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In Dragon Age Origins, the Mabari War Hound is a loyal companion that can be recruited to join your party.
The Mabari War Hound is a Ferelden breed that is known for its intelligence and athleticism.
It's a great asset to have in battle, with its high damage output and ability to withstand a lot of punishment.
The Mabari War Hound can be found in the game's world, specifically in the village of Ostagar, where it's being trained by a young boy.
Game Context
In the world of Dragon Age: Origins, mabari war hounds are a significant part of the game's lore and gameplay.
You can obtain a mabari war hound by being high-born or by helping to care for a sick dog at Ostagar, after which the dog will join your party.
The Ash Warrior Leader at Ostagar can also teach you about mabari war hounds and how the Ash Warriors use them in combat.
Players who have The Black Emporium DLC will get a mabari war hound named Dog, which can be summoned as a small fifth party member.
Dragon Age: Origins
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In Dragon Age: Origins, the Warden can have a mabari dog join their party, either by being high-born or by helping to care for a sick dog at Ostagar.
The mabari will find the party on the road after the battle, slightly ahead of a horde of pursuing darkspawn. Dog, a mabari, can be summoned as a small fifth party member, akin to a Ranger summoning animals, for players with The Black Emporium DLC.
Hostile mabaris can be found throughout the Storm Coast, and the Blades of Hessarian use Hessarian Hounds in combat. A lone mabari named Betyar can be found in the Canyon of the Hissing Wastes, guarding the shop of its owner.
Cullen Rutherford finds a mabari in Halamshiral during the Exalted Council, keeping it as a pet. The Warden may also learn about mabari war hounds from the Ash Warrior Leader at Ostagar.
Landmark Explorations
If you have Dog in your party, you can activate Mabari Dominance by selecting a Landmark object, which will give him a boost in strength, willpower, and constitution.
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Mabari Dominance provides Dog with +2 strength, +2 willpower, and +2 constitution, making him a more formidable ally in combat.
To activate Mabari Dominance, Dog doesn't even need to be near the landmark; the effect remains active as long as he's in the same area.
However, if you're exploring a building, the effect won't apply, even if the landmark is nearby.
Here are some of the notable Landmarks you can find in Ferelden:
- Brecilian Forest - a tree between the Grand Oak and the haunted camp.
- Dalish Camp - a tent.
- Denerim Market - an overturned cart (during The Battle of Denerim).
- East Brecilian Forest - the Mad Hermit's tent.
- Elven Alienage - the Vhenadahl
- Lake Calenhad Docks - an overturned boat on the shore.
- Lothering - a tree on a small rise northeast of the windmill.
- Redcliffe - a tree next to the windmill.
- Redcliffe Castle Courtyard - a small tree near the ground-floor door.
Hit Points
As you level up in the game, your mabari's hit points increase, and it's essential to understand how this works. To determine the amount of the increase, roll 1d8 (or 5) and add its Constitution modifier.
You'll need to track your mabari's hit point maximum, which changes as it gains levels. Whenever the mabari gains a level, it gains one Hit Die, and its hit point maximum increases.
To calculate the increase, you'll need to roll 1d8 (or 5) and add its Constitution modifier.
Mabari War Hound Details
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The Mabari War Hound is a medium beast with an unaligned or same-alignment as its partner. It has an Armor Class of 10 + DEX + proficiency.
Its stats include Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution modifiers, with a base Strength of 14 (+2), Dexterity of 14 (+2), and Constitution of 12 (+1). The Mabari War Hound also has an Intelligence of 10, which it inherits from its altered breeding process.
In combat, the Mabari War Hound has Keen Hearing and Smell, giving it advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell. It also has Pack Tactics, allowing it to have advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of its allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Stats
A Mabari War Hound's stats are unique and tied to its partner's level progression. The Mabari War Hound uses a special system for adding class levels.
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The Mabari War Hound doesn't gain any starting equipment when it gains a level, unlike other classes. This means you'll need to provide for it separately.
When its partner gains a level, the Mabari War Hound also gains a level, regardless of how much or how little it's participated in its partner's adventures. This can happen frequently, so be prepared for rapid level progression.
The Mabari War Hound can only gain levels in the War Dog class, which is its sole focus. This specialization allows it to become extremely skilled in its role.
