+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

v1.1

  ===================
   TABLE OF CONTENTS
  ===================

  0. QUICK COMBO QUIDE

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. BRITTLE

  3. DISORIENT

  4. STAGGER

  5. CLOSING WORDS

  6. REVISION HISTORY


To jump to a section: search for "X." For example if you want to jump to the
STAGGER combos, press Ctrl + F then type in "4." ie. the number and the dot.


+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

  ======================
   0. QUICK COMBO GUIDE
  ======================


BRITTLE:        +50% Critical Damage
DISORIENT:      -50% Defense
STAGGER:        -25% Attack, -25% Defense


BRITTLE:        Winter's Blast
               Deep Freeze
               Dessicate

-> Warrior      Shattering Blow         300% dmg, 200% force
               Reaper                  200% dmg, 200% force
               Claymore                100% stun chance

-> Rogue:       Shattering Arrow        600% dmg, 400% force
               Punishing Lance         150% dmg, 400% force
               Annihilate              400% dmg


DISORIENT:      Disorienting Shot
               Overpowering Fog
               Chaos
               Disorienting Criticals

-> Warrior      Disperse                300% dmg
               Battery                 400% dmg
               Insatiable              300% dmg, 300% regen

-> Mage         Golem's Fist            200% dmg, 200% force
               Spirit Strike           200% dmg, 200% force
               Corrosive Walking Bomb  200% dmg
               Virulent Walking Bomb   200% dmg, 200% force


STAGGER:        Sunder
               Pummel
               Aftershock
               Pommel Blow
               Claymore
               Voracious

-> Rogue        Merciless Strike        400% dmg
               Maim                    100% bleeding chance
               Blood Feud              300% dmg

-> Mage         Chain Reaction          600% dmg, 200% force
               Paralyzing Prison       200% dmg, 100% paralyze chance
               Paralyzing Hemorrhage   900% dmg
               Maker's Hammer          900% dmg


EXAMPLE COMBO CHAIN:

Fatiguing Fog (Impenetrable = Obscure, Overpowering = DISORIENT)
-> Devour (Insatiable = DISORIENT bonus + Voracious = STAGGER)
-> Merciless Strike (DISORIENTS while Obscured with Disorienting Criticals)
-> Disperse/Battery or a Mage finisher



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

  =================
   1. INTRODUCTION
  =================

  Dragon Age 2 introduces wicked cross-class combos between Warriors, Rogues
and Mages. Warriors are able to STAGGER enemies, Rogues can DISORIENT them while
Mages turn some foes BRITTLE. All of these status afflictions enhances the
effects of various techniques of the other two classes, encouraging tactical
team play.

  Ever wanted a comprehensive list of these combos? Well, here it is! See
section 0. above for the quick guide, and the respective sections for more
detailed info.

  Note that NEARLY ALL cross-class combos require upgraded talents both in the
initiating and finishing techniques. For example, you need Disorienting Shot
(upgraded Pinning Shot) to DISORIENT the foe, then you need Disperse (upgraded
Scatter) to complete the combo. The exception to this is Sunder and the talents
from Specialization trees.

  So what are the best combos?

  The most rewarding has to be the STAGGER combos with either a Primal or
specialized Mage. STAGGER can be easy to set up by using Pummel or Sunder plus
Claymore and can be quickly followed up with Chain Lightning (Reaction upgrade)
or the unique Bloodmage/Forcemage spells for 600% or 900% damage.

 DISORIENT combos are a bit tricky to set up. Techniques are either not too
useful, like Chaos, or has many factors like Disorienting Criticals. The rewards
for completing the combo are also dubious. Disperse and Battery are both Weapon
& Shield talents commonly used by tanks who often have mediocre DPS. The bonus
to Insatiable is excellent though!

 BRITTLE has some of the best synergies. Winter's Blast followed by Shattering
Blow or Assassinate is great against tough single targets. Deep Freeze can cause
BRITTLE to a line of enemies which can be exploited using Punishing Lance.



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+


  ============
   2. BRITTLE
  ============

  +50% Critical Damage

  BRITTLE is caused by Mages, specifically the Elemental cold spells once they
have been upgraded and the Primal upgraded Petrify.


Sources
-------

# Winter's Grasp + Winter's Blast
       Freeze chance: 100% vs. normal enemies
       BRITTLE chance: 40% for frozen targets


# Cone of Cold + Deep Freeze
       Freeze chance: 60% vs. normal enemies
       BRITTLE chance: 20% vs. frozen targets

# Elemental Mastery (passive)
       BRITTLE chance: now 100% vs. frozen targets

# Petrify + Dessicate
       BRITTLE chance: 100% vs. normal enemies


Combos
------

WARRIOR:

# Two Handed: Mighty Blow + Shattering Blow
       Physical damage: 300% vs. BRITTLE targets
       Physical force: 200% vs. BRITTLE targets

# Two Handed: Scythe + Reaper
       Physical damage: 200% vs. BRITTLE targets
       Physical force: 200% vs. BRITTLE targets

# Vanguard: Cleave + Claymore
       Stun chance: 100% vs. BRITTLE targets


ROGUE:

# Archery: Bursting Arrow + Shattering Arrow
       Fire damage: 600% vs. BRITTLE targets
       Elemental Force: 400% vs. BRITTLE targets

# Archery: Archer's Lance + Punishing Lance
       Physical damage: 150% vs. BRITTLE targets
       Physical force: 400% vs. BRITTLE targets

# Assassin: Assassinate + Annihilate
       400% physical damage vs BRITTLE targets



Best Combos
-----------

# Winter's Blast / Dessicate -> Shattering Blow / Annihilate
       This is a massive single target killer. Imagine a 400% Annihilate with
       +50% damage to the auto-critical.

