Anders

“The people fear what we can do, but to use that fear to bludgeon us into submission is wrong! And they do it with our blessing!”

Anders
Title	Circle Mage (formerly) Grey Warden
Race	Human
Gender	Male
Class	Mage
Specialization	Spirit Healer (Awakening) Vengeance (Dragon Age II)
Affiliation	Circle of Magi (formerly) Grey Wardens (formerly) Hawke Mage Underground
Location	Awakening: Vigil's Keep Dragon Age II: Anders's Clinic, Darktown Hawke Estate, Hightown (conditional)
Quests	Awakening: Freedom for Anders Dragon Age II: Tranquility Talk to Anders Anders in the Fade Dissent Questioning Beliefs (Anders Act 2) Visit Anders Tevinter Chantry Amulet Check on Anders Justice Questioning Beliefs (Anders Act 3) Arcane Feathers
Voice	Greg Ellis (Awakening) Adam Howden (Dragon Age II)
Appearances	Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening Witch Hunt (mentioned) Dragon Age II Legacy Mark of the Assassin Anders (short story) Dragon Age: Asunder (mentioned) Dragon Age: Until We Sleep (mentioned) Heroes of Dragon Age Dragon Age: Inquisition (mentioned)

Anders is a human mage determined to escape the Circle of Magi and the Templar Order. Nothing they have done to him has dampened his desire for personal freedom. Although initially only concerned with his own freedom, he develops a passion for helping the downtrodden and underprivileged. He also has an affinity for cats.

He is a potential companion in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening and a companion in Dragon Age II. In the latter, he is also a romance option for either male or female Hawke.

Background

Anders was born and raised in a small village in Ferelden. His father was originally from the Anderfels, but had come to Ferelden as a boy. Anders was well-liked in his village, and could often be seen surrounded by a gaggle of children. When he was twelve years old, he accidentally set a barn on fire with magic. While his mother still loved him and wanted to protect him, his father grew afraid of him and called the templars. He was handcuffed and taken by the templars to the Fereldan Circle Tower. The only personal possession he was allowed to keep was a pillow hand-embroidered by his mother.

Upon arriving at the Circle, Anders refused to speak, not even to tell the other apprentices his name. They began calling him "the Ander" because of his heritage, and Anders eventually became the only name he'd use. Anders despised the Circle and saw it as a prison. He first attempted escape six months after his arrival. Before his recapture, he saved the life of Bann Ferrenly, for which he received a pendant as reward. When asked why he'd escaped, he tearfully replied that he simply wanted to go home. Despite his repeated escape attempts, First Enchanter Irving believed that Anders, however reckless, posed no true threat and counselled that he be treated with greater kindness.

When Anders was still an apprentice, he met and befriended an older boy, Karl Thekla. The two were inseparable for many years and eventually became more than friends. Anders made no escape attempts in the years when the two were together. Shortly after their Harrowing, Karl was transferred to Kirkwall's Gallows, a move which Anders did not take well. He escaped shortly after, only to be recaptured on the docks of West Hill, attempting to buy passage to Kirkwall.

Anders once managed to escape the Circle Tower by swimming across Lake Calenhad during a weekly training exercise for apprentices. He was caught again one week later. His sixth escape attempt earned him a year of solitary confinement. His only company was the tower's mouser, Mr. Wiggums. According to Anders, the cat later became possessed by a rage demon and took out three templars. His seventh and final escape from Kinloch Hold occurred just prior to Uldred's coup.

During at least one of his escape attempts, Anders ended up spending time at the Pearl brothel in Denerim, where he met Isabela.

Involvement

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

---

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.

---

Anders casting a spell

The Warden-Commander first encounters Anders during the Assault on Vigil's Keep. He is surrounded by dead darkspawn and templars, but claims he only killed the former. He was brought to the Keep prior to the darkspawn attack, after his latest escape attempt ended in recapture. If the main character is an imported Origins character of the Magi Origin, Anders mentions remembering them from the Fereldan Circle Tower. If the Warden-Commander asks him to join the group, Anders does so. Alternatively, if the Warden-Commander tells him to flee, Anders is later found on the rooftop of Vigil's Keep spying on the Withered and Varel. He warns the Warden-Commander about the danger ahead and confesses that he came back because he wanted to help kill the darkspawn. He automatically joins the party.