Here's a breakdown of the Mabari War Hound's level progression:
Mabari War Hound
The Mabari War Hound is a unique and fascinating creature. It's a medium beast with a strong connection to its partner, which can be a person or another creature.
The Mabari War Hound has impressive physical abilities, with a Strength score of 14 (+2) and a Dexterity score of 14 (+2). Its Armor Class is determined by 10 + DEX + proficiency, making it a formidable opponent in combat.
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In terms of speed, the Mabari War Hound can move at 40 ft. Its Hit Points are 8 + the hound's Constitution modifier, which gives it a decent amount of health.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Mabari War Hound is its Awakened Bloodline. This means that it has a touch of wolf blood and is highly intelligent and loyal to its partner. It can even inherit an Intelligence of 10, making it a valuable companion in battle.
The Mabari War Hound has a range of abilities, including Keen Hearing and Smell, which give it an advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell. It also has Pack Tactics, which allows it to attack a creature with advantage if at least one of its allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Here are some key abilities of the Mabari War Hound:
The Mabari War Hound's abilities and powers increase as it levels up, with new abilities and enhancements being added at each level.
Combat Abilities
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The mabari war hound is a force to be reckoned with in combat. Beginning at 7th level, its weapon attacks count as magical, allowing it to overcome resistance and immunity to non-magical attacks.
Its bite attack is a powerful one, dealing 1d6 + STR modifier piercing damage. The mabari can also growl at its target, giving its allies advantage on their attack rolls if they strike before its next turn.
As a dog, the mabari has a unique approach to combat, gaining class features as it levels up. One of its key abilities is Extra Attack, which allows it to make multiple attacks on its turn. Beginning at 5th level, the mabari can attack twice, increasing to three attacks at 11th level and four at 20th level.
With its Danger Sense feature, the mabari has advantage on Dexterity saving throws against visible effects like traps and spells. This can be a game-changer in combat, giving the mabari an edge over its opponents.
The mabari's initiative rolls also get a boost, with advantage starting at 7th level. This means the mabari is more likely to strike first in combat, setting the tone for the rest of the fight.
Actions
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The mabari's actions in combat are quite impressive. It can Bite its target for 1d6 + STR modifier piercing damage, making it a formidable opponent up close.
With its Growl action, the mabari can aid its allies by giving them advantage on their first Attack roll against the target. This can turn the tide of battle in their favor.
The mabari can use its Growl action to replace one of its Extra Attacks, making it a strategic decision to use this ability wisely.
Combat Training
At 7th level, a mabari war hound's attacks become magical, allowing them to overcome resistance and immunity to non-magical attacks.
This is a significant advantage in combat, making them a valuable asset to any team.
With their newfound magical abilities, mabaris also gain an edge in initiative rolls, having advantage on these rolls.
This means they can react faster to changing situations on the battlefield, giving them a tactical advantage.
Their enhanced combat abilities make them a force to be reckoned with, and their loyalty and intelligence only add to their effectiveness.
Extra Attack
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The mabari war hound's ability to attack multiple times in a turn is a game-changer in combat.
Beginning at 5th level, the mabari can attack twice, instead of once, whenever it takes the Attack action on its turn. This means you'll get to deal double the damage to your enemies.
The number of attacks increases as the mabari levels up. At 11th level, it can attack three times, and at 20th level, it can attack four times. This is a significant advantage in combat, allowing the mabari to take down multiple foes quickly.
This feature is a great asset in a fight, especially when combined with the mabari's other abilities.
Special Features
The Mabari War Hound is an impressive breed, and one of its standout features is its incredible intelligence. They're known to be one of the smartest dog breeds, rivaling that of some human children.
Their high intelligence is matched by their strong work ethic, making them a valuable asset on farms and estates. They're bred to be working dogs, after all!
Their keen sense of smell is another special feature, allowing them to detect and track scents with ease. This is a result of their origins as hunting dogs, where their keen sense of smell was essential for tracking prey.
Class Features
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As a War Dog, your mabari gains Hit Dice of 1d8 per level, which is a crucial factor in determining its hit point maximum. This means that your mabari's hit points will increase as it levels up.
The mabari's hit point maximum is determined by its Constitution modifier, which is added to a base value of 8 at 1st level. This is a key factor to consider when building your War Dog's stats.
