“You know what I love about this band, it's about the music. Wait, no, it's about not being killed by demons.”
ZITHER! is a player-controlled protagonist in Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer.
Background[]
ZITHER! was once a household name in Orlais, playing for packed auditoriums of nobility and commoners alike. But then the Circles rebelled, his Templar manager, Alfonse, tried to kill him, and he frittered away all his gold drinking in a riverside tavern in Cumberland for the next two years, unable to get a gig. The Inquisition is his one chance at a comeback tour, and he's going to grab it with both bejeweled hands.
Involvement[]
Trespasser[]
ZITHER! performs at the Winter Palace during the Exalted Council. Provided Cole was made to be more like a spirit during his quest, Cole encourages Maryden Halewell, the Inquisition's minstrel, to meet with him (unless the Bull's Chargers survive the events of Iron Bull's Inner Circle quest, at which point ZITHER! is passed over for Cremisius Aclassi).
Playstyle[]
ZITHER!, the Virtuoso, is the Inquisition’s first musically inspired multiplayer agent. Although a mage by birth, his true strength—like his heart—lies in his music. When he plays, ZITHER! infuses his lute with the elemental powers of rock and roll. These elements provide a cacophony of different effects, either aiding the party with Crowd-Pleasers or wreaking aural havoc on his enemies with Battle Hymns. The Virtuoso’s gameplay is very different from existing Inquisition classes. ZITHER! always has 4 abilities mapped, 3 “Notes” and 1 “Song”: the notes are Fire, Ice, Lightning, and players unlock Songs in the ability menu. For example, “Cool Beats” requires Fire, Fire, Ice, while Mark of the Riff! calls for Fire, Ice, Lightning! The Virtuoso typically plays a strong support role for your party, but he can easily focus entirely on offense or become a hybrid of both styles—just don’t get stage fright and forget how to play your Songs!”
Initial equipment[]
Abilities[]
Note: click expand to see the full list of abilities
Note: Not all of these abilities have the same preceding requirements as in single player.
Crowd Pleasers[]
 Hometown Anthem |
Activated Range: 5 meters Activation: 25 Mana |
Grants a short duration Barrier |
 Fast Beat |
Activated Range: 5 meters Activation: 25 Mana |
Increases movement speed |
 Cold Chord |
Activated | You add an icy defensive stanza to your current song. |
 Play to the Crowd |
Passive Range: 8 meters |
Your barrier increases for each ally in the area whenever you play any song. Barrier: 2% Willpower + 3 |
 Electricity Chord |
Activated | You add an energizing lightning stanza to your current song. |
 Strength of Spirits |
Passive | Your barriers draw on the magic of the fade to absorb more energy before depleting. Barrier Bonus: 50% |
 Can't Stop the Music |
Passive | Your amazing performing skills occasionally cause enemy attacks to miss you completely. Willpower +3 |
 Fortifying Arpeggio |
Passive | When you play songs quickly, your armor is increased. Playing multiple songs quickly generates multiple stacks of this bonus. Armor bonus: 24 Constitution + 3 |
 Showmanship |
Passive | Years of practice as a professional musician have honed your talents. Magic +2 Willpower +5 Constitution +2 |
 There Is No Darkness |
Passive Requires: Maker's Will |
Your faith is your protection against the elements, and not for you alone. The entire party gains increased resistance to fire, ice, electric, and spirit damage. Fire, Ice, Electric and Spirit Damage resistance: 10% Willpower +3 |
 A Little Knight Music |
Activated Range: 8 meters Activation: 25 Mana Duration: 12 seconds Cooldown: 8 seconds |
Your magical song bolsters the fortitude of your allies, increasing their armor. Allies gain +16 armor bonus. |
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One-Hit Wonders Upgrade Range: 8 meters Duration: 12 seconds Requires: A Little Knight Music |
A Little Knight Music now reduces the armor of enemies in the area. Armor reduction: 20% |
 Feel the Crowd |
Passive Range: 5 meters |
