Dragon Age: Inquisition – Should You Side With The Mages Or Templars?

Deciding between the Mages and the Templars is the first big decision in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and it’s one that will change the entire story. The Mages and the Templars have always been a significant conflict throughout the Dragon Age franchise. In Inquisition the game makes the player face the problem and choose a side. The decision between the Mages and Templars in Dragon Age: Inquisition follows the player character through the whole story, and affect every party member in it.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is the third title in the Dragon Age series. The game follows a character called the Inquisitor as they take on numerous magical threats, as well as the conflict between the Mages and Templars. Although there are many choices for players to make in Inquisition, choosing between the Mages or the Templars seems to be the most important.

Before choosing Mages or Templars, the player has an opportunity to witness each side in action. In Val Royeaux, the Templars are on edge and refusing to talk to the Inquisition. In the Hinterlands at Redcliffe, the Mages call off an invitation they originally sent to the Inquisition. There seems to be something else going on behind the scenes, but as for which side players should choose on their path toward beating Dragon Age: Inquisition, there are both positives and negatives to joining the Mages or Templars.

Siding With Dragon Age’s Mages Causes Red Lyrium Addiction

If your Inquisitor decides to side with the Mages in Dragon Age: Inquisition, the player must deal with Alexus, a suspicious mage who has supposedly taken over the Mage Rebellion. Alexus makes the player feel uncomfortable in a mission where he sends your character and Dorian to the future. In the future, the Inquisitor’s party members have been held in a red lyrium dungeon for countless years. Once all party members have been freed, the Inquisitor must fight Alexus and return to the present time using a magic amulet.

The Mage mission “In Hushed Whispers” is more party member-based. The player will have the opportunity to learn more about the party members and how they feel about certain situations in this mission. The mission shows the future and what would have happened if the main antagonist Corypheus won over Thedas. Siding with the Mages makes the Templars the enemy, and the Inquisition must deal with Samson, who leads the Templars to a crazed red lyrium addiction later in the story. Some Mage character builds in Dragon Age Inquisition can deal lots of damage in combat which could be an excellent addition to the Inquisition.

Siding With Dragon Age: Inquisition’s Templars Means Facing an Envy Demon

If the player chooses the “Champions of the Just” mission and sides with the Templars, the Inquisition must deal with a “set up” situation with an envy demon who has become obsessed with the Inquisitor. The envy demon sends the player through a fog nightmare of burning people. The envy demon is posing as the Templar’s leader and preparing them for “The Elder One,” it wants to take the Inquisitor’s place just like it took the Templar leader’s. The nightmare world is woven into the Inquisitor’s mind as the envy demon makes up negative thoughts and failed situations.

It may be worth it though, as some of the best warrior builds in Dragon Age: Inquisition are within the Templars faction. Towards the end of the Templar mission, the player must fight the demon and save the uncorrupted Templars. Siding with the Templars and making it to the end of the “Champions of the Just” mission is more of a personal quest with the Inquisitor as you fight off evil thoughts within their head. When siding with the Templars, the player will make the Mages their enemy. Later down the road, the player will have to face Calpernia, a Mage leader, with the possibility of a twisted outcome.

Player Decisions In Dragon Age: Inquisition Affects Party Members

Each decision made will affect the relationship of fellow party members in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Choosing the Mage’s side will gain approval from those who are Mages in your party. Those who are warriors or believe in the Templars will approve if chosen the Templars side. According to how the player wants relationships to go during the playthrough, keeping up with companion approval in Dragon Age: Inquisition is essential. Some decisions in missions have a small amount of approval, while other tasks have a higher amount of approval.

No matter which side the player chooses, both recruits Dorian and Cole can still join the player’s party at some point in the game. Both the Mages and the Templars have great missions, and choosing either side offers a different story every time. It’s another example of Dragon Age Inquisition‘s excellent replayability, as fans can play it multiple times to see how each story changes and unfolds.

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