Your mabari doesn't gain any starting equipment, so you'll need to provide it with gear and supplies as you go. This can be a fun way to customize your War Dog's abilities and playstyle.
Here are the specific hit point calculations for your mabari:
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + the hound’s Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + the hound’s Constitution modifier per level after 1st
As your mabari levels up, it will also gain a level, regardless of how much or how little it has participated in its partner's adventures. This is a unique feature of the War Dog class.
Nemesis
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At 18th level, the mabari becomes a force to be reckoned with as its hit point maximum increases by +2 per level. This applies retroactively, making it a more formidable opponent.
The mabari's ability to regain hit points is a game-changer in combat. At the start of each of its turns, the mabari regains hit points equal to 1d6 + its Constitution modifier.
The catch is that the mabari doesn't gain this benefit if it has 0 hit points.
History and Background
The mabari war hound has a rich history in Ferelden cultures, dating back to the domestication of wolves. Many proto-Fereldan barbarians enjoyed a close relationship with dogs that went back to this domestication.
Having a mabari partner is prestigious, considered an important asset in the field. It's like having a powerful companion by your side.
Mabari are a large, well-muscled breed of dog, typically seen with a short coat in colors ranging from tan, brown, and black, with some having white spots on their body, muzzle, or chest.
History
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Dogs have been an important part of Fereldan cultures for a long time, with many proto-Fereldan barbarians having a close relationship with dogs that dates back to the domestication of wolves.
Having a reliable canine companion has always been considered a valuable asset in the field, especially when it comes to fighting.
Dog, a mabari, was serving in the armies of Ferelden during the Fifth Blight, specifically with the Ash Warriors mercenaries, a distinctive elite force made up of Humans who fight like Dwarven berserkers.
The Ash Warriors are known for fighting alongside their faithful mabari, which is a unique aspect of their tactics.
Prior to the Battle of Ostagar, Fereldan fighters faced three waves of darkspawns and clashed with various stragglers and marauders.
Battles in the Korcari Wilds
The Korcari Wilds played a pivotal role in the early stages of the war against the Fifth Blight.
A young elf named Alamen Tabris helped a kennels master care for a fine specimen of a mabari dog that had been driven mad by the Taint.
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She brought back herbs to brew a purgative, which saved the dog's life and led to an unlikely bond between the two.
The kennels master suggested that Tabris visit the kennels again after the battle to confirm whether the dog had imprinted on her.
The battle was lost, and Tabris never got to visit, but the dog had indeed imprinted on her.
The dog, now a de facto member of Tabris's team, proved to be an important asset in combat, mauling foes with bloodcurdling ferocity.
This unique bond between a mabari and its partner, known as imprinting, is a remarkable phenomenon that can last until death.
Background
Mabari are a large, well-muscled breed of dog, typically seen with a short coat in colors ranging from tan, brown, and black, with some having white spots on their body, muzzle, or chest.
They are highly intelligent, able to understand what they are told and remember complex orders. This intelligence is evident in their ability to respond to speech via growls, whines, barks, or physical gestures.
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Each mabari chooses their master for life in a process called imprinting, forming a lifelong bond with their chosen partner. This bond is so strong that a mabari may be able to re-imprint after losing their master, but it's typically a very difficult process.
Mabari have been an essential part of Fereldan military strategy for a long time, trained to pull knights from horseback or break lines of pikemen. They're also known to cause panic among infantry soldiers with their intimidating presence.
Their keen sense of smell allows them to distinguish allies from enemies, but in the chaos of battle, they can become confused. To avoid this, hound masters paint themselves and their mabari with a special paint called kaddis.
Mabari are descended from pack hunters and are highly influenced by a defined order of dominance, which they establish through scent-marking major landmarks. This dominance order indirectly benefits both the mabari and their master.
Mabari are large mastiff-like dogs, said to stand as tall (and wide) as a dwarf, with some wolf blood mixed in. Their size and intimidating presence make them a formidable force on the battlefield.
Their masters, or rather partners, often use distinct styles of warpaint to help identify their mabari in combat. This visual cue helps the mabari recognize their partner and stay focused on their mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get mabari war hound?
To get a Mabari War Hound, complete the "Mischief in the Larder" side quest for Nan if you're a Human Noble, or finish the "Mabari Hound" quest for the Kennel Master in Ostagar for other origins.
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