Romance has always been a big draw in Dragon Age games, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard is no different. As Rook, you have seven companions in The Veilguard, and all of them are potential romance partners. While you might be excited to jump right to flirting, there are a few wrinkles in the romance system that are worth considering.
Here’s a list of all romance options in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, plus explanations of how romance works and what you can expect from your dalliances.
All romance options in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Image: BioWare/Electronic Arts via Polygon
No matter your lineage, faction, or gender, you can romance all seven of your companions. Our guide to all Veilguard companions goes into more detail about each party member, but purely at a glance, they are:
- Lucanis Dellamorte
- Neve Gallus
- Bellara Lutare
- Emmrich Volkarin
- Taash
- Lace Harding
- Davrin
Flirting will come up naturally during dialogue with your companions; these options will be marked with a pink heart in conversations. You are free to flirt away with everyone without breaking any hearts; to wit, I chose romantic dialogue options for everyone on the team at least a couple of times, without being locked into any awkward conversations.
Can you romance multiple characters in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
Image: BioWare/Electronic Arts via Polygon
Yes, but you eventually need to commit to one choice.
If you want to track the status of your chosen romance partner(s), check the Companions page. Under their rank is a phrase describing your current dynamic, plus an icon. A thumbs up means that you two are cool, and clasped hands means you’re now solid allies.
Once you see a heart next to their status, you know that they have registered your affections. Not all companions warm up to your Rook at the same rate; some require a little more patience and unlock at a higher bond level. Pursue the companion quests for each party member, and continue to chat with your crush every time you return to the Lighthouse. You can also buy each character a unique gift to help.
Once you’ve gotten to heart status with a companion, they’ll eventually approach you and ask for you to make a decision on your status. This is not a permanent choice, but it does take your relationship to the next level. If you were just flirting for fun, the character will offer you a graceful out, and their icon will revert back to that of a friend or ally. Otherwise, you can agree and enter the first stage of romance.
Can you lock out of other romances?
Romances in Dragon Age: The Veilguard are tied to bond levels; if you haven’t taken companions out into the world or completed their personal quests, they may not warm to you, or to each other.
Committing to a character, however, can prevent you from romancing the other six potential partners. The first stage of romance is not-exclusive in The Veilguard. The second stage is.
After pursuing a romance path, the companion who’s received your affections will eventually put their cards on the table and offer you a final choice: complete the courting process and become an official exclusive couple, or break up.
Once you’re official with a companion, their icon will change to two overlapping hearts, and other companions will start commenting on your dynamic.
Can characters romance each other?
Image: BioWare/Electronic Arts via Polygon
Rook has a lot to worry about with their companions’ problems, but there are some sweet choices to make amongst all the dark backstories and hidden secrets. If you do not romance companions, there’s a chance that they’ll grow interested in one another. They may ask you for advice on how to court each other, like asking for advice on a gift, or running some first date suggestions past Rook.
You may also be asked to comment on the Inquisitor’s romantic life, depending on the choices made about the fate of the Inquisition during character creation. Rook can encourage the Inquisitor to reunite with a long-lost love, or dissuade them from taking the risk.
Lucanis romance details
Image: BioWare/Electronic Arts via Polygon
Lucanis is buttoned up and professional, and his dynamic with Rook is a slow burn. He will express initial interest far slower than a companion like Davrin, and the waiting only pays off in the end of the third act.
If you choose Minathrous over Treviso in a big choice in the first act, you will be locked out of Lucanis’ romance.
Otherwise, Lucanis likes a Rook who takes action and is comfortable with the occasional hired killing. He’s also concerned that Spite, the demon grafted to him by the Venatori, could sabotage the relationship.
After the Bloodbath and Cauldron story, Rook can talk with him at the Lighthouse. Select “I don’t mind.” (“I’m sorry,” “Could be worse, right?” and “Don’t be so damned proud” will cut off the romance.) After picking “I don’t mind,” tell Lucanis “I like messes.”
If you do not romance Lucanis, he ends up with Neve. Some players report that romancing Lucanis and bringing Neve along as a third can feel like a third-wheel experience, as the two share a lot of chemistry that doesn’t just go away when you romance Lucanis. After the conclusion of his personal quests, you’ll be able to lock in an exclusive romance.
Lucanis’ gift is the Antivan Tea Seat, on sale from the Antivan Crows merchant in Treviso.
Neve romance details
Image: BioWare/Electronic Arts via Polygon
Rook first meets Neve, the representative of the Shadow Dragons and window into broader Tevinter society as a whole, during the prologue. Neve responds well to honesty; she doesn’t approve if Rook tries to deceive contacts or fight their way through a tense confrontation. Neve’s identity as a detective is also very important to her, so Rook should meet her on that level and be ready to go over her notes.
Similar to Harding, you can gain an early boost in approval from Neve by choosing her to accompany Rook during the prologue mission. Early on, you’ll also have the opportunity to catch Neve spending some quality time with Assan. Pick the flirt options during this encounter to build the foundation for a romance. This is another slow burn romance that takes time to build, so stay patient and keep chatting to Neve.
