Sten Build Guide (Dragon Age: Origins) - B-Tier Guides

Hey everyone! I decided to put the recommended gear here in the video description. Taking screenshots of the items with their stats on the wiki and then adding each of those images into my videos meant that it took a lot longer for me to be able to finish editing and publish the video.
I still talk about all the items I recommend, it’s just that if you want the item names, they’re down here. I’ll also copy them in a comment below so people are most likely to see them.
Recommended Gear for Sten:
== Weapons ==
Chasind Flatblade - good early game weapon, switch to something better ASAP
Asala - Sten’s sword; it’s fine for the early and mid game, but not afterwards
Faith’s Edge - decent stats for early and mid game, and you get it for free by killing Kolgrim in the Urn of Sacred Ashes quest
Starfang - the greatsword variant is pretty good, though I prefer crafting the longsword. Not essential.
Dragonbone Cleaver - amazing battleaxe, but it’s a DLC item from a Witch Hunt achievement, so you may not have it.
Nug Crusher - Return to Ostagar DLC item. Amazing for its stamina bonus and chance to stun.
Chasind Great Maul - best two handed weapon in the game.
== Armor ==
Cailan’s set - can be found in Return to Ostagar
Wade’s Superior Heavy Dragonscale - best in slot, especially with Evon the Great’s Mail used as a chestpiece (because it still gives you the Wade set bonus)
Warden Commander Armor - gotten from Soldier’s Peak DLC by killing Sophia. A good option either early + mid game, or if you don’t want to use either Wade’s or Cailan’s on Sten for some reason.
Super early game, just get the heavy chainmail set from the Bandit Leader in Lothering
If using Wade’s or Warden Commander set, get one of these two helmets: Executioner’s Helm, Longrunner’s Cap.
== Accessories ==
= Belts =
Dalish Hunter’s Belt - best belt in slot (out of the non-contested ones)
Sword Belt - good for armor penetration
= Amulets =
Feral Wolf Charm - DLC item, armor + nature resistance
Heart of Witherfang - +1 strength and magic, and more importantly 50% nature resistance
Pearl of the Annointed - DLC item, +1 to attributes is decent
Shaper’s Amulet - +2 willpower for extra stamina
Par Vollen Willstone - same as shaper’s amulet but slightly more expensive
= Rings =
Band of Fire - a more defensive option for extra constitution (health) and some resistances
Dawn Ring - for the strength, and we don’t care about the minus to cunning
Harvest Festival Ring - strength + dex + attack are great, but sword and shield or dual wielders will want this more
Morrigan’s Ring - if you romance her, the +2 willpower isn’t bad for stamina
Ring of the Warrior - similar to harvest festival ring, so likely other characters will want it more
The Lucky Stone - +1 to all attributes is decent if you have nothing else better
The Wicked Oath - extra crit dmg, armor penetration, stamina regeneration. Other damagers will also want this, so it depends on who you want to give it to

[@poozy1]

Great video man! I wasn't expecting a tank build at all either! I like how you pointed out bugs too that's very helpful.

[@btiermutineer]

I'm glad you liked it! I thought I was already going to do a damager 2 handed build for Oghren, so I wanted to do something different with Sten. And this is what I personally do with him in my party, so it was perfect 😅

[@poozy1]

I quite enjoy your videos. I'm looking forward to whatever is next! 😊

[@btiermutineer]

