Dragon Age Origins: A comprehensive gifts guide

Gifts in Dragon Age: Origins can be complicated, especially during the first playthrough of the game. There are different types of gifts, ranging from...

Amy West

Sept 07, 2023

Dragon Age Origins: A comprehensive gifts guide

Gifts in Dragon Age: Origins can be complicated, especially during the first playthrough of the game. There are different types of gifts, ranging from common ones to those that specific characters prefer, and there are even some gift-related storylines. Some gifts are hard to find, while others are incredibly easy.

Players may want to gain maximum approval from their companions not only for the sake of the story but also because maximum approval grants them skill bonuses. So, if you need help in choosing the right gift for each of the giftable characters, take a look at this comprehensive guide.

Updated on September 6, 2023 by Sean Murray: We understand how anxiety-inducing it can be to find the perfect gift. That's why we have updated this guide with improved formatting to make it easier for you to give your companions in Dragon Age: Origins a gift.

How Gift Mechanics Work

Dragon Age Origins A Complete Gift Guide

Dragon Age: Origins features a gifting system for companions that is not present in the other games, and it's an easy way to increase companion approval. In this sense, gifts are particularly valuable for players who may be making role-playing decisions that certain characters strongly disapprove of.

There are three types of gifts:

Regular gifts, which will give +5 approval points to any companion.
Preferred gifts, which can be given to any companion but which give +10 approval points when given to certain companions.
Plot gifts, which can only be given to one companion and provide +10 approval points.

You can give a gift to a companion by selecting it in the inventory screen. However, there are a few exceptions to consider when it comes to giving gifts:

The approval points you get will diminish with more gifts given one after another.
- For example, the first regular gift given will award the player +5 approval points, and the next will award four points.
If you have a negative approval rating with a companion and then give them a gift, the approval you get is halved.
- For example, preferred gifts will give +5 approval points at most.
Once a companion's approval is maxed out (at +100), gifts will no longer give the player any approval.

Gifts For Alistair

Dragon Age Origins A Complete Gift

Gift	Type	Location
Alistair's Mother's Amulet	Plot Gift	Found at Redcliffe Castle in a desk in Arl Eamon's study.
Duncan's Shield	Plot Gift	Found in the Grey Warden Vault, which is a secret room in the Market Warehouse in Denerim. The room is hidden behind a bookcase.
Joining Chalice	Preferred Gift	Found in Ostagar (after the battle), where you participated in the Joining. Note: requires the Return to Ostagar DLC.
Black Runestone	Preferred Gift	Found in a locked chest in Aeducan Thaig.
Onyx Demon Statuette	Preferred Gift	Located in the East Brecilian Forest near the south gravestone in a pile of bones.
Small Carved Statuette	Preferred Gift	Found in a crate in the north end of Lothering.
Stone Dragon Statuette	Preferred Gift	Located in a chest on the second floor of Redcliffe Castle.
Stone Warrior Statuette	Preferred Gift	Found in a pile of dragon filth in the Mountainside Caverns explored during the Urn of Sacred Ashes questline.
White Runestone	Preferred Gift	Found in the Circle Tower from a lootable Abomination in the Great Hall.

Gifts For Morrigan

Dragon Age Origins A Complete

Gift	Type	Location
Black Grimoire	Plot Gift	Found in the Senior Mage Quarters of the Circle Tower. It can be found in Iring's chest.
Flemeth's Grimoire	Plot Gift	In a locked chest in Flemeth's Hut that requires Flemeth's Key (acquired by defeating Flemeth).
Golden Mirror	Plot Gift	Can be bought at Garin's store in the Orzammar Commons for 16 silver and 90 copper.
Gold Amulet	Preferred Gift	Bought from Garin's store in the Orzammar Commons for 16 silver and 90 copper.
Golden Demon Pendant	Preferred Gift	Located in The Gauntlet, which is at the Mountain Top explored during the Urn of Sacred Ashes questline.
Golden Rope Necklace	Preferred Gift	Can be bought from Bodahn in Camp.
Locket	Preferred Gift	Found in a locked Iron Chest in the Haven store.
Silver Brooch	Preferred Gift	Sold by Varathorn at the Dalish Camp for 25 silver and 20 copper.
Silver Chain	Preferred Gift	Located in a vanity at the Circle Tower Senior Mage Quarters.
Silver Medallion	Preferred Gift	Found in a Dragon Hoard in the Ruins Upper Level of the Brecilian Ruins in the Brecilian Forest.

Gifts For Leliana

Dragon Age Origins A

Gift	Type	Location
Andraste's Grace	Plot Gift	This gift can actually be found at three different locations. The first location is in Redcliffe by the Windmill. The second is in the West Brecilian Forest. The third is in the Alienage of Denerim. (Leliana will treat the first Andraste's Grace like a plot-relevant gift and the other two as just preferred gifts).
Cute Nug	Plot Gift	Can be acquired from an Idle Dwarf NPC in Dust Town. He can be paid a varied amount of money based on the player choosing to haggle or threaten him.
Blue Satin Shoes	Preferred Gift	Can be bought in a random encounter with the merchant Old Tegrin.
Silver Sword of Mercy	Preferred Gift	Can be bought in a random encounter with the merchant Old Tegrin.
Bronze Symbol of Andraste	Preferred Gift	Found in a locked chest in the Lothering Chantry.
Chantry Amulet	Preferred Gift	Can be looted from a Templar body in the Circle Tower's Senior Mage Quarters.
Etched Silver Symbol	Preferred Gift	Can be purchased from Ruck in Ortan Thaig for 39 silver.
Golden Symbol of Andraste	Preferred Gift	Bought for 18 silver from Legnar in the Orzammar Commons.
Steel Symbol of Andraste	Preferred Gift	Located in Genitivi's Home in the Denerim Market District.

