Anders (Dragon Age)

Anders
Dragon Age character
Anders as he appears in Dragon Age II.
First appearanceDragon Age: Origins – Awakening (2010)
Voiced byGreg Ellis (Awakening)
Adam Howden (Dragon Age II)
In-universe information
HomeFerelden
ClassMage
SpecializationSpirit Healer

Anders is a fictional character in BioWare's Dragon Age franchise. The character made his debut in Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening as a human mage pursued by members of the Templar Order, the military arm of the Chantry, which is the dominant religious organization in the Dragon Age series. He joins the player character as a party member. He appears again as a companion character in 2011's Dragon Age II.

Although the character is initially depicted in Origins – Awakening to be only concerned about his own personal freedom, by Dragon Age II he has developed a zealous passion to help other mages who are oppressed by the Chantry. He later reveals to Hawke, the player character of the second game, that he has allowed himself to be possessed by a spirit prior to his relocation to Kirkwall, whose rigid belief in moral absolutes influenced his predominantly lighthearted and carefree disposition. Anders later orchestrates the destruction of the Kirkwall Chantry; with his actions, the Circles of Magi across Thedas began to rebel against the Templar Order and the Chantry, leading to all-out conflict across the regions of Thedas which later led to the Mage-Templar War in Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Anders' depiction in Dragon Age II has proven divisive among video game journalists and fans. Some found merit and nuance in his changed personality and antagonism against the templars, while others have disapproved of his darker characterization and suggested that his fanaticism lacked depth. His overt flirtation with Hawke, specifically a male player character, generated controversy as well as substantial discussion on the issue of LGBT themes in the Dragon Age series.