Gaxkang

Gaxkang is an elite character encountered during the Unbound side quest in Dragon Age: Origins.

Background
Stories and tavern songs tell of an ancient evil known as "the Unbound", a shapeshifting demon, presumably a Pride Demon. It is possible that if Gaxkang was a Pride Demon, he may have possessed an arcane warrior or a shapeshifter.

Involvement
Gaxkang is the final boss of the Unbound side quest. He can be found in the Quaint Hovel located in a Dirty Back Alley in Denerim.

Strategy
Gaxkang possesses the unique ability to switch between a warrior form (Revenant) and a magical form (Arcane Horror). He has different abilities in each form.

Revenant Abilities
 * Aura of Weakness
 * Double Strike
 * Pull
 * Mass Pull

Arcane Horror Abilities


 * Death Bolt

Gaxkang has a very large damage output on higher difficulties, and it is recommended to ensure your party has staying power for this fight. Having two party members with the ability to dispel magic (Dispel Magic and Cleanse Area both work) is very helpful. Curse of Mortality is very helpful, as it prevents him from healing with Drain. Magebane poison can help reduce his damage output significantly.

One easy way to kill Gaxkang is with the spell Mana Clash. If successful (he can resist it; consider using Spell Might to make it stronger) Gaxkang will immediately take over 300 damage and change into melee form, which make him far less dangerous compared to his arcane horror form. Once he has regained enough mana he will change back to Arcane Horror form, at this point one more Mana Clash should be enough to kill him.

Another good way to deplete his HP is to use Glyph of Neutralization which dispels all magic in the glyph's vicinity. While the glyph is active, you can wail on Gaxkang all you want without having to worry about status effects.

Loot
— A legendary warrior-only longsword. — One of the best shields in the game (occasional drop).

Trivia

 * In Bioware's Baldur's Gate 2: Shadow's of Amn, the strongest non-mainplot opponent in game is a demilich called "Kangaxx", who can be found (and fought after finding his 3 seperate body parts) in a derelict house in Athkatla city. Gaxkang's similarity in name and difficulty is a nod to this.