When the templar Ser Rylock arrives with Ferelden's monarch, she wants to arrest Anders for killing his templar guards despite his protests of innocence. If the Warden-Commander returns Anders to the templars' custody, he permanently leaves the party. Alternatively, the Warden-Commander (with subtle prompting from Alistair/Anora) can invoke the Right of Conscription. Rylock's objection to conscription is overruled. Anders successfully undertakes the Joining ritual to become a Grey Warden.

If Ser Tamra isn't persuaded to reveal the conspiracy against the Warden-Commander when pledging the Oaths of Fealty, Anders relays the ominous whispers he heard from some nobles.

When the party visits the city of Amaranthine, the Warden-Commander encounters Namaya, a friend of Anders' who had learned that his phylactery was among those moved to Amaranthine for safekeeping during the Blight. Anders had come to the city to destroy it when he was captured by templars. He asks the Warden-Commander for help finishing the task. The quest simply ends should they refuse to get involved.

Otherwise, the Warden-Commander follows Anders to the abandoned warehouse only to find Ser Rylock waiting there with a group of templars. She admits that the phylacteries used to be in the warehouse but have been moved since. She demands that Anders be handed over to the templars. If the Warden-Commander allows them to take him, Anders permanently leaves the party. If the Warden-Commander stands by him, the templars turn hostile and have to be killed. Anders subsequently thanks the Warden-Commander for their help.

If Anders is present when Wynne informs the Warden-Commander that the Libertarians are going to propose to pull entirely from the Chantry at the forthcoming convening of the College of the Magi, he calls it a "recipe for disaster."

The Warden-Commander can give Anders the kitten found in Vigil's Keep. He names the kitten Ser Pounce-a-lot and intends to keep him for a while.

Should they both be recruited, Anders can meet the spirit of Justice. In their conversations, Anders wonders about the relation between spirits and demons. Justice wonders in turn why Anders does nothing to help other mages.

Anders is the only companion who prefers to stay at Vigil's Keep and disapproves of being taken to Amaranthine when the Warden-Commander receives news of the attack on the city. If in the party, Anders approves of saving Amaranthine instead of going back to the Keep, and advocates for killing the Architect.

Epilogue

• If the Warden-Commander refused to help Anders, he is captured again when he resigns from the Wardens. With his phylactery secure, he is unable to evade the templars. After two subsequent escape attempts, he vanishes for a third and final time.
• If left to defend the Keep without enough upgrades to it, he is found dead with an arrow through his neck with hundreds of darkspawn dead in a circle around him; none were touched with a blade, but all were felled by magic.
• If left to defend the fully-upgraded Keep, Anders is hailed a hero by the few survivors of Vigil's Keep by using his magic to hold off hundreds of darkspawn. He gets invited by the men to engage in a drinking contest. He loses.
• If in the party during the final assault, Anders remains with the Grey Wardens to train the Order's next generation of mages. When he is called by the Circle of Magi to deliver a lecture on the nature of the Architect, much to the templars' dismay, he tells the Commander of the Grey that his time with the Wardens is over.
  • (V1) Since he is no longer a part of the Wardens, the Chantry brands him an apostate, but never captures him. He is last seen on a pirate ship with a familiar woman.
  • (V2) However, not two months later, he returns and the Wardens remain his home and lasting companions.

Dragon Age II

---

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age II.

---

Events after Awakening

See also: Anders (short story)

Note: This story takes place after the events of Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening and before Dragon Age II.

Regardless of the events of Awakening, Anders becomes a Grey Warden, meets Justice and survives. He says that the Wardens forced him to give Ser Pounce-a-lot to a friend in Amaranthine because it made him too soft. Anders misses his cat and keeps mentioning it. After discussing the oppression of mages with Justice, he starts contemplating being more proactive in righting the injustice of the Circle of Magi.

Anders' presence in the Grey Wardens continues to draw protests from the Chantry until a former templar named Rolan joins the Wardens and starts accompanying Anders on all his assignments. Anders merges with Justice during one such mission. Upon witnessing this, Rolan brings the templars down on him, stating that the Wardens agreed that they can't harbor abominations. Anders loses control to Justice's fury and kills Rolan, the templars, and the Wardens. Once Anders regains his volition, he flees—leaving the rotting bodies of men torn limb from limb for the Wardens to find.

If Anders was left to defend Vigil's Keep when it was not fully upgraded, he says that he escaped death by using a badly burned body in robes as a decoy. He also says that he tried to plant a rumor that he went to sail with Isabela after leaving the Wardens, as mentioned in one of his Awakening epilogue slides.

