He’s the blonde templar everyone remembers. Or maybe he’s the guy you love to hate because of his baggage from the previous games. Dragon Age Inquisition Cullen isn't just a romance option or a military advisor sitting in a drafty office in Skyhold; he is arguably the most complex bridge between the old BioWare era and the new. If you played Origins, you saw a nervous kid. If you played Dragon Age II, you saw a man complicit in a systemic collapse. By the time he shows up in the Inquisition, he’s trying to outrun a ghost that doesn't have a physical form.
It’s about lyrium.
Most players focus on the "swooning" aspect of his romance, but the meat of his character is a brutal look at withdrawal. BioWare didn't shy away from the reality that the Chantry basically runs a legalized drug trade to keep its soldiers in line. Cullen Rutherford is the poster child for that trauma. He’s shaky. He’s irritable. He’s trying to lead an army while his own nervous system is screaming for a blue liquid that he knows will eventually rot his brain. It’s heavy stuff for a high-fantasy RPG.
The Lyrium Choice: More Than Just a Cutscene
When you talk to Cullen in his office, you eventually hit a wall. He’s struggling. He wants to quit lyrium entirely. This is where the game puts the weight on you, the Inquisitor. You can tell him to stay on it for the "good of the Inquisition" or support his choice to quit.
If you force him to keep taking it, you’re basically ensuring he ends up like the broken templars you see wandering around the Hinterlands in ten years. He stays sharp for the war, sure. But at what cost? He loses himself. If he quits, he goes through hell. He’s less "effective" in the short term, but he survives as a human being. Honestly, it’s one of the few choices in the game that feels like it has a soul. Most people pick the "quit" option because, well, we aren't monsters. But from a cold, tactical standpoint? Telling your General to stay on his "combat enhancers" during a literal apocalypse is a dark, valid roleplaying choice.
The writing team, specifically Brianne Battye, did a lot of heavy lifting here. They didn't make the withdrawal a one-and-done conversation. You see him struggling throughout the acts. He’s distracted. He’s pacing. It’s a grounded portrayal of addiction recovery set against a backdrop of dragons and ancient elven gods.
Why the Ferelden Background Matters
You can't talk about Dragon Age Inquisition Cullen without talking about the Circle at Kinloch Hold. Remember Uldred? The blood mage who turned the tower into a literal slaughterhouse? Cullen was there. He was trapped in a magical cage while his friends were turned into abominations.
That kind of trauma doesn't just go away because you moved to Kirkwall. In fact, Kirkwall made it worse. He watched Meredith go insane. He saw the Gallows turn into a prison. By the time he gets to the Inquisition, he’s trying to atone for being a bystander—or an active participant—in a system that broke the world. He’s not a hero when you meet him. He’s a survivor with a lot of blood on his hands, trying to figure out if he can ever be "good" again.
Breaking Down the "Cullenite" Fandom
It’s a real thing. The "Cullenites" are a massive subset of the Dragon Age community. Why? Because he’s the "reformed bad boy" trope done with actual consequences. He’s traditional. He’s awkward. He’s a guy who literally doesn't know how to flirt because he spent his entire life in a monastic military order.
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- The Desk Scene. You know the one. It’s the high-water mark for BioWare romance cinematics.
- The Chess Game. Playing games with Dorian or the Inquisitor shows a side of him that isn't just "Soldier Man."
- The Coin. He carries a lucky coin. It’s a small detail, but it speaks to his desperation for some kind of order in a chaotic world.
But here is the thing: some fans find him unforgivable. And that’s a fair take. In Dragon Age II, he was part of an organization that oppressed mages. He stood by while Meredith did horrific things. Some players can’t look past that, and the game actually allows you to call him out on it. You don't have to be his friend. You can be his boss and keep it strictly professional, which adds a layer of tension to the war table missions.
The Advisor Dynamic
Cullen handles the "Forces" missions. He’s the hammer. If Leliana is the dagger and Josephine is the silver tongue, Cullen is the guy who just sends in the troops.
- Leliana: Wants to assassinate a target.
- Josephine: Wants to negotiate a treaty.
- Cullen: "Let's just kick the door down."
Usually, his missions are the fastest but carry the highest risk of losing soldiers. It’s a perfect reflection of his "done with the politics" attitude. He just wants the job finished so he can stop being responsible for more deaths.
The Controversy You Can't Ignore
We have to talk about Greg Ellis. He’s the voice actor who brought Cullen to life across three games. A few years ago, he went on a bizarre, in-character rant as Cullen that was aimed at BioWare developers and fans. It was messy. It was uncomfortable. It effectively nuked his relationship with the studio.
BioWare has since distanced themselves from him. When Dragon Age: The Veilguard (formerly Dreadwolf) was in development, the big question was whether Cullen would return. If he does, he will almost certainly be recast. It’s a strange situation where the character is beloved, but the original voice is now a persona non grata in the industry. It’s a reminder that these characters exist beyond the people who voice them, but it definitely leaves a weird taste in the mouth for long-time fans.
Mechanics of the Romance
If you’re playing as a female human or elf, Cullen is an option. Dwarves and Qunari are out of luck—he’s got a "type," apparently. It’s a "sweet" romance compared to the high-drama of Solas or the polyamorous vibes of Iron Bull. It’s about building a home. It’s about the future.
There’s a specific moment where you can visit him in the battlements. The wind is howling. He’s looking out over the mountains. It feels like a quiet reprieve from the "Save the World" stakes. For many players, this is the appeal. He represents a return to normalcy. A life after the Breach.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Ending
People think the "Good Ending" for Cullen is just him staying with the Inquisition. Actually, if he quits lyrium and you finish his personal quest, he can eventually retire to a quiet life. He even helps other former templars kick the habit.
On the flip side, if he stays on lyrium, his ending slides are bleak. He becomes a "lyrium ghost" or ends up homeless and losing his mind in the streets. It’s one of the most drastic "good vs. bad" outcomes for a companion in the series. It’s not just flavor text; it’s the difference between a life of peace and a slow, agonizing death.
How to Maximize Your Interaction with Cullen
If you're starting a new playthrough of Dragon Age: Inquisition, keep these specific triggers in mind to see the full breadth of his character development:
- Talk to him early: Visit him at Haven immediately after the first major mission. His dialogue changes significantly based on your background (Mage vs. Non-Mage).
- The "Perseverance" Quest: This is the big one. It triggers after you reach Skyhold and have enough approval. Don't rush it. Listen to his dialogue during the initial phases of the quest to understand the physical toll of withdrawal.
- War Table Synergy: Don't just use Cullen for everything. If you use him for missions where Josephine's diplomacy is clearly better, you might get "failure" results that reflect poorly on his troops.
- Mage Inquisitors: Playing as a mage and romancing him offers unique dialogue about his past in the Circle. It’s probably the most "canonically" healing version of his story.
Cullen Rutherford is a man defined by his mistakes. Whether you see him as a hero or a war criminal who got lucky, there’s no denying he’s one of the most well-realized characters in the franchise. He isn't perfect. He’s messy. And in a world of magic and demons, that's exactly why he works.
To get the most out of his storyline, focus on the "Perseverance" questline as soon as it becomes available in Act 2. This unlocks the deeper conversations about his past in Kirkwall and his future beyond the templar order. Make sure to check in with him after major story beats like "Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts," as his perspective on the Orlesian court provides a much-needed grounded viewpoint compared to the noble posturing. Regardless of your personal feelings on his past actions, supporting his recovery remains the most narrative-rich path for his character arc.