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Arcane Defender achievement in Dragon Age II

Arcane Defender

Sided with the mages five times.

Arcane Defender0
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How to unlock the Arcane Defender achievement

  • RaajTMRaajTM
    11 Mar 2011 11 Mar 2011 20 Mar 2011
    Arcane Defender - 25G
    Sided with the mages five times.

    Simply make five choices throughout the game that would benefit the mages you come across during certain quests.

    *There are only seven quests in which you can make your choice:
    Act I
    Wayward Son - Let Feynriel go to the Dalish
    Act of Mercy - When talking to Grace, agree to eliminate Thrask (don't really have to once outside, just to let her think you were)
    Enemies Among Us - Vouch for Keran to remain as a Templar
    Act II
    Night Terrors - Do not harm Feynriel, support him
    Act III
    Showdown - Act III beginning cutscene, simply side with the Mages
    On the Loose - Let Emile go free, put his money to good use and flee Kirkwall
    Best Served Cold - When speaking to Cullen, select the eliminate them all option
    *Credit to FSparacino4 @Xbox360Achievements.org for the quest lists and dialog options.

    Alternatively, the opposite will net you the Mage Hunter achievement. May require another playthrough, unless you utilize your saves.
    Dragon Age IISecret AchievementThe Secret Achievement achievement in Dragon Age II worth 78 pointsContinue playing to unlock this secret achievement

    Guide not helping? View 1 more guide for this achievement.

    Showing most recent comments. View all comments.
    MattiasAndersonWrong for best served cold. Wanted to save up the achievement so i did not pick kill them all. Because of that I DID pick the right choice and unlocked the achievement when i did not want to unlock it. I was offline so im fine though but you need to change this.
    Posted by MattiasAnderson on 22 Jun 16 at 16:09
    MattiasAndersonI change to upvote because something else for sure also trigger to side with the mages in the choices after or previously. It did unlock when i choose kill them all as well. So this guide works but the choice is clearly a templar choice in the end.
    Posted by MattiasAnderson on 22 Jun 16 at 16:30
    E vee dub. Oct 2021
    .
    Don't you other players think this achievement is a bit much? Why should we have to be forced by achievement makers to unfold a story in the way they choose? Why can't we just play and choose dialogue according to our own dictates?

    I understand this may be a way for a developer to get a player to experience the full range of the game, but we may as well play a TellTale game.

    But guess what, I'm still gonna do it. Haha.
    Posted by E vee dub on 07 Oct 21 at 01:17
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  • RuhanRRuhanR
    08 Nov 2014 09 Nov 2014
    The solution given above is absolutely correct, but if you're like me and you don't want to play through the entire game a second time for one achievement, then you could do what I did:

    Act 1

    Wayward son: Side with the mages
    Act of Mercy: Side with the templars
    Enemies among us: Side with the mages

    Act 2

    Night Terrors: Side with the templars

    Save your game right before the battle with the Arishok

    Act 3

    Showdown: Side with the mages
    On the Loose: Side with the mages
    Best Served Cold: Side with the mages

    After you report back to Orsino, the achievement will pop. Now reload and get your Mage Hunter Achievement.

    As long as choose the templars' side twice between Act 1 and 2, as well as choose the mages' side twice, and then 3 times in Act 3, you could get both achievements in about 30 minutes. Worked for me!
    Showing both comments.
    Vulker707It would be helpful if you put which dialogue choices led to siding with each particular side.
    Posted by Vulker707 on 10 Dec 22 at 05:33
    DenverMax27+1 because the other guide does not mention the importance of saving at the end of Act II. If you're quick enough, you have a veryyyy tight window immediately after killing Arishok where you can save and not have to redo the duel.
    Posted by DenverMax27 on 12 Jul 23 at 02:53
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