Act 1

Anders healing a refugee

Anders has left the Wardens to live in Kirkwall, where he uses his healing abilities to aid Fereldan refugees free of charge. He can be found in Anders's Clinic in Darktown. Hawke is led to Anders by Varric Tethras and Lirene in the search for an entrance into the Deep Roads. Anders offers to trade Grey Warden maps showing such entrances for Hawke's assistance in freeing his friend Karl from the Kirkwall Circle.

Anders being possessed by Justice/Vengeance

Upon arriving at the Chantry at night, Anders and Hawke discover that Karl has been made Tranquil and has lured Anders into a trap set by the templars. Enraged, Anders reveals himself to be possessed by Justice and, with Hawke's aid, kills the templars. Karl abruptly regains all his emotions, saying that Anders "brought a piece of the Fade into this world". He describes being Tranquil as a horrific experience and begs Anders to kill him before the effect wears off. Once Karl becomes emotionless again, Anders stabs him. The party then leaves the Chantry.

When Hawke visits Anders at his clinic, he explains that he willingly chose to become Justice's host. He believed that together they could bring justice to every mage ever forced into the Circle. However, Anders' anger warped Justice into a force of Vengeance: Anders must now struggle to maintain control. Anders gives Hawke the maps and joins as a companion. The next time Hawke talks to Anders at his clinic, he apologises for putting his problems on them. If Hawke replies with a diplomatic tone, Anders flirts with them. Some replies lead to Vengeance manifesting again.

If Hawke takes both their sibling and Anders into the Deep Roads, Anders can prevent the tainted sibling from dying. Anders reveals that he stole the maps from a Grey Warden who came to Kirkwall; Anders wanted to know if the Warden was looking for him. In reality, the Wardens were planning their own expedition; Anders knows their location. Should Hawke choose to look for the Wardens, they meet their leader, Stroud, who is reluctant to help. Anders persuades him to allow the sibling to undertake the Joining.

Act 2

Justice in control

After Karl's death, Anders has joined the mage underground and is helping mages escape the Gallows. He is still healing refugees in Darktown, but is getting few cases. He has also continued to write his manifesto, copies of which Hawke keeps finding all over their High Town estate. When Hawke goes to visit Anders, he admits that he is losing control over Justice/Vengeance.

Later, Anders asks Hawke to help him investigate the plot of the templar Ser Alrik, whom he believes to be working on a deliberate plan to turn all mages in Kirkwall Tranquil within the next three years. If Hawke agrees to help, they follow Anders as he descends into the tunnels leading to the Gallows that were built by lyrium smugglers. There, they encounter Ser Alrik with a group of other templars threatening to make an escaped mage girl, Ella, Tranquil. Angered, Justice takes control of Anders' body and attacks the templars. Once they are dead, Ella calls Justice "a demon", which further angers him.

If the amount of friendship/rivalry with Anders is not high enough, Hawke is unable to prevent Vengeance from killing the girl. Otherwise, a special dialogue option becomes available and Hawke can persuade Anders not to harm her. As Anders regains control, he flees, terrified. Searching the bodies of dead templars reveals evidence that Ser Alrik's plan existed, but was rejected by both Knight-Commander Meredith and Divine Justinia.

Hawke finds Anders in his clinic trashing things. He is deeply upset and convinced that he and Justice have turned into a monster. If Hawke confronts Anders and tells him to go away, he permanently leaves the party. He still shows up at the end of Act 3. If Hawke comforts him or confronts him but asks him to stay, Anders wonders whether the "Tranquil Solution" was another of his delusions. Presented with Ser Alrik's papers, he is relieved and willing to speak to the Grand Cleric who "might be more reasonable" than he thought.

Hawke can take Anders into the Fade to help Feynriel face his Night Terrors. There, Justice takes control of Anders again. The sloth demon Torpor offers a deal: should Hawke help the demon possess Feynriel, Hawke will receive power, knowledge, or magic in return. If the offer is accepted, Justice turns on Hawke and must be defeated. If it is rejected, Anders can't be seduced by the remaining two demons as Justice protects him. If Anders was killed in the Fade, he feels angry and betrayed. However, if Hawke killed Torpor in the end instead of honoring the deal and uses the special dialogue option to tell Anders about it, Hawke gains Anders' friendship rather than rivalry.

Regardless of how Hawke handles Torpor, Anders admits he found it unnerving to be self-aware in the Fade and yet have no control over his body or Justice's responses and decisions, and that as a result he has been staying outside the Fade.

