Shade

According to the various sources, shades are either the true form of demons when they appear outside of the Fade without a host^[1]^[2] or the souls of the dead who have come back from the Fade into the mortal world.^[3]^[4] Some scholars believe their confusion with the waking world leaves them unable to possess the living or dead. It has also been speculated that the shades may believe that they are still in the Fade. Some shades may be content to float as shadows, assaulting the minds of anyone they encounter. The living are weakened when a shade is near.^[2]

Background

"It has often been suggested that the only way for a demon to affect the world of the living is by possessing a living (or once living) body, but this is not always true. Indeed, a shade is one such creature: a demon in its true form that has adapted to affect the world around it.

My hypothesis is this: we already know that many demons become confused when they pass through the Veil into our world. They are unable to tell the living from the dead, the very static nature of our universe being confusing to a creature that is accustomed to a physicality defined entirely by emotion and memory. Most demons seek to immediately seize upon anything they perceive as life, jealously attempting to possess it—but what of those that do not? What of those that encounter no life, or fail to possess a body? What of those that are more cautious by their nature?

These demons watch. They lurk. They envy.

In time, such a demon will learn to drain energy from the psyche of those it encounters, just as it did in the Fade. Once it has drained enough, it has the power to manifest and will forever after be known as a shade. Such a creature spurns possession. It instead floats as a shadow across its piece of land, preying upon the psyche of any who cross its path. Perhaps it believes itself still in the Fade? There is evidence to believe that is so.

A shade will weaken the living by its very proximity. If it focuses its will, it can drain a single target very quickly. Some have even been known to assault the minds of a living victim, causing confusion or horror and making the target ripe for the kill. The tragedy of a shade is perhaps that, once it has drained a target whole, its appetite is only heightened rather than slaked."

—From the journal of former Senior Enchanter Maleus, once of the Circle of Rivain, declared apostate in 9:20 Dragon Age.

Researched: Damage Against Demons Increased

—From Codex entry: Shade

Involvement

Shades are divided into two types: lesser and greater. The latter gain stat increase and several additional abilities. Both types have got 50% Fire resistance and have normal reaction to any other damage. Like all demons, they're also immune to stun and knockback/knockdown effects. Finally, they rely on mana and are thus vulnerable to templar abilities, Mana Drain, Mana Clash and Magebane Poison.

Abilities

Both types: Slam may refer to:

Slam (ash wraith), a talent used by Ash wraiths.
Slam (bear), a talent used by Bears.
Slam (broodmother), a talent used by Broodmother.
Slam (golem), a talent used by Golems.
Slam (rage demon), a talent used by Rage demons.

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Drain Life
Weakness
Vulnerability Hex

Greater shades only: Leap may refer to:

Leap (ash wraith), the creature ability
Leap (shriek), the creature ability

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Aura of Weakness
Misdirection Hex
Horror
Mind Blast

The Mage's Treasure

While obtaining the final piece of the Juggernaut armor set, the Warden will encounter some uncommon shades. Instead of appearing in their true form, they appear as ghostly elves, presumably because they have stolen their forms. One will guard the sarcophagus with the final piece, while the other two will appear if the player gets the ritual's sequence wrong. They have the human profile and thus they can be knocked down/stunned and lack the fire resistance. Also, instead of the usual shade skills, they will use the following:

Sarcophagus shade: Death Syphon
Winter's Grasp
Blizzard
Crushing Prison
Fireball

"Ritual" shades: Death Syphon
Miasma
Misdirection Hex
Vulnerability Hex
Chain Lightning
Sleep

Notable shades

Notes

It is not known if The Dark Theurge encountered in Vigil's Keep - Deep Roads is another Shade variation or just a more powerful form of the same creature.
Two boss-ranked greater shades can be fought throughout the game: one in the Korcari Wilds during A Pinch of Ashes quest, and the other during the Treacherous Path random encounter.
Like the rage demons, shades will often rise up from the ground. However, instead of sinking back down with black outline, they dissipate into a cloud of grayish-black substance, which disappears in a second.