The below details all approval options for Varric throughout the main story, side quests, cut scenes, and other prompted dialogue. Where ‘N/A’ is stated after a quote, this indicates that your response has no consequence to approval ratings. As with all companions, your approval rating with Varric starts at 0. This is altered by specific choices in the following ways:

Slightly Approves / Slightly Disapproves:¶

• Slightly Approves (+1 to approval rating)
• Slightly Disapproves (-1 to approval rating)

Approves / Disapproves:¶

• Approves (+5 to approval rating)
• Disapproves (-5 to approval rating)

Greatly Approves / Greatly Disapproves:¶

• Greatly Approves (+25 to approval rating)
• Greatly Disapproves (-25 to approval rating)

Cutscenes¶

Prologue¶

“How do you think we should proceed?“

• “Take the mountain path.” - Approves
• “Charge with the soldiers.”

Encounter in Haven¶

“Most people would have spread that out over more than one day.“

• “I’m just glad to be alive.” - Slightly Approves
• “I can barely keep up.” - Slightly Approves
• “Too many people died up there.” - Slightly Approves
• “I’m fine.” - Slightly Disapproves
• “This is all bullshit.” - Slightly Approves

In Hushed Whispers / Champions of the Just¶

“You just won a big victory for the Inquisition! What’re you going to do to celebrate?“

• “Plan for what’s next.” - N/A
• “Catch my breath.” - Slightly Approves
• “Anything but celebrate.” - N/A
• “Have a party.” - Slightly Approves

Fight with Cassandra¶

“Varric: You kidnapped me! You interrogated me! What did you expect?“

• [Intervene.] - Approves
• [Stay out of it.] - Disapproves

“Varric: Look at her! She’s finally lost it!“

• “Stop this Fighting!” - N/A
• “This is funny.” - N/A
• “Leave me out of this.” - Slightly Disapproves

“Cassandra: Hawke would have been at the Conclave! If anyone could have saved Most Holy…“

• “Cassandra, back off!” - N/A
• “Varric’s not at fault.” - Approves
• “Varric, you bastard.” - Greatly Disapproves
• “What’s done is done.” - N/A

“Cassandra: We all know who’s side you’re on Varric. It will never be the Inquisition’s.“

• “We need to work together.” - Slightly Approves
• “Varric’s earned his place.” - Approves
• “That’s unfair Cassandra.” - Approves
• “I’m well aware.” - Disapproves

After Fight with Cassandra¶

“Approach Varric…“

• “Are you alright?” - Slightly Approves
• “She’s calmed down.” - Slightly Approves
• “No more secrets.” - Slightly Disapproves

“I wasn’t trying to keep secrets. I told the Inquisition everything that seemed important at the time.“

• “You knew about Corypheus.” - Slightly Disapproves
• “I believe you.” - Approves
• “Hawke should’ve joined sooner.” - Slightly Disapproves
• “Talk to Cassandra.” - N/A
• “Choose a side.” - Slightly Disapproves

Skyhold¶

“Maker’s breath, what have I let loose?“

• “This isn’t your fault.” - Slightly Approves
• “I think you’re confused.” - Approves
• “It doesn’t matter.” - N/A

“I’m a business man. Never really followed a chosen one before.“

• “I’m just like you.” - Slightly Approves
• “Make it up as you go.” - Slightly Approves
• “Just be my friend.” - Approves
• “Just do what I do.” - Slightly Disapproves
• “I’m not the chosen one.” - Slightly Approves

“You heard the crowd singing after Haven was attacked.“

• “I’m still me though.” - N/A
• “Please don’t sing.” - Slightly Approves
• “This is giving me a headache.” - Slightly Disapproves

Bianca Davri¶

“Bianca: Well, this is a suprise. You’re the Inquisitor. Bianca Davri, at your service.“

• “It’s a pleasure.” - Slightly Approves
• “You two look nervous.” - N/A
• “What’s going on?” - N/A

“Bianca: There’s a deep roads entrance crawling with strange humans carting out red lyrium by the handful.“

• “We should shut this down.” - Approves
• “We have other priorities.” - Slightly Disapproves

Swords and Shields¶

“I must have heard that wrong. It sounded like you just said that Cassandra read my books.“

• “You sound surprised.” - N/A
• “She’s a big fan.” - Slightly Approves
• “I did say that.” - N/A

“That book is easily the worst I’ve ever written. The last issue barely sold enough to pay for the ink.“

• “It can’t be that bad.” - Slightly Approves
• “Cassandra seems to like it.” - Approves
• “No wonder she was embarrassed.” - Slightly Disapproves
• “I need it as a gift.” - N/A

Main Story¶

Here Lies the Abyss¶

“He wasn’t the first good man to fall to Corypheus. He won’t be the last. This story’s no good for heroes.“

• “At least Hawke survived.” Greatly Approves
• “We heroes might make it.” Approves
• “He will be the last.” Approves

“Their weird, foreign foodstuff arrived… alive. And one of them, true to its name, wandered off in the middle of the night.“

• “If it helps, tell the story.” - Approves
• “I’m sorry, Varric.” - N/A
• [Hug him] - Slightly Approves
• “They said goodbye to you.” - Slightly Approves

Prompted Dialogue¶

Investigate¶

“I have questions about Hawke.“

• “Orsino’s fate made no sense.” - Slightly Disapproves
• “Where are Hawke’s friends?” - N/A