Cross-class combo (Dragon Age II)

Utilizing cross-class combos can be the most effective way to increase damage output in Dragon Age II. When playing on harder difficulties the extra damage output will be the best way to end battles quickly and can often be the difference between victory and a quick reload.
Each class can initiate a cross-class combo opportunity by inflicting an enemy with a condition unique to that class, indicated by an icon over an enemy's head. Each condition incurs penalties on affected enemies for a short period of time. If another party member from a different class uses an ability that exploits the condition on an affected enemy, the combo triggers and gives the bonus effects listed in the ability. In most cases the condition will also be consumed.
== Causes ==
 {|class="daotable" border="0"	BRITTLE (Mage)	BRITTLE (Mage)	BRITTLE (Mage)	BRITTLE (Mage)
Skill 	Class 	Lvl 	 	
Winter's Blast	Elemental 	6 	 	
Deep Freeze 	Elemental 	8 	 	
Desiccate 	Primal 	8 	 	
== Exploits ==
 {|class="daotable" border="0"	BRITTLE	BRITTLE 	BRITTLE	BRITTLE
Skill 	Cl 	Type 	Lvl 	
Shattering Blow 	W 	Two-Handed	8 	
Reaper 	W 	Two-Handed	9 	
Claymore 	W 	Vanguard 	10 	
Shattering Arrow	R 	Archery 	9 	
Punishing Lance 	R 	Archery 	11 	
Annihilate 	R 	Assassin 	14 	
There follows a more detailed explanation of these effects.
== STAGGER ==
STAGGER can only be inflicted by Warriors. The condition can then be exploited by Rogues and Mages.
* Enemy attack:
* Enemy defense:
=== Abilities that cause STAGGER ===
==== Warrior abilities ====
Ability 	Required Upgrade	Tree 	% STAGGER Chance vs. Normal Enemies
Shield Bash 	Pummel 	Weapon and Shield 	100% to target40% to others hit in arc
Sunder 	 	Two-Handed 	20% on a critical hitNOTE: Passive ability applies to all critical hits
Pommel Strike	Pommel Blow 	Warmonger 	100% vs. stunned enemiesNOTE: Stun chance: 100% vs. normal enemies
Tremor 	Aftershock 	Warmonger 	30%
Cleave 	Claymore 	Vanguard 	10%
Devour 	Voracious 	Reaver (Specialization)	100%
=== Abilities that exploit STAGGER ===
==== Rogue abilities====
Ability 	Required Upgrade	Tree 	Bonus vs. STAGGERED enemies
Explosive Strike	Merciless Strike	Dual Weapon 	Physical damage: 300%
Lacerate 	Maim 	Dual Weapon 	Chance of bleeding: 100%NOTE: Does not remove STAGGER
Vendetta 	Blood Feud 	Duelist (Specialization)	Physical damage: 300%
Kickback 	Backlash 	Marksman (Varric only) 	Physical force: 800%
==== Mage abilities====
Ability 	Required Upgrade 	Tree 	Bonus vs. STAGGERED enemies
Chain Lightning 	Chain Reaction 	Primal 	Electricity damage: 300%Elemental force: 200%
Crushing Prison 	Paralyzing Prison 	Arcane 	Physical damage: 200%Paralyze chance: 100%
Hemorrhage 	Paralyzing Hemorrhage	Blood Mage (Specialization)	Physical damage: 500%
Fist of the Maker	Maker's Hammer 	Force Mage (Specialization)	Physical damage: 600%
== DISORIENT ==
DISORIENT can only be inflicted by Rogues; The condition can then be exploited by Warriors and Mages.
* Enemy defense:
=== Abilities that cause DISORIENT ===
==== Rogue abilities====
Ability 	Required Upgrade 	Tree 	% DISORIENT Chance vs. Normal Enemies
Pinning Shot 	Disorienting Shot	Archery/Bianca 	100%
Fatiguing Fog 	Overpowering Fog 	Sabotage 	100%
Confusion 	Chaos 	Sabotage 	100%
Disorienting Criticals	 	Shadow (Specialization)	100% on a critical hit while obscured
=== Abilities that exploit DISORIENT ===
==== Warrior abilities ====
Ability	Required Upgrade	Tree 	Bonus vs. DISORIENTED enemies
Scatter	Disperse 	Weapon and Shield 	Physical damage: 300%
Assault	Battery 	Weapon and Shield 	Physical damage: 400% on final hit
Devour 	Insatiable 	Reaver (Specialization)	Physical damage: 300%Health regeneration: 300%
==== Mage abilities ====
Ability 	Required Upgrade 	Tree 	Bonus vs. DISORIENTED enemies
Spirit Bolt 	Spirit Strike 	Spirit	Spirit damage: 300%Elemental force: 200%
Walking Bomb	Corrosive Walking Bomb	Spirit	Spirit damage: 200%
Walking Bomb	Virulent Walking Bomb 	Spirit	Spirit damage: 200% vs. nearby targets upon explosionPhysical force: 200% vs. nearby targets upon explosion
Stonefist 	Golem's Fist 	Primal	Physical damage: 200%Physical force: 200%
== BRITTLE ==
BRITTLE can only be inflicted by Mages. The condition can then be exploited by Warriors and Rogues.
* Critical damage:
=== Abilities that cause BRITTLE ===
==== Mage abilities ====
Ability 	Required Upgrade	Tree 	% BRITTLE Chance vs. Normal Enemies
Petrify 	Desiccate 	Primal 	100%
Winter's Grasp	Winter's Blast 	Elemental	40% vs. frozen enemies (100% with Elemental Mastery)NOTE: Freeze chance: 100% vs. normal enemies
Cone of Cold 	Deep Freeze 	Elemental	20% vs. frozen enemies (100% with Elemental Mastery)NOTE: Freeze chance: 60% vs. normal enemies
=== Abilities that exploit BRITTLE ===
==== Warrior abilities ====
Ability 	Required Upgrade	Tree 	Bonus vs. BRITTLE enemies
Mighty Blow	Shattering Blow 	Two-Handed	Physical damage: 300%Physical force: 200%
Scythe 	Reaper 	Two-Handed	Physical damage: 200%Physical force: 200%
Cleave 	Claymore 	Vanguard 	Stun chance: 100%
==== Rogue abilities ====
Ability 	Required Upgrade	Tree 	Bonus vs. BRITTLE enemies
Bursting Arrow	Shattering Arrow	Archery/Bianca 	Fire damage: 600%Elemental Force: 400%
Archer's Lance	Punishing Lance 	Archery/Bianca 	Physical damage: 600%Physical force: 400%
Assassinate 	Annihilate 	Assassin (Specialization)	Physical damage: 200%
== See also ==
* Stun has a similar mechanic.
== External links ==
* "A "colorful" analysis of cross class combo" - Bioware Forums
Category:Dragon Age II gameplay