In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you’re not alone on your journey to confront corruption. Seven unique companions, each with distinct skills, personalities, and charm, accompany you in battle and beyond. You can even romance any of them—regardless of your character’s gender—if you meet certain conditions.
This guide covers each companion’s recruitment, their preferences, romance requirements, and loyalty quests.
Table of Contents
Harding
- Name: Borte Harding
- Class: Rogue (Archer)
- Faction: Inquisition
- Race: Dwarf
- Special Features: Flowing red hair, freckles, optimistic
Borte, the dwarven archer with a heart of lyrium, is a familiar face from Dragon Age: Inquisition, where she worked with the Inquisition. Her newfound magic allows her to manipulate stones, making her valuable for support and healing.
- Recruitment: Harding is available from the beginning, introduced alongside Varric in the game’s intro.
- Romance Requirements: About 25-35 hours of gameplay, after completing her companion quest “Reviving the Bond.”
- Likes: Honesty, kindness, and help with her magical skills.
- Dislikes: Insulting her magic or showing a lack of forgiveness.
- Loyalty Quests:
- An Unfamiliar Feeling – After the main quest Relic Smuggling Case
- The Waiting Stone – After Bloodbath
- The Bond Revived – After The Siege of Weisshaupt
- The Heart of the Titans – After The Blood of Arlathan
- Gift: Oak of the Hinterlands, purchased from Xenon in the Black Emporium.
Bellara
- Name: Bellara Lutare
- Class: Mage (Magical Archer)
- Faction: Veiljumper
- Race: Dalish Elf
- Special Features: Extroverted, curious, highly educated
Bellara is a Dalish scholar who loves elven artifacts, aiding in artifact repair and offering healing or offensive spells.
- Recruitment: Available in the third main quest, In the Claws of Chaos, where she rescues you from an ambush.
- Romance Requirements: Around 30-35 hours of gameplay; unlocked through the companion quest Lament of the Hummingbird.
- Likes: Good-hearted actions, kindness, and avoiding arrogance.
- Dislikes: Granting second chances to evil-doers and violent solutions.
- Loyalty Quests:
- Echoes of the Past – After Relic Smuggling Case
- A Pact with a Demon – After Bloodbath
- Lament of the Hummingbird – Romance unlock after The Blood of Arlathan
- Through the Shadows – After For the Love of Treviso
- Gift: Elvhenan Frog Statuette, available in the Veiljumper camp.
Neve
- Name: Neve Gallus
- Class: Frost Mage
- Faction: Shadow Dragon
- Race: Human
- Special Features: Sarcastic, kind-hearted, curious, enjoys unique hats
Neve, a Tevinter detective mage, is skilled in frost magic and supports the group with both healing and powerful attacks.
- Recruitment: During the prologue Omens and Omens, where she saves (or is saved by) you.
- Romance Requirements: 35-40 hours; romance unlocks after her companion quest The Returned Cultist Case.
- Likes: Compassion, justice, and giving people second chances.
- Dislikes: Unjust harm to innocents, mistreatment of Dock City, and excessive violence.
- Loyalty Quests:
- A Study in Dockstadt – After Relic Smuggling Case
- The Wild Swan Case – After Siege of Weisshaupt
- The Returned Cultist Case – Romance unlock after The Blood of Arlathan
- The Dragon and the Dread Wolf – After A Cage of the Gods
- Gift: Collected Evidence from the faction merchant in Dock City.
Emmrich
- Name: Professor Emmrich Volkarin
- Class: Necromancer
- Faction: Funeral Vigil
- Race: Human (Nevarran)
- Special Features: Scholarly, fatherly, has a skeleton companion named Manfred
Emmrich is a Necromancer and fatherly figure known for his extensive knowledge of death and necromantic magic.
- Recruitment: After about 10-20 hours in the main quest Where the Dead Must Go.
- Romance Requirements: Romance unlocks after House of the Dead and The Cauldron quests.
- Likes: Politeness, diplomacy, respect for the dead, and kindness to Manfred.
- Dislikes: Disrespect toward necromancy or his skeleton companion.
- Loyalty Quests:
- Restless Spirits – After recruiting him in Where the Dead Must Go
- Walk Between Graves – After Shadow of Corruption
- House of the Dead – Romance unlock after Bloodbath
- Preparations – Exclusive romance after Unwanted Guests
- The Eternal Flame – After Dark Band
- Gift: Eerie Statuette, sold by Vorgoth in the Necropolis.
