The Dragon Age games have always had multiple romance options, but Dragon Age: Inquisition went all-out with its choices — and it made an effort not to be heteronormative, giving female characters female choices as well as male and vice versa. With such a plethora of choices, it's only natural that people will gravitate towards the characters they love most and away from those they don't take well to. It's only natural, especially since romance is a subjective topic, and some people are bound to form stronger bonds with relatable characters as opposed to ones that aren't all that interesting in their books.
This ranking organizes every love interest that Inquisition offers, from least endearing to most. Of course, the ranking of Inquisition's romances is entirely subjective, and many players will not agree due to just how many choices like this are based on personal taste. However, in terms of the personal connection and the amount of time players spend with their partners in the game, judgments can still be made when it comes to the best Dragon Age: Inquisition romances.
Updated on September 18, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a game that fans are anticipating with a hefty dose of caution. BioWare's track record with recent games has been far from stellar, and previews of this title have left many fans worried about the future of the Dragon Age series and the direction of this game. For what it's worth, a lot of people had similar worries about Dragon Age: Inquisition, only for this game to move past the problems of its troubled development and become one of the better entries in the series, serving as a return to form after Dragon Age 2 felt like a step back in the eyes of many. The romances in Inquisition are some of the many aspects of the game that deserve a ton of praise, and players who want a who's-who of the best Dragon Age: Inquisition romances will find a lot of options to choose from.
Every Romance In Dragon Age: Inquisition
The following table covers every romance option in BioWare's game, along with some core information that needs to be known to pursue this relationship.
|
Name |
Gender & Race |
Relation |
Preference |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Josephine Montilyet |
Female Human |
Advisor |
Male and Female |
|
Blackwall |
Male Human |
Companion |
Female only |
|
Iron Bull |
Male Qunari |
Companion |
Male and Female |
|
Dorian Pavus |
Male Human |
Companion |
Male only |
|
Cassandra Pentaghast |
Female Human |
Companion |
Male only |
|
Sera |
Female Elf |
Companion |
Female only |
|
Solas |
Male Elf |
Companion |
Female elf only |
|
Cullen Rutherford |
Male Human |
Advisor |
Female human and elf only |
8 Josephine Montilyet
The Ambassador And Chief Diplomat Of The Inquisition
- Preference: Male and Female
- Critical Quest: An Unexpected Engagement
Josephine's fiercely logical nature and dedication to the Inquisition means there's some level of guilt involved with placing her at the bottom here. It's not that she was unlikeable, but she lacked the depth some other characters offered as romance options had, and this means she comes out at the bottom. Despite this, she was a good addition to the game as a minor character.
She can be romanced by a male or female Inquisitor of any age, which is one good side about her — no exclusivity here. She's open to being a part of any character's story as a love interest, regardless of what race or gender players choose to play. While most people might write off her romance as nothing more than a run-of-the-mill encounter, players who want simpler and more overt romances can enjoy the same by engaging in a tryst with Josephine.
7 Blackwall
A Free Marcher Grey Warden
- Preference: Female only
- Critical Quest: Explanations
A Free Marcher Grey Warden, Blackwall is a potential romance option for female Inquisitors only. Much like Josephine, he just lacks the depth to be placed very far up this list. There was nothing wrong with him or his creation, but he lacked some of the more endearing traits that the other characters were gifted within their writing.
One great thing about Blackwall is that he does seem to be very fond of aiding and protecting others, and this is how players gain his approval if they wish to romance him. He is, at the very least, a good guy, but that's a pretty low bar and nowhere near good enough to make him an interesting romance. At the end of the day, there are simply more engaging characters to be entangled with romantically, with Blackwall's romance feeling like a second thought at times.
6 Iron Bull
Leader Of The Bull Chargers
- Preference: Male and Female
- Critical Quest: Tough Love
A one-eyed mercenary, the Iron Bull can be romanced by absolutely anyone, much like Josephine. He seems to be less of a firmly good person than Blackwall, but he's not a bad one either. He loves to be involved in the action, so players can generally gain his approval by bringing him along when there's a battle and ensuring he's in the thick of the fighting. It helps that Iron Bull is a pretty engaging character, with his boisterous personality making him a great romance option indeed.
10 Best Things About Playing As A Dwarf Noble In Dragon Age: Origins
Players looking for something different can try playing as a Dwarf Noble in Dragon Age: Origins. Here are some of the best things about it.
One unusual thing about him as a romance option, however, is that this storyline starts with the Inquisitor and the Iron Bull getting down and dirty before having "the talk" about how serious this relationship is. Since most of the others involve a talk before anything intimate happens, this edges him up the list on originality alone. If players are looking for something different, especially if they've already played through the game once and need something different, then the Iron Bull may just be a solid romance option.
