I'm proud to present my rogue warden build: the dual-wielding bard assassin. For me, this is the best rogue build in Dragon Age: Origins because it uses all the cool parts of Leliana and Zevran and makes your Warden the most powerful rogue. As always, the recommended gear can be also found below if you prefer it in text form.
Intro 00:00
Starting Attributes 02:02
Starting Skills 02:36
Starting Abilities 02:58
Starting Gear 03:34
Recommended Attributes 05:19
Recommended Skills 05:58
Recommended Abilities 07:03
Specializations 08:44
Recommended Gear 11:02
Tactics 21:06
Conclusions 22:40
Recommended Gear
=Early Daggers=
Thorn of the Dead Gods (tier 2): +2 damage, +2 armor penetration. Purchased from Barlin in Lothering.
Olaf’s Prized Cheese Knife: +1 armor penetration, 2 rune slots. Looted from Honnleath Village.
Crow Dagger: +15% critical/backstab damage, and possible rune slots at higher tiers. Purchased from Cesar in Denerim, or Alimar from Dust Town in Orzammar, and Zevran starts with it.
=Mid & Late Daggers=
The Edge: +5 damage, +3% crit strike chance, +4 attack, 2 rune slots. DLC item.
The Rose’s Thorn: +2 dexterity, combat health regen, +3 damage, +5% melee crit chance, +30% critical/backstab damage, 3 rune slots. Purchased from Garin in the Orzammar Commons, but extremely expensive (148 gold).
Thorn of the Dead Gods (tier 6): +3 damage, +3 armor penetration, 2 rune slots. Looted from the Drifter’s Cache quest in the Deep Roads.
Dead Thaig Shanker: +5 cunning, +0.5 armor penetration, +6 attack, interrupts spellcasting, 2 rune slots. Looted from Cadash Thaig after you finish the dwarven main quest and have Shale.
=Chestpieces=
Battledress of the Provocateur: +4 dexterity, +5 armor, +15% dodge chance, combat stamina regen, and +50 stamina. Acquired by completing an achievement in the Leliana’s Song DLC.
The Felon’s Coat: +6 dexterity, +9 defense, +4 armor, combat stamina regen, and +15 physical resistance. Purchased from Herren in Denerim after 3 main quests have been completed.
Shadow of the Empire: +2 strength, +2 dexterity, combat stamina regen. Purchased from Legnar in the Orzammar Commons.
Wade’s Superior Drakeskin armor (and set). Full set grants +4 dexterity, +70% fire resistance; the set bonuses are +5 defense and -10% fatigue.
=Gloves=
Backhands: +10% critical/backstab damage. Purchased from Alimar in Dust Town in Orzammar.
Qunari Siege Gauntlets: +1.5 armor penetration. Looted from the High Dragon on the mountaintop (Urn of Sacred Ashes).
Red jenny Seekers: +15% critical/backstab damage. Obtained as the reward for completing the Trial of Crows questline given by Master Ignacio in Denerim.
=Boots=
Bard’s Dancing shoes: +6 defense, reduce hostility. Purchased from Bodahn in the party camp. ONLY USE THESE IF YOU HAVE DAIN’S FIXES.
The Lion’s Paw: 1 armor, +10% dodge chance, and +10 chance to avoid missiles. DLC item.
Silverhammer’s Tackmasters: +2 dexterity. Purchased from Bodahn in the party camp.
=Helmets=
Longrunner’s Cap: combat stamina regen. Looted from Jammer’s Stash quest in the Carta Hideout in Orzammar, or dropped by Jarvia also in the Carta Hideout.
Quicksilver Arming Cap: +2 cunning. Purchased from Legnar in the Orzammar Commons.
=Belts=
Dalish Leather Belt or Dalish Hunter’s belt: combat stamina regen. Dalish Leather Belt is looted during the Dalish Elf origin from a sarcophagus in the ruins. Dalish Hunter’s Belt is purchased from Bodahn in the party camp.
Guildmaster’s Belt: +3 cunning and +5% dodge chance. DLC item.
=Amulets=
The High Regard of House Dace: ABSOLUTELY BONKERS ITEM. +6 cunning, +7% melee crit chance, combat stamina regen, +50 stamina, and +30 chance to avoid missiles. THE best amulet for this build, but requires you to complete a difficult achievement in the Golems of Amgarrak DLC.
Pearl of the Anointed: +1 to all attributes. DLC item.
Mark of Vigilance: +6 defense, +2% spell resistance, and +5 mental resistance. DLC item.
Magister’s Shield: +6 defense, +12 defense against missiles, +4% spell resistance, and -10% nature resistance. Looted from the Deserted Building in Denerim during the Last Request side quest.
=Rings=
The Wicked Oath: best in slot. +10% critical/backstab damage, +1 armor penetration, combat stamina regen. DLC item. Contested due to most melee damagers wanting this item.
Dusk Ring: +3 cunning and -1 strength. Looted in the West Brecilian Forest in a chest near the abandoned campsite.
Harvest Festival Ring: +2 strength, +2 dexterity, +4 attack. Looted from Honnleath village (DLC area from the Stone Prisoner DLC.)
Ring of the warrior: +2 strength, +2 dexterity. Looted from Drifter’s Cache quest in the Deep Roads.
The Lucky Stone: +1 all attributes. DLC item.
Key to the City: +2 all attributes, +4% spell resistance, +10% to healing effects received (last one only if using Dain’s Fixes). Obtained by completing the secret quest The Key to the City in Orzammar. Contested item as most characters will like using it.
