Shriek

Shriek
Rank	Critter, Normal, Lieutenant
Location	Aeducan Thaig Caridin's Cross The Dead Trenches Denerim Cadash Thaig
Appearances	Dragon Age: The Calling A Tale of Orzammar Dragon Age: Origins The Stone Prisoner Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening The Golems of Amgarrak Witch Hunt Dragon Age Legends Dragon Age: Inquisition - The Descent Heroes of Dragon Age

Shrieks are lithe, clawed darkspawn that specialize in ambushing their prey.

Background

Shrieks were originally known as Sharlocks; however, in time the colloquialism they acquired from their screeching cry, "Shriek" came to supplant their original name. Shrieks are feared for their tremendous speed and agility as well as their capacity to stealthily move through enemy ranks. Shrieks serve as the Darkspawn's closest approximation to a traditional Assassin, penetrating well behind enemy lines and tearing their foes apart using the long, jagged blades attached to their forearms. There have even been reports of Shrieks employing a poison mixed from their own tainted blood in their attacks and cunning group tactics when attacking in numbers.

They are the product of elven Broodmothers; hence their pointed ears, agility and physical frailty.

Abilities

Stealth
Frenzy
Leap may refer to:

• Leap (ash wraith), the creature ability
• Leap (shriek), the creature ability

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Terrorize

For the dog talent, see Overwhelm.

For the Spider/Bear Shape talent, see Overwhelm (ability).

For the bear (monster) ability, see Overwhelm (bear).

For the deepstalker ability, see Overwhelm (deepstalker).

For the dragon ability, see Overwhelm (dragon).

For the shriek ability, see Overwhelm (shriek).

For the spider (monster) ability, see Overwhelm (spider).

Information

A werewolf leader using Overwhelm

• This talent generates an auto-hit.
• The target is incapacitated and hit several times, each for normal attack damage from the attacker.
• It is generally activated by the AI when the target dips to 50% or less health, as this is the default tactic for creatures with Overwhelm of any type. In Awakening, enemies would use this ability even when the target is at full health.
• Can be interrupted by effects that have higher animation priority, including knockdown, paralyze, root (Pinning Shot), draining (Crushing Prison), "heavy impact" (Mighty Blow), and fear.

Used by

• Bears: Great Bear and Bereskarn
• Deepstalkers: Deepstalker leader and Deepstalker matriarch
• Children: All variations
• Dragons: Dragons and Drakes
• Dogs: Dogs and Alpha Dogs
• Sand stalkers: Sand stalker leader
• Spiders: All variations, except Spiderlings and Giant spiderlings
• Werewolves: All variations, including Swiftrunner and Gatekeeper
• Wolves: All variations, including Witherfang
• Shrieks: All variations, including Shriek (thrall)

Notes

A deepstalker leader using Overwhelm

• This ability can fail to execute properly in some cases due to obstructed line of sight.
• Overwhelm only affects humans, elves, dwarves, Qunari, hurlocks, and genlocks. All classes with Overwhelm are immune to its effect. A shapeshifted mage, Shale, and Dog are immune to Overwhelm.
• Several enemies in a group can easily chain-Overwhelm against a solo character, which may be lethal for units with little armor, and very annoying and time consuming for highly armored characters, as openings to counterattack are few, short-lived, and far between. This threat is greatest when facing a large group of Shadow werewolves, as they can Overwhelm a defenseless party member from Stealth, evading countermeasures.
• This attack cannot be countered or mitigated by Misdirection Hex, as it does not need to confirm attack result.
• Some abilities grant a target the "damage ward" effect which makes the target immune to damage. This effect completely negates Overwhelm. These abilities include Force Field, Strength of Stone, and Carapace after being upgraded by Bulwark of the Ages.
• Some modal abilities apply on the character a special effect which has higher animation priority than Overwhelm. This means the character cannot be interrupted by Overwhelm when any of these abilities is active. These abilities include Captivating Song, Unending Flurry, and Reaving Storm.
  

Trivia

• Shrieks have the same motion pattern as a werewolf in Dragon Age: Origins. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, their motion pattern is the same as Red Templar Shadows.
• Shrieks were redesigned along with the rest of the darkspawn for Dragon Age II and the new render can be found in the game files of the Legacy DLC. However, they do not make an appearance in either the main game or the DLC.

Gallery

A Shriek Close-Up

Artwork of a Shriek preparing to strike

Shriek in Legacy

A Shriek in Descent

A Shriek in Heroes of Dragon Age

See also

Codex entry: Shriek
Codex entry: Shriek