wield warrior build

• Pickpocketing - get 1 point. This unlocks some interesting and rewarding quests in Denerim.
• Combat Training - this should be maximized as soon as possible. Will increase many stats and unlock better talents.
• Coercion - I recommend getting this stat as it unlocks many dialogue options during the game.

I do not suggest getting Tactics. This build mainly concentrates on using Sustained abilities and skips active ones. Due to this, you will have enough slots to activate all of them

Specializations

In this section, I will cover which specializations you should be getting with Dual Wield warrior build

• Berserker – will give you Berserker ability which will increase your damage, also it will provide +2 Strength
• Reaver – you will get the ability: Blood Frenzy, which will provide additional damage based on the lost amount of health. Perfect for this build

Talents and Spells

In this section, I will cover what talents you should prioritize. If you do not meet the talent requirements, I recommend either choose another one or save points until you can acquire it.

Here is how I suggest progressing with skills:

Order	Skill	Description
1	Dual-Weapon Sweep	You need it for progression, but it will also give a good DPS boost early in the game.
2	Dual Striking	This will be one of the main sustained abilities throughout the game for this build. It will make the character attack with both weapons at the same time. (Do not forget to reactivate after changing zones)
3	Dual-Weapon Training	Improves the off-hand weapon damage
4	Dual-Weapon Finesse	Will further boost Dual wielding giving a boost to Warrior's attack and defense
5	Flurry	Take this for progression mainly
6	Powerful	Boosts warrior's HP and reduces fatigue from wearing a heavy armor
7	Berserk	This sustained ability will boost damage but reduce stamina regeneration which we will need less and less.
8	Momentum (get as early as you can)	This is an extremely strong ability that will give the biggest boost to DPS. It will boost your attack speed by lowering stamina regeneration. You can start losing stamina really fast. For this have a weapon or other gear that can boost it.
9	Resilience	Upgrade to Berserk sustained ability.
10	Dual-Weapon Expert	Gives a chance to inflict bleeding on the enemy.
11	Constraint	Will reduce the penalty to stamina regeneration from Berserk. This way you can sustain Momentum for longer during each encounter.
12	Precise Striking (optional)	Only take this ability if you have a mage with a Haste spell and always keep it active. It will fix a bug
13	Dual-Weapon Mastery	You will be able to wear a longsword in the offhand, increasing your DPS greatly. Moreover, it will slightly have your fatigue reduced.
14	Devour	After you obtain Reaver specialization start with this talent for progression
15	Frightening Appearance	We take it for progression
16	Aura of Pain	We take it for progression
17	Blood Frenzy	This ability is extremely strong. It will boost the Warrior's damage when HP decreases. That is why we take it fairly late in the game when you will have a strong party.
18	Threaten	We take it for progression
19	Bravery	Gives a bonus to damage and physical resistance.
20	Death Blow	A small boost to stamina restoration (if you occasionally use active skills). Not mandatory to take

Although the build is finished you will still have points left. Feel free to get the rest of the talents from the Daul Weapon tree. They will not benefit you much as you will have low stamina. However, you can use them once in a while.

Gear

In this section, I will go through what equipment you should use for this Dual Wielding warrior build.

Weapons

This aspect is especially important and fairly opinionated. Because you will be using Dual Striking, your attack speed depends on the main hand weapon. So it should be a dagger. Also, try to get items that add damage.

Be sure to fill your weapons with elemental master and grandmaster Damage runes. It will greatly boost your DPS.

Mainhand Weapon

Our main priority is a dagger weapon

Item	Details
The Edge	Has two rune slots and also provides the largest bonus to damage out of all daggers
The Rose’s Thorn	This dagger is quite expensive and can be bought in Orzammar. However, it gives all the bonuses this Zevran build needs
Thorn of the Dead Gods	Tier 2 version can be obtained in Lothering. Great value early in the game. Later on, you can get higher tiers

Offhand weapon

For offhand we want Warden to use as strong as possible single-handed weapon

Item	Details
The Veshialle	This is the strongest single-handed weapon for dealing high physical damage. The reason is that it has a higher strength multiplier and outpaces other weapons at high levels
Starfang (longsword)	This sword has high damage, can be obtained in Soldier's Peak, and comes with 3 runeslots
Keening Blade	Another good offensive option that has its damage scale well with Frost Runes. Has 3 rune slots.
Asturian's Might	A sword that is a good progression between Oathkeeper and the higher Tier 7 swords.
Oathkeeper	A decent early game sword that you can obtain in Lothering. Also comes with 1 rune slot

Helmets

There are quite many helm choices in the game. Feel free to choose the best one that is available at the time

