Should you choose Mage or Templar in Dragon Age: Inquisition?

Hostility between mages and templars is an ongoing issue explored in the Dragon Age series, and this tension comes to a head in Dragon Age: Inquisition when you are forced to publicly choose a side. As always with decision-making in Dragon Age, you'll need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of your choices and determine which route provides the ideal gameplay experience for you.

Note: You will unlock both Dorian and Cole as companions no matter which side you pick. Only the order of appearance and their manners of introduction will be changed.

Related: What is the Max Level in Dragon Age: Inquisition?

In Hushed Whispers: Siding with Mages

• Meet Dorian first
• Time travel quest!
• Unlock an extra song in the tavern rotation

If you choose to conscript the mages into the Inquisition, your companions will have the following reactions:

• Vivienne, Sera, and Iron Bull greatly approve
• Cassandra approves
• Dorian and Blackwall disapprove
• Cole and Solas greatly disapprove
• Varric approves/disapproves based on Hawke's decisions in Dragon Age 2

If you choose to ally with the mages, your companions will have the following reactions:

• Cole, Dorian, and Solas greatly approve
• Blackwall and Varric approve
• Sera and Iron Bull disapprove
• Cassandra and Vivienne greatly disapprove

Champions of the Just: Siding with Templars

• Meet Cole first
• Gain additional knowledge on Corypheus, the game's main villain
• Minor (but useful) stat buffs throughout quest

If you choose to disband the templars, your companions will have the following reactions:

• Sera, Solas, and Cole greatly approve
• Cassandra, Blackwall, Dorian, Iron Bull, and Vivienne disapprove

If you choose to ally with the templars, your companions will have the following reactions:

• Cassandra and Iron Bull greatly approve
• Varric, Blackwall, and Vivienne approve
• Dorian and Sera disapprove
• Cole and Solas greatly disapprove

Playing Both Sides

In the end, the "mage or templar" decision only alters what type of questline you experience, so choose whichever group you're most interested in. You'll meet unique characters and uncover secrets about either the mages or the templars, so your decision will likely be rooted in either yours or your Inquisitor's personal attitude towards the two factions.

Alternatively, you can always create a separate save file to experience both quests and compare them directly, giving you a broader view of Dragon Age: Inquisition's full story.

Want more Dragon Age content? Find out where to find all dragons in Dragon Age: Inquisition, or check out our list on the best classes offered in the game.