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For a damage-focused mage in Dragon Age: Inquisition, the best choice is the crafted Superior Battlemage Armor, built from its tier 3 schematic and fitted with the Battlemage Armor arms and legs upgrades. For a defense-focused build, the Superior Battlemage Coat and Superior Battlemage Mail are the alternatives. The right pick depends on which of those goals you prioritize.
The figures below come from community item references and describe the base game. They have not been checked against a specific game patch, so confirm the numbers in your own game if you are on a recent update.
Choosing between damage and defense
“Best” only has a clear answer once you know what the build needs. Use this framework:
- Maximize damage output: Craft the Superior Battlemage Armor schematic and add the arms and legs upgrades. Its utility slots can be allocated toward damage-related stats.
- Prioritize defenses: Look at the Superior Battlemage Coat or Superior Battlemage Mail. Their material slots lean toward defense rather than utility.
- Need gear before you can access the crafted set: The non-crafted Superior Battlemage Armor is a random drop and can serve as interim armor. It is a different item from the schematic.
Compare slot allocation against the defenses your build depends on, not base armor alone. The tiered base armor values for the three crafted options are the same.
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Superior Battlemage Armor: the damage pick
This is a mage-only, tier 3 light armor crafted from a schematic. Its upgrade slots are the reason it is recommended for offense.
Slot layout
The schematic lists the following slots before upgrades:
- 21 armor cloth
- 6 utility cloth
- 4 defense metal
- 4 utility leather
- 1 masterwork
Armor values by tier
The listed base armor values across material tiers are 187, 219, 244, and 269.
Upgrades and the 22-slot total
Fitting the Battlemage Armor arms and legs upgrades raises utility cloth to 22 slots in total, according to the item reference. The four utility leather slots remain. Utility slots are the reason this armor is called the offense-oriented option; if your build does not use damage-related stats, the defensive variants are the more logical choice.
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How to get the crafted schematic
- Unlock the Short List Inquisition perk. The schematic requires it, but this article does not cover how the perk is unlocked.
- Travel to the Hissing Wastes and find the Canyon Merchant.
- Buy the Superior Battlemage Armor schematic for 15,995 sovereigns. This price comes from a guide reference and may differ between game versions.
- Obtain the Battlemage Armor arms and legs upgrades. Their source is not covered by the references used for this article, so check your game’s crafting interface for the exact requirements.
- Craft the armor from the schematic and fit the upgrades to reach the 22-slot utility total.
Defensive alternatives: Coat and Mail
The Superior Battlemage Coat and Superior Battlemage Mail share the same tiered base armor ratings as the Armor schematic. Their material slots are allocated toward defense instead of utility. The references do not state exact slot counts for either item, nor do they confirm where to acquire them, so compare their listed slots in the crafting interface before committing materials.
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The random-drop version is a separate item from the schematic. According to the item reference, it requires level 19, has an item level of 22, and grants +12% cold resistance and +11% magic defense. Base armor values and slot layout are not stated for this version, so it cannot be compared directly with the crafted set.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Option | Best for | Base armor by tier | Slot allocation | Acquisition and requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior Battlemage Armor (crafted schematic) | Damage-focused mage | 187, 219, 244, 269 | 21 armor cloth, 6 utility cloth, 4 defense metal, 4 utility leather, 1 masterwork; 22 utility cloth total with arms and legs upgrades | Canyon Merchant, Hissing Wastes, 15,995 sovereigns; requires Short List Inquisition perk (guide reference) |
| Superior Battlemage Coat (crafted schematic) | Defense-focused build | Same tiered values as the Armor schematic | Defense-weighted; exact counts not stated | Not stated |
| Superior Battlemage Mail (crafted schematic) | Defense-focused build | Same tiered values as the Armor schematic | Defense-weighted; exact counts not stated | Not stated |
| Superior Battlemage Armor (random drop) | Interim gear | Not stated | Not stated | Random drop; level 19 requirement; item level 22; +12% cold resistance; +11% magic defense (item reference) |
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