By zanuffas
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Blackwall is a Grey Warden who will join the Inquisitor. You will meet him in the Hinterlands training the recruits. From the first meeting, you will see that he is an expert in close combat.
Moreover, once you unlock its specialization he is the best tank you can have. With this post, I will try to cover how to best build Blackwall in Dragon Age Inquisition
Important! The companion build is compatible with Nightmare difficulty, however, to pull it off correctly, be sure to have a good Inquisitor build
So let us get into it
Contents
- Early game abilities, level 1 - 10
- Blackwall Two-handed Tank build
- Abilities investment - long version
- Abilities investment - short version
- Attributes and Stats
- Best Equipment
- Blackwall Tactics
- Conclusion
Early game abilities, level 1 - 10
At the start of the game, it does not really matter which weapon you choose. Both shield & sword work.
| Order | Skill | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Challenge + Call Them Out | This will be the main skill that Blackwall will use to Taunt enemies |
| 2 |  War Cry | The secondary ability for taunting enemies |
| 3 |  Grappling Chain | We take this to unlock other skills |
| 4 |  Crippling Blows | We take this to unlock other skills |
| 5 |  Coup De Grace | We take this to unlock other skills |
| 6 |  Horn of Valor + Fortifying Blast | Horn of Valor is an important ability. It will ensure early in the game that Blackwall and party members don't die easily |
| 7 |  Trust the Steel | Provides 20% armor bonus to Blackwall |
If you will have any points left invest them in the weapon tree that you use. Otherwise, this will be enough before you unlock Champion specialization for Blackwall at level 11.
Blackwall Two-handed Tank build
Remember that you will need to respecialize skills before making this build
This build will be using a two-handed weapon. Even though you lose some defense you will gain the ability to knock out enemies more often.
Abilities investment - long version
In this section, I will go through all the skills and talents that need to be picked for this Blackwall build in the Dragon Age Inquisition.
IMPORTANT: Get a relevant Amulet of Power for Blackwall to maximize the number of ability points
| Order | Skill | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Line in the Sand | This skill is only taken for progression |
| 2 |  Bulwark | Increases maximum Guard for Blackwall |
| 3 |  Adamant | Provides 20% armor bonus |
| 4 |  Resilience | Provides a 5% chance that an enemy is stunned when it hits Blackwall |
| 5 |  Unyielding | This ability gives a second chance. Instead of dying Blackwall becomes invulnerable for 5 seconds |
| 6 |  Walking Fortress + Siege-Breaker | For 8 seconds you get invulnerability. This is the most overpowered ability that Blackwall has. By getting the upgrade each attack also increases Guard by 10% |
| 7 | Challenge + Call Them Out | Secondary ability to Taunt enemies that are not picked by Warcry |
| 8 | War Cry + Battle Roar | With the upgrade, Blackwall should attract most of the enemy's attention to him |
| 9 | Trust the Steel | Provides 20% armor bonus |
| 10 |  Cutting Words | As most of the enemies on the battlefield will be Taunted, this passive ability will increase damage to them by 20% |
| 11 |  Mighty Blow + Easy Target | A good Two-Handed skill to deal damage and knockdown enemies. |
| 12 |  Shield-Breaker | A critical hit will reduce enemy armor by 20% |
| 13 |  Whirlwind | We take this ability for progression |
| 14 |  Clear a Path | Each swing that hits multiple targets will restore your stamina by 10%. |
| 15 |  To the Death + En Garde | At this point in the game, you should have good equipment. This is when you take To the Death ability so that you could survive the increased damage from the enemy. The result is that the enemy takes more damage. |
| 16 |  Shield Wall | We take this for progression |
| 17 |  Bear Mauls the Wolves | Reduces damage taken from Blackwall's flanks |
| 18 |  Untouchable Defense | Increases Guard bonus by 25% |
| 19 |  It'll Cost You | Returns 50% melee damage received to the enemy |
| 20 |  Livid + Still Standing | This ability will increase guard and reduce damage taken by each enemy that surrounds Blackwall. |
If you have any points left feel free to put them anywhere else. However, I would say that the build is finished with the ones that I have listed above.
Abilities investment - short version
In this section, I will briefly show what skills should be picked for Blackwall. For a more detailed version check the next section.
Weapon and Shield tree
We only need to get the passive ability to reduce flanking damage
Two-Handed Weapon tree
By getting these abilities we will ensure that Blackwall will have sufficient stamina regeneration and Knockout skill
Vanguard tree
With this tree, you will get skills that ensure Blackwall ability to Taunt enemies.
Champion tree
The Champion tree provides the overpowered tanking abilities. Ensuring that Blackwall can become Invulnerable multiple times during a single encounter
Attributes and Stats
These are the stats that I suggest to prioritize when choosing equipment:
Constitution – provides health and increases melee defense
Willpower – increases the damage and provides magic defense
On hit gain * guard – you will get more Guard on each hit. You can obtain this stat from Masterwork materials when they are used in crafting.
