Every Dragon Age Expansion, Ranked

If there’s one thing Dragon Age knows how to do, it’s tell a good story. Throughout its four main installments, epic tales of ragtag teams overcoming impossible odds have thrilled and delighted, leaving many wanting more adventures. Luckily, on top of brilliant games, there are some equally fun DLCs released for the first three titles in the series to keep the escapades of the team going for a little longer.

From the very beginning of the franchise, Dragon Age has provided its fans with a plethora of extra content, from full story expansions to equipment and cosmetic items. The most recent addition to the series will not have any DLC, although Dragon Age: The Veilguard did offer cool armor as a pre-order bonus, as well as a free Mass Effect-themed update. Only DLCs that feature story elements will be included here; however, there were some excellent smaller add-ons available, such as Origins‘ Feastday Gifts, Inquisition‘s Avvar and Qunari mounts and decorations, and the famous Black Emporium.

14

The Darkspawn Chronicles – Dragon Age: Origins

A Look Into A Dark Alternative Timeline

The Darkspawn Chronicles is a clever but somewhat niche DLC for Dragon Age: Origins that takes place in an alternative timeline to the rest of the series. In the DLC, the Warden died at Ostagar and the plot is seen from the perspective of the Darkspawn as they attack Denerim at the end of the game. Following the orders of the Archdemon is fun, as is rampaging through Ferelden’s capital, but it’s hard not to feel a little guilty killing so many beloved characters. That said, this entertaining DLC is definitely worth playing at least once.

13

The Golems Of Amgarrak – Dragon Age: Origins

A Dark Story Filled With Dwarven Lore

The Golems of Amgarrak is set after the events of Origins and can be played before or after Awakenings. The plot sees the Warden-Commander asked for their help by Jerrik Dace to find Amgarrak Thaig and the golem research that was done there.

Of course, things don’t go to plan and the research must be destroyed when it’s revealed that the bodies of casteless dwarves were being used to create them rather than stone or metal. Golems is a bleak but interesting DLC that gained a well-earned reputation for its difficult boss fight against the Harvester.

12

Leliana’s Song – Dragon Age: Origins

A Look at Who Leliana Was Before The Game

From a sequel DLC to a prequel in Leliana’s Song, which looked at the life of the Orlesian bard before she became a Chantry sister and joined forces with Alistair and the Warden. The DLC takes place in Denerim and follows Leliana’s final mission with her mentor Marjolaine and provides context for the encounter with her during Origins. After being betrayed, Leliana finds an unlikely ally in Revered Mother Dorothea, who will later go on to be the next Divine, and discovers a new purpose in life. Overall, it’s a nice prequel story that provides insight into Leliana.

11

The Exiled Prince – Dragon Age 2

A New Companion & Quests Throughout The Game

The Exiled Prince was a day-one DLC for Dragon Age 2 and received a mixed reception from the fanbase. The DLC provides a new companion and potential love interest in the form of Sebastian Vael, the third child of Starkhaven’s ruling family and the only surviving member of a recent massacre.

Sebastian has quests in each act for Hawke to help him uncover what really happened to his family and links in well with the main plot. Sebastian is an underrated and underutilized Dragon Age 2 companion who is often misread as preachy or boring.

10

The Stone Prisoner – Dragon Age: Origins

A New Companions & Dwarven Lore

Just like The Exiled Prince, The Stone Prisoner added in a new party companion for Origins, this time a grumpy stone golem named Shale. Shale as a companion is worth the DLC alone, adding tons of new banter and fantastic one-liners with her unique view of the world. However, for fans of dwarven lore, The Stone Prisoner is a brilliant source of information, adding to the story of the First Blight and the fall of the dwarven thaigs. Shale also adds extra content during the party’s trip into the Deep Roads and their interactions with Paragon Caridin.

9

Return To Ostagar – Dragon Age: Origins

Brief But Heartbreaking To Gain Closure

Return to Ostagar does exactly as it describes and returns the Warden, Alistair, and the rest of the party to where their story began at the ruins of Ostagar, adding context to the overall story. This heartbreaking add-on provides much-needed closure and context for Loghain’s actions, as well as extra information about King Cailan’s wider political agenda. While there are some decent pieces of gear to be found among the ruins, such as Cailan’s Armor and Maric’s Blade, it is the battle with the ogre that killed Cailan and Duncan that feels the most satisfying.

