Alistair’s Tank Build - The Juggernaut

EQUIPMENT

The gear you use with Alistair Tank Build will play a crucial role in combat. There are various combos that you can go with. I would recommend going with either Heavy or Massive armor pieces as these will provide a substantial boost to armor.

Below, you will find the gear that should be used with the build. Generally, the lower the item is in the table the lower its priority and the earlier you can get it. The top ones are the best picks.

Weapons

There are a lot of weapons to choose from in terms of one-handed. I listed just a few of them that I think are the best.

The Veshialle

The axe can be obtained by buying it from dwarf - Bodahn Feddic. He resides in the party camp.

This is the strongest weapon for dual-wielding characters that rely on strength. The weapon has a larger modifier for strength compared to longswords.

Keening Blade

You will need to do the Unbound quest. At the end of the quest, you will be fighting Gaxkang in Quaint Hovel, Denerim

A great blade that has its damage scale well, with frost runes.

Oathkeeper

The sword can be obtained in Lothering. Finish all the three quests of Chanter's Board and you will be reward with it

This sword is great early in the game. It gives one rune slot and can help you till you get the ones with 2-3 slots.

Shields

Similar to weapons, there are a lot of choices throughout the game for the best shield.

Fade Wall

You will need to do the Unbound quest. At the end of the quest, you will be fighting Gaxkang in Denerim.

IMPORTANT! The item does not drop 100% so save before the fight so that you could reload.

The shield is a powerful late-game item. It is specifically best to be used with Arcane Warrior

Champion’s Shield

The shield can be obtained from Vartag - a dwarven warrior, and Bhelen's supporter. It can only be stolen in one of the three situations:

  1. Once you meet him, in the Chamber of the Assembly of the Diamond Quarter.

  2. Meeting after you leave proving grounds if you supported Harrowmont

  3. Once you are allowed to meet Prince Bhelen.

It is one of the best shields in the game, with a very high defense boost. What makes it good, is that it can be obtained relatively early, without major story progression.

Eamon’s Shield

The shield is found in the locked vault in Redcliffe Castle. Check the upper floors

Great early shield for an Arcane Warrior as it boosts the pool of mana

Helm

Corruption Helm

You will have to kill Hurlock General in Denerim Market District and it will drop from it. This all happens during one of the last game quests: The Battle of Denerim

This helm is mostly effective against enemies who use spirit damage. One of them is the last boss of the game - Archdemon.

Juggernaut Helm

West Brecilian Forest, Eastern part of the area. Look for a tombstone and interact with it (will have it marked on the map along with a legend). At first, there may not be an option to "Disturb the Wards", so check other tombstones. Once you are able to do that, enemies will spawn and you can get the helm from them.

Executioner’s Helm

There are multiple ways to get the helmet, however, the guaranteed one is this:

Cesar's Special stock - you have to complete The Trial of the Crows to unlock it

Here are other ways to obtain it:

  1. Human Noble Origin quest - random chance to drop from Arl Howe's Knight

  2. Can drop randomly from Lieutenant Mercenary during the quest Last Request quest

  3. Can randomly appear in Redcliffe Castle vault in one of the chests

  4. Marjorlaine's Home - during the Leliana's Past side quest.

    The helmet is best suited for builds that use active skills and need large amounts of stamina

Armor

Wade’s Superior Dragonbone Plate Armor

Important! You cannot buy anything from Wade's Emporium after you craft the second set for Wade's Superior Drakeskin armor set. So buy everything you want at this shop before you craft it.

Armor is crafted once you obtain Dragon Scales from the High Dragon in Mountain Top during the quest: The Urn of Sacred Ashes

To get this version of the armor you have to already have asked Wade to craft drake skin armor + additional payment. Either pay additionally 10 Sovereigns the first time or 20 Sovereigns the second time

This armor belongs to one of the best sets for tank builds

Evon the Great’s Mail

Important! You cannot buy anything from Wade's Emporium after you craft the second set for Wade's Superior Drakeskin armor set. So buy everything you want at this shop before you craft it.

