This article lists all codex entries in the Art of War section in Dragon Age II.
Dragon Age II[]
Combat
- Main article: Codex entry: Combat
Press the spacebar to pause the game and issue orders to your party members.
To use potions, select Quick Heal, Quick Mana, or Quick Stamina on the right side of the quickbar.
Right-click an enemy to attack.
Commanders like Captain Ewald can bolster their allies with powerful effects. Because you are his ally in this fight, Ewald will increase your effectiveness. When facing enemy commanders, keep them stunned or knocked down, or their inspired troops may overwhelm you.
Assassins lurk on the edges of fights, striking from the shadows before slipping away again. Be wary, as they often prey on those with the least formidable armor, like mages and rogues.
Enemy mages possess an array of defenses including shielding spells that make them nigh invulnerable. They are at a disadvantage while casting spells, though, when attacks can interrupt them.
Use left trigger to pause the game and press left button and right button to issue orders to your party.
To use potions, open the radial menu with left trigger and select Quick Heal or Quick Mana / Stamina.
You will automatically target the foe you are moving toward. To change targets, use the D-pad (or right stick after opening the radial menu with left trigger). Press A to attack.
Commanders like Captain Ewald can bolster their allies with powerful effects. Because you are his ally in this fight, Ewald will increase your effectiveness. When facing enemy commanders, keep them stunned or knocked down, or their inspired troops may overwhelm you.
Assassins lurk on the edges of fights, striking from the shadows before slipping away again. Be wary, as they often prey on those with the least formidable armor, like mages and rogues.
Enemy mages possess an array of defenses including shielding spells that make them nigh invulnerable. They are at a disadvantage while casting spells, though, when attacks can interrupt them.
Companions
- Main article: Codex entry: Companions
Visit companions' home bases to have longer discussions than you can in the field.
Crafting
- Main article: Codex entry: Crafting (Dragon Age II)
Crafting can make rare and powerful items that are not otherwise available. Resources are scattered throughout the world and must be discovered to add to your supply. Recipes cost money and can only be used if you've discovered the appropriate quantity of resources.
Use crafting stations to order unique items. Stations can be found around Kirkwall and in your home.
Find different varieties of each resources. More varieties are required to craft more powerful items.
Cross-Class Combos
- Main article: Codex entry: Cross-Class Combos
Each class has a special status effect that can set up a cross-class combo, in which a character of one class uses a talent or spell to hinder an enemy with the effect before a character of another class exploits it using another talent or spell. This produces a tremendously powerful attack.
Each of the status effects that enable a cross-class combo also applies a penalty to the victim. If the cross-class combo is completed successfully, the effect and its penalty dissipate, but the great damage inflicted by a cross-class combo more than makes up for this loss.
Staggered!
Warriors can stagger enemies using any of several upgraded talents from the Vanguard and Warmonger schools.
Mages can exploit stagger using upgraded spells from the Arcane or Primal schools, or rogues can do so using upgraded talents from the Dual Weapon school.
Enemy attack: -25%
Enemy defense: -25%
Disoriented!
Rogues can disorient enemies using any of several upgraded talents from the Sabotage, Scoundrel, and Archery schools.
Warriors can exploit disorient using upgraded talents from the Weapon and Shield school, or mages can do so using upgraded spells from the Spirit school.
Enemy defense: -50%
Brittle!
Mages can make enemies brittle using any of several upgraded spells from the Primal and Elemental schools.
Warriors can exploit brittle using upgraded talents from the Two-Handed school, or rogues can do so using upgraded talents from the Archery school.
Critical damage: +50%
Enchantments
- Main article: Codex entry: Enchantments
Enchantments add powerful new properties to items that have rune slots. Filling a slot permanently consumes the rune.
Injuries
- Main article: Codex entry: Injuries (Dragon Age II)
Characters who fall in battle receive injuries, which reduce their maximum health.
To treat an injury, use an injury kit from your inventory. Injuries also heal automatically when you return to Hawke's home.
