Arcane Warrior looks like a fun class to play in Dragon Age: Origins. I currently have an Elven Mage at level 8 and I’m still thinking of what spec I’ll take on. I’m currently doing some research on Arcane Warrior guides and I’ll just re-post what I find here for everyone’s perusal.
Kill the Ogre! (Can’t find a decent Arcane Warrior pic lol)
What’s an Arcane Warrior?
One of the dream characters of a lot of RPG fans is to have the raw firepower of mages combined with the sturdiness and strength of armored knights. That’s pretty much what you get with the Arcane Warrior. Imagine armor plated mages wielding swords that draw power from their innate magical energies. It can deal massive damage and can hold their own during battle, which breaks the “glass tower” concept. I still think that focused mages can out-damage Arcane Warriors but it’s so hard to pass up this class since it’s so interesting and the concept is just fun.
How do I become an Arcane Warrior?
You unlock this class during the Nature of the Beast quest line in the Bracilian Ruins. You’ll find a Broken Stone Altar in the middle right section of the two outstretching quarters. There’s a crystal that’s not sparkling that you’ll find hidden in the shadows of the room next to the headless statute. You should find a phylactery there that will “speak to you”. Make sure it teaches you the Arcane Warrior spec before you break it.
What Attributes are important for the Arcane Warrior Spec?
Note that if you’re starting out you really need to put your points in Magic and in Will Power because you’re a normal mage at the start. Don’t expect to knock out hordes of enemies with your “Apprentice Staff”. You’ll need to pump up the damage of the initial spells at your disposal so that your main character is actually useful.
Strength: You don’t need any. Arcane Warriors have a skill that will “switch” your Magic to Strength which will dictate what kind of armor you can wear and what kind of weapons you can yield.
Willpower: This is debatable. A lot of people in various forums say that you don’t need to put any points in here since you can always use consumables to boost your efficiency. However I think you need to strike a balance so that you don’t have to chug down potions all the time. Most of the damage you dish out will be coming from your attacks pumped up with passive skills but you’ll still need mana for emergency heals and whatnot. If you get the Blood Mage spec though at 14, you can just give up HP for mana boosts. Yummy.
Dexterity: Sadly you might have to put some points here because the Arcane Warrior skill of switching Magic for Strength doesn’t give you more hit rate. Some people in say though that the buffs that you get later on from your skills and the skills of your partymates will offset this. If you’re not the “min-maxer” type, then you should consider putting in some points here at the start to make sure that you don’t keep on missing your attacks.
Magic: You need it. Lots of it. Especially since it determines damage, what armor you can wear, and what weapons you can equip. It also increases the potency of your active spells, including heals. Oh, it also increases melee damage. This is your most important stat.
Constitution: Another balancing act. I’m a firm believer though that you should invest some points in here regardless if you go Spirit Healer or not. This becomes even more important if you decide to take on the Blood Mage spec at level 14. Some guides that I’ve read say that you need around 25-30 if you’re a Blood Mage and less than 20 if you’re a Spirit Healer spec.
What Skills do I need to allocate on?
This really depends on your preference but I might try out getting Poison Making for my Arcane Warrior to boost weapon damage and it also gives you another damage channel using the bombs. I wish there was a form of skill reset though. I already put points in Herbalism (meehhh~).
Arcane Warrior Spells
Arcane Warrior unlocks four new spells for the class. Here they are with some insights on them:
Combat Magic: While this mode is active, the arcane warrior channels magic inward, trading increased fatigue for an attack bonus and the ability to use spellpower to determine combat damage. Aura of Might and Fade Shroud improve the effects. Additionally, regardless of whether the mode is active, an arcane warrior who has learned this spell may use the magic attribute to satisfy the strength requirement to equip higher-level weapons or armor.
Aura of Might: The arcane warrior’s prowess with Combat Magic grows, granting additional bonuses to attack, defense, and damage while in that mode.