# Deep Freeze -> Scythe Punishing Lance / Shattering Arrow
       Cast the cone and then have your archer/warrior to Lance or Scythe from
       the side. If foes are close together you can use Shattering Arrow too.



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

  ==============
   3. DISORIENT
  ==============

  -50% Defense

  DISORIENT is caused by Rogues using multiple talents in the Archery, Sabotage
and Shadow trees.


Sources
-------

# Archery: Pinning Shot + Disorienting Shot
       Pinning chance: 80%
       DISORIENT chance: 100% vs. pinned enemies

# Sabotage: Fatiguing Fog + Overpowering Fog
       DISORIENT chance: 100% vs. normal enemies

# Sabotage: Confusion + Chaos
       DISORIENT chance: 100% vs. normal enemies

# Shadow: Disorienting Criticals
       DISORIENT chance: 100% for critical hits when obscured
       Obscure: Smoking Arrow, Chameleon Breath, Impenetrable Fog, Shadow Veil


Combos
------

MAGE:

# Primal: Stonefist + Golem's Fist
       Physical damage: 200% vs. DISORIENTED targets
       Physical Force: 200% vs. DISORIENTED targets

# Spirit: Spirit Bolt + Spirit Strike
       Spirit damage: 200% vs DISORIENTED targets
       Elemental force: 200% vs. DISORIENTED targets

# Spirit: Walking Bomb + Corrosive Walking Bomb
       Spirit damage: 200% vs. DISORIENTED targets

# Spirit: Walking Bomb + Virulent Walking Bomb
       Bonuses apply to the explosion after the original target (victim) dies
       Spirit damage: 200% vs. nearby targets if victim was DISORIENTED
       Physical force: 200% vs. nearby targets if victim was DISORIENTED


WARRIOR:

# Weapon & Shield: Scatter + Disperse
       Physical damage: 300% vs. DISORIENTED targets

# Weapon & Shield: Assault + Battery
       Physical damage: 400% vs. DISORIENTED targets on final hit

# Reaver: Devour + Insatiable
       Physical damage: 300% vs. DISORIENTED targets
       Health regeneration: 300% from DISORIENTED targets



Best Combos
-----------

# Disorienting Shot -> Golem's Fist / Spirit Strike / Battery
       Great damage against a single target

# Overpowering Fog / Chaos -> Disperse
       A more AOE-based solution for Rogue + Shield Warrior

# Overpowering Fog / Chaos -> Corrosive Virulent Walking Bomb + Spirit Strike
       A good AOE combo for a Spirit Mage, especially if Chaos works and they
       start fighting as they will then be packed close together.



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

  ============
   4. STAGGER
  ============

  -25% Attack, -25% Defense

  Warriors can STAGGER enemies using various techniques in the Two Handed,
Weapon & Shield, Warmonger, Vanguard and Reaver talent trees.


Sources
-------

# Two Handed: Sunder
       STAGGER Chance: 50% vs. normal enemies on a critical hit

# Weapon & Shield: Shield Bash + Pummel
       STAGGER chance: 100%

# Warmonger: Tremor + Aftershock
       STAGGER chance: 40% vs. normal enemies

# Warmonger: Pommel Strike + Pommel Blow
       Stun chance: 100% vs. normal enemies
       STAGGER chance: 100% vs. stunned targets

# Vanguard: Cleave + Claymore
       STAGGER chance: 40% vs. normal enemies

# Reaver: Devour + Voracious
       STAGGER chance: 100%


Combos
------

ROGUE:

# Dual Weapon: Explosive Strike + Merciless Strike
       Physical damage: 400% vs. STAGGERED targets

# Dual Weapon: Lacerate + Maim
       Chance of bleeding: 100% vs. STAGGERED targets

# Duelist: Vendetta + Blood Feud
       300% physical damage vs. STAGGERED targets


MAGE:

# Arcane: Crushing Prison + Paralyzing Prison
       Physical damage: 200% vs. STAGGERED targets
       Paralyze chance: 100% vs. STAGGERED targets

# Primal: Chain Lightning + Chain Reaction
       Electricity damage: 600% vs STAGGERED targets
       Elemental force: 200% vs. STAGGERED targets

# Bloodmage: Hemorrhage + Paralyzing Hemorrhage
       900% physical damage vs. STAGGERED targets

# Forcemage: Fist of the Maker + Maker's Hammer
       900% physical damage vs. STAGGERED targets



Best Combos
-----------

# Claymore + Sunder (with Giant's Reach) -> anything
       With Claymore & Sunder & Giant's Reach on the warrior, he will STAGGER
       enemies quite often and possibly in an AOE. Watch out for the STAGGER
       icon then quickly pause and follow up.

# Pummel -> Chain Reaction / Paralyzing Hemorrhage / Maker's Hammer
       A tentative AOE option. Unfortunately Aftershock will often send foes
       flying too far apart. Pummel can't really hit many enemies at once so
       this can be awkward to set up.

# Voracious / Pommel Blow -> Paralyzing Prison / Blood Feud / Merciless Strike
       The single target combo. There's a good chance you can pull off all five
       components, it should be easier with this combo compared to other combos



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

  ==================
   5. CLOSING WORDS
  ==================

  A straightforward, short and sweet guide for you.

  Heed the usual copyright stuff, don't plagiarize, etc.

  Thank you to Andre Mizutani for reminding me about Dessicate and also point
  out that some initiators are better for certain finishers.

  Comments? Criticism? Compliments? zeusodinra at yahoo dot com


+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

  =====================
   6. REVISION HISTORY
  =====================

v1.0    30 Mar 2011     First version complete

v1.0    31 Mar 2011     Added Dessicate and Best combos



+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+