You gain a bonus to mana regeneration when you're near allies. Mana generation rate bonus: 50% Willpower + 3 |
 Battle of the Bands |
Activated Range: 8 meters Activation: 25 Mana Duration: 12 seconds |
Your magical song increases the attack speed of your allies. Attack Speed Bonus: 20% |
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Slow Dancing Upgrade Range: 8 meters Duration: 12 seconds Requires: A Little Knight Music |
Battle of the Bands now reduces the movement speed of enemies in the area. Speed Reduction: 20% |
 The Last Sacrifice |
Passive Duration: 10s Cooldown: 60s Requires: Champions of the Just |
Even should you fall, you give your allies strength to fight harder in your name. Constitution +3 When knocked unconcious all party members gain 100% Health, 50% Damage Bonus |
 Winter Music |
Passive | For each active Ice Chord currently queued, you gain a bonus to defense. Defense Bonus: 10% Constitution + 3 |
 Long Solo |
Passive | All of your songs now last longer. Duration Bonus: 4 seconds Magic + 3 |
 Tempest Music |
Passive | For each active Lightning Chord currently queued, you gain a bonus to your movement speed. Movement Speed Amount: 5% Cunning + 3 |
 Bolstering Ballad |
Activated Range: 8 meters Activation: 25 Mana Duration: 12 seconds Cooldown: 8 seconds |
Your magical song improves the party's resistance to elemental and spirit damage. Elemental resistance + 20% Spirit resistance + 20% |
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Tug the Heartstrings Upgrade Range: 8 meters Duration: 12 seconds Requires: Bolstering Ballad |
Bolstering Ballad also reduces your enemies' resistance to elemental and spirit damage. Elemental resistance: -20% Spirit resistance: -20% |
 Knight-Protector |
Passive Requires: Fade Shield or Veiled Riposte |
You're adept with defensive magic. Barriers you create take longer to naturally decay. Barrier Decay Reduction: 35% Constitution +3 |
 Sing-Along |
Activated Range: 8 meters Activation: 25 Mana Duration: 12 seconds |
Your magical song causes allies to regain health whenever they strike an enemy. Health Amount 2% |
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All Together Now Upgrade Range: 8 meters Duration: 12 seconds Requires: Sing-Along |
If enemies die while Sing-Along is in effect, all allies in the area regain health. Health Amount: 10% |
Battle Hymns[]
 Song of Magic |
Activated Activation: 25 Mana |
You unleash a magical melody whose effect depends on the notes currently queued. You must have learned the song to play it. |
 Hot Licks |
Activated Activation: 25 Mana |
Does fire based damage to one target. |
 Killer Set |
Passive | For every unique song you play, you gain a stacking bonus to the damage of your next standard magic attack. This bonus resets when used. Damage Bonus: 35% Willpower +3 |
 Fire Chord |
Activated | You add a fiery offensive stanza to your current song. |
 Opening Set |
Passive | Your basic magic attack now generates mana. Mana regeneration: 4% Cunning +3 |
 Fan Favourite |
Passive | Your song gets the blood pumping, improving your allies' chance to land a critical hit. Critical hit Chance Bonus: 5% Cunning +3 |
 Aggressive Arpeggio |
Passive Duration: 6 seconds |
When you play songs quickly, you do more damage. Playing multiple songs quickly generates multiple stacks of this bonus. Damage Bonus: 10% Magic +3 |
 Tricks of the Trade |
Passive Requires: Fallback Plan |
You help the team make the most of its abilities, increasing the damage and duration of all status effects the party applies. Damage Bonus: 10% Duration Bonus: 10% Willpower +3 |
 Conductive Current |
Passive | The more magical energy you expend, the more damage your spells do. Damage Bonus: 5% for every 10% missing mana Magic +3 |
 Cool Beats |
Activated Range: 8 meters Activation: 25 Mana Duration: 12 seconds |
Your magical song causes cold damage over time. 300% Weapon damage per second |
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The Beat Goes On Upgrade Range: 4 meters Duration: 12 seconds Requires: Cool Beats |
