Archery talents (Origins)

Archery talents are talents in Dragon Age: Origins that allow characters to become skilled archers with access to a range of deadly attacks.

Melee Archer tree

Melee Archer

Passive Requires: 12 dexterity Requires:  Combat Training

Experience fighting in tight quarters has taught the archer to fire without interruption, even when being attacked.

Aim

Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 35 Fatigue: 5% Cooldown: 0.5s Requires: 16 dexterity Requires:  Improved Combat Training

The archer carefully places each shot for maximum effect while in this mode. This decreases rate of fire, but grants bonuses to attack, damage, armor penetration, and critical chance. Master Archer further increases these bonuses.

Defensive Fire

Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 40 Fatigue: 5% Cooldown: 15s Requires: 22 dexterity Requires:  Expert Combat Training

While active, the archer changes stance, receiving a bonus to defense but slowing the rate of fire. With the Master Archer talent, the defense bonus increases.

Master Archer

Passive Requires: 28 dexterity Requires:  Master Combat Training

Deadly with both bows and crossbows, master archers receive additional benefits when using Aim, Defensive Fire, Crippling Shot, Critical Shot, Arrow of Slaying, Rapid Shot, and Shattering Shot. This talent also eliminates the penalty to attack speed when wearing heavy armor, although massive armor still carries the penalty.

Pinning Shot tree

Pinning Shot

Activated Range: Very long Activation: 15 Cooldown: 15s Requires: 12 dexterity Requires: Combat Training

A shot to the target's legs disables the foe, pinning the target in place unless it passes a physical resistance check, and slowing movement speed otherwise.

Crippling Shot

Activated Range: Very long Activation: 25 Cooldown: 10s Requires: 16 dexterity Requires:  Improved Combat Training

A carefully aimed shot hampers the target's ability to fight by reducing attack and defense if it hits, although the shot inflicts only normal damage. The Master Archer talent adds an attack bonus while firing the Crippling Shot.

Critical Shot

Activated Range: Very long Activation: 40 Cooldown: 10s Requires: 21 dexterity Requires:  Expert Combat Training

Finding a chink in the target's defenses, the archer fires an arrow that, if aimed correctly, automatically scores a critical hit and gains a bonus to armor penetration. The Master Archer talent increases the armor penetration bonus.

Arrow of Slaying

Activated Range: Very long Activation: 80 Cooldown: 60s Requires: 30 dexterity Requires:  Master Combat Training

The archer generates an automatic critical hit if this shot finds its target, although high-level targets may be able to ignore the effect. The archer suffers reduced stamina regeneration for a time. Master Archer adds an extra attack bonus.

Rapid Shot tree

Rapid Shot

Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 35 Fatigue: 5% Cooldown: 0.5s Requires: 12 dexterity Requires:  Combat Training

Speed wins out over power while this mode is active, as the archer fires more rapidly but without any chance of inflicting regular critical hits. Master Archer increases the rate of fire further still.

Shattering Shot

Activated Range: Very long Activation: 25 Cooldown: 15s Requires: 16 dexterity Requires:  Improved Combat Training

The archer fires a shot designed to open up a weak spot in the target's armor. The shot deals normal damage if it hits and imposes an armor penalty on the target. Master Archer increases the target's armor penalty.

Suppressing Fire

Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 60 Fatigue: 5% Cooldown: 10s Requires: 24 dexterity Requires:  Expert Combat Training

When this mode is active, the archer's shots hamper foes. Each arrow deals regular damage and also encumbers the target with a temporary penalty to attack. This penalty can be applied multiple times.

Scattershot

Activated Range: Very long Activation: 50 Cooldown: 40s Requires: 27 dexterity Requires:  Master Combat Training

The archer fires a single arrow that automatically hits, stunning the target and dealing normal damage. The arrow then shatters, hitting all nearby enemies with the same effect.

Accuracy tree

The following are only available in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.

Accuracy

Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 60 Fatigue: 0% Cooldown: 10s Requires: Level 20 Requires:  34 dexterity Requires:  Combat Training

For as long as this mode is active, the archer's mind is clear of everything except the next shot's trajectory, gaining bonuses to attack, damage, ranged critical chance, and ranged critical damage, all dependent on the archer's dexterity attribute.

Arrow Time

Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 40 Fatigue: 10% Cooldown: 10s Requires: 38 dexterity Requires:  Improved Combat Training

Intense focus slows the archer's perception of time, effectively reducing the movement speed of enemies who come near for as long as this mode is active, excepting those of elite rank or higher. This deep concentration drains stamina constantly.

Burst Shot

Activated Range: Very long Activation: 60 Cooldown: 60s Requires: 44 dexterity Requires:  Expert Combat Training

The archer looses a special shaft that scores an automatic triple critical hit against the target enemy, then shatters, inflicting half the effect on those unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity. Friendly fire possible.

Rain of Arrows

Activated Range: Medium Activation: 80 Cooldown: 60s Requires: 52 dexterity Requires:  Master Combat Training

The archer's bow points to the sky, firing multiple projectiles which then rain down over time in the targeted area. Friendly fire possible.

See also

• Archery: An Efficient Approach