Taash
- Name: Evataash (Taash)
- Class: Warrior
- Faction: Master of Fate
- Race: Qunari
- Special Features: Introspective, impulsive, skilled in battlefield lighting
Taash is a Qunari warrior with impressive physical strength and inner struggles.
- Recruitment: In the mission Complete the Veil Watch, Taash joins in Rivain’s coastal area.
- Romance Requirements: Unlocks after The Siege of Weisshaupt and loyalty quest A Little Dragon Hatches.
- Likes: Boldness and training battles, especially in the Hall of Valor.
- Loyalty Quests:
- Fire on the Beach – After The Dragon Slayer
- A Little Dragon Hatches – Romance unlock after Siege of Weisshaupt
- Secrets of the Qunari – After A Little Dragon Hatches
- Gift: Priceless Old Jewelry from a marketplace merchant in the Hall of Valor.
Davrin
- Name: Davrin
- Class: Warrior
- Faction: Grey Wardens
- Race: Elf
- Special Features: Determined, loving, protective of his griffon Assan
Davrin, a Grey Warden, is devoted to hunting darkspawn and safeguarding the griffons.
- Recruitment: During The Guardian’s Best Friend, where you assist in a griffon rescue.
- Romance Requirements: Romance becomes available after the companion quest Godless and Lost.
- Likes: Honesty, being a Grey Warden, and respect for Assan.
- Loyalty Quests:
- Griffon Taming Made Easy – After recruiting him
- A Friend in Need – After Unwanted Guests
- Godless and Lost – Romance unlock after Words of the Wolf
- Gift: Showcase of Old Griffons, found at Greyhold’s merchant.
Lucanis
- Name: Lucanis Dellamorte
- Class: Rogue
- Faction: The Crows of Antiva
- Race: Human
- Special Features: Coffee lover, skilled in assassination
Lucanis, an Antivan Crow, provides assistance with treasure hunting and exceptional combat prowess.
- Recruitment: Available in Chapter 4 during the Bleeding Sea quest.
- Romance Requirements: Romance unlocks after The Cauldron, provided you make a favorable decision.
- Likes: Determination and an appreciation for culinary arts.
- Loyalty Quests:
- Coffee with the Crows – After recruiting him
- Farewell – At Bond Level 4
- Bloodbath – After Siege of Weisshaupt
- A Flock of Crows – After The Blood of Arlathan
- Gift: Antivanian Teaware, purchasable from Fletcher in Treviso’s Cantori Diamond.
FAQs
How do I unlock my companions?
As you progress through the main story across Thedas, companions will gradually become available. Right from the start in Minrathous, you gain two of the seven possible companions. Later, you’ll even have the option to decide which of two companions to unlock first.
Does my faction choice affect my romance?
Yes, your romance or popularity can be subtly influenced by your chosen faction. Occasionally, you’ll encounter faction-specific dialogue options that allow for unique responses, regardless of your conversation partner’s faction. In rare instances, these choices may resonate particularly well with a companion.
How do I start a romance?
In Dragon Age: Veilguard, you can build deep romantic connections with your companions. A strong relationship typically begins through dialogue, where your decisions make an impact. Certain companions respond especially well to specific choices, including flirt options, which are marked with a heart symbol. Regularly talking with your favorite companion increases your chances to earn more approval points!
Can I start a romance with multiple companions?
It’s not possible to maintain romances with multiple companions. While you can build relationships with several companions, when the time comes to take things seriously, you’ll need to commit to one exclusive relationship.
How do I deepen my relationship?
To deepen your relationship, keep choosing responses that your companion appreciates, and visit them at the lighthouse regularly. There, you can occasionally pick up loyalty missions, which significantly strengthen your bond upon completion. Completing main and side quests together also earns sympathy points. Small gifts go a long way too, and you can buy them from various traders. Don’t worry; we’ll help you find the perfect gift!
Do I need my companions to use their special skills?
When you unlock a companion, you also gain access to their unique ability for use in the open world—perfect for finding rare resources like shiny boxes, ores, or heartwood. If your companion isn’t with you, you can still use these abilities through the lyrium dagger you receive in the early story, which allows you to access abilities even in your companion’s absence.
What happens if my companion is hardened?
A hardened companion will continue adventuring with you to rid the world of the gods but may show some skepticism. This behavior doesn’t significantly affect your interactions, but you’ll notice a change in combat: the companion becomes noticeably stronger but refuses to use supportive skills. Be prepared and consider packing a few extra healing potions just in case!