If Hawke takes Anders to Bartrand's Estate while assisting Varric with his family matter, Anders can temporarily cure Bartrand. If Anders is not in the party, Bartrand can't be healed.

The final conversation with Anders in Act 2 changes depending on the friendship or rivalry score:

• If a rival, he is writing a manifesto to convince Hawke to side with the mages. If prompted, he reads it aloud.
• If a friend, Anders is laying out milk for the cats. He thanks Hawke for their help and support.

Act 3

In the beginning of Act 3, Anders tells Hawke that in the past three years Meredith has destroyed the mage underground and that he is now preparing for the worst.

Later, Anders claims that he seeks to be separated from Justice. He asks for Hawke's help in obtaining ingredients for a Tevinter potion that will free them both without killing either. If Hawke refuses, the quest is completed. Otherwise, Hawke assists Anders in collecting Sela Petrae and Drakestone. Anders then asks Hawke to distract Grand Cleric Elthina so he can get inside the Chantry unseen. He confesses that he lied and that there is no potion, but refuses to reveal his plan. Anders insists that Hawke must help him if Hawke cares for the freedom of mages and for him personally. Hawke can refuse at this point, to which Anders angrily retorts that he has always been on his own, but had only forgotten it for a time. Should Hawke agree, Anders promises that whatever happens will be on his head.

If Hawke has decided not to help Anders from the beginning or not to distract Elthina, Hawke can warn Elthina via a special dialogue option. Otherwise, Hawke keeps Elthina busy discussing mages and templars until Anders shows up claiming that he was "looking for Hawke everywhere".

Hawke can subsequently talk to Anders, but only if all his requests were fulfilled:

• If Anders is not a 100% friend, Anders says that the spirit inside him is exultant. He refuses to explain what happened in the Chantry, but says that the war will happen: the clock is ticking down and it will be midnight soon.
• If Anders is a 100% rival, Hawke tries to convince him that whatever he planned, it is not too late to stop it. Anders agrees that there is still time, then Justice takes over and demands that Hawke leave, saying "Anders has no need of you". As Anders regains control, he does not remember what he was saying and admits that he is having more and more blank spots in his memory. He tells Hawke that he tried his best to control Vengeance and asks Hawke not to blame him for failing.
• If Anders is a 100% friend, he hints that he is going to die for something that matters more than his life and thanks Hawke for standing by him when he gave Hawke every reason to turn away. He says that he hoped to find a better way, but states that Justice and Vengeance are too intertwined and he can't tell one from the other. Anders asks Hawke never to blame themselves for what will happen.

After any of these conversations, the colour of Anders's coat changes to black.

The Last Straw
In the end, regardless of Hawke's previous actions, Anders blows up the Chantry, killing Grand Cleric Elthina and everybody else inside. According to Mary Kirby, Anders' magical blast is not contained, and the blast also rains deadly debris over half of Kirkwall. Both Meredith and Orsino leave Anders' fate up to the Champion.

Anders sits on a crate and talks facing away while he awaits Hawke's judgement:

• If Anders is Hawke's rival, he says that Vengeance took him over and expresses deep regret for his actions. He does not trust himself to control Vengeance any longer and begs Hawke to kill him "before there is nothing left of me". Hawke can tell Anders that they forgive him if the amount of rivalry is high enough.
• If Anders is Hawke's friend, he insists that the decision was his own as he and Justice are one now. He tells Hawke that he wanted to make Thedas see the injustice of the Circle and thus change the world. Anders is still willing to be killed, stating that at least Justice might be free. If the amount of friendship is high enough, Hawke can tell Anders that they might have understood if he'd only told them.

Hawke has the following options:

• Hawke can kill Anders by stabbing him in the back, regardless of which side they've chosen to support.
• If Anders is spared, Sebastian leaves the party, vowing to return to Starkhaven and bring back an army to attack Kirkwall and avenge Grand Cleric Elthina.
  • If Hawke sides with the templars then allows Anders to walk away, he later confronts Hawke inside the Gallows and all dialogue options lead to Hawke having to kill him in combat.
  • Anders maintains a firm conviction in his cause and refuses to turn against the mages, unless Hawke is his 100% rival and has previously spoken to him. If Hawke persuades him to atone for what he has done by helping the templars, he is crushed and hints at wishing to take his own life after the final battle if he is not killed first. A romanced Anders exchanges a final kiss with Hawke if the star option is chosen.
  • If Hawke supports the mages then tells Anders to leave, he is later encountered again inside the Gallows, wanting to be a part of the battle. If his aid is accepted, he rejoins the party. If it is rejected, he wishes Hawke victory and leaves permanently.
  • If Hawke asks Anders to defend the mages, he is surprised by Hawke sparing his life and allowing him to stay, but eagerly agrees to fight the templars; however, he admits that it is worse than he thought it would be. If he is in a romance with Hawke, he offers Hawke to come on the run with him as a fugitive after the final battle.

