Breaking Down The Dragon Age: Inquisition Romance Options

The weight of the world may be on your shoulders, but that doesn't mean you won't find love along the way. Dragon Age: Inquisition has multiple romance options available, some specific to certain genders and races. You don't have to romance someone, since you might not find someone you want to cozy up with, and that's perfectly fine. However, for those who want to take the romantic plunge, we are giving you some insight into each character to help you make the decision. After all, it takes time and effort to woo these characters, so it's best to make the decision as early as possible.

If you want to romance someone, your best bet is to do their personal side quests and choose the heart option whenever you see it appear in conversation. This game doesn't have a set relationship meter like the past, but notifications appear that show whether characters approve or disapprove of your actions, letting you gauge where you stand with them. Basically, you want to pay attention to these reactions and not have them constantly disapprove of you.

Note: If you don't want to know which characters are potential love interests, don't read on.

Cassandra
Sexual Preference: Men

Cassandra is a strong-willed woman who hasn't exactly had time for romance. After all, as a Seeker of Truth and right hand of the Divine, she's been actively trying to prevent the world from falling into chaos. Now she's set on getting to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the tears in the sky - which are dropping demons all over Thedas. Cassandra has also had time to see the imperfections of the systems set in place to provide the world security - especially within The Chantry (the Templars and Seekers of Truth have since broken away from it). Still, she's an idealist at heart, and while she sees problems, she believes they can be fixed. Cassandra is one of your more level-headed party members; she acknowledges flaws, but that never stops her from striving for better. To get into her heart and pull her away from the mission at hand, you're going to have to do something to really grab her attention, and there's more to her than that tough front she puts up.

Blackwall
Sexual Preference: Women

Blackwall is proud of his life as a Grey Warden and has a strong sense of duty. Like Cassandra, that often means putting his personal life on hold, living a life of solitude. He joins your cause because he can't merely stand by and watch as the world crumbles. As writer Sheryl Chee revealed, he lives by the saying, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Most admirable is his willingness to risk his life for others, especially since he's seen his fair share of good men lose their lives. Obviously, Blackwall won't tolerate selfishness or someone who abuses their power, so he'll be keeping an eye on you to see how you treat those who sacrifice their lives in the name of the Inquisition. As a loner, he might not be the best at reading your romantic signals, so you're most likely going to need to be very direct to get the message across. It might be worth it though, as seeing Blackwall let his guard down and loosen up is rewarding in its own right. 

Josephine
Sexual Preference: Men and Women

As your chief diplomacy, Josephine always seems to have a plan that paints you in the best light. She's committed to her job, often forgetting to take time for herself. However, once you let her unwind and open up, she can talk your ear off. Josephine is one of the most important people in the Inquisition, yet she's quite modest, never shouting her victories from rooftops, and happy to be buried in paperwork. That's what makes her so admirable, in addition to her intelligence. Changing people's minds and managing egos isn't easy work, but Josephine manages it well. She takes a stand when need be, but she rather resolve things as peacefully as possible. Therefore, resorting to brute force to solve disagreements won't exactly rank you high in her book.

Iron Bull
Sexual Preference: Men and Women

As a Qunari, Iron Bull has lived a very different life from your other party members. Before hooking up with the Inquisition, this Ben-Hassrath agent was the one the Qunari sent in when things were getting out of control, though he is more focused on spy work when you meet him. He revels in his strength, but he doesn't need his ego stroked. Instead, he prefers to take a more relaxed approach to things. He lives a life as big as his body, indulging in food, alcohol, and casual sex. Iron Bull isn't the guy you go to for romance; he's the one you go to if you want to let off some steam. In the end, he's just looking for people he can depend on and have a laugh with, which is great if you need a break from the chaos around you.

Up next: A troublemaker, an outcast, and a returning character...

Sera
Sexual Preference: Women

This troublemaker is beyond nutty, and she's also hilarious. Sera is an impulsive person whose next word or move is always a delight because it's so outlandish. She doesn't really think ahead and is more concerned about the moment than focusing on the future. She's not much for authority, and she helps you stay humble as you get more powerful. She's an advocate for people who are often forgotten - ordinary civilians living ordinary lives. She's blunt and makes sure her voice is heard. The question really comes down to if you like what she's saying. If so, romancing her should be easy, but it'll be anything but ordinary. 

Dorian
Sexual Preference: Men

Dorian is pretty likeable all around. He has a quip for every occasion, and he isn't shy about voicing his thoughts. In fact, Dorian comes from a wealthy family, and his enhanced skill for magic led to him being groomed from a young age for the Tevinter Imperium. However, Dorian turns his back on his homeland and family. To say he's jaded is an understatement, but he masks it well with his sarcasm. Underneath it all, however, he still believes things can be fixed, and he takes it hard when he sees things getting even worse. Dorian's a smart guy and sees through facades, so he'll know when you're putting up a front. If you want to win him over, you're best to be straight up with him and not skirt around things. Being an outcast hasn't made his life easy, but maybe all he needs is a little extra support as he deals with the consequences.

Cullen
Sexual Preference: Women (Elves and Humans Only)

Life has been a roller coaster for Cullen as a Templar, especially by the end of Dragon Age II where he had to stand against Knight-Commander Meredith. At least this gesture caught the eye of Cassandra, who recruited him to the Inquisition as the commander of its forces. He's a leader at heart, always there to provide tactical advice, but when he's not doing that you can find him playing chess. He does let his guard down, but it's rare. This is understandable; he's been through a lot, and you learn even more about it in Inquisition. With some support and guidance, maybe you'll find your way into his heart. Deep down, he's a good guy who wants to do the right thing.

Solas
Sexual Preference: Women (Elves Only)

This elven apostate knows all about the Fade, almost to the point where it seems obsessive. At least his insight is pretty fascinating. He never joined the Circle, and his magic has been self-taught, so he's not your typical mage. He goes into situations without the preconceptions most mages have learned via the Circle; obviously he has a much different, more positive outlook on the Fade. He's definitely more set in his ways, so don't expect to win him over to your way of thinking. He also doesn't really believe in extremes or black-and-white thinking. Plus, when you first meet the logical guy, you can't really picture him romancing anyone, which makes his arc all the more intriguing.

Which character strikes your fancy? Let us know in the comments below!

For more on BioWare's approach to romances, check out our feature.