Dragon Age Inquisition
54 Achievements
1,165
106-134h
The Brightest of Their Age
Recruit all possible companions in a single playthrough.
30
How to unlock the The Brightest of Their Age achievement in Dragon Age Inquisition - Definitive Guide
Most of the related quests unlock during normal story progression. I had all companions and the achievement unlocked on arrival at
The Companions are
Cassandra - Your first companion of the game. She will join you automatically right at the start. Cassandra is a human warrior that begins with a sword and shield.
Varric - Very shortly into the Prologue Varric will automatically join you along with Solas. Varric is a dwarven rogue equipped with his prized crossbow Bianca.
Solas - Will join with Varric automatically in the Prologue. Solas is an elven mage equipped with a basic fire staff.
Blackwall - You can recruit Blackwall after The Lone Warden quest (given to you by Leliana if you talk with her at the camp in Haven). You get that quest after you go to Val Royeaux and talk to the Templars. Go to the Hinterlands and do the quest and tell him you want him to join you. Blackwall is a human warrior and starts off with a sword and shield.
Iron Bull - To get Iron Bull you first need to stand and wait outside the Chantry in Haven. If you wait long enough (or stumble upon in randomly like I did) a messenger will greet you right outside the Chantry doors. The messenger will ask you to come to the Storm Coast to meet with their leader, Iron Bull. You then need to complete the quest “The Captain Of The Chargers” at the Storm Coast. Once this quest is complete, you'll come face to face with Iron Bull and can ask him to join. Bull is the only Qunari party member available in game (outside of your option to play as a Qunari). He starts off with a two handed sword instead of a sword and shield. You also get his men as agents for the Inquisition.
Sera - While in Val Royeaux the first time, you will get shot at by an arrow near your position following an encounter. Approach the arrow to start the “A Friend Of Red Jenny” quest. To complete this quest you need to inspect the areas targeted on your map (and pinpoint each location by following your "ping" radar of clicking the Left Thumbstick). Once you net all the collectables you'll be able to travel to a nearby area (on your world map) to recruit the ... colorful ... Sera. Sera is an elven rogue who starts off with a bow. If you're having trouble finding all the waypoints, note that Val Royeaux is actually a two floored area. For whatever reason the stupid gates aren't open so you have to use the Fast Travel to switch between floors.
Vivienne - Vivienne is a Mage you can recruit by doing the “Ghislain Estate” quest in Val Royeaux. After you talk to Vivienne for awhile ask her to join with her Mages. Vivienne will probably be the first companion you recruit after the initial three. Like all mages Vivienne begins with a basic elemental staff.
Dorian - After you complete the quest “Hushed Whispers” Dorian will offer to join your team. As usual if you don’t want him you can say no. If you side with the Templars you won’t be able to get Dorian until you get to the Skyhold later in the game. Dorian is a human mage that begins with a basic elemental staff.
Cole - Doing the “Champions Of The Just” quest will get you the Templars as allies. After you beat the quest Cole will come and you can have him join you if you want. If you side with the Mages you won’t be able to get Cole until you start to head for Skyhold. Cole is a rogue and wields Dual Daggers instead of a bow. He is likely the last companion you will recruit.
The full list of all nine possible companions in the single player campaign are:
- Blackwall (By progressing the story, Leliana will eventually approach you before you can enter the War Room and offer you the quest "The Lone Warden." Go to The Hinterlands and complete this quest as soon as possible, as it will expire over time)
- Cassandra (Cannot be missed. Acquired at the start of the game)
- Cole (Progress the story. He will ask to join)
- Dorian (Progress the story. He will ask to join)
- Iron Bull (Progress the story. Eventually, a messenger will appear outside the gates to Haven's Chantry, claiming to be part of a mercenary band. Accept the invitation he presents and complete the quest)
- Sera (When you enter Val Royeaux, an arrow will be fired near your Inquisitor with a letter attached. Complete the quest)
- Solas (Cannot be missed. Acquired at the start of the game)
- Varric (Cannot be missed. Acquired at the start of the game)
- Vivienne (In the courtyard of Val Royeaux, there will be a messenger by a fountain near the exit as soon as you are about to leave for the first time, dressed in regal attire and a mask. Complete the quest. DO NOT fast travel to the exit when leaving for the first time! Her quest can be missed by doing so)
Recruit them all into your party in a single playthrough to unlock the achievement.
