82 replies to this topic

[Icy Magebane]

I only play on Hard, but the most fun I've had is with:

Hawke (Reaver/Templar)
Fenris (DPS crowd control, stamina regen support)
Aveline (threat generation, mild dps)
Varric (ranged support, opening locks)

This team can win any fight with style and relative ease. Magic can be fun, but for dedicated Templar rps, this is the group to use. Plus, they all get along great. No annoying bickering when traveling through town. Just be sure to bring a few poisons... just in case.

[p95h]

My "Go To" party depends on class I'm playing:

As a Rogue:
Aveline, Fenris, Anders (Until I kill him for murdering Grand Cleric - Then switch to Bethany)

As a Mage:
Aveline, Fenris, Varric.

Varric is exceptionally nice early on, since Bianca levels with his level, you don't need to boost dex so much, and can concentrate on boosting cunning for the Lockpicking effect. I had varric up to 40 cunning before end of act 1.)

Edited by p95h, 04 April 2011 - 10:04 AM.

[FpsGangsta]

As a warrior,
Merill
Anders
Varric/Isabella

[sonsonthebia07]

Perhaps it ain't the best, but I like rolling with a tri-fecta mage party, although I usually bring Varric or Isabela along instead of Anders because I can't stand not opening chests.

Mage Hawke (force/blood/spirit/entropy mage)
Merrill (primal/entropy/dalish pariah + a few others mage)
Aveline (aka giant slab of meat with a "beat me" sign on it)
Anders (full creation/vengeance + a few others mage)

[Peranor]

This is the setup i used the most in my first playthrough and it worked fine for me, Didn't have any major issues with any of the bosses. I may have switched Merrill for Anders on the High dragon. but i can't really remember

2H warrior Hawke
Aveline
Varric
Merrill

Edited by anorling, 04 April 2011 - 10:28 AM.

[Zodann]

Mage Hawke (force/elementalist/spirit)
Aveline
Varric
Merril

[cpmd4]

Fenris as a tank, Sebastian as a ranged damager, Merill for control and a dual-wielding Hawke to inflict chaos.

[Ryzaki]

Rogue: Hawke, Fenris, Anders, Merrill
Mage: Hawke, Fenris, Anders, Aveline
Warrior: Hawke, Fenris, Anders, Varric.

Yeah my party doesn't tend to change much. XD.

[Qeilla]

For my first playthrough as a rogue: Anders, Aveline and Varric
Current playthrough as a mage: Anders, Sebastian/Isabela, Fenris.

[Lumikki]

My most common party is usually, Hawke (mage), Aveline (tank), Varric (archer) and Anders (mage). Both mages are pretty much same, elemental-primal mages, both can heal, but have little different substain spells.

[Jackiee88]

i always play as a mage.
and i take ever...
Fenris
Carver...from act 2 Aveline
and Varric or Anders.
not because its the best choice
i just like them.

[Carmen_Willow]

Fenris: I build him so he can tank as well as deal damage.
Varric or Sebastian: Artillery and lockpicking. I give all my rogues a variation of the Shadow build to aid their survival.
Anders, if I am not a healer mage. If I am a healer mage, I often take Aveline or Carver along as having two heavy hitters in the party can be very satisfying.

[prizm123]

if you want a fun and very unconventional playthrough (and it is a little more challenging) try what I did:
me (DW Rogue), Isabella, Varric, and either Fenris or Merrill

[prizm123]

Edited by prizm123, 12 April 2012 - 02:18 AM.

[coldwetn0se]

prizm123 wrote...

if you want a fun and very unconventional playthrough (and it is a little more challenging) try what I did:
me (DW Rogue), Isabella, Varric, and either Fenris or Merrill

Actually, this is a favorite group of mine:  for DPS and RPing fun I enjoy taking DW rogue Hawke, Fenris (DPS build), Isabela, and Varric.

If I am looking for good CCC work, then I switch out Isabela for Anders or Merrill. This way I have Varric setting up Disorients, Anders/Merrill setting up Brittles, and Fenris Staggering.  Weeeeeeeeee!

Edited by coldwetn0se, 12 April 2012 - 06:09 PM.

[wowpwnslol]

Hawke (2H warrior)
Anders (healbot)
Varric (party jester/comedy relief)
Isabella (****ty dialogues)

[prizm123]

coldwetn0se wrote...

prizm123 wrote...

if you want a fun and very unconventional playthrough (and it is a little more challenging) try what I did:
me (DW Rogue), Isabella, Varric, and either Fenris or Merrill

Actually, this is a favorite group of mine:  for DPS and RPing fun I enjoy taking DW rogue Hawke, Fenris (DPS build), Isabela, and Varric.