DLCs

Anders can venture with Hawke into the Grey Warden prison in the Vimmark Mountains. Since Anders is a Warden, he starts hearing Corypheus' voice because of the taint. As the voice gets louder, Anders struggles to shut it out. Finally, Justice takes control but is quickly overcome by Corypheus' influence. This initiates battle and summons two shades. Defeating Anders/Justice and the shades breaks Corypheus' hold. Anders then apologises, promising to try harder to hold against both Corypheus and Justice. He also comments that the saying "you never leave the Grey Wardens" rings true.

Before Corypheus attacks Hawke, he claims that he is one of the ancient magisters who entered the Golden City. Anders expresses his belief that the Chantry made up this story to induce the fear of magic. After the battle with Corypheus, Hawke checks his remains and finds an ancient Tevinter amulet belonging to a Dumat-worshiping cult. Anders is baffled: he concedes that Corypheus was one of the ancient magisters and wonders if the Chantry knows more than he thought.

If Anders accompanies Hawke to Chateau Haine, Hawke finds Arcane Feathers similar to those on Anders' coat and learns that they belong to a "simir" bird and have magical properties.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

---

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

---

Anders is mentioned several times, mostly by Varric. When completing the quest A Glowing Key in the Storm Coast, Anders' manifesto can be found in Codex entry: Notes Found in a Mage's Hut, which is picked up from a table inside the cabin.

If Anders Survived:

The Inquisitor can ask Varric Tethras about his fate. If Hawke sided with the mages, Varric states that Anders fled with the Circle of Magi and stayed with them for awhile. A lot of mages blamed him for forcing them to live as fugitives and he had to move on. If Hawke sided with the templars, Varric states that Hawke made Anders stay to put out the fire he caused, although Anders eventually had to move on from Kirkwall, as no one else wanted him to stay in the city. Varric then states he doesn't know Anders' whereabouts or what happened to him after and adds that he doesn't care either.

If Anders was romanced:

Later, upon asking Hawke why they are alone, they state that they've seen Corypheus affect Anders' mind before and couldn't risk it happening again. In the Fade, when the Nightmare demon taunts Hawke by saying that "Anders is going to die, just like your family and everyone else you ever cared about," Hawke expresses defiance or annoyance at the demon's intent to use what they love to hurt them most. Later, if Hawke survives and travels to Weisshaupt, Varric says that Anders will reunite with them if Justice hasn't driven him mad or he hasn't been killed.

Quests

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

Freedom for Anders

Dragon Age II

Act 1

Tranquility

Talk to Anders

Act 2

Visit Anders

Dissent

Questioning Beliefs

Anders in the Fade

Tevinter Chantry Amulet (gift)

Act 3

Check on Anders

The Key to Your Heart

Justice

Questioning Beliefs

Mark of the Assassin

Arcane Feathers

Friendship and rivalry

See the approval page for more information.

Friendship with Anders can generally be earned by siding with the mages, by confronting demons and blood mages, and by being agreeable in conversations with him.

Rivalry with Anders can generally be earned by siding with the templars and blood mages, by striking deals with demons, or by being disagreeable (i.e. referring to Anders as an abomination).

Romance

---

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age II.

---

Anders is a romance option for both genders. If Hawke is male, he mentions that Karl was his "first." If Hawke is female, he does not mention his romantic past with Karl. Hawke can express interest in Anders after his personal quest, much to his surprise. Anders says he should "check a looking glass more often." If Hawke chooses the 'good' dialogue options over the romantic ones, Anders flirts with Hawke, but then apologises and berates himself.

Anders and Hawke during a romantic scene

In the beginning of the romance, Anders says that they might have been able to be together before he merged with Justice and insists that he will hurt Hawke. A romance can still be pursued, however, if Hawke continues to flirt in later dialogue.

