Gifts can be sold to merchants or given to certain companions to influence their approval ratings. The party members appreciate their gifts, more or less, depending on each gift's value and their personal motivations. There is a limited number of gifts in the game. Also, with each additional gift given to the same character, the approval bonus you get from each subsequent gift decreases by 1 (to a minimum of +1 approval) per gift, excluding plot-specific ones.
Giving gifts[]
In order to give a gift to a companion:
Open your inventory.
Select the character you wish to give the gift to.
Highlight the gift.
Give the gift:
xbox360 Press A
ps3 Press X and left on the radial menu
pc Hold right click + left on radial menu, drag and drop the gift on the companion or double click the gift.
mac Hold right click + left on radial menu or drag and drop the gift on the companion. CTRL + Click on old 1-button mice.
Gifts mechanics[]
The approval from gifts works as follows:
The base approval for any gift is +5 approval, with diminishing returns:
Each gift given imposes a penalty upon subsequent gifts.
The first gift grants +5 approval, but the second only gives +4 approval down to a minimum of +1 approval/gift after the first four.
Special gifts give +5 approval additional points, i.e. +10 approval base. Some gifts grant more, for example: Andraste's Grace grants +15 approval with Leliana.
The subsequent gift penalty applies, down to a minimum of +6 approval per favored item.
Bonuses are halved if you have negative approval.
The minimum approval is reduced to 0 approval for most gifts and +5 approval for favored ones.
You cannot exceed 100 approval points; after reaching the maximum, you will no longer receive approval points for gifts.
If you work to increase your approval with a companion (through dialogue or gifts), they can receive a small skill upgrade as they are inspired by your leadership
This skill upgrade is typically related to one of their primary abilities (e.g. Alistair gains constitution).
This skill upgrade increases as your approval increases (25% = +1, 50% = +2, 75% = +4, 90% = +6).
You can gain the bonus skills without using any gifts at all through appropriate conversation options (see the specific page for each companion).
These specific gifts give a base +10 approval (with diminishing returns, as explained above) when given to the proper character, with the exception of the plot-specific gifts. If a gift is specific to a certain character, attempts to give it to anyone else will be met with refusal.
Gifts for Alistair[]
Alistair has a preference for strange runestones and figural studies of arcane creatures (excluding Totem, which is preferred by Sten). Duncan's Shield will turn into a real item and Alistair will automatically equip it. Therefore, if you have Alistair using a two-handed weapon, you'll have to go into his weapon set and give him a one-handed weapon or remove the shield and re-equip the two-handed weapon.
Darkspawn blood still encrusts this silver chalice. With a shudder, you remember the day you brought it to your lips and drank deeply of all the mysteries that lay within.
A small, flat white stone with a gold rune carved into it.
Gifts for Dog[]
Dog has a preference for foods and bones, but his approval rating will always be 100% so you can boost one of your other companions' ratings with gifts originally meant for Dog. If you talk to the dog after giving him one of those gifts, he will usually find a good item. Also the Found Cake can be given to Sten, he likes sweets, and the Tangled Ball of Yarn can be given to Wynne, she wants to knit Alistair a gift.
Powder blue satin shoes with long ribbons that circle the ankle. Gold lace trim and dangling gold charms shaped like puppies add the finishing touches.
An old, but lovingly cared for book, bound in leather of questionable origins. The pages smell of herbs and wood smoke. Intricate stitching on the cover marks out a leafless tree, strangely ominous in its stark appearance.
This silver necklace is adorned with a large silver medallion.
Gifts for Oghren[]
Oghren has a preference for alcoholic beverages (excluding Wine, which is preferred by Wynne).
Talk to Oghren after giving him booze, he will sometimes have 'drunken' conversations with you.
A monument to the pot-valiant in appropriately hammered gold. Lack of lid allows for a quick pour and, more importantly, refill. Never a stale brew when you facilitate swift consumption.
A brutishly strong honey liquor, reminiscent of warm summer days, apple blossoms on the wind with an unexpected aftertaste of father going off to war, never to return. Bitter, to say the least.
Likely dropped to avoid seizure by authorities, or because of seizure due to drinking it. Garbolg only brewed from 8:74 to 8:92 Blessed, killed when the vapors in his beard spontaneously combusted.
This battlefield spirit maintains a chill even in direct sunlight, which it appears to absorb. Optimal serving is by the drop. Contact with exposed flesh is discouraged, but likely inevitable.
Peculiar and rare, a single run of this spirit took color and what has been optimistically been called flavor from lyrium in the cask's bilge hoop. A sipping whisky if you value your innards. Circa 790 T.E.
Tevinter-brewed for a very discreet clientèle, and strong enough to fluster a tranquil. An almost weightless spirit best served with a powdering of catsbane as a flavor-enhancer and antidote.
This dark-colored ale gives off a thick, oaky smell. Swirling it in the tankard, you notice it takes on an unexpected glow.
Gifts for Shale[]
See Shale's discussion page for differences between the pcmac and xbox360ps3 approval changes from remarkable gems.
Shale has a preference for the nine "remarkable" gemstones that can be found in Ferelden. The console versions of Dragon Age do not give the full benefit of special gifts. The gifts begin at (+5) down to (+1).
Due to an aspect of Qunari discipline, Sten has a preference for paintings. Sten will not automatically equip Asala. If you want him to use this sword, you will have to equip it on him yourself.
This painting portrays a battle between Orlais and Ferelden. The Rebel Queen, with fiery red hair, has climbed atop a ruined chariot and is holding aloft her battle standard.
"The Guerrins of Ferelden: A Genealogical History." This book traces the line of Arl Eamon back to the time of the Alamarri clans. It doesn't seem to have been read much.
"The search for the true prophet:" This tattered tome explores the possibility that Andraste was a powerful mage, not the Maker's Chosen. It seems this book was saved from a fire at some point.
Zevran has a preference for leather items and bars of precious metals. He is also one of only two characters to automatically make use of the gifts you give him. Once you give him the Dalish Gloves and the Antivan Leather Boots, he will equip them, which might ruin any armor set bonuses he was receiving.
These pantaloons, crusted in soil, were probably buried for years before the mabari dug them up. On closer inspection, it appears they were once either gold or silver in color.
Likely dropped to avoid seizure by authorities, or because of seizure due to drinking it. Garbolg only brewed from 8:74 to 8:92 Blessed, killed when the vapors in his beard spontaneously combusted.
A tangled ball of grey-brown woolen yarn. It is still slimy from having been in the mabari's mouth.
Note: The normally unobtainable Tattered Notebook seems to be another item found by dog, as the description reads "[…] That it was dug up by a mabari probably did not help."
Plot gifts[]
The following gifts will trigger a conversation when given to the correct person. These gifts will always be refused when given to the wrong recipient. A cutscene will trigger when:
It is possible to acquire two Golden Mirrors. Giving Morrigan a second one yields exactly the same response (and approval bonus) as for the first.
There are also up to three Golden Rope Necklaces available: one from Barlin, and at least one from Bodahn Feddic (two, if one is purchased before he restocks).
There are three opportunities to pick Andraste's Grace. Leliana will treat the second and third of these as 'ordinary special' gifts, without the cutscene conversation.
Lookup table[]
There are two types of gifts: regular and favored gifts. Regular gifts have a base approval bonus of +5 approval; favored gifts have a base approval bonus of +10 approval for certain NPCs (see above for further details).
Legend: Prefer shows the companion who will value the gift the most.