Recommended Gear for Sten:
== Weapons ==
Chasind Flatblade - good early game weapon, switch to something better ASAP
Asala - Sten’s sword; it’s fine for the early and mid game, but not afterwards
Faith’s Edge - decent stats for early and mid game, and you get it for free by killing Kolgrim in the Urn of Sacred Ashes quest
Starfang - the greatsword variant is pretty good, though I prefer crafting the longsword. Not essential.
Dragonbone Cleaver - amazing battleaxe, but it’s a DLC item from a Witch Hunt achievement, so you may not have it.
Nug Crusher - Return to Ostagar DLC item. Amazing for its stamina bonus and chance to stun.
Chasind Great Maul - best two handed weapon in the game.
== Armor ==
Cailan’s set - can be found in Return to Ostagar
Wade’s Superior Heavy Dragonscale - best in slot, especially with Evon the Great’s Mail used as a chestpiece (because it still gives you the Wade set bonus)
Warden Commander Armor - gotten from Soldier’s Peak DLC by killing Sophia. A good option either early + mid game, or if you don’t want to use either Wade’s or Cailan’s on Sten for some reason.
Super early game, just get the heavy chainmail set from the Bandit Leader in Lothering
If using Wade’s or Warden Commander set, get one of these two helmets: Executioner’s Helm, Longrunner’s Cap.
== Accessories ==
= Belts =
Dalish Hunter’s Belt - best belt in slot (out of the non-contested ones)
Sword Belt - good for armor penetration
= Amulets =
Feral Wolf Charm - DLC item, armor + nature resistance
Heart of Witherfang - +1 strength and magic, and more importantly 50% nature resistance
Pearl of the Annointed - DLC item, +1 to attributes is decent
Shaper’s Amulet - +2 willpower for extra stamina
Par Vollen Willstone - same as shaper’s amulet but slightly more expensive
= Rings =
Band of Fire - a more defensive option for extra constitution (health) and some resistances
Dawn Ring - for the strength, and we don’t care about the minus to cunning
Harvest Festival Ring - strength + dex + attack are great, but sword and shield or dual wielders will want this more
Morrigan’s Ring - if you romance her, the +2 willpower isn’t bad for stamina
Ring of the Warrior - similar to harvest festival ring, so likely other characters will want it more
The Lucky Stone - +1 to all attributes is decent if you have nothing else better
The Wicked Oath - extra crit dmg, armor penetration, stamina regeneration. Other damagers will also want this, so it depends on who you want to give it to

[@xer_7438]

The Ageless Greatsword is also a useful option.

[@btiermutineer]

@@xer_7438 it definitely is! I do, however, try to stay away from gear that you get quite late in the game in my builds, especially if that choice is something that's not necessarily the best late game choice. For me, Ageless is fine in the mid-game, but by the Landsmeet I'd rather use one of the 3 late-game weapons I mentioned in the vid.

[@yournumberonepal]

I like using the Reaver Sten mod. 😈

[@user-jt3pn8bi5p]

Timing of the active abilities is the name of the game with the two-handers. If you do it right, you can dish out vast amounts of damage FAST. Just invest a little bit into stamina so that you have some juice to play with. Right-clicks should be, and will be, your last resort.

[@btiermutineer]

Do you like using 2-handed warriors in DA:O? Or do you prefer a different type of warrior build? I personally love dual wielding warriors.

[@mightyn8]

i like sword and shield warrior. alistair is my favorite! and dual wielding is great on rogues cause they're fast with daggers

[@btiermutineer]

@@mightyn8 Sword and shield is really good; in the late game with good healing and potions sword and shield tanks are pretty much unkillable!

[@jamesworkshop9181]

I tend to be a 2-hander so 2-hand companions don't especially fit my team unless I do unbalanced partys since 4 mages or 4 rogues is an impossible team setup but 4 warriors can be done.

[@kusarigama7899]

I find Swords to be really lacking. There are guides and charts out there that just using daggers even with a shield to be far more optimal because of speed, armor penetration and critical hits. If you are so inclined to add poison you are very high damage as a tank even.

[@sharkdentures3247]

Yeah, generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of Sten nor of two-handed warrior characters.
Not that I don't play/ enjoy 2-handers at all. They just tend to rank "near" the bottom of my personal List. Same with Sten. He can be rather interesting from a RP standpoint & all, not to mention having a high strength "giant" rather early game is kind of cool. Still, that's the ONLY things that are in his favor IMO.
Mages tend to be my overall favorite character build to play.
Otherwise, I tend to play two weapon characters (rogues or warriors). Or weapon & shield warriors (if I plan to boot Allistair).
My most recent (and overall favorite) weapon & shield character is a heavily dexterity focused Dagger & Shield warrior. Lots of Armor and TONS of Defense. And a respectable amount of offense with a decently damaging, quick dagger.

[@btiermutineer]

Completely agree! Two handers are at the bottom of the list for me as well. Interestingly enough I think they're very fun in DA2 and Inquisition, so it's just Origins that I don't like playing them in.