Ahead of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's release on October 31, several new previews have given an in-depth look at the game's new combat systems and mechanics. The fourth game in the Dragon Age series, Veilguard has gone through extended development times since 2018. Regardless of the long wait, however, general impressions from early previews of the game and its combat have been largely positive.

Over the course of three games, the combat of Dragon Age has steadily moved away from tactical RPG gameplay using a "real-time with pause" system, similar to the classic Baldur's Gate entries also developed by BioWare. While both Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition retained some tactical elements, like the ability to switch between characters, the combat of both games took a much more action-oriented approach. Now, as gameplay previews for Veilguard show its combat in-depth, it looks like the game emphasizes action even more than its predecessors.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Combat Is (Almost) All Action

Veilguard's Action-Heavy Combat Relies On Abilities & Commands

As highlighted in a preview of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the game's combat is a significant departure from previous entries, taking on an almost entirely action-focused approach with minimal tactical elements. Players solely control their created protagonist, Rook, and choose from three different classes.

Each class has two distinct weapon sets with a variety of light, heavy and ranged attacks. These basic attacks are then complemented by more powerful abilities with set cooldowns, and defensive actions like dodging, blocking or parrying.

Certain enemies in Veilguard have colored shields over their healthbars, which can be broken more easily by certain types of attacks. The yellow "armor" shield, for example, is most vulnerable to heavy attacks.

Combined with an element system, where certain attacks and abilities can exploit enemy weaknesses to deal additional damage, the ability to freely swap between weapon sets mid-combat, and varied enemy attacks, including unblockable attacks that have to be dodged, Veilguard's combat has been most heavily compared to games like modern God of War and BioWare's other RPG series, Mass Effect.

Like in Mass Effect, while players can't take control of their companions as in past Dragon Age games, they can command companions to use specific abilities, either in real-time or in a time-stopping tactical menu.

Consequently, Veilguard's party size limit is now three (including Rook), down from four in previous games. Similarly again to Mass Effect, abilities used by Rook or their companions can inflict specific status conditions, which can then be "detonated" by other abilities for extra damage, allowing players to set up combos between different characters in the tactical menu.

How Classes Work In Veilguard

Veilguard Has Three Main Classes With Three Specializations Each

Of course, Veilguard's three classes, each of which has three of their own specializations, will also heavily affect how combat plays out. At a base level, players can choose to be a Warrior, Rogue, or Mage (except for dwarves, who can't be Mages in Dragon Age's setting), each of which has access to a set of two weapon types to freely swap between in combat. Generally, though, the specializations for each class will emphasize the use of a specific element or weapon type

The Warrior class, for example, can equip a sword and shield in addition to more offensively-oriented two-handed weapons (although the shield remains available for a ranged shield throw regardless) and has the Reaper, Slayer, and Champion specializations. Reaper, focusing on the necrotic element, has powerful abilities that can sacrifice the player's health or steal that of enemies, Slayer focuses on enhancing the two-handed weapons with bigger attacks, and Champion enhances the shield's blocking ability, focusing on teamwide buffs and fire damage.

The Rogue class is unique from the other two, in that, instead of swapping between weapons, it simply has its dual blades and bow active and usable at the same time, used for melee and ranged attacks, respectively. Of its three specializations, Duelist focuses more heavily on blades, granting additional moves and highly damaging melee abilities, Saboteur allows the use of traps, turrets, and other tricky devices, while Veil Ranger focuses on enhancing the class's ranged capabilities with magic.

Despite mixed first impressions on the game's reveal trailer, early previews of Veilguard and its combat have been largely positive, with the game drawing comparisons to Sony Santa Monica's modern God of War games.

Finally, the Mage class can swap between a more ranged-focused staff and a melee-oriented "orb and dagger" weapon - although both weapons have the ability to shoot elemental lasers. Of its specializations, Death Caller focuses on necrotic spells that can drain life from enemies and the elemental beams, Evoker focuses on the staff and large, area-of-effect cold spells that can freeze enemies, and the Spellblade focuses on a more melee-oriented playstyle with the orb and dagger, as well as lightning spells.

Despite mixed first impressions on the game's reveal trailer, early previews of Veilguard and its combat have been largely positive, with the game drawing comparisons to Sony Santa Monica's modern God of War games. Hopefully, when Dragon Age: The Veilguard releases on October 31, its combat, now more action-oriented than any other game in the series' history, will be able to please old and new fans alike.

Source: Dragon Age/YouTube