In Act 2, choosing certain dialogue options during Anders' personal quest will result in a later conversation that initiates the first real romance scene with him, in Questioning Beliefs. If Hawke continues to flirt here, Anders will kiss Hawke, then tell Hawke that he will come to the Hawke Estate at night. The next time Hawke enters the estate, Anders will be there and the romantic cutscene will be initiated. If Hawke has previously romanced another companion, Anders expresses skepticism that Hawke really wants him, which leaves Hawke with four options:

• If Hawke decides not to cheat on Fenris, Isabela, or Merrill, Anders leaves and the romance is dropped.
• Hawke can deny that the other relationship existed.
• Hawke can claim that their involvement with the other companion was simply a dalliance, after which Anders decides not to push the issue.
• In the case of Fenris or Isabela, Hawke can confirm that the other relationship took place, but claim it is now over because Fenris left Hawke, effectively ending their relationship, or because Isabela didn't want to tie herself down. In this case, Anders apologises that his/her actions hurt Hawke, but admits he doesn't regret that this led Hawke to him.

Anders then confesses to being in love with Hawke and, if certain dialogue options are chosen, will move in with Hawke. Though the conversation happens in Act 2, Anders will only move in to the Hawke Estate at the beginning of Act 3.

Note: During Questioning Beliefs, if Anders is a rival and Hawke asks what he is writing, then chooses the diplomatic option "It's a good argument," the conversation will not lead to the flirt options. It is unknown whether or not this effectively locks Hawke out of any further romance with Anders.

In Act 2, Anders can end the romance with Hawke during Anders in the Fade, which is available if Hawke makes a deal with the sloth demon Torpor during Night Terrors then chooses not to kill the demon (instead killing Anders in the Fade). Accepting the demon's offer and not killing it will result in rivalry points with Anders, and he ends any possible romance, snidely advising that Hawke take up with Merrill instead due to their mutual deal with demons. The romance can be continued normally, even if Anders is killed in the Fade, by killing the demon in the end and afterwards telling Anders it was all a ruse, using the special option in the dialogue wheel.

Note: PC v1.04, If you have completed the romance after Questioning Beliefs, attacking Anders will end the romance even if Hawke killed the sloth demon. The special option is available but the romance is ended and no flirt options are available afterwards, such as when giving the Tevinter Chantry Amulet gift. However, if Night Terrors is done before Questioning Beliefs, then the romance can continue as normal by using the special option "It was a ruse" if Hawke killed Anders but then rejected the demon's deal

A conversation with Isabela can happen in Act 2 if Hawke is with Anders. Varric also makes a comment, as he does for all romances. This has no effect on any of their relationships.

A second companion quest inside the Check on Anders companion quest called Key to Your Heart appears if Anders has moved in during Act 2. Hawke can give Anders a key to the underground passage that leads from the outside of his clinic to the Amell estate at the beginning of Act 3.

Note: If you sleep with Anders and immediately afterwards end the relationship it seems to give no rivalry points, even if you mock his performance. (Confirmed for PC v1.04)

After finishing Anders's personal quest in Act 3, Justice (Quest), he apologises in advance for breaking Hawke's heart, presumably because of what he is planning to do with the Chantry. However, he continues to stay at the Hawke estate and tells Hawke that he values their support if in a friendmance, or talks about how the Circle may really be able to be changed from the inside if in a rivalmance, although this has no effect on the game ending. In the Gallows Prison, if Hawke chooses to side with the mages, Hawke can choose to run away with him after the battle, and the romance will be complete. If Hawke chooses to side with the templars, they have what appears to be a final farewell kiss before the last battle and Anders is not mentioned in the epilogue.

During the Legacy DLC, Anders acts as if he and Hawke are no longer in a romance if you sided with the templars and are playing after Act 3. At the beginning of the DLC, Anders expresses worry that Hawke's pursuers can "get at" Hawke. During the course of events, he has some romance-specific lines for Hawke, such as begging Hawke to help him overcome the voices and calling Hawke "love".

In the Mark of the Assassin DLC, Anders can grow jealous if you flirt with Tallis, and worries over Hawke's safety when they are captured with Tallis. He also makes some note of knowing what's coming or perhaps what has happened by saying "I wish we could stay like this forever, love" when clicked on.

In Dragon Age: Inquisition, if you romance Anders as a mage, some consider Hawke more at fault for being the cause of the mage rebellion than you are when you are a warrior or a rogue, due to being a mage and your connection to Anders.^{[confirmation needed]}

Gifts

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

Anders takes great pride in his appearance and enjoys fine things.