Gifts For Zevran

Dragon Age Origins

Gift	Type	Location
Antivan Leather Boots	Plot Gift	Found in a locked chest in the store at Haven.
Dalish Gloves	Plot Gift	Can be found in the West Brecilian Forest after an encounter with the Abandoned Campsite.
Medium Gold Bar	Plot Gift	Found in a treasure pile in the Arl of Denerim's Estate.
Medium Silver Bar	Preferred Gift	Located at the Anvil of the Void in a chest during the questline A Paragon of Her Kind
Small Gold Bar	Preferred Gift	Can be looted from Charmed Templars in the Circle Tower.
Small Silver Bar	Preferred Gift	Found in an Inscribed Chest at Haven's Chantry.

Gifts For Oghren

Dragon Age

Gift	Type	Location
Ale	Preferred Gift	Bought from three different merchants for just two copper: Barlin in Lothering Lloyd at Redcliffe Village Bartender at the Denerim Market District
Alley King's Flagon	Preferred Gift	Bought from Legnar in the Orzammar Commons for 16 silver and 50 copper.
Chasind Sack Mead	Preferred Gift	Found in the Ruined Temple in the Urn of Sacred Ashes questline, among some dusty scrolls.
Garbolg's Backcountry Reserve	Preferred Gift	Found by the dog.
Golden Scythe 4:90 Black	Preferred Gift	Located in a crate in Lothering village.
Legacy White Shear	Preferred Gift	Found in the Lower Ruins of the Brecilian Ruins in the Brecilian Forest, in a sarcophagus.
Whilhelm's Special Brew	Preferred Gift	Requires the Stone Prisoner DLC. The gift is found in Honnleath.
Sun Blonde Vint-1	Preferred Gift	Found in a Vanity in the Templar Quarters of the Circle Tower.

Gifts For Shale

Dragon

Gift	Type	Location
Remarkable Amethyst	Preferred Gift	Purchased by Alimar in Dust Town for two gold and 24 silver.
Remarkable Diamond	Preferred Gift	Can be bought by Garin for seven gold and 80 silver in the Orzammar Commons. (This is not available on PC versions of Dragon Age: Origins).
Remarkable Emerald	Preferred Gift	Costs four gold and can be purchased from Figor in the Orzammar Commons.
Remarkable Sapphire	Preferred Gift	Bought by Legnar for three gold and 60 silver at the Orzammar Commons.
Remarkable Greenstone	Preferred Gift	Found in Honnleath.
Remarkable Malachite	Preferred Gift	Looted in the Circle Tower from the Quartermaster in the Apprentice Quarters.
Remarkable Ruby	Preferred Gift	Dropped by an Ogre Alpha in Cadash Thaig.
Remarkable Topaz	Preferred Gift	Purchasable by Faryn outside the entrance to Orzammar for two gold and 40 silver.

Gifts For Sten

Gift	Type	Location
Sten's Sword	Plot Gift	Obtained by completing Sten's companion quest. To start the quest, his approval must be at least at 25 points. Then, confront a scavenger at the Lake Calenhad Docks.
Painting of the Rebel Queen	Preferred Gift	Can be bought for 14 silver and 40 copper in a random encounter with the merchant Old Tegrin.
Silver Framed Still Life	Preferred Gift	Found in a chest on the upper floor of Redcliffe Castle.
Portrait of a Goosegirl	Preferred Gift	Purchasable by Faryn for 13 silver and 20 copper near the entrance to Orzammar in the Frostback Mountains.
Totem	Preferred Gift	Located in a chest in the Deep Roads at Caridin's Cross.
Water Stained Portrait	Preferred Gift	Looted from a charred body in the Circle Tower's Senior Mage Quarters.

Gifts For Wynne

Gift	Type	Location
Discovering Dragon's Blood	Preferred Gift	Found in a bookshelf in the Ruined Temple during the Urn of Sacred Ashes questline.
The Guerrin's of Ferelden	Preferred Gift	Located on a bookshelf on the upper floors of Redcliffe Castle.
Fancy Scroll	Preferred Gift	Can be looted from a sarcophagus in the Lower Ruins of the Brecilian Ruins in the Brecilian Forest.
The Rose of Orlais	Preferred Gift	Obtainable from a pile of books in the Circle Tower Senior Mage Quarters.
Wine	Preferred Gift	Can be bought from the Innkeeper at the Lake Calenhad Drydocks, Bella in Redcliffe Tavern, and/or a merchant in Lothering, all for 15 copper.

Gifts For Dog

Gift	Type	Location
Beef Bone	Preferred Gift	One can be found in Ostagar and another in the Circle Tower in the Templar's Quarters.
Found Cake	Preferred Gift	This item is found by the dog.
Tangled Ball of Yarn	Preferred Gift	This item is found by the dog.
Lamb Bone	Preferred Gift	Found in Redcliffe Castle in a chest on the main floor.
Large Bone	Preferred Gift	There are two — one at Haven and another at Soldier's Keep if the player has the Warden's Keep DLC.
Ox Bone	Preferred Gift	Can be found in some rubble in the West Brecilian Forest.
Veal Bone	Preferred Gift	In the Alienage in Denerim.

Gifts For Loghain

Gift	Type	Location
Current Map of Ferelden	Preferred Gift	Found in the Denerim Alienage.
Ancient Map of the Imperium	Preferred Gift	Purchasable from the Wonders of Thedas shop in the Denerim Market District.
Map of Occupied Ferelden	Preferred Gift	In a chest (only obtainable during the Final Onslaught) in Redcliffe Castle.
Map of the Anderfels	Preferred Gift	Located in the Grey Warden Vault in the Denerim Market District.