The main way to obtain it is to buy it from Wade's Emporium in Denerim Market District. The price is 107 gold 64 silver

The armor appears in Wade's Emporium after you finish three main story quests (for example Brecilian Forest, Circle of Magi, and Orzammar).

The armor can be used in Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale Armor set instead of the Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale Armor. This makes the set much better

The armor is one of the best Heavy and Massive armors in the game

Wade’s Superior Heavy Dragonscale Armor

Important! You cannot buy anything from Wade's Emporium after you craft the second set for Wade's Superior Drakeskin armor set. So buy everything you want at this shop before you craft it.

Armor are crafted once you obtain Dragon Scales from the High Dragon in Mountain Top during the quest: The Urn of Sacred Ashes.

To get this version of the armor you have to already have asked Wade to craft drake skin armor + additional payment. What this means, is that when the light armor was crafted you need to have paid him additionally - 10 Sovereigns the first time or 20 Sovereigns the second time.

Only then the superior version of the item will be created.

Knight Commander’s Plate

Purchased from Faryn in Frostback Mountain Pass. This is the area before entering Orzammar city. The price is 27 Gold and 24 Silver.

The armor comes with the highest spell resistance in the game. It is perfect for a tank character, that needs to survive various debilitating and elemental effects.

Juggernaut Plate Armor

The armor is obtained in the Lower Ruins a part of the Elven Ritual Quest.

Gloves

Wade’s Superior Dragonbone Plate Gloves

Important! You cannot buy anything from Wade's Emporium after you craft the second set for Wade's Superior Drakeskin armor set. So buy everything you want at this shop before you craft it.

Gloves are crafted once you obtain Dragon Scales from the High Dragon in Mountain Top during the quest: The Urn of Sacred Ashes

To get this version of the gloves you have to already have asked Wade to craft drake skin armor + additional payment. Either pay additionally 10 Sovereigns the first time or 20 Sovereigns the second time

These gloves belong to one of the best armor sets in the game for a tank character

Wade’s Superior Heavy Dragonscale Gloves

Important! You cannot buy anything from Wade's Emporium after you craft the second set for Wade's Superior Drakeskin armor set. So buy everything you want at this shop before you craft it.

Gloves are crafted once you obtain Dragon Scales from the High Dragon in Mountain Top during the quest: The Urn of Sacred Ashes

To get this version of the gloves you have to already have asked Wade to craft drake skin armor + additional payment. What this means, is that when the light armor was crafted you need to have paid him additionally - 10 Sovereigns the first time or 20 Sovereigns the second time.

Only then the superior version of the item will be created.

Juggernaut Plate Gloves

East Breciliant Forest, Southern part of the map. You will need to go through the Magical Barrier. Select the "Disturb the Wards" dialogue option on the tombstone and enemies will spawn, this is a part of the quest The Mage’s Treasure.

Boots

Wade’s Superior Dragonbone Plate Boots

Important! You cannot buy anything from Wade's Emporium after you craft the second set for Wade's Superior Drakeskin armor set. So buy everything you want at this shop before you craft it.

Boots are crafted once you obtain Dragon Scales from the High Dragon in Mountain Top during the quest: The Urn of Sacred Ashes

To get this version of the boots you have to already have asked Wade to craft drake skin armor + additional payment. Either pay additionally 10 Sovereigns the first time or 20 Sovereigns the second time

These boots belong to one of the best armor sets in the game for a tank character

Wade’s Superior Heavy Dragonscale Boots

Important! You cannot buy anything from Wade's Emporium after you craft the second set for Wade's Superior Drakeskin armor set. So buy everything you want at this shop before you craft it.

Boots are crafted once you obtain Dragon Scales from the High Dragon in Mountain Top during the quest: The Urn of Sacred Ashes

To get this version of the boots you have to already have asked Wade to craft drake skin armor + additional payment. Either pay additionally 10 Sovereigns the first time or 20 Sovereigns the second time

These boots belong to one of the best armor sets in the game for a tank character

Juggernaut Plate Boots

East Breciliant Forest, Northern part of the map (will have it marked on the map along with a legend to indicate it). It is located close to the Mad Hermit. This tombstone usually allows starting The Mage's Treasure quest. The enemies will drop the boots.