Characters who fall in battle receive injuries, which reduce their maximum health.
To treat an injury, use an injury kit from the Potions section of the radial menu. Injuries also heal automatically when you return to Hawke's home.
Inventory
- Main article: Codex entry: Inventory
To equip new weapons, armor, and accessories, double-click or drag-and-drop the item. Right-clicking an item moves it to the Junk category to be quickly sold at stores. Drag an item to the edge of the screen to destroy it.
Equip new weapons, armor, and accessories for each of your party members. Move items to Junk to sell them quickly in stores. Use left trigger and right trigger to cycle item categories.
Inspecting items will show you detailed statistics. The stars next to an item indicate its power relative to your level.
Journal
- Main article: Codex entry: Journal (Dragon Age II)
Your journal displays a list of your current quests. Plot assist elements will appear for the quest marked as "active."
Main quests are milestones in Hawke's rise to power. You must complete them—and your decisions will dramatically impact Kirkwall's future.
Letters
- Main article: Codex entry: Letters
You can now check the desk in your house for correspondence. New letters will arrive throughout the game.
Level Up
- Main article: Codex entry: Level Up
One of your characters has gained a level! Press Esc and select Level Up to choose new abilities.
When a character levels up, you receive points to spend on both attributes and abilities.
Abilities highlighted in blue can be learned. Diamond icons represent active abilities that have an instant effect. Hexagons are sustained modes that can be turned on and off. Circles are passive abilities that provide a permanent bonus.
One of your characters has gained a level! Press start and select Level Up to choose new abilities.
When a character levels up, you receive points to spend on both attributes and abilities.
Abilities highlighted in blue can be learned. Diamond icons represent active abilities that have an instant effect. Hexagons are sustained modes that can be turned on and off. Circles are passive abilities that provide a permanent bonus.
Locks
- Main article: Codex entry: Locks
Use a rogue of sufficient skill to open locked items or disarm traps. Lock and trap difficulties progress from simple to standard to complex to master. Defeating each of these requires 10, 20, 30, and 40 points of cunning, respectively.
Quick Potions
- Main article: Codex entry: Quick Potions
You have received a potion. To use a potion to replenish a party member's health, stamina, or mana, click on the icons on the right side of the quickbar.
You have received a potion. To use a potion to replenish a party member's health, stamina or mana, open the radial menu with left trigger.
Tactics
- Main article: Codex entry: Tactics
Behaviors determine how a character acts in relation to enemies. Presets will fill your tactics table with predefined strategies.
Advanced players can use the tactics screen to create their own battle plans.
Tomes
- Main article: Codex entry: Tomes
Tomes allow Hawke to instantly learn abilities or improve attributes. They are used as soon as Hawke acquires them.
A Tome of the Mortal Vessel grants one or more attribute points.
A Tome of Technique grants an ability point.
A Tome of Unlearning allows Hawke to reallocate all ability, attribute, and specialization points.
Traps
- Main article: Codex entry: Traps
Only rogues can detect and disarm traps. While controlling a rogue, right-click a detected trap to disarm it. Lock and trap difficulties progress from simple to standard to complex to master. Defeating each of these requires 10, 20, 30, and 40 points of cunning, respectively.
Only rogues can detect and disarm traps. While controlling a rogue, target a detected trap and press A to disarm it. Lock and trap difficulties progress from simple to standard to complex to master. Defeating each of these requires 10, 20, 30, and 40 points of cunning, respectively.
World Map
- Main article: Codex entry: World Map (Dragon Age II)
- See also: World map (Dragon Age II)
Use the World Map to visit Kirkwall during the day, Kirkwall at night, or the Free Marches.
Legacy[]
Upgrading Hawke's Key
- Main article: Codex entry: Upgrading Hawke's Key
To upgrade Malcolm Hawke's Key, right-click on one of the four pillars surrounding a seal to Corypheus's prison. Each pillar confers a different benefit, but the key can only absorb the power of a single pillar per seal.