Name	Notes	Description
Bell Collar	Located: City of Amaranthine	This is a collar for a small animal. A bell is attached.
Gold Earring	Located: Vigil's Keep	A single gold earring.
Engraved Silver Bracers	Located: Kal'Hirol - Trade Quarter	Bracers bearing a motif of eagles in flight.
Kitten	Located: Vigil's Keep Plot Item	An adorable tabby kitten.
Knitted Scarf	Located: City of Amaranthine - Chantry of Our Lady Redeemer	A soft wool scarf.
Phylacteries: A History Written in Blood	Located: Inside the Architect's Lab at the Silverite Mine	A volume on the origin and history of phylacteries.

Dragon Age II

Tevinter Chantry Amulet - found during the quest A Bitter Pill.

Statistics

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

Initial specialization

Spirit Healer

Initial skills

Herbalism   Runecrafting   Improved Combat Tactics   Clarity

Initial spells

Arcane	Arcane Bolt   Arcane Shield
Spirit Healer	Group Heal   Revival   Lifeward
Primal	Winter's Grasp   Frost Weapons   Cone of Cold
Creation	Heal   Heroic Offense
Spirit	Walking Bomb   Mind Blast
Entropy	Weakness   Paralyze   Drain Life

Initial equipment

Weapons	Magister's Staff
Clothing	Tevinter Mage Robes
Armor	Polar Gauntlets   Magus War Boots
Accessories	Magister's Cinch   Hailstone   Ring of Faith

Restricted accessories

Fox's Pendant

Plot skills

As you befriend Anders in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening and gain his approval, he will gain the following additional skills:

Name	Benefit	Requirement
Inspired: Minor Willpower	+1 willpower	25% approval
Inspired: Moderate Willpower	+2 willpower	50% approval
Inspired: Major Willpower	+4 willpower	75% approval
Inspired: Massive Willpower	+6 willpower	90% approval

Note: These bonuses are non-cumulative, i.e. the total bonus is +6, not +13.

Dragon Age II

Initial talents

Available spell trees	Initially selected spells
Elemental	Winter's Grasp
Primal
Spirit
Arcane	Mind Blast
Creation	Heal
Vengeance (specialization)

Initial equipment

Weapons	Freedom's Call
Armor	Renegade's Coat

Armor upgrades

See also: Companion armor

Upgrades to Anders's armor, Renegade's Coat, can be found at the following locations:

Armor Struts (Act 2) – available at Lirene's Fereldan Imports in Lowtown. Increases armor.

Lyrium Weave (Act 2) – available at Mage Goods in the Gallows Courtyard. Increases attack.

Spirit Essence (Act 2) – found during the Dissent quest. After killing Ser Alrik, search the nearby dead end chambers just west of the exit before leaving the area. +10% magic resistance.

Sigil of the Mage Underground (Act 3) – found during the Best Served Cold quest. Extra rune slot.

Anders before & after armor change

If Hawke helps Anders during the quest Justice in Act 3 and subsequently talks to him either as a part of this quest or during the follow-up quest Questioning Beliefs, Anders will wear a black version of his armor.

Restricted accessories

Ring of the Awakened – requires Mage Item Pack DLC

Seal of Dumat – requires Legacy DLC

Visionary's Girdle – requires Mage Item Pack II DLC

Birds of a Feather – requires Mark of the Assassin DLC

Dialogue points

Below are the spots where the player can initiate dialogue with Anders in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening:

• Vigil's Keep: The statue of Andraste in the middle of the courtyard.
• City of Amaranthine: A pine tree on the left side of the path just before the first gate.
• Kal'Hirol - Trade Quarter: A basket of lyrium at the far end of the forge area (near the repair anvil).
• Vigil's Keep - Throne Room: By clicking on Anders.

Quotes

Concept art of Anders for Dragon Age II

Main article: Anders/Dialogue

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

• "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools."
• "After my seventh escape attempt, you think they'd have given me credit for trying."
• "Magic isn't for your amusement! Why don't I just do a little dance? Anders' Spicy Shimmy?"
• "The problem is that mages are tolerated. Barely. It's like you need permission to be alive."
• "The only thing I ever missed about the Circle was that cat, to be honest."
• (When deselected in the party selection screen) "Andraste's knicker weasels!"

Dragon Age II

• (To Hawke and party upon first meeting) "I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation! Why do you threaten it?"
• "Since when is Justice happy? Justice is righteous. Justice is hard."
• "The oppression of mages stems from the fears of men. Not the will of the Maker."
• "It is the Maker who creates mages. The Chantry was built by men, and it can be brought down by them."
• (During The Last Straw) "I will not stand by and watch you treat all mages like criminals, while those who would lead us bow to their templar jailors!"