Accessories/Belts

Anduril’s Blessing

The item can be obtained once you get to Circle Tower. In the first hall of Apprentice Quarters talk with Quartermaster. You can buy it from him for 106 gold and 2 silver

The belt is one of the most powerful belts in the game. Due to this, it is recommended that you use it for the strongest build in your party.

In reality, you get +2 mana regeneration or +2 stamina regeneration, as the differently named stats stack.

Buckle of the Winds

There are two main ways to get the belt:

  1. Mage origin quest - can be randomly looted from one of the containers

  2. Broken Circle quest, can be randomly looted from any container

Dwarven Warrior’s Belt

To obtain the belt you will need to start as a Dwarf with the Commoner Origin. During the quest Enslaved, the belt can be looted from Beraht's corpse

A great early belt for warriors and tanks.

Amulets

The Spellward

The amulet can be bought from Bodahn Feddic in the Party Camp. The price is 87 Gold and 67 Silver

This amulet is mostly useful for Tanks and warriors as it can increase their stamina pool.

It can also work for mages, but it will only increase their mana and not regeneration rate

Magister’s Shield

In Run-Down Back Street of Denerim, you will find the corpse of Ser Friden. This will start The Last Request quest. Go to the Deserted Building that appeared on the Denerim map.

  1. Once you are close to the end: you go down the stairs and there are two doors:

  2. Blood Mage Sanctum - here you will fight the final boss and get the key for the Master Bedroom

  3. Master Bedroom - this is where you find Magister's Shield amulet. However, the door is locked and you either need to clear the Blood Mage Sanctum and get the key from the boss or use rogue to lockpick it.

    This is one of the best amulets in the game that provide bonus defense.

    This amulet is a great option for a tank.

Heart of Witherfang

To acquire this item you would need to side with the Elf Zatharian in Brecilian Forest quest Nature of the Beast. As a result, you will kill Witherfang and the amulet will be found on her corpse.

This amulet should be used for characters that mainly use offensive spells.

The amulet can also be used for Warriors that need strength to increase their damage.

Rings

Key to the City

You will need to do a quest to obtain the ring. Before that, you have to find codexes.

Collecting codex entries

You will first need to collect 5 codex entries all over Orzammar (which will also be marked on the map with a legend to indicate their spots). The first 4 are available the first time you enter the city:

Hall of Heroes - near the entrance to the commons, you will find "Commission Report".

Orzammar Commons - on the bridge to the Proving grounds. You will find "Document":

Dust Town - here you will have encounters with some enemies, after you take them out go further. There you will find "Assembly Directive":

Diamond Quarter - once you enter this area, turn around and walk up the stairs. You will find "Council Writ":

For the last codex entry, you will need to progress the story in Orzammar and select your position for the Candidate in the Proving Grounds. After this, a new section of Proving grounds will unlock.

Go to the right once you enter the area, and you will find "Writ of Censure" in the Hall.

Quest entry "Key to the City"

This quest entry will appear once you get all 5 codexes. It will tell you to go to Assembly and loot the cache. It will be near the entrance in the building:

This is the most versatile ring in the game that can be used on any build.

Lifegiver

The ring can be easily obtained if you have enough money from Garin. He is found in Orzammar Commons. The price is 87 Gold and 88 Silver.

This is one of the best rings that can be used for Blood Mage builds. Moreover, you can also use it for Tanks to maximize their survival.

Ring of the Warrior

The ring is one of the rewards from Drifter's Cache side quest. The quest is started in Caridin's Cross.

You will have to examine 4 rubbles on the map, after that a marker will appear that leads to the cave where Alpha Ogre is found. There you will find a container with the ring.

Ring is especially useful for warrior characters and rogues who do not have Lethality talent.

Dawn Ring

The ring will be awarded by Shianni for defending the Elven Alienage during The Battle of Denerim quest. This is close to the end of the game

This ring is extremely powerful for characters like warriors, who concentrate on pure strength. Unfortunately, the ring is obtained late in the game.