The most powerful blood mages in Dragon Age

Key points

• Blood magic is a dangerous last resort for mages in the Dragon Age series, with the risk of possession.
• Characters such as Jowan, Uldred, and Hawke wield blood magic to varying degrees of chaos and power.
• Figures like Avernus and Corypheus display the immense knowledge and raw power that blood magic can imbue, with dire consequences.

Blood magic is the path to abilities that many might find unnatural. It is a dangerous last resort for mages and is considered the ultimate crime against fading. Wielding blood magic puts the caster at risk of being possessed by demons and becoming grotesque abominations.

Powerful wizards can wield it without completely abandoning themselves to the dark side. However, handling it contaminates the user and more negative effects will eventually rear their head. While the first and second entries in the series featured blood magic as an optional specialization for both the Warden and Hawke to focus on, it seemingly never crept into the narrative despite how much its use is loathed. Various incredibly powerful apostates temporarily tap into its power, and with that said, here is a list of some of the most powerful wielders of blood magic in the world. The Age of the Dragon Franchising.

8 Jowan

The impulsive apprentice wizard

Players familiar with the background of the Circle of Mages are all too familiar with Jowan. Initially starting out as a wizard's apprentice, nervous about undertaking his first harrowing, he resorted to blood magic when cornered by the Templars.

Although Jowan primarily dabbled in blood magic to keep up with his talented fellow wizards, after his collapse, he wreaks havoc both within the circle and later in Redcliffe when he causes the possession of the earl's son, Connor. Even if he is not a talented blood mage or an ordinary mage, in fact, this shows how destructive blood magic is in the hands of any mage.

7 Uldred

The Corrupted Elder Enchanter

Uldred's bizarre ability to eliminate devious blood mages has always been a bit suspect to his fellow mages of the Circle. These suspicions were later confirmed after he took control of the circle, where he corrupted countless wizards through blood magic, transforming them into dangerous abominations.

Uldred's power cannot be denied, especially as he increasingly succumbs to the possession of a Pride Demon. It completely invaded the image circle of Ferelden and was only stopped through the efforts of the Warden and his companions.

6 The Guardian

The indomitable protagonist can't keep up

The main protagonist of Dragon Age: Origins he is undoubtedly one of the strongest characters in the series, even if blood magic may not be up to par as a specialization.

While in most games where it is present as a specialization, it takes some time to make it a useful choice that doesn't immediately sap the player's health – it is somewhat lacking in terms of damage for The Warden. It primarily functions as a means of using the player's health instead of their mana and has no unique abilities. Being a protagonist, however, most likely means the Warden can wield his twisted power at high capacity.

5 Merill

The fascinated caretaker

Dragon Age 2's witty and naive companion is a Dalish elf fascinated by ancient magic, both natural and corrupt. Merill is a powerful sorceress who is often underestimated, and her infatuation with using blood magic as a force for good contributes to this.

This guardian-in-training does not think that any magic is inherently evil, and believes that the inherent dark nature of blood magic lies in the desires of its wielder. She wields this twisted and powerful magic several times throughout the story, and becomes a point of contention for the group, especially Ghost RiderIt's the number one fan, Anders.

4 Avernus

An almost unrivaled knowledge of blood magic

• Dragon Age: Origins – Guardian's Fortress

Avernus was a Gray Warden wizard who experimented with forbidden blood magic to enhance the abilities of Gray Wardens and extend their lifespan. There is no denying that he was an expert at bending blood magic to his will and detests the Church for their somewhat closed-minded view of the act.

Although he wasn't as overtly powerful as he was incredibly knowledgeable. A lifetime of study and scholarship around the forbidden arts has allowed him to understand blood magic in a way that very few can, even if he couldn't practice it to his fullest.

3 Hawke

An incredibly powerful and versatile wizard

From the theatrical announcement trailer of Dragon Age 2which pitted Hawke against Arishok – it was clear that Hawke wasn't averse to using blood magic to get what he wanted.

Clearly, Canon Hawke's Dragon Age 2 he was always meant to be an apostate wizard, and since they're the protagonists of a video game, naturally, they're powerful. From being able to control the minds of their enemies to the blood boiling in their veins as Hawke plunges his staff into their own chest – they're pretty shocked.

2 Gereon Alexius

The power to manipulate time

A Tevinter wizard who, in his desperation, used blood magic to manipulate time itself and sent the inquisitor into the future. His desperation only amplified his abilities and the unplanned explosion that sent ripples through Ferelden.

His boss fight sees him dominate the Inquisition, and it's a tough battle for players who haven't dedicated hours to exploring the hinterland. His erratic use of blood magic that allowed him to completely manipulate the fabric of time was certainly a surprise and places him among the powerful wizards.

1 Coripheus

The final antagonist

The main antagonist of Dragon Age: Inquisition he is none other than the twisted abomination himself, Corypheus. One look at the Tevinter Magister is enough to signal to any Inquisitor that he is a man deeply warped in his pursuit of power.

His control over the ruin through the use of the Architect's blood, combined with his many immortal feats in the transformation of the Golden City, make him a blood mage of truly divine proportions. No blood mage has ever truly measured up to Corypheus' epic displays of raw power, both in his lore and in his many efforts to terrorize the Inquisition.