Undead

When a spirit or demon manifests a desire to enter the world of the living, as it leaves the Fade, it can potentially possess a multitude of sentient and inanimate hosts. Entities that successfully possess the deceased are commonly referred to as undead.

Corpse possession

Demons often cannot distinguish between a living or dead being and will readily take control of either. This is one of the primary reasons for the Chantry's custom of burning the dead as to prevent the unintended creation of an undead entity. For weaker demons, corpses make tempting targets, as the demon cannot sense any resistance. When a sloth demon takes possession of the dead a shambling corpse is the result. Devouring corpses are held by hunger demons and feed upon the living. Corpses possessed by rage demons go berserk and simply wade into their opponents mindlessly.

When a pride demon takes control of the corpse of a mage, an arcane horror is born, possessing all the spellcasting abilities of a living mage, as well as possessing the ability to heal and even command other animated corpses. Demons of pride can also create powerful possessed corpses known as revenants; additionally they can be manifested by demons of desire.

In Nevarra, necromancers summon a spirit into a corpse and that spirit can mine the dead's memories or speak as an undead consultant. The practice of speaking to the dead is known as "corpse whispering." Corpse whispering is a useful skill of the Mourn Watch.^[1]

Skeletal possession

The skeletal remains of the dead can also fall prey to possession. Upon finding itself trapped within a body that cannot sustain it, the demon is driven insane... it seeks to destroy any life that it encounters, attacking without thought to its own welfare. Fanged skeletons are formed from skeletons that have been possessed by demons of hunger. Driven by the "hunger," these skeletons attempt to consume whatever life they can find and often possess the ability to drain life energy and mana from their victims. Shambling skeletons are possessed by demons of sloth and have the ability to use entropic powers against their opponents.

Notable undead

The Ancient Magister – a unique arcane horror encountered in Wending Wood during Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening^[2]
Beacon – a unique revenant encountered near the Sundermount Passage in Dragon Age II^[3]
Bysmor – a unique undead entity encountered near the Sundermount Passage in Dragon Age II^[3]
Gaxkang the Unbound – a unique entity wielding the ability to shift between revenant and arcane horror form
Gifre – a unique revenant encountered near the Sundermount Passage in Dragon Age II^[3]
Gurd Harofsen – after the Inquisitor defeats his mortal form in the Old Temple, he will become a powerful revenant
Harvester – a physical combination of several corpses possessed by a Fade spirit
Kel-Sarag – a unique revenant encountered in Corypheus' Prison^[4]
Kristoff
Manfred
Neb

Undead variations

Arcane horrors

Frost Horror – encountered in Dragon Age II on the Varterral Hunting Ground^[5]
Sky Horror – encountered during the quest the Cult of the Sky during Mark of the Assassin
Twisted Sentinels – four are encountered in the blue Fade dimension during the main quest Harvest of Amgarrak

Corpses

Corpse archer – encountered in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Devouring corpse – possessed by a hunger demon
Putrid Devouring corpse – encountered in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Enraged corpse – possessed by a rage demon
Ravenous Enraged corpse – encountered in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Harvested corpse – encountered in The Golems of Amgarrak
Harvester – physical combinations of several corpses possessed by a Fade spirit
Mangled corpse – encountered in The Golems of Amgarrak
Shambling corpse – possessed by a sloth demon
Desiccated Shambling corpse – encountered in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Walking corpse – generic specimens which only appear during the Attack at Nightfall

Revenants

Black Vial Revenants – six can be released from glass phylacteries during Dragon Age: Origins
Warped Watchers – are trapped in-between the Veil; the Warden must dispatch them while traversing Amgarrak Thaig

Skeletons

Skeleton archer – provide ranged support with longbow
Skeleton mage – extremely rare and are only present on boss encounters
Devouring skeleton – possessed by hunger demons; they attack with a sword and kite shield
Frenzied Devouring skeleton – encountered in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Fanged skeleton – also possessed by hunger demons; they attack with dual daggers
Ancient Fanged skeleton – encountered in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Shambling skeleton – possessed by sloth demons; they attack with greatswords
Mangled Shambling skeleton – encountered in Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

Liches

Half-lich - a mortal undead who maintains their body by stealing souls

Trivia

It is said that spirits animate the dead. Their drive revives the corpse, yet the corpse colors their actions. Scholars in Nevarra debate whether undead are inhuman spirits puppeting a body, or if some shade of the departed has returned.^[6]