The Dragon Age Inquisition Mages vs Templars Choice
The Dragon Age Inquisition Mages vs Templars choice is one of the game’s toughest. As members of the Inquisition, you are placed in a position of power to decide whether to support Mages or Templars in their quest for reform. Depending on your choice, you can become the leader of either group, and the fate of both factions lies in your hands.
But does a particular group have it out for your favourite characters?
The Dragon Age series has a history of mistrust and fear towards magic users, with Mages abused and oppressed by their Templar guards, forced to live in fear and hiding from those who hunt and kill them. The Qunari go even further, sewing the mouths of Mages shut and using them as living weapons – simply because they fear what they don’t understand. So, who’s right and who’s wrong? Well, both sides have good and bad individuals.
Mages in Dragon Age are feared due to their potential for losing control and causing harm, using dangerous magic like blood magic and necromancy. However, the Templars exist to combat magic and demons, and believe that their training gives them an edge over rogue magic users and abominations.
The Templars and Their Motivation
But who are the Templars and what drives them to abuse the Mages? The lore behind the Templars suggests that they are a necessary evil, training Mages in order to better control them. However, the game seems to push you to sympathise with Mages and include them in your party, even if you don’t necessarily agree with their views.
There are bad individuals on both sides, too – the Mage Anders, for example, commits acts of terrorism and destroys a Chantry simply because he believes Mages should have complete freedom to use their abilities. The Templars are often portrayed as the ‘good guys’, but that doesn’t mean they can’t go rogue.
Throughout the series, you meet many Mages – would a Mage character naturally side with Mages over Templars? In Dragon Age Inquisition, some of your party members support Mages unconditionally, whereas others tolerate your choice if the Mages are controlled.
For example, characters like Dorian and Solas strongly advocate for supporting Mages, whereas Vivienne tolerates the choice if the Mages are controlled, as long as they are under her control. In the end, the choice between supporting Mages or Templars is a difficult one, with no clear answer, making it one of gaming’s toughest choices.
If you choose to support the Templars, you will become their leader, and the Mages will serve Corypheus. However, Corypheus’ second in command becomes Calpernia, a talented and capable leader, who can be convinced to betray Corypheus if you have the right leverage.
On the other hand, choosing the Mages means the Templars serve Corypheus, but his second in command becomes Calpernia, a talented and capable leader. She can be convinced to betray Corypheus if you have the right leverage. Ultimately, though, both quests are equally interesting in terms of lore implications.
The Mage quest has you travelling to a future where Corypheus wins, whereas the Templar quest introduces a boss battle against an Envy demon and provides insight into Cullen’s tragic lyrium addiction, a prevalent issue among Templars. In the end, both quests and outcomes are equally compelling, making the choice between supporting Mages or Templars equally difficult.