Item	Details
Helm of Honnleath	This is the best helmet in the game. It is THE BEST option. It will increase Warden's damage and stamina
Corruption Helm	Although this is an extremely good helmet, you obtain it close to the end of the game. It will boost dexterity allowing Warden to avoid more enemy attacks, especially if you chose him as a tank.
Cailan's Helm	Use the helmet together with the Cailan's armor set. The helmet gives bonus armor and mental resistance
Executioner’s Helm	This helmet provides bonus stamina. it is not much, but you can probably use one additional ability at the beginning of the combat
Bergen’s Honor	Great helmet that you can buy in the Party Camp. Not only does it boost your defensive stats but it also provides a bonus attack. This results in fewer attacks being missed
Helm of the Deep	Boost to the constitution for a bigger HP pool. A great helmet as you earn it for free early in the game

Armors

Early in the game, you can use Cailan's armor set or Warden Commander Armor set. They are really great. Later on, your priority should be either Legion of the Dead armor set for maximum damage or Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale armor set to increase the stamina and lower fatigue, for better talent management

Item	Details
Armor of the Legion	Part of the Legion of the Dead armor set that boosts damage. The armor by itself provides 3 willpower allowing to have a larger stamina pool
Evon the Great’s Mail	Counts toward Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale armor set. Provides larger bonuses than base armor
Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale Armor	If you cannot afford Evon the Great’s Mail
Cailan's Breastplate	Use the armor together with the Cailan's armor set. The chest piece gives additional armor and physical resistance
Warden Commander Armor	Use it together with the Warden Commander Armor set. The armor provides stamina regeneration and armor
Blood Dragon plate	I recommend using this armor early in the game because you get it with the Ultimate Edition and no investment is needed. Later on, switch it with one of the armor sets mentioned above

Gloves

Item	Details
Gloves of the Legion	Part of the Legion of the Dead armor set
Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale Gauntlets	Use it for Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale armor set.
Cailan's Gauntlets	Use it together with the Cailan's armor set. The gloves will be effective with a Critical Strike ability.
Warden Commander Gloves	Equip together with the Warden Commander armor set. The gloves give a bonus of 10% fire resistance

Boots

Item	Details
Boots of the Legion	Part of the Legion of the Dead armor set. unfortunately, the boots by themselves, do not provide any bonuses
Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale Boots	Use it together with other Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale armor set items.
Cailan's Greaves	Use it together with the Cailan's armor set. The boots provide additional armor.
Warden Commander Boots	Equip together with the Warden Commander armor set. The boots give a bonus of 50 stamina

Belts

Item	Details
Andruil’s Blessing	The best belt in the game provides a large boost to all stats and gives stamina regeneration
Cinch of Skillful Maneuvering	You get this belt after you finish Witch Hunt DLC. So it may not be accessible to everyone. It provides +1 to all attributes
Dalish Hunter's Belt	Provides bonus stamina regeneration. Good belt to allow Warden to use more abilities.
Dwarven Warrior's Belt	This belt can only be obtained if your main character has Dwarven commoner origin. It provides a bonus to armor and strength

Amulets

The High Regard of House Dace is the last recommended amulet. The build's main focus is strength and that amulet, unfortunately, does not provide much of it.

Item	Details
Pearl of the Anointed	+1 to all attributes, good all-around amulet
Heart of Witherfang	This amulet gives +1 to strength, although you will have to kill Witherfang
The High Regard of House Dace	You could call this an overpowered amulet. It gives a lot of cunning, stamina, stamina regeneration, etc. However, to get it you need to finish Golems of Amgarrak DLC.

Rings

Item	Details
Key to the City	As this is one of the best rings in the game it may be taken by the main character. However, if there is a possibility, equip it on Warden for +2 to all attributes
Dawn Ring	This ring is extremely good and provides +4 to strength. Unfortunately, it is available quite late in the game
Harvest Festival Ring	Equip this ring if you want Warden to deal more damage and miss fewer attacks.
Ring of the Warrior	Similar to Harvest Festival Ring, however, does not provide a bonus attack
Lloyd's Magic Ring	The ring can be obtained in Redcliffe Village. it provides +2 strength
The Lucky Stone	Another good ring, that provides +1 to all attributes.

Tactics

The tactics are fairly simple for this character:

• Activate 4 sustainable abilities – Dual Striking, Momentum, Blood Frenzy, and Berserk

• You do not really need to use any active abilities like Punisher or Whirlwind. They just slow down your DPS

• If you have a mage Party member with Haste you can increase the attack speed even more. But there is a bug which you need to take into account for it to be fixed. One solution is to use Precise Striking. Or use mods

Conclusion

If you will be doing your first run, I definitely recommend this build. It is fairly easy to master, you will have high survivability to take on many enemies. This results in not dying too often on higher difficulties.