Every time your target takes damage, enemies around it take a small amount of cold damage as well. Ice Damage: 150% Weapon Damage |
 Combat Clarity |
Passive Requires: Spirit Blade |
The chaos of combat frightens some, but for you, its a comfortable rhythm. Your mana regenerates faster when you're near hostile enemies. Mana Regeneration: 50% if enemy within 5 meters Constitution +3 |
 Power Chord |
Activated Range: 8 meters Activation: 25 Mana |
Your magical song deals electricity damage to all nearby enemies. Closer enemies take more damage. 150% Weapon damage |
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Front Row Seats Upgrade Range: 8 meters Requires: Power Chord |
Power Chord now removes hostile magic and status effects from allies while shattering beneficial effects from enemies. Hostile magic and status effects removed with Power Chord while shattering beneficial effects from enemies |
 Stormbringer |
Passive Cooldown: 15s |
The storm comes to your aid even without your calling it. When you are in combat, lightning will periodically strike a random nearby target. Electric Damage: 300% weapon damage Magic + 3 |
 Encore |
Passive | Whenever you kill an enemy with a song, the next song you play is free. Magic +3 |
 Blood Frenzy |
Passive Requires: Ring of Pain |
They thought you'd get weaker once they wounded you. They were wrong. Damage Bonus: 5% for each 10% missing health Strength +3 |
 Power of the Dead |
Passive Requires: Death Siphon |
Killing enemies attracts spirits that increase the power of your spells for a short time. Damage Bonus: 20% Duration: 10 seconds Willpower +3 |
 Infernal Music |
Passive | For each active Fire Chord currently queued, you gain a bonus to the damage you do. Damage Bonus: 10% Magic +3 |
 Mark of the Riff |
Activated Range: 8 meters Activation: 25 Mana Duration: 12 seconds Cooldown: 8 seconds |
Your magical song conjures elemental energy around your allies' weapons, adding bonus damage to their attacks. Allies gain +12 elemental damage to their attacks. |
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Break It Down Upgrade Range: 8 meters Duration: 12 seconds Requires: Mark of the Riff |
Mark of the Riff now shakes the resolve of your enemies, weakening their attacks. Armor reduction: 20% |
Quotes[]
- Main article: Zither/Dialogue
Trespasser[]
(During the Exalted Council, when reuniting with Cole)
- ZITHER!: "Hello, Halamshiral! The fire of ZITHER! must be fueled by wine, ideally with adoring fans."
If the Bull's Chargers did not survive Demands of the Qun:
- Cole: "It's a mistake, but one you might enjoy."
- Maryden Halewell: "The famous ZITHER! I love all your songs, although I've never heard you sing yourself."
- ZITHER!: "Well, then, this could be a chance for both of us to... make some music."
Multiplayer[]
- (Opening a barrier): "ZITHER! has just the thing for this!"
- (Opening a barrier): "This one's called "Breaking Bad"."
- (Entering Zone 5/5): "Everybody ready to make some music?"
- "My drummer was at the Conclave, too! I think he exploded."
- "This is just like that gig I played in Lydes. Except I'm sober, and nobody's thrown their underclothes at me. Yet."
Dialogue[]
- Tamar: "Your Chantry goes belly up, the Inquisition steps in. Always something to keep the same people in power."
- ZITHER!: "The Chantry... now they've had a great run. Loads of hit songs. Might make a comeback, you never know."
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- Isabela: "Every time we find gold, I think to myself: 'Imagine the hats you could buy with this, Isabela!'"
- ZITHER!: "For me, it's doublets studded with Serault glass crystals. I am definitely commissioning one with "ZITHER!" across the back."
Trivia[]
- Many of the icons for ZITHER!'s spells and abilities are references to the famous musical Album covers.
- "Zither" itself is the name of a type of instrument.
- Zither's line regarding his "exploding drummer" is a reference to spoof band "Spinal Tap".
Gallery[]
Promotional Image
Promotional Image
The Virtuoso tarot card
Artwork from Heroes of Dragon Age
Zither and Minsrell Maryden
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