Friendship[]
Merrill's friendship can be gained by:
- Siding with the mages or the elves in quests.
- Choosing options that favor blood magic or demons.
- By being agreeable to her in conversation.
Act 1[]
- Act of Mercy: Tell Grace that you will distract the Templar (Ser Thrask). Choose the agreeable options and then "I'll convince them you're dead." (+20)
- Bait and Switch: Defend Merrill (Call on Companion) at the end of the quest (+5)
- Enemies Among Us: Say "Not all mages are like that" or "Hey! I'm a mage." (if Hawke is a mage) in the first dialogue option while speaking with Knight-Captain Cullen in the Gallows (+10)
- Enemies Among Us: Say "You're wrong" in the second dialogue option while speaking with Knight-Captain Cullen in the Gallows (+10)
- Enemies Among Us: If Carver is present when rescuing Keran, choose "Templars are just as bad." (+10)
- An Errant Letter: Keep Ser Thrask's secret (+10)
- Finders Keepers: Attempt to trick the guards by the docks with the special choice, "Fire!" (Available only for a Humorous/Charming Hawke) (+5)
- Note: It is also possible to gain the same approval for Varric, but you cannot receive approval from both characters. If Varric and Merrill are both with you at the time, Merrill will always receive the approval over Varric.
- The Gallows: Visiting the Gallows with Fenris for the first time will initiate a dialogue scene. If Merrill is present, choose the response, "It is wrong to oppress mages." (+5)
- Magistrate's Orders: Kill Kelder (+10)
- Shepherding Wolves: Accept the quest from Sister Petrice (+10)
- Shepherding Wolves: Refuse to hand Ketojan over to the Qunari (+5)
- Tranquility: Promise Lirene you won't harm Anders (+5)
- Wayward Son: Tell Vincento to make it up to his son for his neglect (+10)
- Wayward Son: Go to the Gallows and tell Ser Thrask you want to help find Feynriel (+10)
- Wayward Son: Allow Feynriel to go to the Dalish (+10)
- Welcome Home: Choose the dialogue option "You're welcome." (+5)
Act 2[]
- A Bitter Pill: When asked by Orana what she should do, select the following dialogue options (+5)
- "Come work for me."
- "I will pay her."
- Back from Sundermount: After giving the Arulin'Holm to Merrill, "They'll come around" (Diplomatic) (+5)
- Forbidden Knowledge: Choose to use or take the first evil tome in the sidequest: (+5) (for first tome only)
- Mirror Image: Flirt with Merrill (+5)
- Mirror Image: Accept the quest (+10)
- Mirror Image: Give her the arulin'holm, either on the first or the second chance (+15)
- Questioning Beliefs (Arulin'Holm given to Merrill): Flirt with Merrill (+5), all other options (+10)
- Night Terrors: Tell Marethari that you will not kill Feynriel (+5)
- Night Terrors: Accept Torpor's offer to bring him Feynriel (+5)
- Merrill, An Apology: Will become active once Night Terrors completed if Merrill accompanied you to Fade. You can gain up to (+15) depending on response sequences (see quest for details).
- Wooden Halla: Give her the gift (along the Friendship path) (+15)
- To Catch a Thief: Give Isabela the Relic (+10)
- Demands of the Qun: Refuse to give Isabela to the Arishok (+10)
Act 3[]
- A New Path: When talking to Merrill to initiate the quest, agree without suggesting she talk to the keeper first (+10)
- A New Path: Ask Marethari how to fix the eluvian (+10)
- A New Path: After the battle with the demon, say that Marethari was stupid (+15)
- A New Path: After the battle say stand down OR Marethari was possessed (+10)
- Memento of the Dalish: Give Merrill the Sylvanwood Ring (on the Friendship path) (+15)
Rivalry[]
Rivalry with Merrill can generally be earned by contradicting the "hows" of developing a friendship with her, as mentioned above. You can also receive (+5) rivalry the first time you pay for any of the workers at the Blooming Rose if Merrill is in your party.
Act 1[]
- Act of Mercy: Deny the quest (You'll still have the quest anyway) (+10)
- Act of Mercy: Tell Grace to go back to the circle (+10)
- Bait and Switch: At the end of the quest Hawke says, "I'm well aware." (only available to a non-mage Hawke who brought a mage along during the second half of this quest.) (+5)
- Enemies Among Us: If Carver is present when rescuing Keran, choosing magic is not the problem (+10)
- Enemies Among Us: After the quest, upon speaking to Knight-Captain Cullen, say you support the templars (Mage only) (+10)
- The Gallows: Visiting the Gallows with Fenris and Merrill for the first time will initiate a dialogue scene. If Fenris is present, choose the response, "The Circle is necessary." (+5)
- Magistrate's Orders: Choosing to help Kelder (+10)
- Wayward Son: Convince Feynriel to go the Circle (+10)
- Welcome Home: Choosing "Don't Thank Me" (+5)
Act 2[]
- Back from Sundermount: After NOT giving the Arulin'Holm to Merrill (as the Keeper requests), tell Merrill that you are trying to help her (agreeable tactful option), or that she can't complete the mirror (wry, humourous or witty option) (+25). Telling Merrill you don't trust her with the tool (aggressive option) (+10)
- Forbidden Knowledge: Destroying an Evil Tome or the Fell Grimoire results in (+10) if Merrill is in the party. The total amount of rivalry which can be gained by destroying all tomes is (+60)
- Mirror Image: Refusing to do the quest (+30) Refuse via witty + investigate (+10). Refuse aggressively (+25) Note: The quest will still be available, though.
- Mirror Image: After defeating the Varterral, ask Merrill what she did to scare Pol this much ("Why did he run?") (+15)
- Mirror Image: After defeating the Varterral, tell Merrill that Pol ran away from her because he is a coward ("Don't waste your tears.") (+10)
- Mirror Image: After receiving the Arulin'Holm from the Keeper, refuse to give it to Merrill twice. This will result in either a reversal of total friendship or (+15). See quest page for details.
- Night Terrors: During the dialogue with Marethari, choose to kill Feynriel if things go wrong in the fade (+10)
- Night Terrors: Refuse Torpor's offer: (+5)
- Night Terrors: During the dialogue with the Marethari-demon, choose "Don't trust it Merrill" (+20). Choose the "Don't dare turn on me" option (+10)
- Merrill, An Apology: Will become active once Night Terrors completed and Merrill accompanied you to Fade. You can gain up to (+10) depending on response sequences (see quest for details).
- Questioning Beliefs: Flirting nets (+5), picking two diplomatic options nets (+15), while other options yield (+20)
- Wooden Halla: Giving her the gift (on the Rivalry path) (+15)
- Demands of the Qun: Give Isabela to the Arishok (+10)
Act 3[]
- Alone: Hand Fenris over to Danarius (+10)
- Memento of the Dalish: Give Merrill the Sylvanwood Ring (on the Rivalry path) (+15)
- A New Path: When talking to Merrill to initiate the quest, suggest she talk to the keeper first or refuse the quest (+10) (the quest will still be avilable)
- A New Path: Talk to Keeper Marethari before heading to the top of Sundermount and say "Talk some sense into Merrill." (+10)
- A New Path: After the battle with the demon, tell Merrill that she should have listened (+15). Then say "She loved you." or "This could have been you." (+15) or "That's not up to you." or "Merrill, you were being crazy." (+25)
- A New Path: Telling the rest of her clan that you will take responsibility for Merrill's actions (+15)