5 Dorian Pavus
An Altus Mage Of The Tevinter Imperium
- Preference: Male only
- Critical Quest: The Magister's Birthright
A human mage, Dorian is a romance option for men only — bumping him up the list based on diversity alone since so many games only include heterosexual options, and here is one that's exclusively a same-sex relationship only. Of course, it's not just that that bumps him almost halfway up the list, though — Dorian is fun. His approval is gained through banter and flirting, so if players are looking to do something a little more light-hearted in the game (and are playing a man), then they might want to take him on.
He's a great charismatic character to engage with, making each dialogue exchange pretty riveting in its own right. Of course, as most people would assume, Dorian's jovial nature is just one part of a complex, intriguing character that players will love to support as they slowly get to know what makes this mage tick. Romancing him is a blast, and anyone who takes the plunge will love what this mustachioed gentleman has to offer.
4 Cassandra Pentaghast
Right Hand Of The Divine
- Preference: Male only
- Critical Quest: The Ideal Romance
Cassandra, on the other hand, is deeply religious and is a lot stiffer than the likes of Dorian. She's one of the first characters players meet in the game and the player's instant reaction will be, ugh, she's no fun. But as the game goes on, players will find out she's a deeply fascinating character with a rich backstory, there's no better way to get to know her than to initiate one of the best romances in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Of course, this is only possible as long as the Inquisitor is a man — that's the only way she can be romanced, sadly.
Players can gain her approval and pursue her as a romance option mostly by validating her. Once people manage to look past the poor first impression of this character, they'll realize that Cassandra hides her soft interior behind an unusually hard exterior. Her no-nonsense demeanor can be intimidating, but players who make the effort to get to know her will find themselves hopelessly falling in love with this complex character as their relationship with her deepens.
3 Sera
A Sassy Elven Archer
- Preference: Female only
- Critical Quest: A Woman Who Wants for Nothing
Just as Dorian is the male-exclusive same-sex relationship option, Sera is the female one. She's an elven archer, a very rebellious spirit who seems to enjoy undermining authority and, players can't help but enjoy her attitude. Most people love the song in the tavern where her character is explained, and there's no denying that Sera's amazing personality makes her one of the most entertaining romances in the entire game.
How To Build The Best Mage In Dragon Age: Inquisition
Mages are a pretty awesome class in Dragon Age: Inquisition. This is how to build the best one.
Players can begin to flirt with Sera the second she joins the party (and she'll respond well if the Inquisitor is a woman), but the fascinating thing about this is that her level of approval will be higher and quicker depending on the race players choose. So although she can be romanced by any female, there's an element of difficulty involved and different reactions, and this makes her a very interesting choice. Her peppy, upbeat nature makes her one of the best Dragon Age: Inquisition romances, and the moments players share with her when they kickstart a surprisingly tender romance make it clear why so many people hold her in high regard as one of the Inquisitor's best companions.
2 Solas
A Hedge Mage With A Mysterious Background
- Preference: Female elf only
- Critical Quest: All New, Faded for Her
An elven apostate mage, Solas is interesting just by those descriptors alone and is one of the most popular romance choices among players. He can only be romanced by female elven characters, making him one of the most specific romance options in the game. He's almost the opposite of Cassandra in the way that he doesn't like to take action, particularly if it involves violence. He's forever in favor of peaceful solutions and has a lot of patience.
So if players are looking for the rarer kind of romance in Dragon Age — a pacifist — this is the best option. Of course, given how events unfold in the game, this romance becomes pretty heartbreaking as well. It's a shame that players need to purchase a DLC to see this story out to the very end when it should've been a part of the main quest from the get-go. Given the major role this character is going to play as the antagonist of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it's easy to see why more people would want to explore an amorous storyline with one of the best Dragon Age: Inquisition romances that a female elf can enjoy.
1 Cullen Rutherford
Commander Of The Inquisition
- Preference: Female human and elf only
- Critical Quest: Happier Times
Cullen is quite possibly the character that players tend to swoon over the most. Sadly, he's only available for female humans and elven Inquisitors, but with the popularity he gained, BioWare should have considered making him open to everyone. However, given the inclusive nature of the romances in Dragon Age: Inquisition, it's easy to see why Cullen isn't so readily available. In many ways, the exclusivity of this romance makes it all the more memorable, especially when players explore a darker side of his character that is addicted to lyrium.
The Inquisitor's military advisor is a great romance option with a cool love story to watch, but players should be warned to never give him lyrium or the romance will abruptly end. His story is a pretty engaging one, and players who decide to support him and stick with him to the very end will find a heartwarming conclusion at the end of this romantic tale for the ages.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Released
- November 18, 2014