Shimmering Shield: The arcane warrior is surrounded by a shimmering shield of energy that blocks most damage and grants large bonuses to armor and all resistances. When active, however, the Shimmering Shield consumes mana rapidly.
Fade Shroud: The arcane warrior now only partly exists in the physical realm while Combat Magic is active. Spanning the gap between the real world and the Fade grants a bonus to mana regeneration and a chance to avoid attacks.
Spell Strategy for Arcane Warriors
There are a lot of spells that you can use for Arcane Warriors. For the benefit of being concise, I’ll just list down what seems to be a good choice of spells that you REALLY need as an Arcane Warrior. Feel free to share your advice as well if I missed anything important.
ARCANE SHIELD: Must-have. The defense bonus makes you tougher and the upkeep/mana cost ain’t too shabby as well. This helped me out a lot when I was starting out in the earlier levels of the game. Mages are so soft. Ugh.
FLAMING WEAPONS: My favorite passive weapon spell. It gives a pretty decent damage boost and you’ll also be increasing the damage of all other melee warriors in your team. The effects are also nice to look at. I mean who wouldn’t want a flaming sword, right? 
FIREBALL: Some people say that as Arcane Warriors you shouldn’t get this because it will force you to sheathe your weapons. However, I think it’s worth the point because it’s a good AOE spell that dishes out respectable damage and it knocks down your opponents. This spell will also make life a whole lot easier during the early stages of the game.
STONE FIST: Good combo spell on frozen targets. Can shatter frozen opponents instantly killing them. Has high mana cost though so don’t use it all the time.
ROCK ARMOR: Don’t know if this stacks with Arcane Shield but it should because it gives you more armor (Arcane Shield gives more Defense).
HEAL: I think all mages should have this because it’s worth that 1 extra point. Very useful in those “Oh-no-I-ran-out-of-potions” instances which seem to happen a lot, hehe. I don’t think the Arcane Warrior should be your main healer (for obvious reasons) but that shouldn’t stop him from dishing out emergency heals every now and then.
HASTE: 4 points to get. Up to you if you can spare it. If your other party mate has it that will free you up for more points.
SPELL WISP: Debatable but this will come in very handy if you decide to spec Blood Mage later on.
MIASMA: Very good passive spell. You’ll ge this less and you’ll hit your opponents more. Some people say that it’s too expensive (in terms of mana) but it’s just too good to pass up in my honest opinon.
MIND BLAST: One of my personal favorites. It can easily get aggro and initial threat. Effects look cool too, hehe.
FORCE FIELD: Very, very, very important spell that you need for obvious reasons.
CRUSHING PRISON: Some people say that this is the best spell in the game so you might want to get it 
Note that this guide is NOT AT ALL exhaustive. This is only based on my limited playing experience and what I was able to research online. Feel free to add to it by leaving comments and I’ll be more than happy to do edits.
Cheers and have fun with your Arcane Warrior!
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theedge on November 19, 2009
wauks, u have a ps3 right? , heavily suggested ang Uncharted 2.
un lang. ))
ex_ragnarok_player on November 19, 2009
dahil sa mga sinabi mo dito sa blog mo tungkol sa dragon age origins napabili tuloy ako kahapon. haha
Wauks on November 19, 2009
@theedge: Gotcha bro. But I’ll buy it later on. I’m spending enough time as it is with Dragon Age: Origins, hehe. Bumili din ako Naruto Storm pero mukhang masyadong pambata yung gameplay.
@ex_ragnarok_player: PS3 or PC? Either way sulit yan man.