Codex entries

Codex entry: Anders

Codex entry: Anders

Codex entry: Anders - After the Deep Roads

Codex entry: Anders - The Last Three Years

Notes

• David Gaider wrote Anders in Awakening, while Jennifer Hepler took over the role for Dragon Age II. However, the role that Anders plays in the sequel was set by Gaider prior to anyone writing him. The writers weren't sure if Anders would be the Awakening character migrating over to Dragon Age II and merging with Justice — for a while it was going to be Velanna.
• In the cancelled expansion for Dragon Age II, the plan was to present Anders as a "redeemed Warden."
• Anders is referenced several times during the Witch Hunt DLC; one of the books in the Circle library contains the notes of a young mage who drew templars being eaten by a tiger named Ser Pounce-a-lot in the margins.
• In the cookbook, the narrator Devon references Anders and his ingenuity in the recipe for Treviso energy balls, drawing a comparison between this famine food that was created under the hardship of occupation and the work Anders carried out in his Darktown clinic.
• In Mass Effect 2, Ronald Taylor mentions an officer in his crew named Anders who had an accident which led to tension between the crew and officers. In Mass Effect: Andromeda, Ryder receives an email that reads: "Let's blow the roof off the place! –Anders"

The following information is only mentioned in Dragon Age Tabletop. Certain portions of this media may no longer reflect currently established lore.

---

• In the Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Anders was a member of the Libertarian Fraternity at Kinloch Hold, though his contributions were limited to escaping alone, and the occasional manifesto or diatribe. If Anders lives to flee Kirkwall, rumour places him in the Anderfels, the Free Marches, Seheron, Minrathous, and the Brecilian Forest—sometimes simultaneously.

Trivia

Tier progression of Vengeance Anders in Heroes of Dragon Age

• Though Anders uses a fire spell when you first meet him in Awakening, he does not have the spell when he joins the party.
• If Anders specializes in Blood Magic, the player can have another additional line of dialogue with Anders when speaking about Anders's past with the templars. When Anders remarks there really isn't much of a reason to arrest him, the Warden can point out that Anders is an actual blood mage now, to which Anders laughs. He is the only character to acknowledge the blood mage specialization. However, Anders is opposed to blood magic in Dragon Age II even if you make him a blood mage in Awakening.
• A Wanted List with Anders' name is found on a templar's corpse during a random encounter.
• During the events of Dragon Age II, while in the Fade, when Justice takes complete control, the passive spell Vengeance is active whether or not you have assigned it to Anders. It will remain unlocked after the quest is completed.
• If Hawke invited Anders to move in and proposed that Orana work for Hawke, you can click on the lute in Hawke's bedroom to learn that "Anders may have talents, but playing the lute isn't one of them".
• Anders uses the line "There can be no peace" in Act 3, as does Flemeth in the beginning of the game.
• Like Wynne, Anders is a spirit healer possessed by a Fade spirit. However, her possession is much more peaceful than his merging with Justice.
• Anders is the second character encountered who is both tainted and possessed after Sophia Dryden.
• Jennifer Hepler describes the choice of keeping Anders alive as "poetic justice", as he would have to face and suffer the knowledge of the lives he took. She also states her belief that he wishes death so that the people he killed receive justice as well.
• David Gaider confirmed that if Hawke killed Anders, he is ultimately dead. Justice, however, may be another story.
• David Gaider stated that Anders being merged with Justice may have one of the two effects on his Calling: "One is that the spirit within Anders can affect the level of his corruption, so it may delay or remove the necessity for his Calling altogether. Either that or at some point the corruption within Anders is going to corrupt the spirit." He refused to tell which one the writers prefer due to the possibility of Anders appearing in future games.
• Anders is the only love interest in Dragon Age II whose birth name remains unknown.

Bugs

• If Hawke is in a romance with Anders but kills him in the end, or spares him but breaks up with him before the last battle, in the epilogue Varric mistakenly says that all the companions parted ways except for Anders.

Gallery

Anders Awakening epilogue slide

Anders's second outfit, unlocked after completion of Justice

Dragon Age II loading screen style fresco of Anders

Concept art of Anders for the cancelled expansion for Dragon Age II, Exalted March.

Tier progression of Anders in Heroes of Dragon Age

Anders' romance tile in Dragon Age Keep

External links

• Anders's short story by Jennifer Hepler
• Dragon Age: Awakening - Anders Companion Trailer