Party Members

Hawke

Hawke is the main character and can select from any of the three classes. Hawk is the only Warrior/Rogue that can use multiple weapon types, and the only Mages that gets all spell trees. Hawke is also the only character that gains two Specialization trees.

Bethany

Hawke's younger sister. To gain her in the party you must select Warrior or Rogue as your class. During the Act 1 Quest The Deep Roads Expedition you must exclude her from your party. Finally, during the Act 3 Quest The Last Straw you must side with the Circle of Magi; although she can also rejoin your active party for the very last battle if you side with the Templars. Alternately, During The Deep Roads Expedition bring Bethany along with Anders. He will locate Stroud and allow your sibling to join the Grey Wardens. She does not have the Primal tree, denying her some defenses and control spells. She makes for a good back up healer if you choose not to bring along Anders.

Carver

Hawke's brother and twin of Bethany. To keep him as a party member you must select Mage as your class. During the Act 1 Quest The Deep Roads Expedition you must exclude him from your party. Finally, during the Act 3 Quest The Last Straw you must side with the Templars; although he can also serve as an out of party helper if for the very last battle if you side with the Mages. Alternately, During The Deep Roads Expedition bring Carver along with Anders. He will locate Stroud and allow your sibling to join the Grey Wardens. He does not have Weapon and Shield, lowering his tanking potential, but he is still a powerful damage dealer.

Varric

The narrator who retells the story of Dragon Age 2. He is a mandatory character who joins shortly after arriving at Kirkwall. He is an Archer type Rogue and cannot access Dual Wield. His special Marksman tree augments his ranged attacks further by boosting damage and attack speed. His Friendship adds extra Attack Speed and Dodge rates, while his Rivalry gives a Stealth chance with Varric takes damage.

Aveline

Aveline is met in the Prologue and can join your party again by talking to her in the Viscount's Keep, which can also start the Side Quest The Way It Should Be (but does not need to be completed). To keep her in the party you must side with the Templars during the Act 3 Quest The Last Straw, or have a Friendship with her. She is a Warrior that only uses one handed weapons and shields, lowering her damage output. Her Guardian tree amps up her tanking abilities by providing damage resistance and damage transfer. A Friendship with her will transfer damage from Hawke, while a Rivalry will further increase her damage resistance.

Anders

Anders is gained through the main storyline Quest Tranquility. To keep him in the party you must side with the Mages during the Act 3 Quest The Last Straw. Anders is a mage that lacks the Entropy tree, meaning he cannot sleep or hex enemies. His Vengeance tree allows for top of the line healing and faster spell casting. His Friendship boosts all of his damage outputs, while his Rivalry increases his health regeneration.

Merrill

Merrill is gained through the main storyline Quest Long Way Home. To keep her in the party you must side with the Mages during the Act 3 Quest The Last Straw, or have a Friendship with her. She is a mage that is missing the Creation tree, which disallows her from healing or hasting the party. Her Dalish Pariah tree allows her to wield blood magic and use area of affect nature spells. A Friendship with her will make her a more effective blood mage, while a Rivalry will boost her damage resistance.

Isabela

Isabela is an optional character that can be recruited during the Act 1 Side Quest Fools Rush In. To keep her in your party you must gain a Friendship before completing the Act 2 Quest To Catch a Thief and promise her the reward. She is Rogue who cannot use Archery. Her Swashbuckler tree increases her defenses, boosts critical chance, and allows her to provoke enemies. A Friendship with her will increase the attack speed of both her and Hawke, while her Rivalry improves her dodge chance.

Fenris

Fenris is an optional character that can be recruited during the Act 1 Side Quest Bait and Switch. To keep him in the party you must side with the Templars during the Act 3 Quest The Last Straw, or have a Friendship with him. He is a Warrior that uses the Two-Handed weapons and cannot use shields or one handed weapons. His Tevinter Fugitive tree gives him boosts to magic resistance, defense, and speed. A Friendship with him increases his resistance to magic, while a Rivalry gives him more critical damage.