Dragon Age Origins: Spell Combinations of an Archmage

This video demonstrates how to cast, and effectively employ, all ten of the spell combinations in Dragon Age: Origins, which can be devastating even on Nightmare Difficulty.

The main character is a mage with a whole bunch of unused Spell points (yes, the same one in my Fade Run walkthrough videos) and a total Spellpower of 59, which is used to cast all the spells in this video. The video starts with a tour of her gear, then goes into the spell combinations proper (video time 00:50). Note that all of these combos are quicker to unleash with 2-3 mages working together, though for simplicity's sake, I have used only the main character in this video.

Each segment showcases 2-3 spell combinations, and how they work. The location is the Ransom Drop in Denerim (the final mission given by Master Ignacio), and that particular fight can be a real pain on Nightmare Difficulty. Fortunately, these combos will help. Segments start paused, with each chosen spell on the quickbar highlighted to show its description: these will be used to unleash the spell combos in that segment.

The most useful of the whole series is Paralysis Explosion, which paralyses everything in a huge radius for a very long time. Perfect for getting in free hits, or unleashing a potent barrage of spells on your helpless foes! Better yet, it takes a very short time to cast. The only caveat is to be careful not to get caught in your Paralysis Explosion yourself!

The first segment shows the archmage starting out with Paralysis Explosion to hold a cluster of foes in position for another area-of-effect spell, then following up with a Grease Fire (best unleashed with a Fireball). Quenching the flames with Blizzard is rarely useful, however.

The second segment (video time 02:09) shows another use of the Paralysis Explosion. After dealing out some damage (and drawing aggro on your mage), using Paralysis Explosion on charging foes nicely stops them in their tracks. This works best by dropping the glyphs right between yourself and the oncoming enemy. In this segment, it helps pin them in place as my Mage, after having cast Blizzard, quickly follows up with Spell Might and Tempest to create a terrifying Storm of the Century, which can deal hundreds of points of damage to anything in its vicinity over time. Combined with Paralysis Explosion, it ensures certain death for most opponents who, being paralysed, cannot run from the Storm and will suffer its full damage effects. Only Captain Chase makes it out of the area of the blast, but with less than half his full health (he has several hundred points worth!)just in time to face the rest of my party. Ouch. Video time 03:37 shows him arising as a skeleton under Advanced Reanimation. Too bad he doesn't get to attack anything, all the rest of his lackeys, held by the Paralysis Explosion, were slaughtered by the Storm!

The third segment (video time 04:19) shows Entropic Death, which is extremely damaging to a single target. It usually inflicts a few hundred points of damage. It is best saved for Bosses, especially the ones that cannot be instant-killed with a Shattering spell combo. Improved Drain is also shown, which can greatly sap a foe's health/mana, depending on what you choose.

The fourth segment (video time 05:21) shows the most basic spell combos, which can be figured out simply by reading their descriptions in the game. Nightmare holds a foe in place AND does damage; Shattering takes out an enemy instantaneously, but rarely works on Bosses; and Shockwave is probably the least effect spell combo of all, unless you need to cancel out a Crushing Prison (on an ally) or knock an enemy off their feet in a hurry!

The last section of the video (video time 07:02) is a tour of the generic mage's spell arsenal, and uses all those unused spell points to unlock the mage-related Completion Achievements (a pity I'd forgotten that I already unlocked the Conjurer one.)

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Spell
• Combination
• Combo
• Dragon
• Age
• Origins
• Mage

[Jjrmtv]

Thanks for the reply. Is chain lighting worth having?

[Carsomyr80]

@Jjrmtv Up to your style. All the elemental damage spells have their strengths and weaknesses.

[Shoanpwnz144]

Um wich DLC is that? Your staff? =) pls tell

[Carsomyr80]

@Shoanpwnz144 It's not DLC. You have to buy the Collector's Edition.

[Jjrmtv]

One of the best videos ever. Where did you get the staff?

[Carsomyr80]

@Jjrmtv Collector's Edition item.

[gangstareaperbangban]

dragon age origins is better then dragon age 2

[DazTora]

ear rape

[Polored1066]

oh man entropic death also killed my ears

[NinjaSushi2]

That video was bad ass!!

[MrUnsteddy]

I've played Origens more than a few times, and yet I never knew about half of these...this game just continues to surprise me.

[superchick441]

lawl the first time i tried casting a spell a little cloud poofed around my characters legs or somethin and i started crying so hard i was laughing, because it kinnnda looked like she farted. Then i tried again and it made a bigger poof. I couldnt breath.

[megadomonic]

Man, don't be encouraging me to get back on Dragon Age. >:(

How long it took you to get so strong?

[FTFKaos]

@Carsomyr80 What about the 'Ultimate' edition?

[cunninjona]

@Hamwhig just scroll out using your mouse scroll

[aaron75fy]

@Carsomyr80 i have the collector's edition and it was dlc

[Hamwhig]

how did you get your screen to go up like that