So, you’ve reached the end of Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s most emotional companion arc, and you’re staring at the prompt that decides Professor Emmrich Volkarin’s entire future. It’s heavy. You’re essentially playing God with a man who has spent seventy-odd years thinking about this very moment.
The community is basically split down the middle. One side says, "Give the man his dream!" while the other is screaming, "Don't you dare touch that precious skeleton assistant!" Honestly, there is no "correct" answer, but there is definitely a "right" answer for the version of Emmrich you’ve come to know.
Deciding whether to make Emmrich a lich or not isn't just a stat check. It’s a philosophical crossroads that changes his appearance, his combat role, and how he views his relationship with you.
The Reality of the Lich Transformation
In Nevarran culture, becoming a lich is the ultimate promotion. It’s not like Dungeons & Dragons where you become a withered, evil husk of a person. In Thedas, a Mourn Watcher lich is a guardian. They are the ultimate protectors of the Grand Necropolis, meant to serve for eternity.
If you choose this path, things get spooky fast.
Emmrich undergoes a ritual where he essentially dies and is brought back as a conscious undead. Visually? He becomes a skeleton. If you’re romancing him, yes, he is still a skeleton during the "intimate" scenes. He uses a magical glamour to look human when he’s out in public, but in the Lighthouse or the Necropolis, he’s all bone.
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What You Gain (and Lose)
Choosing the lich path transforms Emmrich into a powerhouse. He gets the Lich’s Vestige armor and the "Death’s Caress" skill. This makes him a monster at dealing necrotic damage. If your Rook is built for debuffs and status effects, Lich Emmrich is a literal godsend.
But there’s a massive catch.
Manfred. Our favorite little clattering helper doesn't make it. To achieve lichdom, Manfred’s spirit—which sacrificed itself during the fight with Johanna Hezenkoss—stays gone. Emmrich achieves his lifelong dream, but he loses his "son" to do it.
Why Keeping Him Mortal Might Be Better
On the flip side, you can choose to restore Manfred.
This is the "humanity" route. By choosing this, Emmrich realizes that his obsession with lichdom was largely fueled by a deep-seated, paralyzing fear of death. He wasn’t just looking for a job promotion; he was trying to outrun the Reaper.
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When you choose to bring Manfred back, Emmrich is genuinely happy. He accepts that he is a mortal man who will one day die. He decides that his legacy isn't his own eternal existence, but the life he gives to Manfred.
The Gameplay Shift
In this version, Emmrich becomes more of a support character. He gets the Graven Vestments and the "Life’s Embrace" ability. These perks kick in when Rook is at low health, providing massive damage boosts and healing. It’s the "guardian" build, just without the skeletal face.
The Romance Factor: Does It Change Things?
I've seen a lot of people asking if being a lich ruins the romance.
Short answer: No.
Long answer: It makes it way more melancholic.
If Emmrich becomes a lich while romancing Rook, he is suddenly immortal while you are... definitely not. The dialogue shifts. He talks about watching you grow old and pass away while he remains the same. He’s still the posh, sweet, "charmed" professor we love, but there’s a layer of eternal sorrow there.
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If he stays mortal, the romance feels more "traditional." You grow old together (or as close to it as an adventurer can get). He expresses a profound relief in being able to live a "normal" life with you and Manfred.
Making the Final Call
So, Emmrich lich or not?
If you want the "cool" factor and a high-damage mage who finally achieved his academic peak, go lich. It fits the lore of a Mourn Watcher perfectly. It’s tragic, it’s gothic, and it feels very Dragon Age.
If you want the "happy" ending where the found family stays together and the old man finally conquers his anxiety about the end of life, keep him mortal.
Personally? I think keeping him mortal feels like the more complete character arc. He spends the whole game talking about death like a scholar, but saving Manfred is the first time he actually acts like a father.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your party composition: If you need a raw damage dealer, Lich Emmrich is superior. If you find yourself dying a lot, Mortal Emmrich’s support buffs are a lifesaver.
- Listen to his dialogue in the Lighthouse: Before the final quest, talk to him. If you’ve encouraged his necromancy at every turn, the lich path feels earned. If you’ve questioned the "creepiness" of it, making him a lich will feel like you’re forcing him into a cage.
- Save your game: There is a specific save point right before the ritual. Watch both endings. The emotional weight of Manfred's "Happy Hissing" vs. his absence is something you have to see for yourself to know which one sits right with your version of Rook.
The choice is yours, but remember—once he’s a skeleton, there’s no going back to skin and blood. Choose wisely.