Dragon Age Veilguard: Is there an active pause? Dragon Age Veilguard guide, walkthrough

The Dragon Age series is associated with a distinctive combat model. From this page of the guide you will find out whether the classic active pause is returning in Veilguard.

Last update: 30 October 2024

In the original Dragon Age trilogy, players were able to use the so-called active pause. During it, time stopped and the player could calmly issue commands to their entire party. Characters then automatically performed the assigned actions once the pause was turned off. On this page of the guide you will find out if a similar mechanic has also appeared in Veilguard and how does the combat look like in the latest installment of the series.

Does Dragon Age Veilguard has active pause?

No. Dragon Age Veilguard has abandoned the concept of active pause entirely. From now on, combat takes place only in real time, which makes the game similar to other action RPGs. Battles also became more dynamic, and the focus on a single character further emphasizes its arcade nature.

However, a certain characteristic function, somewhat reminiscent of the old active pause, remained in the final version of the game. We are talking about a special skill radial menu that can be activated during combat using the appropriate button (TAB on the keyboard and R1/RB on the controller). When the menu is open, time stops around the character, allowing you to select one of your several skills or give commands to a companion. This option is useful during more dynamic fights, when we want to calmly consider and review our options.

Unlike a "true" active pause, however, there is no option to issue more complex commands or directly control companions.