Dragon Age: Origins Gift Guide | Waukster Online on November 19, 2009
[...] Links « Dragon Age: Origins Arcane Warrior Guide [...]
ex_ragnarok_player on November 19, 2009
for pc binili ko. Ang ganda ng gameplay talagang diskarte ang kelangan. Maganda din ang graphics ^^ Elven magi ginawa ko. Sobrang ganda ng spell animations :drool:
Wauks on November 19, 2009
I also made an Elven Magi, hehe. What are you planning on taking? Arcane Warrior? I’m thinking of going Blood Mage / Shapeshifter.
ex_ragnarok_player on November 19, 2009
gusto ko kasi pure offense e.. may konting skills naman kasi na pampakunat para maka absorb ka ng damage so i think blood mage kukunin ko . Yung arcane warrior hndi ba parang battle mage yun? hahaha
ex_ragnarok_player on November 19, 2009
tsaka plano ko din kasi na ung party members sila gagawin kong tank tapos ako hahanap nalng ng magandang pwesto para maka bato ng spells. well un yung pinaplano ko ^_^
BRotoke on November 20, 2009
@wauks
Highly recommend ko din wauks, modern warfare 2. Amazing game. Best played with the ps3 IMO.
Wauks on November 20, 2009
@Brotoke: Will take a look bro. Thanks.
@ex: Ayos yan, hehe.
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kaillian on November 26, 2009
I actually feel that herbalism is VERY important even if you only get one point in it, more so than poison in some ways. I’ve been able to play the game, thus far, as an arcane warrior with only lesser health poultices. As Magic boosts the effect of these, a lesser health poultice can heal a large amount of your health, much more than it would for any other melee class. Lesser Health Poultices are very easy to make, only need one more in herblism.
Galatea on November 28, 2009
Hi, just bought Dragon Age: Origins. I think it was a cool game and I’m planning to make a mage. And I want my mage to use basically all magics in dealing damage. So I was wondering what would be the best build to make.
But then I saw your blog and there were only four builds or I should say Class Specialization for mages in which I can choose from. Like what you have stated those are: Arcane Warrior, Blood Mage, Spirit Healer and Shapeshifter. And nothing fits my taste.
So I was wondering maybe is it possible to just continue the game without choosing any CS.
Though I can see that the Blood Mage CS looks promising and I want to try it.
Nice guide! Galing naman… hehe
Dragon Age: Origins Spirit Healer Guide | Waukster Online on December 1, 2009
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XavZz on December 4, 2009
I am an Elven Arcane Warrior,
I outlive the rest of my party each time by far.
Stan
Shale
Zefren
I only use sustainable and passive spells And Dual Wield
The Veshialle (Dragonbone)
Does 10 damage
+ 6 lines of other bonusses
+2 nature damage
+ 3 Enchantments ( +5 cold, + 5 electr. and +5 Electr.)
Other hand Olaf’s Prized Cheesecutter.
Wich has 2x +3 Electr. Damage
Spells:
Rock Armor, Death Magic (it sucks up the health from the dead enemy’s; So I never need Potions) Arcane Shield, Flaming Weapons , Telekenetic weapons And Combat Magic.)
Armor:
Full Blood Dragon Armor + 2 Rings tthat give 10 Wilpower Extra
and A belt That gives my regeneration and Magic a great boost
PC Mod:
I Can Cast All Spells Without sheathing my Weapons.
REALLY REALLY OWNAGE !!
I’m SO good i Can’t wait to test myself agains the Archdemon
I suggest anyone to give it a try =)
Sustainables Are So Awsome
Dragon Age: Origins – Shale the Golem | Waukster Online on December 6, 2009
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Elite on December 6, 2009
To be honest im level 19 mage and i have to say crimson prison is a top rate spell but if u want real power invest into only 3 spells that if done simutaniously will win you any fight, this is the main reason i beat flemeth as a dragon ,electric= tempest(28 magic), fire=inferno(34 magic) this isnt very useful against dragons though lol and ice=Blizzard the best against any dragon or darkspawn(34 magic) …………..just wanted to say because if you want to kill all enemies and get loads of xp uses these 3 spells
p.s. arcane warrior rules!
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Vengeance146 on December 13, 2009
Blood wound (BM Spec) is the best spell in the game because it freezes the enemies and does constant damage. It also adds aggro, so those who survive the spell, will rush directly at you and you can kill them easy, especially if you also have the AW Spec.
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