Dragon Age: Best Bards In BioWare’s Franchise, Ranked

Highlights

• Dragon Age series immerses players in a brutal dark fantasy world with darkspawn threats & power-hungry antagonists to keep things fresh.
• Bard class allows players to support squad, characters like Briala add depth through romantic relationships & intriguing plot dynamics.
• Characters like Leliana and Josephine bring unique charm and diplomatic skills, making them critical members in the Dragon Age universe.

Dragon Age is one of the most beloved IPs in the RPG genre, with players loving this series from the very first entry. It let players immerse themselves in an amazing dark fantasy world that pulled no punches when it came to showing just how brutal this world could be. The overbearing threat of the darkspawn from the first game coupled with a myriad of antagonists that have either tried to get their dirty hands on as much power as possible have helped this series remain fresh to this day.

There are many classes in Dragon Age that a lot of players love to mess around with, and players can always choose to be a bard if they want to occupy a support role in their squad. There are many great characters in the series that have studied the bardic arts, with one of them becoming a party member that players absolutely adore.

5 Briala

Handmaid, Spymaster, And Lover Of Empress Celene Valmont I

• Related Quests: Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts, A Gift from the Imperial Palace, A Whisper from Behind the Throne, What Pride Had Wrought

One of the major characters in Dragon Age: Inquisitionwho is involved in a lot of entertaining quests, players can either side with Briala or go against her during the War of the Lions, when she is mediating both sides of the civil war to try and prevent unnecessary bloodshed during this civil war. It doesn’t take long for players to uncover that this elf had a romantic relationship with Empress Celene herself.

This makes for a unique dynamic that intrigues players when it comes to this character and the various paths she could take during this conflict. Most people would actively wish for a happy ending for this elf, believing that her heart is in the right place.

4 Marjolaine

Leliana’s Mentor

• Related Quests: Leliana’s Past, Marjolaine’s Vendetta

Most people would assume that a soul as gentle as Leliana would have a mentor who is just as kind, if not more. However, this isn’t even remotely the case, with Leliana revealing the truth of who Marjolaine really is after the Gray Warden reaches a high enough approval rating with her.

The fact that this bard is still sending assassins to shut Leliana up and hide any trace of her treasonous activities is a testament to how vindictive and obsessed this mentor is. Players can help Leliana by facing off against Marjolaine in a bid to prevent her from hounding Leliana. This can lead to the heroes either telling her to leave Leliana alone or killing her for good so that their partner can be free of these worries, although things aren’t nearly as simple,

3 Celene Valmont I

The Empress Of Orlais Who Was Raised As A Bard

• Related Quests: Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts, A Favor Returned, A Gift from the Imperial Palace, Reconciliation for Celene and Michel

While Empress Celene may only make an appearance in Dragon Age: Inquisition, her importance in the series can be seen in the fact that she’s mentioned in almost every piece of Dragon Age media. It’s easy to see why long-time fans of the series were speechless when they finally saw her eminence in the flesh.

This member of royalty took up bardic studies to make her as elegant as possible, but things aren’t looking up for her when players interact with this character during the height of a civil war tearing apart her kingdom. Players must interfere if they don’t want an assassination plot to take this Empress before her time, denying a reunion with her former lover whom she broke off with after things got complicated.

2 Josephine Montilyet

A Former Bard Who Becomes Chief Ambassador And Diplomat For The Inquisition

• Related Quests: Of Somewhat Fallen Fortune, Destroying House of Repose’s Contract, Find a Sponsor for the Du Paraquettes, Getting a Judge’s Favor, Speak with Minister Bellise at Party, Heraldry From a Herald, An Unexpected Engagement

One of the most critical members of the Inquisition who handled the diplomatic endeavors of this group, a lot of people fell for Josephine and her innocent charms when they interacted with her. It’s easy to see why the path to romance her is so fleshed out and engaging.

Players have to woo her in the most cliched manner possible, including a showdown against her fiance who treats her more like a means to marry into a powerful family. She was a former bard who decided to part with her adventuring ways and take on a role that suited her charisma and knowledge, which is why being a diplomat is the perfect fit for this character.

1 Leliana

One Of The Best Party Members Who’s Been Present Across All Three Games

• Related Quests: Leliana’s Past, The Urn of Sacred Ashes, Faith, The Wrath of Heaven, The Threat Remains, Under Her Skin, The Left Hand of the Divine

A character present from the very first game who wormed her way into the hearts of every Dragon Age fan, Leliana’s pure heart makes her one of the most refreshing characters to interact with in a world that can be oppressively dark in some moments. However, the savage nature of the world eventually wears her down, and this can be seen in a darker and more mature character by the time Inquisition rolls out.

Still, even after all these developments, there’s no denying that players will have a blast talking to a character who deserves to be one of the most important characters in Dragon Age history. It’s highly likely that she’ll make an appearance in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf too, although fans can only guess how important her role will be in comparison to the previous three games.

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  Dragon Age Origins

  Released

  November 3, 2009

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  Dragon Age: Inquisition

  Released

  November 18, 2014

  Genre(s)

  Action RPG