After taking way too long in character creation making your perfect Rook in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you’re still left with some tough decisions. Choosing a class is one thing, but then there are six different Factions to decide on as well. Each Faction comes with its own perks, and your choice also alters certain dialogue moments and relationships, as it plays a part in how Rook came to be a part of Varric’s group.

While your Faction choice may entirely depend on what you want to role-play as, the perks can affect your gameplay experience depending on your class as well. We’ll help you figure out the best Faction to pick for your Rook in Dragon Age: The Veilguard so you can finally leave that character creation menu and start the actual game.

All Faction perks in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Each Faction in Dragon Age: The Veilguard comes with three perks. The first always has you gain reputation with your chosen Faction faster, while the second has you deal better damage to a specific enemy type. The final perk is more specific to the Faction.

On top of perks, the Faction also decides your surname and backstory. The character creation menu will briefly detail what each Faction is and what kind of character your Rook would be because of it. As a reminder, you cannot change your Faction after this, just like how your class is permanent.

• Grey Wardens
  • Gain reputation with the Grey Wardens more quickly.
  • Deal increased damage vs. Darkspawn.
  • Base Defense and Health are slightly increased.
• Veil Jumpers
  • Gain reputation with the Veil Jumpers more quickly.
  • Deal increased damage vs. Fade-Touched.
  • Deal slightly increased Critical and Weakpoint damage.
• Shadow Dragons
  • Gain reputation with the Shadow Dragons more quickly.
  • Deal increased damage vs. Venatori.
  • Your class-specific resource regenerates slightly faster.
• Lords of Fortune
  • Gain reputation with the Lords of Fortune more quickly.
  • Deal increased damage vs. Mercenaries.
  • Perform Takedowns on enemies with slightly less effort.
• The Mourn Watch
  • Gain reputation with The Mourn Watch more quickly.
  • Deal increased damage vs. Undead and Demons.
  • You can apply an additional Affliction stack on targets.
• Antivan Crows
  • Gain reputation with the Antivan Crows more quickly.
  • Deal increased damage vs. Antaam.
  • Holds an extra potion.

How to gain Faction Strength

During your playthrough of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you will come across each Faction and be able to grow a relationship with them. You can easily gain Faction Strength by completing Faction quests and selling valuables to Faction merchants. Whether they’re main or side quests, if they’re tied to a specific Faction, you have the chance to gain Faction Strength with them.

You’ll also slowly accumulate valuable items as you play the game, so save them up and sell them to your preferred Faction merchant to increase your relationship. You can find these Faction merchants in the Factions’ base locations, which you’ll discover throughout the main campaign.

With an improved relationship with a Faction, they will start to tell your Rook better items at lower prices. Having a good Faction relationship can also affect the outcome of certain quests, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking about getting on a Faction’s bad side.

What is the best Faction in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

Overall, the best Faction you could choose in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is either the Grey Wardens, Antivan Crows, or Shadow Dragons. The reasoning behind these three being the best have to do with their perks. Being with The Grey Wardens buff your Health and Defence, improving your survivability. Being with the Antivan Crows allows you to have another potion on hand, and the Shadow Dragons allow your Rook to use abilities and spells faster.

This doesn’t mean that the other three Factions aren’t good choices, but their unique Perks don’t matter as much. You’ll face a variety of foes during your time in The Veilguard, so the improved damage against certain enemies doesn’t matter too much in the long run.

The better Faction can also depend on your class. If your Rook is a Warrior, The Grey Wardens makes you a tanky fighter. The Rogue class fits well with the Antivan Crows as you’re swift but squishy, so you’ll need that extra health potion. Shadow Dragons can help all classes, but especially Mages who rely on powerful spells during combat.