If I am looking for good CCC work, then I switch out Isabela for Anders or Merrill. This way I have Varric setting up Disorients, Anders/Merrill setting up Brittles, and Fenris Staggering.  Weeeeeeeeee!

i actually used the exact same group with my mage and 2h warrior..

[SuicidalBaby]

The correct answer is Merrill, Anders, Varric for any class.

[TheGRITTY]

I just started playing DA2 for the first time last week. Good advice, thanks!

For now I've been running with Hawke as an archer rogue (which I've heard was a bad choice...), Aveline, Anders, and my 4th has varied between Bethany and Merrill.

Assuming I don't get any of the DLC, will Aveline be my only "true" tank? She's incredible, don't get me wrong. I just like some variety. Is giving Fenris S&S my only alternative?

[cJohnOne]

Yeah TheGRITTY. You only get two warriors. Archer Rogue works fine just go down the Shadow/Assassin and you should be good. I think I put one point in blindside too.

[dorianpervus]

I've played about 4 playthroughs of this game and out of all of them my favorie group has to be the newest one I've made.

1 Hawke Duel Wielding Rogue (JunkedRobot's Overkill Build from YouTube)
2 Fenris Tank
3 Merrill Bloodmage
4 Anders Heals

Fenris is an amazing tank if you build him right (which is basically abusing his personal tree)
Merrill's elemental spells kick butt so just abuse that tree
And Anders is pretty straight forward. Just use his healing spells from his personal tree.
The build I used for my Hawke though was amazing. By the end of the game I was one shoting practically every enemy

[Mokthar]

My first 3 playthoughs I went with
Force Mage Hawke, Tevinter Fenris, Isabela and Varric

Now I'm going with
Blood/Arcane Mage Hawke, Warden Carver (Fenris during act 2), Sebastian/Varric and Spirit/Creation Anders

Edited by Mokthar, 26 April 2012 - 05:51 PM.

[Mokthar]

TheGRITTY wrote...

I just started playing DA2 for the first time last week. Good advice, thanks!

For now I've been running with Hawke as an archer rogue (which I've heard was a bad choice...), Aveline, Anders, and my 4th has varied between Bethany and Merrill.

Assuming I don't get any of the DLC, will Aveline be my only "true" tank? She's incredible, don't get me wrong. I just like some variety. Is giving Fenris S&S my only alternative?

Fenris tanks using a greatsword, no need to gimp him with a shield

[SuicidalBaby]

LikesThingsHatesStuff wrote...

I've played about 4 playthroughs of this game and out of all of them my favorie group has to be the newest one I've made.

1 Hawke Duel Wielding Rogue (JunkedRobot's Overkill Build from YouTube)
2 Fenris Tank
3 Merrill Bloodmage
4 Anders Heals

Fenris is an amazing tank if you build him right (which is basically abusing his personal tree)
Merrill's elemental spells kick butt so just abuse that tree
And Anders is pretty straight forward. Just use his healing spells from his personal tree.
The build I used for my Hawke though was amazing. By the end of the game I was one shoting practically every enemy

You mean this build, created by Arelex?
because that's where JunkedRobot got it and attempted to pass it off as his own work before people caught wind of it.

Comments have been disabled on those videos for a reason.

[SuicidalBaby]

TheGRITTY wrote...

I just started playing DA2 for the first time last week. Good advice, thanks!

For now I've been running with Hawke as an archer rogue (which I've heard was a bad choice...), Aveline, Anders, and my 4th has varied between Bethany and Merrill.

Assuming I don't get any of the DLC, will Aveline be my only "true" tank? She's incredible, don't get me wrong. I just like some variety. Is giving Fenris S&S my only alternative?

You should get the Black Emporium DLC at minimum so you can respec and play around with the characters as you progress.  Well worth it's current value.

Avaline is more powerful as a damage dealer and CCC prep point.
Shield Bash + upgrade (use the tactic set below)
(enemy: rank: elite: Shield Bash)
(self: surrounded by 3 enemies: use current condition for next target)
(enemy: rank: normal or higher: Shield Bash)

Assault + upgrade (enemy: disoriented or self: surrounded by 3 enemies)
Taunt + Bellow (self: surrounded by 3 enemies)

Pommel Strike + Pommel Blow (use the tactic set below after the shield bash set)
(enemy: staggered: bolster)
(enemy: rank: normal or higher: Pommel Strike)

Control (not used)
Might + Muscle (100% activation)
Destroyer (passive)
Cleave + Claymore (enemy: range: short)
Massacre (passive)
Rally + Unite (Anders: mana/stamina: <25% or enemy: Paralyzed:)
Bolster (at the end of tactics and self: <25%)

At 10-11 get the southern half of her personal tree for the passives, do not activate Immovable ever.  You can move to avoid damge.

Edited by SuicidialBaby, 26 April 2012 - 10:48 PM.