8

Mark Of The Assassin – Dragon Age 2

Fun But Sidelining Hawke Doesn’t Pay Off

Mark of the Assassin is an odd DLC, brimming with story but somehow disconnected from the main plot of DA2. At any point, Hawke can “remember” the time they joined Tallis on an adventure in Orlais, and travel to some beautiful locations outside of Kirkwall. The plot is a simple one involving a heist and delivers a decent amount of Qunari lore. However, as the main goal of the DLC is to serve as a tie-in for the web series Dragon Age: Redemption, Hawke is left acting as a sidekick as Tallis takes center stage as the main character.

7

Jaws Of Hakkon – Dragon Age: Inquisition

Fascinating Insight Into Avvar Culture

Jaws of Hakkon was the first DLC for Inquisition and set an excellent standard as the Inquisitor searches for clues regarding the last Inquisitor, Ameridan. Ameridan is found frozen in time, attempting to stop an invasion by an Avvar tribe and their god Hakkon.

Jaws of Hakkon does a great job at fleshing out the Avvar culture from their traditions to their relationship with spirits. Although the plot feels a little too separate from the main story of Inquisition, the DLC has a beautiful area to explore and plenty of quests to keep busy.

6

Warden’s Keep – Dragon Age: Origins

A Must-Play For Any Grey Warden Fans

During the story of Origins, it is often repeated that the Wardens don’t have a good reputation in Ferelden, which can be a little confusing considering the faction is presented in the game as the only ones who can stop the Blight. However, this is all explained in the brilliant Warden’s Keep DLC, which dives into the actions of Ferelden’s last Warden Commander and her rebellion against the throne.

In a great old-fashioned dungeon crawl, the party must unlock the secrets of the Keep, Soldier’s Peak, and battle a demon-possessed corpse in order to reclaim it.

5

Awakenings – Dragon Age: Origins

Sets Up Characters & Concepts For Later Games

Awakenings is the expansion for Origins and acts as a stepping stone between the events of the first game and what follows in DA2. The plot of Awakenings sees the new Warden Commander of Ferelden attempting to rebuild the Order’s presence when they encounter a strange, talking Darkspawn.

While the story of Awakenings is a great extra adventure for the Warden, the DLC really serves to introduce the idea of the Darkspawn Tevinter priests, which would be expanded on later in the franchise, and the characters of Anders and Justice, who play crucial roles in DA2.

4

Witch Hunt – Dragon Age: Origins

Eluvian & Morrigan Lore Galore

Witch Hunt was the final DLC released for Origins and wraps up the Warden’s tale in Ferelden by telling the story of their quest to find Morrigan. Although the DLC is relatively brief compared with many others, Witch Hunt is packed full of lore regarding eluvians, Flemeth, and her motives throughout Origins. Much of Morrigan’s presence in Inquisition can be traced back to Witch Hunt, along with the conclusion of her journey in The Veilguard. One lovely touch is the option to leave through the eluvian with Morrigan if the Warden had been in a relationship with her in Origins.

3

The Descent – Dragon Age: Inquisition

Dungeon Crawl Through The Deep Roads

The Descent is the second story-based DLC for Inquisition and does a similar thing to Jaws of Hakkon by deep diving into a Thedasian culture and expanding on it. This time it’s the dwarves, as the Inquisitor is sent to investigate strange earthquakes which lead to the discovery of odd dwarves. The Descent has some awesome dwarven and Titan lore which sets up Harding’s companion quest in The Veilguard. However, other than the lore and the decent loot, The Descent is a pretty linear dungeon crawl with little connection to the overall Inquisition plot.

2

Legacy – Dragon Age 2

Hawke Blood Holds The Key To A Warden Secret

Of all of Dragon Age 2‘s DLCs, Legacy is the most important, as it sets up the entire plot for Inquisition. In Legacy, Hawke must track down who is attacking their family, which leads them to an ancient Grey Warden prison and revelations about their father and the Wardens. Legacy is a great DLC, with challenging boss fights and enough Warden and Darkspawn lore to satisfy even the most dedicated of fans. Just like Mark of the Assassin, Legacy can be played any time after reaching Kirkwall, but is best left until Act 3 to get the best gear.

1

Trespasser – Dragon Age: Inquisition

Set Up The Future Of The Series

Trespasser received a mixed response from Dragon Age fans upon release, who felt betrayed that Inquisition’s true ending cost extra. However, that doesn’t stop Trespasser from being an excellent DLC that brought the Inquisition’s story to a natural conclusion. Set two years after the events of Inquisition, the Inquisitor must contend with a potential Qunari invasion as they also try and track down Solas before he can bring down the Veil. So much of The Veilguard is set up in Trespasser, from the Antaam invasion to Solas and the Evanuris, that it’s impossible to ignore the narrative impact Trespasser had.