The full list of all nine possible companions in the single player campaign are:
-
Blackwall
- By progressing the story, Leliana will eventually approach you before you can enter the War Room and offer you the quest "The Lone Warden."
- Go to The Hinterlands and complete this quest as soon as possible, as it will expire over time.
-
Cassandra
- Cannot be missed, acquired at the start of the game.
-
Cole
- Progress the story, he will ask to join.
-
Dorian
- Progress the story, he will ask to join.
-
Iron Bull
- Progress the story and eventually, a messenger will appear outside the gates to Haven's Chantry, claiming to be part of a mercenary band.
- Accept the invitation he presents and complete the quest.
-
Sera
- When you enter Val Royeaux, an arrow will be fired near your Inquisitor with a letter attached.
- Complete the quest.
-
Solas
- Cannot be missed, acquired at the start of the game.
-
Varric
- Cannot be missed, acquired at the start of the game.
-
Vivienne
- In the courtyard of Val Royeaux, there will be a messenger by a fountain near the exit as soon as you are about to leave for the first time, dressed in regal attire and a mask.
- Complete the quest.
- DO NOT fast travel to the exit when leaving for the first time (her quest can be missed by doing so)!
Recruit them all into your party in a single playthrough to unlock the achievement.
**MISSABLE**
There are a total of 9 companions. You can bring 3 companions of your choosing with you into battle. Each companion has their own class and specialization. You can let the AI control them, or you can take over at any time.
You can recruit all but two pretty early on in the game, but apart from the first 3 companions, they're all optional. Once recruited, you can also choose for some of them to leave the Inquisition. I'm not sure if this will void the trophy, but I don't see why you really want to throw away any companions anyway, as annoying as they might be.
These are all the companions and where to find them.
Cassandra: Automatically recruited during the Prologue.
Solas: Automatically recruited during the Prologue.
Varric: Automatically recruited during the Prologue.
Blackwall: After completing "The Threat Remains" main story quest in the Hinterlands, the "The Lone Warden" quest will automatically be added to your Journal. This quest will lead you to Blackwall.
Sera: The first time you get to Val Royeaux, an arrow will be shot into the ground very close to you. Inspect the arrow which will have you track down 3 Red Letters. These can be picked up by using Ping (press ) first. Once you've found all 3 of them, a new location will be added on your map. Go to that location to meet up with Sera. Make sure you also have the Vivienne quest active before leaving Val Royeaux.
Vivienne: The first time you get to Val Royeaux, an arrow will be shot into the ground. This is related to Sera, but very close to it is a man that you can speak to. Speak to him to receive an invitation from Vivienne. This will add a new location on your map. Travel to this location to meet up with Vivienne. Make sure you also have the Sera quest active before leaving Val Royeaux.
Iron Bull: After a few quests, a messenger will appear at the entrance of the building where your war table is location. Talk to him to activate a quest that will lead you to Iron Bull in Storm Coast.
Cole: At some point in the main story line, you need to choose to side with either the Mages ("In Hushed Whispers" quest), or the Templars ("Champions of the Just" quest). If you decide to side with the Mages, Cole will automatically show up after completing the quest and you can choose to recruit him. If you side with the Templars, he will appear during the quest and you'll be able to recruit him afterwards.
Dorian: At some point in the main story line, you need to choose to side with either the Mages ("In Hushed Whispers" quest), or the Templars ("Champions of the Just" quest). If you decide to side with the Templars, Dorian will automatically show up after completing the quest and you can choose to recruit him. If you side with the Mages, he will appear during the quest and you'll be able to recruit him afterwards.