Dragon Age 2 Companion Armor Locations and Upgrade Guide

Dragon Age 2 completely redesigns how players manage party equipment compared to its predecessor by locking your allies into unique, permanent outfits. Instead of swapping out chestpieces and boots, you must seek out specific armor upgrades hidden across Kirkwall to enhance your companions' defense and unlock extra rune slots. Tracking down these elusive enhancements ensures your team remains competitive against the mounting threats found throughout the city's three distinct acts.

Understanding the Companion Gear System

Each companion possesses a signature look that evolves mechanically rather than visually as you locate their four specialized upgrades. These hidden items grant permanent stat boosts, such as increased armor ratings, health bonuses, or critical strike improvements. Missing an upgrade in an early act can permanently stunt a character's defensive progression, making careful exploration essential for an optimal playthrough.

Unlike the customizable armor configurations seen in other role-playing titles, this system preserves the artistic identity of characters like Varric, Isabela, and Fenris. Players must rely on shopping vendors and thorough dungeon looting to discover the specific modifications tailored to each ally. Prioritizing these upgrades early in each act dramatically reduces party downtime during intense boss encounters.

Act One Armor Upgrade Locations

The journey to fortify your party begins early in Kirkwall's Lowtown and Hightown districts, where several foundational upgrades are sold by local merchants. For instance, you can buy Anders' first upgrade at the apparel shop located in the Lowtown market square. Similarly, checking the inventory of the Robes store in Hightown yields a valuable armor enhancement for Merrill.

Other upgrades during this initial act require exploring dangerous combat zones outside the city walls. You can find Fenris's reinforced straps inside a treasure chest during the Book of Shartan companion questline. Gathering these early pieces provides a substantial cushion against the difficulty spike encountered during the Deep Roads Expedition.

Act Two Exploration and Merchant Finds

As the political tension rises in Kirkwall, new merchant stock becomes available and fresh regions open up for exploration. Players looking to maximize Aveline's tanking potential should visit the armor merchant in the festival grounds of the Gallows. Meanwhile, Isabela's upgrade can be found tucked away in a back alley crate during a night-time exploration of the Docks.

If you choose to use the default tracking methods, ensure you clear all secondary side quests before confronting the Arishok. Missing the upgrades scattered throughout the qunari compounds will lock you out of those specific bonuses for the remainder of the campaign. Keeping your active party members fully upgraded prepares them for the chaotic battles ahead.

Act Three Final Enhancements

The final act of the campaign features the most powerful armor modifications, which are critical for surviving the endgame conflict between mages and templars. Varric's ultimate coat alignment can be purchased directly from the shady merchant operating out of the Lowtown underground. Additionally, players can secure an exceptional upgrade for Sebastian by completing his personal request at the Chantry.

Many of these late-game items are guarded by elite enemies or locked behind complex narrative choices. Thoroughly looting every fallen boss ensures you do not accidentally leave a legendary armor piece behind in a collapsing dungeon. Completing these final sets maximizes your party's combat efficiency just in time for the dramatic finale.