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Best Death Caller build in Dragon Age The Veilguard

The Death Caller build in Dragon Age The Veilguard is personally one of my favorite builds in the game, offering a playstyle closest to a traditional necromancer. Not only can this build deal some serious AOE damage and control large groups of enemies, but it also offers amazing sustain by siphoning life from the prey.

In this guide, we shared everything you will need to make the Death Caller build in Dragon Age The Veilguard.


What is Death Caller build in Dragon Age The Veilguard?

Strengths and weaknesses of the build (Image via EA)
Strengths and weaknesses of the build (Image via EA)

The Death Caller Mage Build uses ice and necrotic spells to devastate enemies from a distance, relying on sustained damage over time and heavy area-of-effect (AOE) attacks. This build excels in crowd control and it can also have great sustainability thanks to the life-steal abilities that it utilizes.

Death Caller Build Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

High survivability

Medium combat range

Strong AOE damage

Long cooldowns

Heavy attack channeling

Slower overall speed

The Death Caller build relies on stacking Necrotic and Frost damage to control the battlefield. Here's how to maximize your effectiveness:

  • Arcane Bomb: Every third light attack with your Orb weapon places an Arcane Mark on your target. Use a heavy attack to detonate the Arcane Bomb, dealing massive damage. Use this combo frequently while waiting for your main abilities to come off cooldown.
  • Mana Management: Your spells consume Mana, which regenerates over time. To keep your Mana pool healthy, use basic attacks between spell casts and take advantage of the Shadow Dragons faction bonus to increase Mana regeneration.
  • Crowd Control: Leverage ice-based abilities like Frost Nova to freeze enemies, making them vulnerable to follow-up attacks. This is especially useful for handling groups of enemies.

Main skills needed for the Death Caller build in Dragon Age The Veilguard

1) Frost Nova

  • Creates a burst of frozen ground that Freezes enemies in place, offering a powerful crowd control option. Use this when enemies close in on you or to protect your companions.

2) Dark Squall

  • A projectile spell that knocks enemies back, great for disrupting enemy formations and creating distance. This skill has no Mana cost but comes with a long cooldown, so spam it only when it is necessary.

3) Spirit Bomb

  • Connects to a target, dealing continuous Necrotic damage over time. When the effect ends, it explodes, dealing extra damage based on how long it was sustained. Use this on high-priority targets for maximum effectiveness.

4) Ultimate Ability: The Crypt’s Herald

  • Transforms you into a hovering beacon of death, draining life from all nearby enemies and healing yourself in the process. At the end of its duration, it explodes, dealing additional Necrotic AOE damage. This is your go-to ultimate for both offense and defense.

Also Read: Dragon Age The Veilguard walkthrough: How to complete the In Memoriam quest


Skill progress priority for Death Caller in Dragon Age The Veilguard

Prioritize these skills to unlock the build (Image via EA)
Prioritize these skills to unlock the build (Image via EA)
LevelSkillTree
1Mortal ConcentrationCenter
2Charging SpiritCenter
3Frost NovaControl
4FrostbiteControl
5Frost ShieldControl
6ShellbreakerShadow Dragons
7Imbued TakedownShadow Dragon
8UnderestimatedShadow Dragon
9Dark SquallShadow Dragon
10MeditationShadow Dragon
11BulwarkMourn Watch
12Death FrostMourn Watch
13Death’s BlessingMourn Watch
14Imbued DurationMourn Watch
15Necessary StepsMourn Watch
16Corrupted GroundMourn Watch
17Insidious RotMourn Watch
18Channeled ThoughtsMourn Watch
19SaveMourn Watch
20Death Caller
The Crypt’s Herald
Spirit Bomb
Death Caller
21Death’s BlessingDeath Caller
22Restless SpiritsDeath Caller
23Fade StrikeCenter
24Quick RecoveryCenter
25Elemental CatalystBurst
26Fade ConduitBurst
27Breathing RoomMourn Watch
28Time ManagementMourn Watch
29EnervationMourn Watch
30Collateral DamageMourn Watch

Best companions for the Death Caller build in Dragon Age The Veilguard

The right companions can significantly enhance the Death Caller build. Here's who you should bring along:

Companion 1: Harding

  • Role: Ranged Damage and Support

Skills:

  • Adrenaline Rush: Increases damage and attack speed.
  • Seismic Shot: Deals AOE damage, useful for handling groups.
  • Shred: Applies the Sundered effect, reducing enemy armor.
  • Heavy Draw: Detonates Overwhelmed status for additional burst damage.

Synergy: Harding can apply Sundered to enemies, setting up combos for your heavy attacks or Spirit Bomb detonations.


Companion 2: Davrin

  • Role: Defensive Tank

Skills:

  • Battle Cry: Taunts enemies, drawing attention away from you.
  • Death From Above: High-damage aerial strike, useful for initiating fights.
  • Heroic Strike: Applies Overwhelmed status, which you can detonate.
  • In War, Victory: Grants temporary invincibility, ideal for tough fights.

Synergy: Davrin’s ability to taunt and absorb damage allows you to focus on casting from a safe distance, while his status effects enhance your damage combos.


Best runes for Death Caller build in Dragon Age The Veilguard

Enhancing your gear with runes can amplify your build’s effectiveness. Here are the best choices:

  • Regroup: Improves health and mana regeneration, which is crucial for sustaining your spells.
  • Crystallized: Increases your ice damage, making Frost Nova even more effective.
  • Overflow: Boosts your Mana capacity, allowing for more frequent spellcasting.

Read More: Dragon Age The Veilguard walkthrough: How to complete the Something’s Coming quest


Best faction for Death Caller build in Dragon Age The Veilguard

For the Death Caller build, the Shadow Dragons faction offers the most significant advantages:

  • Resourceful: Increases the regeneration rate of your Mana, allowing for more frequent spell use.
  • Never to Rise: Grants bonus damage against Venatori enemies, which is especially useful in late-game encounters.

If you prefer more affliction-based combat, consider The Mourn Watch as a secondary option:

  • Acute Afflictions: Adds an extra stack of status effects on targets, synergizing well with your crowd control and damage-over-time abilities.

Best equipment for Death Caller build in Dragon Age The Veilguard

Gear SlotBest Item
Main HandGlacial Rod
Off-HandSpellcaster’s Stiletto
Alternate WeaponVeilsong
HelmetCursed Vitaar
BeltJenny’s Belt
AmuletMagister’s Bargain
Ring 1Glacial Talus
Ring 2Graven Opal

That’s all for our guide for Death Caller build in Dragon Age The Veilguard.

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