Unlike Lucanis, you can still romance Neve if you don’t choose her city, Minrathous, over Treviso. Her companion gift is Collected Evidence, which you can find at the Shadow Dragons merchant.
Bellara romance details
Image: BioWare/Electronic Arts via Polygon
Bellara is a representative of the Veil Jumpers, and an expert tinkerer. She’s one of the first companions Rook meets on their adventure, and Rook can begin flirting with her relatively early on. Bellara’s approval and disapproval triggers in conversation do not affect her romance — as long as you complete her companion quests: “Echoes of the Past,” “The Demon’s Bargain,” and “Hummingbird’s Lament.”
While you can start flirting with Bellara after the “Smuggled Relic Case” main story mission, it takes a bit of time for her to warm up to a romance. Her flirt options are based around affirming her interests and supporting her journey. If you do not romance Bellara, she will not hook up with another character. However, she shares a history with the Veil Jumper Irelin.
Bellara’s companion gift is an Elven Frog Figurine that can be purchased at the Veil Jumpers merchant in Arlathan Forest.
Emmrich romance details
Image: BioWare/Electronic Arts via Polygon
Emmrich is one of my favorite romances in the game, thanks to his gentlemanly nature and macabre interests. Rook will be offered many opportunities to react to Manfred, his skeleton manservant, and the field of necromancy in general. Emmrich prefers it when Rook is curious and open-minded, and especially appreciates tokens of kindness towards Manfred.
Emmrich is one of the older companions in all of the Dragon Age games, which gives his romance a far more mature feel than the rest. One downside is that all of Rook’s companions will jab at the romance, since it seems like such an obvious mismatch. If you want to date an intellectual and talk about matters of life and death with your love, go with Emmrich. If you do not romance Emmrich, he will go on a date with the Veil Jumper Strife.
Appropriately, Emmrich’s companion gift, the Haunted Statuette, can be purchased in the Necropolis Halls.
Taash romance details
Image: BioWare /Electronic Arts via Polygon
Taash is one of the younger companions in the Dragon Age gallery, as they’re only in their early twenties and have yet to figure out their personal identity. Supporting Taash through that journey is essential if you want to romance the Qunari dragon slayer.
One nice thing about romancing Taash is that she’s very straightforward; if you want to avoid slow-boil suspense, you may prefer flirting with Taash. She’s inexperienced with relationships, but very honest about that, and it makes for some very sweet scenes. This romance has a great balance of sweet and spice to it, which I appreciated. Taash also likes a Rook who treats the Lords of Fortune with respect, and doesn’t trot out mood-killing lines like, “That’s extortion.”
If you don’t romance Taash, she can end up with Harding. Her gift is a set of trinkets at the Lords of Fortune merchant.
Harding romance details
Image: BioWare /Electronic Arts via Polygon
Harding makes a return from Inquisition, where the Inquisitor could flirt with her, but it was always a little awkward and not the most obvious option. Harding is the first companion Rook meets, and so it’s easy to build approval with her as you assemble the rest of the team. Choose her to accompany Rook in “The End of the Beginning” during the prologue, and you’ll be rewarded with a big boost of approval with her.
Something unique about Harding is that she is not associated with the other factions, remaining part of the Inquisition. That means your relationship with her isn’t as influenced by outside factors, focusing entirely on the dynamic between Harding and Rook. As a bonus, her newly acquired magic has some saucy side effects to spice things up.
Otherwise, Harding appreciates a Rook who’s straight-forward and action oriented. Her gift is the Hinterlands Cloak, and it can be found at the Black Emporium in Minathrous.
Lastly, in the endgame, you’ll have to make a choice between Harding and Davrin. If you want to see the full romance content for Harding, choose Davrin.
Davrin romance details
Image: BioWare/Electronic Arts via Polygon
Given the general demeanor of most Grey Wardens, you might expect Davrin to be equally awkward. Instead, he’s self-assured, confident, and will pursue Rook after just a couple of flirtation options. He warms up to Rook much faster than romance options like Bellara and Lucanis, and the two can begin flirting in shortly earnest after he arrives.
Davrin is confident, self-assured, and not afraid to sacrifice himself for the greater good. He approves of a Rook with similar values. For instance, if he brings up his fear of facing the elven gods, remind him that “it’s us or them.” When he interacts with Assan, encourage their relationship, but don’t try and spoil the baby gryphon, even though he’s very cute. Davrin also approves of Rook decking the First Warden, which shows his focus on results.
His companion gift, the Display on Ancient Griffons, is purchased at Grey Hold in the Hossberg Wetlands.
For more Dragon Age: The Veilguard guides, see our guides on the best class to pick and the best faction to join, plus an explainer on how to change appearance. Or check out our guides on the best endgame choices and how to unlock all endings.