Like most RPGs,players can choose a specialization for their Inquisitor from the three available for each specific class. When players choose to be a rogue, they will have access to the Assassin, Tempest, and Artificer specializations. All three rogue specializations have their own benefits and preference depends heavily on playstyle.

Fan-favorite companion and series staple Varric Tethras is an Artificer Rogue that gives a good indication of this subclass’s potential. All three Rogue specializations can ultimately be used to create an Archer-type character in Dragon Age: Inquisition. The abilities each subclass provides synergize with Archer skills differently, and as a consequence some subclasses work better for this build than others. The best builds can feel extremely overpowered and make everything from dragon hunting to taking on waves of darkspawn in The Descent feel like Casual Mode. Here's how to create the best Rogue Archer build in Dragon Age: Inquisition.

The Best Rogue Archer Subclass In Dragon Age: Inquisition

Between Assassin, Artifcer, and Tempest, Rogue players have plenty of options.

Artificer is by far the best specialization for Rogue Archers in Dragon Age: Inquisition. This subclass focuses on making traps that can snare, damage, or apply other status effects that can incapacitate enemies. Alongside this, the Artificer also contains various utility-based abilities, giving added mobility to the player and also enhancing the entire team’s damage output. Compared to Assassin and Tempest, the Artificer is a much more ive role with an emphasis on crowd control, all while still dealing significant damage.

This subclass pairs well with the Archer martial archetype. Traps, such as Spike Trap and Set Them Up, can deal massive amounts of damage from afar. Mobility-based abilities, like Fallback Plan, enables players to quickly escape dangerous situations if enemies get too close.

Other abilities, such as Tricks of the Trade and Opportunity Knocks, are massively beneficial to the entire team. Whether the Inquisitor themself, or Varric, having an Artificer Archer on the team can be a massive help in harder encounters.

The Best Skills & Abilities For Rogue Archers in Dragon Age: Inquisition

Perfecting this build requires abilities from multiple Rouge skill trees

Players won't have access to Artificer and the other specializations until about halfway through the main campaign of Dragon Age: Inquisition. Until then, players will want to focus on spending skill points on options from the four traditional rogue trees that will set them up for success when they have unlocked their specialization. Players will want to pick up the following essential skills from three of the four rogue trees:

• Subterfuge:
  • Stealth & Clinging Shadows (upgrade)
  • Evasion
  • Evade
  • Shadow Strike & Long Shadows (upgrade)

• Archery:
  • Death from Above
  • Leaping Shot & Shot from the Shadows
  • First Blood

• Artificer
  • Spike Trap
  • Opportunity Knocks
  • Set Them Up
  • Elemental Mines & Throw Everything (upgrade)
  • And Take them Down
  • Fallback Plan
  • Tricks of the Trade

If players want to take the Focus Ability, Hail of Arrows, it can be extremely powerful and useful for crowd control. Players should make sure to unlock higher tiers for this ability at the War Table.

Players may decide they want more skills from the Archery tree at first. If that is the case, they can always purchase The Tactician's Renewal amulet from the Blacksmith to respec their character once they have access to the Artificer tree. For extra versatility, players can choose to add Long Shot or Explosive Shot, though neither are quite as powerful as Leaping Shot and can be dropped once the build has been completed.

The Best Gear And Weapons For Rogue Archers In Dragon Age: Inquisition

Find the perfect gear for this endgame build.

Finding the right armor, weapons, and other assorted gear is essential to make this build work. Gear is generally acquired through a wide variety of methods, but completing side or main story quests, and opening chests in the wild are the two best ways to unlock new gear, or materials for crafting.

Given that Archers are a ranged martial archetype, you will want to use a bow or crossbow for your main weapon, and empower this playstyle by finding other gear with Critical Strike Chance and Damage buffs.

To get the most from this build, players will likely want to craft their own bow with the highest DPS they have. They can add a Dragon-Slaying Rune if they are specifically targeting a dragon, but a Superb Corrupting Rune works just as well.

The best gear in the game is usually crafted and reserved for the end game. Until you reach these later junctions, it’s best to prioritize gear with Critical Strike bonuses and enable your ranged playstyle. Overall, with the right gear, ArtifcerRogues are easily among the best classes in Dragon Age: Inquisition.