In Dragon Age II, Hawke (male or female) can pursue a heterosexual or homosexual romance. There are five companions who can be romanced: Isabela, a rogue pirate captain; Merrill, a young Dalish elf; Anders, an apostate mage who was formerly a Grey Warden; Fenris, an elf and former Tevinter slave; and Sebastian, a DLC companion. No other companions can be romanced.

It is possible to sleep with all companions, except Sebastian, in a single game. Sleeping with any of the companions does not prevent the development of other romances. However asking either Anders or Merrill to move in after sleeping with them will deactivate the romance flags of all other characters, and remove critical flirt lines from their dialogue. Alternatively, if at the end of the cut scene where you sleep with either Anders or Merrill, you choose the breaking heart option to indicate that it was merely a one-night stand, you may continue with other romances. The companion you want to stay with in Act 3 must be the last one you have slept with in Act 2. As Sebastian's romance has the prerequisite of never initiating a flirt option with any companion or NPC character, he can never be simultaneously romanced.

Other encounters

• Prostitutes at The Blooming Rose
• Jethann (male elf during The First Sacrifice at The Blooming Rose)
• Zevran Arainai (During A Murder of Crows; it is also possible to engage in a threesome with Zevran and Isabela)

Notes

• Sebastian will never sleep with the player. His is a chaste romance.
• All love interests, except Sebastian, may be romanced by either gender.
• After a romance is successfully completed, Isabela, Merrill and Fenris will receive a new outfit. The change is merely aesthetic, but sometimes previously socketed runes disappear.
• Just sleeping with a character will get you the Flirtatious achievement/trophy (the first time), but the Romantic achievement/trophy won't unlock until just before the final battle in Act 3.
• Romance is not affected by rivalry or friendship; they only affect the companion's responses, although most flirt options grant friendship points. For Fenris, Anders and Merrill you will need at least 50% rivalry or friendship to start their respective Questioning Beliefs quest for the cutscene.