Shapeshifter
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- For the Fade version in Dragon Age: Origins, see Shapeshifting (Fade).
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| Description:
| Rumors speak of barbarians that hold secrets of transforming the body into the form of animals. The Circle of Magi denies such rumors, but this rare art survives in the forgotten corners of Thedas. Mastery of their bodies allows shapeshifters some protection, even in human form, making them durable opponents and staunch allies.
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Shapeshifter is a mage specialization in Dragon Age: Origins which allows the person to transform their body into the form of an animal.
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Shapeshifters in Thedas 
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Rumors speak of barbarians that hold secrets of transforming the body into the form of animals. The Circle of Magi denies such stories. But this rare art survives in the forgotten corners of Thedas. While the Circle of Magi would prefer that it be so, theirs is not the only tradition of magic in Thedas. Prior to the Circle’s formation, magic was either practiced by the Magisters of the Tevinter Imperium or in remote areas, knowledge handed down from one generation of practitioners to the next. “Hedge mages,” as Enchanters of the Circle refer to them, or “witches” as legend would name them, do not always employ forbidden magic. Quite often their talents lie in the creation of charms, the use of curses and the ability to change their own forms.[1]
Added by MyNickIsTakenSoIUseThisOneThis skill is also known by Keepers of the Dalish clans, as revealed in a possible conversation between Morrigan and the Dalish Elf Origin Warden. Abominations also appear to have limited shapeshifting abilities such as:
- Baroness
- Connor Guerrin
- Evelina
- Grace
- Lady of the forest (the host is a worf in this case)
- Marethari
- Uldred
- Wilmod
Shapeshifter spellsEdit
 Spider Shape | Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 50 Fatigue: 5% Cooldown: 90s Requires: Level 7 | The shapeshifter can transform into a giant spider, gaining a large bonus to nature resistance as well as the spider's Web and Poison Spit abilities. The caster's spellpower determines how powerful the form is. With Master Shapeshifter, the mage becomes a corrupted spider, growing still stronger and gaining the Overwhelm ability. |
 Bear Shape | Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 60 Fatigue: 5% Cooldown: 90s Requires: Level 8 | The shapeshifter can transform into a bear, gaining large bonuses to nature resistance and armor as well as the bear's Slam and Rage abilities. The caster's spellpower further enhances this bear's statistics and abilities. With Master Shapeshifter, this form transforms the caster into a powerful bereskarn and gains the Overwhelm ability. |
 Flying Swarm | Sustained Range: Personal Upkeep: 30 Fatigue: 5% Cooldown: 60s Requires: Level 10 | The shapeshifter's body explodes into a swarm of stinging insects that inflict nature damage on nearby foes, with the damage increasing based on the caster's spellpower and proximity. While in this form, the caster gains Divide the Swarm, and any damage the shapeshifter suffers is drawn from mana instead of health, but the caster regenerates no mana. The swirling cloud of insects is immune to normal missiles and has a very good chance of evading physical attacks but is extremely vulnerable to fire. With Master Shapeshifter, the character gains health whenever the swarm inflicts damage. |
 Master Shapeshifter | Passive Requires: Level 12 | Mastery of the shifter's ways alters the forms of Bear Shape and Spider Shape, allowing the caster to become a bereskarn and a corrupted spider, both considerably more powerful than their base forms. In those forms, the shapeshifter also gains Overwhelm. Additionally, the Flying Swarm shape drains health from foes whenever the main swarm inflicts damage. |
Unlocking Edit
Added by Snfonseka- Morrigan will teach this specialization if her approval of you is neutral; she is not willing to do so once her approval rises above 25.
- You can purchase a Shapeshifter Manual from Varathorn in the Dalish Camp at the Brecilian Outskirts for around 12.
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Shapeshifting Mechanics Edit
When the caster assumes a new form, the Strength, Dexterity and Constitution attributes may be replaced by those of the chosen form, which are based on Spellpower. Any attribute which would be higher in unshifted form will remain unchanged. Bonuses given by equipment to any stats (including Armor, Armor Penetration, Defense, and Damage) are calculated after changing forms.
Build and form strategies Edit
There are generally two types of Shapeshifters: the "mage", who focuses on spell-casting and only uses the Shapeshifter talents for the specific use of an ability/form or after the depletion of mana; and the "specialist", who aims to make their shifted forms as strong as possible.
The "mage" does not invest at all in the Strength and Dexterity attributes. They primarily shift forms to tank specific bosses (as the forms are immune to powerful boss abilities like Grab and Knockback). The "specialist" invests in the Strength, Dexterity and Magic attributes, as all three will usefully improve the Shapeshifter forms.
Spider Edit
Spider Shape is the most versatile of the forms, with two ranged attacks as well as the powerful Overwhelm (ability) gained with Master Shapeshifter. The Spider Shape's attributes scale the slowest with increasing Spellpower, however, making it the weakest form for "mage" Shapeshifters.
Bear Edit
Bear Shape is the toughest form and does the most Physical damage. Its attacks are much slower than the Spider Shape's, so equipping a staff (for auto-hit and Armor Penetration) before shifting is recommended, especially at lower levels. Bear Shape also scales faster with increasing Spellpower than the Spider Shape, remaining useful throughout the campaign.
Flying Swarm Edit
Flying Swarm's damage-over-time attack does not harm allies and is capable of doing greater damage (per target) than most damage-over-time spells at the same level of Spellpower. It is the fastest of the forms and the only one that does not alter any of the mage's main attributes. Instead, Flying Swarm improves the mage's base Missile Deflection stat, making it particularly useful for "specialist" Shapeshifters.
Notable specialization combinations Edit
"Mage" Shapeshifters may wish to consider the passive benefits of any given second specialization.
Arcane Warrior Edit
Arcane Warrior gives greater flexibility in equipment, making higher stat values possible when in shifted form.
Spirit Healer Edit
The Shapeshifter's versatility works well with the Spirit Healer's focus on defense, helping them avoid damage until their talents are needed, at which point they can shift instantly back to human form to cast them.
Battlemage Edit
Battlemage enables a mage to inflict high area-of-effect damage. Switching to the Spider form allows the mage to use its Web ability to hold enemies within the area, and to Overwhelm enemies that manage to flee it.
Notes Edit
- Sustained spells are automatically deactivated by shapeshifting.
- Casters do not have access to potions and other items while in shifted form.
- If the weapon equipped prior to shifting is a staff, then the shifted form will not deliver critical hits.
- Most defensive bonuses (e.g. Physical, Mental and elemental Resistances) from equipped items are carried over when shifting.
- Armor rating for Spider or Bear form is either a default, fixed value or from the mage's base armor from equipment (whichever is higher). If the mage's Armor is higher than Bear Form's base armor, Bear Form increases it by 10.
- The mage cannot Level Up while shifted. Experience will appear to halt at the amount required for the next level. The next experience gain while in "natural" form will trigger the level advance. (No earned XP will be lost in either form - it will be added retroactively when the level is properly gained.)
Known shapeshifters Edit
See also Edit
- Players are researching the effect of spellpower on shapeshifting abilities here.
References Edit
- ↑ "Shapeshifter" on the official wiki. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
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