Can Morrigan Become a Blood Mage in Dragon Age: Origins?
The short answer is: No, Morrigan cannot become a Blood Mage in Dragon Age: Origins. While she is a powerful mage with a unique background and skillset, the Blood Mage specialization is exclusively available to the player character if they are playing a mage. Morrigan’s specializations remain locked to her unique options: Shapeshifter, which is how she transforms into a spider or bear, and Spirit Healer. She can use a Blood Magic item to boost her powers, but cannot be taught the Blood Mage specializations.
Understanding Blood Magic in Dragon Age: Origins
How to Unlock Blood Magic for the Player Character
Blood Magic is a highly dangerous and forbidden school of magic in the Dragon Age universe, and Dragon Age: Origins reflects this through its mechanics. Only the player character, if they are playing as a mage, can access the Blood Mage specialization. The process to unlock it is tied to the “Broken Circle” questline, specifically during the events in Redcliffe.
The key steps are:
- Ensuring Jowan Lives: You must allow Jowan, the mage implicated in the poisoning of Arl Eamon, to live.
- The Ritual: You must then enlist Jowan’s help to perform a ritual that sends you into the Fade to save Connor.
- Confronting the Desire Demon: Deep in the Fade, you will eventually confront a Desire Demon.
- Making the Deal: If you choose to speak with the Desire Demon, you can make a deal, one of the potential rewards of which is learning the Blood Mage specialization.
It’s important to note that choosing this specialization has both in-game consequences and role-playing implications due to the corruptive and forbidden nature of blood magic. The in-game consequences will often be the distrust of certain factions.
Morrigan’s Role and Unique Skills
While Morrigan cannot become a blood mage, she remains a valuable party member and possesses other powerful abilities:
- Shapeshifter: This specialization is unique to Morrigan. It allows her to transform into a spider or a bear. This grants her powerful melee abilities. The weapons’ stats are used for damage.
- Spirit Healer: This specialization allows her to heal and augment the health of the team, making her a support mage. It allows her to revive downed party members.
- Powerful Spells: Morrigan has access to an impressive range of offensive spells, making her a key asset in battle. She is very powerful with offensive magic.
- High Magic Stat: She can use her magic stat to use 7th tier weapons like the Keening Blade. This is only useful for that one weapon, as she cannot benefit from critical hits when shapechanged, even if a staff has that property.
It is also important to understand that the use of blood magic goes against circle rules, so there are also ramifications on the morality scale.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Morrigan and blood magic in Dragon Age, to help you better understand:
1. Can Morrigan become an Arcane Warrior?
Morrigan can not become an Arcane Warrior. The only use of Arcane Warrior skills for her is the talent that allows her to use her magic stat to use weapons.
2. What is a Pink Mage?
A Pink Mage is an enemy from Grandia, not Dragon Age. It is found in the Castle of Dreams and can cast Slip Away.
3. What school of magic is blood magic?
Blood Magic, also known as Hemomancy, is a forbidden school of magic focused on manipulating the life force within blood. It’s considered a sub-school of Necromancy.
4. Who is the strongest mage in Dragon Age: Inquisition?
According to lore and community consensus, Flemeth is considered the strongest mage in the entire Dragon Age franchise, followed by Solas.
5. What happens if you spare a blood mage?
The choice to spare or kill a blood mage in minor encounters often has no effect on the overall storyline, as these instances do not impact large faction relationships.
6. What’s the best class for Dragon Age: Inquisition?
While classes are balanced in Dragon Age: Inquisition, many players find that the Warrior class excels in solo combat.
7. What happens if you impregnate Morrigan in Dragon Age: Origins?
If a Grey Warden impregnates Morrigan, the child is said to carry the soul of an Old God, averting the Warden’s death at the hands of the Archdemon.
8. Can you have a baby with Morrigan without the dark ritual?
If you romance Morrigan and refuse to do the Dark Ritual, she will have a human child.
9. Who does Morrigan love?
Morrigan is capable of loving the Warden. It is also possible for her to be in a polyamorous relationship with both the Warden and Leliana.
10. Can a mage become queen in Dragon Age?
No, an elf, mage, or dwarf cannot become Queen of Ferelden. Only a Cousland can become Queen (a Cousland can also be King, with different requirements).
11. Can you romance both Morrigan and Leliana?
Yes, it is possible to romance both Morrigan and Leliana at the same time.
12. What is the best magic in Dragon Age: Origins?
The best magic in Dragon Age: Origins is subjective and can vary based on your playstyle. However, many players find Arcane Arts, Sunder Blasts, and Primal tree fire and lightning branch skills to be among the most useful.
13. What happens if you sacrifice Isolde in Dragon Age: Origins?
If Isolde is sacrificed to save Connor, some codex entries may imply that both she and Connor survived after enlisting the Circle’s aid.
14. What happens if you release Jowan in Dragon Age: Origins?
Releasing Jowan is necessary to save Connor without harming him or his mother. It also grants you approval with Morrigan and Leliana, but disapproval from Alistair.
15. Is Hawke stronger than the Warden?
The Warden’s spells are considered more powerful and destructive. While Hawke masters more spells than the Inquisitor, the Warden is generally considered more powerful.
Conclusion
While Morrigan is a formidable mage with her own unique powers, she cannot be a blood mage in Dragon Age: Origins. The Blood Mage specialization is reserved for the player character only. However, Morrigan’s shapeshifting, support as a spirit healer, and her diverse array of spells make her an invaluable asset in your journey across Ferelden. Understanding her strengths and limitations allows for strategic party compositions and a more immersive gameplay experience. Remember that the unique and forbidden nature of blood magic is a significant element of the Dragon Age universe, influencing both gameplay and narrative choices.