Ranged defense – bigger defense from ranged attacks
Magic defense – overall more magic defense, better than specific element defense
Attack – overall increase to damage
Strength – provides damage boost and some Guard damage boost
Best Equipment
In this section, I will go through some decent equipment that you can equip or craft.
Weapons - obtainable
| Priority | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edgewise | This is the best defensive sword. It gives constitution, bonus armor rating, and a chance to taunt enemies |
| 2 | Demon's Advocate | This Maul gives +19 Constitution and provides the effect of exploding bodies when an enemy is killed. |
| 3 | Chromatic Greatsword | Not only it gives a large boost to damage but also raises elemental resistance |
| 4 | Prismatic Greataxe | The weapon gives a large boost to damage and +15% elemental resistance. |
Weapons - craftable
Schematics are usually better than obtainable counterparts. However, you need good materials for that.
| Priority | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Masterwork Brute Hammer Schematic | Due to a large number of metal utility slots, this Maul is perfect for a tank. |
| 2 | Masterwork Serrated Greatsword Schematic | This blade provides both offensive and utility metal slots. So you can equip it if you decide that Blackwall can deal a bit more damage. |
| 3 | Prismatic Greataxe Schematic | The schematic comes both with offensive and defensive slots. Moreover, the weapon effect doubles the damage dealt. Use it if you wish to deal higher damage |
| 4 | Chromatic Greatsword Schematic | The schematic comes both with offensive and defensive slots. Moreover, the weapon effect doubles the damage dealt. Use it if you wish to deal higher damage |
Armors - obtainable
| Priority | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revered Defender Armor | This is perfect for Blackwall Tank. It gives a +45 Constitution and decreases the cost of abilities. |
| 2 | Masterwork Battlemaster Armor | Increases base stamina and provides a decent defensive stats bonus |
Armors - craftable
| Priority | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revered Defender Armor Schematic | This schematic has the most metal utility slots in the game. Which makes it the perfect armor for Blackwall |
| 2 | Superior Battlemaster Armor Schematic | More expensive alternative to Battlemaster Armor Schematic. Although it has worse slots, the armor value is higher. Moreover, comes with upgrade slots. |
| 3 | Battlemaster Armor Schematic | Has the most utility slots if includes the upgrades. Perfect for maximizing Blackwall's defensive options and constitution |
Helmets - obtainable
| Priority | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revered Defender Helm | The Helmet can be obtained in The Descent DLC. Provides very good defensive bonuses: constitution, melee defense, etc. |
| 2 | Duke's Mane | A decent helmet that gives a bonus +8 Strength and +8% Melee Defense |
Helmets - craftable
| Priority | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revered Defender Helm Schematic | Gives very good utility slots that you can use to increase constitution or strength |
| 2 | Duke's Mane Schematic | Provides 11 utility metal slots to increase constitution. |
| 3 | Helm of the Inquisitor Schematic | The schematic is quite cheap and provides 10 metal utility slots. |
Amulets
The amulets are listed by Tier. Usually, the Best tier can be obtained late in the game, but it provides maximum bonuses.
| Priority | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| - | Amulet of Power | Gives Blackwall a single ability point. It is consumed once you use it. |
| 1 | Master Cooldown Amulet or Superb Cooldown Amulet | Reduces the cooldown for skills. This way Blackwall can better handle aggro throughout the combat |
| 2 | Master Stamina Amulet or Superb Stamina Amulet | Increases the pool of stamina. Great for using abilities early in the fight |
| 3 | Superb Amulet of Constitution | Increases Consitution that results in higher melee defense and HP pool |
Belts
| Priority | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Master Guard Belt of Superior Guard Belt | Increases the Maximum Guard for Blackwall. This way she can take more damage before HP will be affected. |
| 2 | Superb Belt of Health | Increases Health pool, allowing to soak more damage |
| 3 | Belt of Life | Increases Health pool, allowing to soak more damage |
Rings
| Priority | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Superb Ring of Life-Drain | This ring will drain HP from dying enemies. However, look for other options if Blackwall always has his Guard full. |
| 2 | Superb Ring of Staggering | Increases the chance to interrupt enemy attacks and stagger them |
Blackwall Tactics
In this section, I will go through what Tactics you should use for Blackwall.
- War Cry - set to Preferred. Blackwall has to use it at the beginning of the combat
- Shield Wall - disable. Not relevant
- Line in the Sand - disable. Not relevant
- Whirlwind - disabled.
All other skills need to be set to active. This way Blackwall can correctly tank group enemies, deal damage with Mighty Blow and survive difficult encounters by using Walking Fortress.
Conclusion
Blackwall will be the only Grey Warden to join Inquisitor. Due to this, it is interesting to hear about him and his background. I hope this post will help you understand how to build him in the Dragon Age Inquisition.
Feel free to leave any comments below!
