Weapon and Shield talents (Dragon Age II)

For the talents in Dragon Age: Origins, see Weapon and Shield talents (Origins).

For a list of shields requiring this talent tree, see Shields (Dragon Age II).

For a list of weapons requiring this talent tree, see Weapon and Shield weapons.

Weapon and Shield
type	Warrior
description	Warriors who specialize in the shields trade damage for protection. Attacks made with one-handed weapons hit a smaller arc than two-handed weapons, although shield users have the perfect tool at hand for knocking foes around the battlefield.

Weapon and Shield talents are talents available to the warrior class in Dragon Age II.

Ability tree

Talents

Shield Defense

Sustained Upkeep: 15% Cooldown: 5s Requires: Level 3

The warrior assumes a defensive stance, reducing damage taken from the front. However, the warrior inflicts less damage against enemies and sacrifices the ability to make closing attacks. Damage: -25% Damage resistance: +25% vs. frontal attacks Threat generation: +100%

Shield Wall Upgrade Requires: Level 8 Requires: 4 points in Weapon and Shield

Shield Defense now reduces the damage from all attacks, rather than just the front. Additionally, the warrior's shield deflects some regular strikes, shrugging of most of the damage. Damage resistance: +50% vs. rear attacks Effect: 20% chance that normal hits vs. the warrior become glancing blows

Shield Bash

Activated Activation: 10 Cooldown: 15s Requires: Level 2

The warrior's shield arcs out, striking foes like a battering ram. Physical damage: 1.7x Physical force: 12x

Pummel Upgrade Requires: Level 6

Shield Bash can be used more frequently, and enemies slammed by the warrior's shield are STAGGERED. Cooldown: -5s (total: 10s) STAGGERchance: 100% for the primary target STAGGERchance: 40% for normal enemies within range

Assault

Activated Activation: 20 Cooldown: 20s Requires: Level 5 Requires: Shield Bash

The warrior spins into a vicious assault that inflicts significant damage and often throws enemies back. Physical damage: 1.7x (x3 hits) Physical force: 2x (x3 hits)

Battery Upgrade Requires: Level 9 Requires: 3 points in Weapon and Shield

Assault can now be used more frequently. It is also much more effective, particularly against enemies a rogue has left in a vulnerable state. Cooldown: -5s (total: 15s) Physical damage: +0.85x (total: 2.55x (x3 hits)) Physical damage: 400% vs. DISORIENTED targets on final hit

Scatter

Activated Range: Personal Size: 6m (180° front) Activation: 30 Cooldown: 25s Requires: Level 6 Requires:  Shield Bash Requires:  Shield Defense Requires:  2 points in Weapon and Shield

The warrior clears a forward arc, throwing enemies back. Physical damage: 4x Physical force: 4x

Disperse Upgrade Requires: Level 10

Scatter now forces back even large creatures, and is particularly punishing against enemies whose defenses a rogue has lowered. Physical damage: +2x (total: 6x) Physical force: +2x (total: 6x) Physical damage: 300% vs. DISORIENTED targets

Perception

Passive Requires: Level 4 Requires: Shield Defense

The warrior maintains constant awareness of the battlefield. So long as the warrior has a shield equipped, enemies receive no bonus for attacking from behind. Effect: Immune to flanking

Safeguard

Passive Requires: Level 7 Requires: Perception Requires: Scatter Requires: 4 points in Weapon and Shield

While a shield is equipped, the warrior shrugs off the extra damage from critical hits. Effect: Immune to critital hits