+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ v1.1 =================== TABLE OF CONTENTS =================== 0. QUICK COMBO QUIDE 1. INTRODUCTION 2. BRITTLE 3. DISORIENT 4. STAGGER 5. CLOSING WORDS 6. REVISION HISTORY To jump to a section: search for "X." For example if you want to jump to the STAGGER combos, press Ctrl + F then type in "4." ie. the number and the dot. +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ====================== 0. QUICK COMBO GUIDE ====================== BRITTLE: +50% Critical Damage DISORIENT: -50% Defense STAGGER: -25% Attack, -25% Defense BRITTLE: Winter's Blast Deep Freeze Dessicate -> Warrior Shattering Blow 300% dmg, 200% force Reaper 200% dmg, 200% force Claymore 100% stun chance -> Rogue: Shattering Arrow 600% dmg, 400% force Punishing Lance 150% dmg, 400% force Annihilate 400% dmg DISORIENT: Disorienting Shot Overpowering Fog Chaos Disorienting Criticals -> Warrior Disperse 300% dmg Battery 400% dmg Insatiable 300% dmg, 300% regen -> Mage Golem's Fist 200% dmg, 200% force Spirit Strike 200% dmg, 200% force Corrosive Walking Bomb 200% dmg Virulent Walking Bomb 200% dmg, 200% force STAGGER: Sunder Pummel Aftershock Pommel Blow Claymore Voracious -> Rogue Merciless Strike 400% dmg Maim 100% bleeding chance Blood Feud 300% dmg -> Mage Chain Reaction 600% dmg, 200% force Paralyzing Prison 200% dmg, 100% paralyze chance Paralyzing Hemorrhage 900% dmg Maker's Hammer 900% dmg EXAMPLE COMBO CHAIN: Fatiguing Fog (Impenetrable = Obscure, Overpowering = DISORIENT) -> Devour (Insatiable = DISORIENT bonus + Voracious = STAGGER) -> Merciless Strike (DISORIENTS while Obscured with Disorienting Criticals) -> Disperse/Battery or a Mage finisher +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ================= 1. INTRODUCTION ================= Dragon Age 2 introduces wicked cross-class combos between Warriors, Rogues and Mages. Warriors are able to STAGGER enemies, Rogues can DISORIENT them while Mages turn some foes BRITTLE. All of these status afflictions enhances the effects of various techniques of the other two classes, encouraging tactical team play. Ever wanted a comprehensive list of these combos? Well, here it is! See section 0. above for the quick guide, and the respective sections for more detailed info. Note that NEARLY ALL cross-class combos require upgraded talents both in the initiating and finishing techniques. For example, you need Disorienting Shot (upgraded Pinning Shot) to DISORIENT the foe, then you need Disperse (upgraded Scatter) to complete the combo. The exception to this is Sunder and the talents from Specialization trees. So what are the best combos? The most rewarding has to be the STAGGER combos with either a Primal or specialized Mage. STAGGER can be easy to set up by using Pummel or Sunder plus Claymore and can be quickly followed up with Chain Lightning (Reaction upgrade) or the unique Bloodmage/Forcemage spells for 600% or 900% damage. DISORIENT combos are a bit tricky to set up. Techniques are either not too useful, like Chaos, or has many factors like Disorienting Criticals. The rewards for completing the combo are also dubious. Disperse and Battery are both Weapon & Shield talents commonly used by tanks who often have mediocre DPS. The bonus to Insatiable is excellent though! BRITTLE has some of the best synergies. Winter's Blast followed by Shattering Blow or Assassinate is great against tough single targets. Deep Freeze can cause BRITTLE to a line of enemies which can be exploited using Punishing Lance. +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ============ 2. BRITTLE ============ +50% Critical Damage BRITTLE is caused by Mages, specifically the Elemental cold spells once they have been upgraded and the Primal upgraded Petrify. Sources ------- # Winter's Grasp + Winter's Blast Freeze chance: 100% vs. normal enemies BRITTLE chance: 40% for frozen targets # Cone of Cold + Deep Freeze Freeze chance: 60% vs. normal enemies BRITTLE chance: 20% vs. frozen targets # Elemental Mastery (passive) BRITTLE chance: now 100% vs. frozen targets # Petrify + Dessicate BRITTLE chance: 100% vs. normal enemies Combos ------ WARRIOR: # Two Handed: Mighty Blow + Shattering Blow Physical damage: 300% vs. BRITTLE targets Physical force: 200% vs. BRITTLE targets # Two Handed: Scythe + Reaper Physical damage: 200% vs. BRITTLE targets Physical force: 200% vs. BRITTLE targets # Vanguard: Cleave + Claymore Stun chance: 100% vs. BRITTLE targets ROGUE: # Archery: Bursting Arrow + Shattering Arrow Fire damage: 600% vs. BRITTLE targets Elemental Force: 400% vs. BRITTLE targets # Archery: Archer's Lance + Punishing Lance Physical damage: 150% vs. BRITTLE targets Physical force: 400% vs. BRITTLE targets # Assassin: Assassinate + Annihilate 400% physical damage vs BRITTLE targets Best Combos ----------- # Winter's Blast / Dessicate -> Shattering Blow / Annihilate This is a massive single target killer. Imagine a 400% Annihilate with +50% damage to the auto-critical. # Deep Freeze -> Scythe Punishing Lance / Shattering Arrow Cast the cone and then have your archer/warrior to Lance or Scythe from the side. If foes are close together you can use Shattering Arrow too. +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ============== 3. DISORIENT ============== -50% Defense DISORIENT is caused by Rogues using multiple talents in the Archery, Sabotage and Shadow trees. Sources ------- # Archery: Pinning Shot + Disorienting Shot Pinning chance: 80% DISORIENT chance: 100% vs. pinned enemies # Sabotage: Fatiguing Fog + Overpowering Fog DISORIENT chance: 100% vs. normal enemies # Sabotage: Confusion + Chaos DISORIENT chance: 100% vs. normal enemies # Shadow: Disorienting Criticals DISORIENT chance: 100% for critical hits when obscured Obscure: Smoking Arrow, Chameleon Breath, Impenetrable Fog, Shadow Veil Combos ------ MAGE: # Primal: Stonefist + Golem's Fist Physical damage: 200% vs. DISORIENTED targets Physical Force: 200% vs. DISORIENTED targets # Spirit: Spirit Bolt + Spirit Strike Spirit damage: 200% vs DISORIENTED targets Elemental force: 200% vs. DISORIENTED targets # Spirit: Walking Bomb + Corrosive Walking Bomb Spirit damage: 200% vs. DISORIENTED targets # Spirit: Walking Bomb + Virulent Walking Bomb Bonuses apply to the explosion after the original target (victim) dies Spirit damage: 200% vs. nearby targets if victim was DISORIENTED Physical force: 200% vs. nearby targets if victim was DISORIENTED WARRIOR: # Weapon & Shield: Scatter + Disperse Physical damage: 300% vs. DISORIENTED targets # Weapon & Shield: Assault + Battery Physical damage: 400% vs. DISORIENTED targets on final hit # Reaver: Devour + Insatiable Physical damage: 300% vs. DISORIENTED targets Health regeneration: 300% from DISORIENTED targets Best Combos ----------- # Disorienting Shot -> Golem's Fist / Spirit Strike / Battery Great damage against a single target # Overpowering Fog / Chaos -> Disperse A more AOE-based solution for Rogue + Shield Warrior # Overpowering Fog / Chaos -> Corrosive Virulent Walking Bomb + Spirit Strike A good AOE combo for a Spirit Mage, especially if Chaos works and they start fighting as they will then be packed close together. +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ============ 4. STAGGER ============ -25% Attack, -25% Defense Warriors can STAGGER enemies using various techniques in the Two Handed, Weapon & Shield, Warmonger, Vanguard and Reaver talent trees. Sources ------- # Two Handed: Sunder STAGGER Chance: 50% vs. normal enemies on a critical hit # Weapon & Shield: Shield Bash + Pummel STAGGER chance: 100% # Warmonger: Tremor + Aftershock STAGGER chance: 40% vs. normal enemies # Warmonger: Pommel Strike + Pommel Blow Stun chance: 100% vs. normal enemies STAGGER chance: 100% vs. stunned targets # Vanguard: Cleave + Claymore STAGGER chance: 40% vs. normal enemies # Reaver: Devour + Voracious STAGGER chance: 100% Combos ------ ROGUE: # Dual Weapon: Explosive Strike + Merciless Strike Physical damage: 400% vs. STAGGERED targets # Dual Weapon: Lacerate + Maim Chance of bleeding: 100% vs. STAGGERED targets # Duelist: Vendetta + Blood Feud 300% physical damage vs. STAGGERED targets MAGE: # Arcane: Crushing Prison + Paralyzing Prison Physical damage: 200% vs. STAGGERED targets Paralyze chance: 100% vs. STAGGERED targets # Primal: Chain Lightning + Chain Reaction Electricity damage: 600% vs STAGGERED targets Elemental force: 200% vs. STAGGERED targets # Bloodmage: Hemorrhage + Paralyzing Hemorrhage 900% physical damage vs. STAGGERED targets # Forcemage: Fist of the Maker + Maker's Hammer 900% physical damage vs. STAGGERED targets Best Combos ----------- # Claymore + Sunder (with Giant's Reach) -> anything With Claymore & Sunder & Giant's Reach on the warrior, he will STAGGER enemies quite often and possibly in an AOE. Watch out for the STAGGER icon then quickly pause and follow up. # Pummel -> Chain Reaction / Paralyzing Hemorrhage / Maker's Hammer A tentative AOE option. Unfortunately Aftershock will often send foes flying too far apart. Pummel can't really hit many enemies at once so this can be awkward to set up. # Voracious / Pommel Blow -> Paralyzing Prison / Blood Feud / Merciless Strike The single target combo. There's a good chance you can pull off all five components, it should be easier with this combo compared to other combos +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ================== 5. CLOSING WORDS ================== A straightforward, short and sweet guide for you. Heed the usual copyright stuff, don't plagiarize, etc. Thank you to Andre Mizutani for reminding me about Dessicate and also point out that some initiators are better for certain finishers. Comments? Criticism? Compliments? zeusodinra at yahoo dot com +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ===================== 6. REVISION HISTORY ===================== v1.0 30 Mar 2011 First version complete v1.0 31 Mar 2011 Added Dessicate and Best combos +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+