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Note: See the Approval (Inquisition) page for an explanation on point values

In general, you can gain Varric's approval by being friendly with him, supporting him during and after the fight with Cassandra, and occasionally joking with him, or being witty in conversations with others with him in the party. Blaming him during and after the fight with Cassandra will gain disapproval as well as showing disinterest during conversations.

Recruitment[]

Varric joins the Inquisitor automatically during The Wrath of Heaven.

Varric's Disposition[]

The player can tell generally how Varric feels about the Inquisitor by engaging him in a "generic" conversation (i.e. a conversation where his greeting is not changed by any other factors such as a quest or cutscene).

Hostile (-75 to -5):
Varric will greet the Inquisitor with "Yes?"
Neutral (-5 to 34):
Varric will greet the Inquisitor with "Need something?"
Warm (35 to 74)
Varric will greet the Inquisitor in one of the following ways:
  • "I've got a minute if you need something."
  • "Looking for someone to talk your ear off? I think I can oblige."
  • "What can I do for you, Inquisitor?"
Friendly (75 to 125):
Varric will greet the Inquisitor in one of the following ways:
  • "I can spare some time. What do you need?"
  • "If you've got questions, I'm your dwarf."
  • "Need something, or are you just here to admire the dwarf?"
  • "Something you wanted to talk about?"
  • "What can I do for you, your inquisitoralness?"

Cutscenes[]

Prologue[]

How do you think we should proceed?
  • Take the mountain path. - DAIApproval Approves
  • Charge with the soldiers.

Are you alright?[]

Haven only, first attempt to speak to him...

Most people would have spread that out over more than one day.
  • (Pleased) I'm just glad to be alive. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • (Confused) I can barely keep up. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • (Sad) Too many people died up there. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • (Stoic) I'm fine. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves
  • (Mad) This is all bullshit. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
"Bad for morale" would be an understatement. I still can't believe anyone was in there and lived.
No approval changes

After In Hushed Whispers / Champions of the Just[]

Haven; his initial lines vary based on which quest was completed, but the rest is the same regardless

Finding more of it really punches a hole in my "red lyrium at the temple was a coincidence" theory.
No approval changes
You just won a big victory for the Inquisition! What're you going to do to celebrate?
  • Plan for what's next.
  • Catch my breath. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • Anything but celebrate.
  • Have a party. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves

The fight with Cassandra[]

Skyhold, after speaking to Hawke and when talking to Cassandra...

Varric: You kidnapped me! You interrogated me! What did you expect?
  • [Intervene.] -  DAIApproval Approves
  • [Stay out of it.]DAIApproval Disapproves
If [Stay out of it.] is chosen...
Varric: Look at her! She's finally lost it!
  • Stop this Fighting! - DAIApproval Cassandra Slightly Disapproves
  • This is funny. - DAIApproval Cassandra Disapproves
  • Leave me out of this. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves, DAIApproval Cassandra Slightly Approves
If [Intervene.] is chosen...
Cassandra: Hawke would have been at the Conclave! If anyone could have saved Most Holy...
  • Cassandra, back off! - DAIApproval Cassandra Disapproves
  • Varric's not at fault. - DAIApproval Approves
  • Varric, you bastard. - DAIApproval Greatly Disapproves
  • What's done is done.
Cassandra: We all know who's side you're on, Varric. It will never be the Inquisition's.
  • We need to work together. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • Varric's earned his place. - DAIApproval Approves, DAIApproval Cassandra Disapproves
  • That's unfair Cassandra. - DAIApproval Approves, DAIApproval Cassandra Disapproves
  • I'm well aware. - 2× DAIApproval Disapproves, DAIApproval Cassandra Approves
Varric leaves...
Cassandra: I am such a fool.
Q What if it had been different? (This will remove the romance option.))
  • (Romance) I still like you. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • Don't blame yourself. - DAIApproval Approves
  • We're all fools, Cassandra. - DAIApproval Approves
  • We need to do better. - DAIApproval Disapproves

After the fight with Cassandra[]

Varric is visibly upset as he leans against a table; says nothing as Inquisitor approaches...
  • Are you alright? - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • She's calmed down. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • No more secrets. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves
I wasn't trying to keep secrets. I told the Inquisition everything that seemed important at the time.
  • You knew about Corypheus. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves
  • I believe you. - DAIApproval Approves
  • Hawke should've joined sooner. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves
  • Talk to Cassandra.
  • Choose a side. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves

Corypheus is back...[]

Available after moving to Skyhold

First two sets of choices have no approval changes
Maker's breath, what have I let loose?
  • This isn't your fault. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • I think you're confused. - DAIApproval Approves
  • It doesn't matter.

