Dragon Age II downloadable content

Did You Know?

• The Black Emporium, released on March 8, 2011, adds a vendor, a Mabari War Hound, and the Mirror of Transformation for changing Hawke's facial appearance.
• Two editions of All-Class Item Packs were released on April 4, 2011 and August 23, 2011, each containing around forty in-game items for mage, rogue, and warrior classes.
• The Exiled Prince was available at no cost to players who pre-ordered a new copy of Dragon Age II.

The Exiled Prince

Released on March 8, 2011, this pack adds Sebastian Vael, a lay brother of the Chantry and master archer seeking vengeance for his murdered family. It was available at no cost to players who pre-ordered a new copy of Dragon Age II, and was also bundled with the BioWare Signature Edition, which included new items and a digital soundtrack.

Legacy

Released on July 26, 2011, Legacy is the first story-driven DLC pack set in an all-new location: a prison built by the Grey Wardens. It explores Hawke's lineage and past dealings between Hawke's father and the Wardens. Players access it via a statue in Hawke's home. BioWare used Legacy to address fan criticisms of the base game, including area reuse, wave-based combat, and lack of companion customization. Producer Fernando Melo noted that combat is more strategic and tactical, with followers and environment playing a larger role. The pack includes non-linear bonus content such as puzzles and bonus rooms, new enemy types like Brontos and Deep Roads creatures, and unlocks an upgradeable weapon called The Key.

Mark of the Assassin

Released on October 11, 2011, one day after the premiere of the tie-in webseries Dragon Age: Redemption, Mark of the Assassin is the final DLC pack for Dragon Age II. It is a standalone story set in Chateau Haine and its landscape, adding quests and Tallis from Redemption as a guest companion. The pack introduces Orlesian characters and provides insight into their culture, with some nobles serving as comic relief in a style akin to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

It is slightly lengthier than Legacy, with over 12 hours of additional dialogue. Felicia Day created Tallis, an elven convert to the Qunari, with BioWare's input; Day, a fan of the franchise, said her involvement was a dream come true. She played through Dragon Age II multiple times to research character reactions. Day noted the tone is not overly serious, describing it as quippish.

Like Legacy, bigger battles are more challenging and tactical by design. A notable new enemy is the wyvern, a wingless cousin of dragons significant to Orlesian culture; defeating it requires proper class selection, positioning, and ability use.

Other content

The Blood Dragon Armor was a reward for players who already owned it in Dragon Age: Origins or Mass Effect 2. Dead Space 2 players got Ser Isaac's Armor, a copy of Isaac Clarke's outfit. Starting December 7, 2012, most promotional items became free to unlock, except for the Signature Edition bonuses, Blood Dragon Armor, and Ser Isaac Armor. In total, 24 items were available for redemption.