I'm a business man[]

Skyhold, requires +35

Varric is writing something...
No approval changes
I'm a business man. Never really followed a chosen one before.
  • I'm just like you. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • Make it up as you go. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • Just be my friend. - DAIApproval Approves
  • Just do what I do. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves
  • I'm not the chosen one. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
You just don't know what you are to the people out there. The Herald of Andraste is a symbol bigger than any of us.
No approval changes
You heard the crowd singing after Haven was attacked.
  • I'm still me though.
  • Please don't sing. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • This is giving me a headache. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves

Crisis[]

Requires -30

You leave a lot of innocent people ground into the dirt behind you.
No approval changes

After Here Lies the Abyss[]

If Hawke survived and the Warden ally was left behind:

He wasn't the first good man to fall to Corypheus. He won't be the last. This story's no good for heroes.
  • At least Hawke survived.  DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • We heroes might make it. DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • He will be the last. DAIApproval Slightly Approves

If Hawke was left behind and the Warden ally survived:

Their weird, foreign foodstuff arrived... alive. And one of them, true to its name, wandered off in the middle of the night.
  • If it helps, tell the story. DAIApproval Approves
  • I'm sorry, Varric.
  • [Hug him] DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • He/She said goodbye to you. DAIApproval Slightly Approves

Bianca Davri[]

Skyhold, after Here Lies the Abyss.
Begins the quest Well, Shit.

Bianca: Well, this is a suprise. You're the Inquisitor. Bianca Davri, at your service.
  • [Investigate.] - No approval change.
  • It's a pleasure. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • You two look nervous. - No approval change.
  • What's going on? - No approval change.
Bianca: There's a deep roads entrance crawling with strange humans carting out red lyrium by the handful.
  • [Investigate.] - No approval change.
  • We should shut this down. - DAIApproval Approves
  • We have other priorities. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves

A game of Wicked Grace[]

Requires +75, after finishing Well, Shit
Friendship cutscene
Varric will get his alternate tarot card

There you are, I've been looking all over for you.
No approval changes

Swords and Shields[]

Skyhold, after beginning Guilty Pleasures

I must have heard that wrong. It sounded like you just said that Cassandra read my books.
  • You sound surprised. - No approval change
  • She's a big fan. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • I did say that. - No approval change
That book is easily the worst I've ever written. The last issue barely sold enough to pay for the ink.
  • It can't be that bad. - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
  • Cassandra seems to like it. - DAIApproval Approves
  • No wonder she was embarrassed. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves
  • I need it as a gift. - No approval change
That's such a terrible idea, I have to do it. On one condition: I get to be there when you give her the book.
  • I don't think so. - No approval change, cannot progress Guilty Pleasures until you agree to Varric's terms.
  • Fine. - No approval change, advances Guilty Pleasures

Prompted conversations[]

After Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts[]

Just a short comment without approval changes

After What Pride Had Wrought[]

Just a short comment without approval changes

After choosing a Specialization[]

After a rogue Inquisitor chooses the Artificer specialization[]

No approval changes

Investigate[]

I have questions about Hawke.[]

  • Orsino's fate made no sense. - DAIApproval Slightly Disapproves
  • Where are Hawke's friends?
Unlocks Codex entry: Notorious Raider Trash if Isabela remained in Hawke's party and was not given to the Arishok in Dragon Age II
Remaining choices have no approval changes

I have a personal question.[]

No approval changes

Tell me about red lyrium.[]

Begins Seeing Red

No approval changes
A couple more options are available in this branch after In Hushed Whispers or Champions of the Just, but neither have any approval changes.

Tell me about Corypheus.[]

Available after speaking to Hawke

No approval changes

Let's discuss the Inquisition.[]

Requires +35

He talks about a random advisor or party member; never any approval changes

Special[]

Do you believe I'm the Herald?[]

No approval changes

Operations[]

There are 8 possible War table operations from Varric:

In the field[]

Approval changes only occur when Varric is in the active party unless otherwise noted. Other characters' approval changes can be seen compiled on the related quest pages.

Hinterlands[]

Seeing Red Quest[]

  • Destroying the nodes -  DAIApproval approves
  • Destroying the nodes without Varric in the party -  DAIApproval slightly approves

Anywhere[]

  • Killing a group of Red Templars - DAIApproval Slightly Approves
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