Iron Bull was one of Dragon Age: Inquisition's most memorable and well-received companions. Showing a completely different side of the Qunari than the one shown in Origins' Sten and Dragon Age 2's Arishok plotline, many fans will be hoping to see the character return in Dragon Age 4.
Dragon Age 4 will be set in the Tevinter Imperium, just south of the Qunari island of Par Vollen. However, despite the next game taking players closer to the Qunari nation than ever before, Iron Bull is very unlikely to make an appearance.
Iron Bull And The Bull's Chargers
When the Inquisitor first makes contact with Iron Bull he is a Ben-Hassrath - a member of the Qunari priesthood, broadly tasked with defending the Qun and the innocent. He has been living as a mercenary for some time, having been sent by his higher ups in the Ben-Hassrath to act as a spy in southern Thedas. Over time he formed his own mercenary band, the Bull's Chargers.
Despite his drinking, gambling, and generally relaxed attitude, Iron Bull is still ultimately loyal to the Qun when the Inquisitor first meets him. He is, however, open about his loyalties. Iron Bull explains that he would like to help the Inquisition, but that as a Ben-Hassrath he will be reporting to his superiors. In turn, he promises to use this connection to aid the Inquisition as well.
Iron Bull's personal quest faces players with a choice with consequences that are so radically different that Dragon Age 4 may struggle to accommodate them. Instead, BioWare may choose not to feature Iron Bull at all. During an attempt to attack a Venatori operation smuggling Red Lyrium off the coast of Ferelden, the Bull's Chargers are separated from their leader. In order to prevent their deaths, the Inquisitor must be willing to give up protecting a Qunari dreadnought which was originally planned to ambush the smuggling ship.
If the Inquisitor sacrifices the Bull's Chargers, Iron Bull remains in the good graces of the Ben-Hassrath and the ties between the Inquisition and the Qunari strengthen. However, if the Chargers are saved the mission fails. The Ben-Hassrath later attempt to assassinate Iron Bull in Skyhold for failing the Qun. Having disguised himself as a Tal-Vashosh for years, this time Iron Bull is truly outcast by his people.
The Bull's Betrayal
This true consequences of this decision are not felt until Inquisition's final DLC, Trespasser. The main plot of Trespasser revolves around an event called the Dragon's Breath conspiracy. The Qunari are attempting to use Eluvians to assassinate much of the nobility of southern Thedas.
If the Bull's Chargers were saved the reunion with Iron Bull in Trespasser is a happy one. The Inquisitor can even help the Bull's Chargers as they plan a birthday surprise for their leader. Once the Dragon's Breath conspiracy is defeated the Bull's Chargers return to their mercenary ways in Orlais and Ferelden.
However, if the Inquisitor decided to sacrifice the Bull's Charger's all the way at the beginning of Iron Bull's story, the outcome of Trespasser is very different. Without the loss of the Qunari dreadnought Iron Bull is never cast out from the Ben-Hassrath. When the wheels start turning in the Dragon's Breath conspiracy, he is used as a spy within the Inquisition. One of the final fights in Trespasser is against the Ben-Hassrath. Even if the player doesn't bring Iron Bull with them to the encounter he will appear and will join his Qunari allies, saying "change of plans. Nothing personal, bas."
Even if Iron Bull was romanced in Inquisition or has high approval, the Inquisitor still has to kill him. This potentially makes it one of the most brutal betrayals since Solas' turn towards the end of the main plot of Inquisition's base game. After the death of a romanced Iron Bull some will even blame the Inquisitor for causing the entire Dragon's Breath conspiracy by allowing themselves to be deceived by a Qunari spy.
This betrayal will also take place if the Inquisitor chooses not to complete Iron Bull's personal quest at all. In this case, the Bull's Chargers are never put at risk, but their leader also never falls out of favor with the Ben-Hassrath. As such, he still betrays the Inquisition in the final moments of Trespasser. It is mentioned that Iron Bull's betrayal causes Tal-Vashoth mercenaries to be treated with far greater suspicion in Thedas, with many fearing that they still have loyalties to the Qun and Par Vollen.
Iron Bull In Dragon Age 4
Ultimately the difference between these two outcomes is so stark that Iron Bull may be less likely to appear in Dragon Age 4 than some of Inquisition's other companions. The possibility of his betrayal and death makes him extremely unlikely to return as a companion character. It is possible that he will return as a non-companion, but there are a few reasons this also remains unlikely. If the Bull's Chargers were saved and Iron Bull's betrayal never took place, he continues working in the south of Thedas. Dragon Age 4 will be set in the north, in the Tevinter Imperium.
Tevinter is nearby the Qunari-controlled island of Par Vollen, but Iron Bull's betrayal inevitably leads to his death, which makes his return home impossible. Despite the character's popularity, it seems extremely unlikely that BioWare will choose to focus on a character who could have been dramatically killed in a pivotal final moment in the last game's final DLC.
Iron Bull's relationship to the Inquisition and the Inquisitor can go in such different directions that he's unlikely to appear in Dragon Age 4. However, this is also part of what made the character so compelling in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Fans can only hope that their actions have such varied consequences when it comes to Dragon Age 4's new companion characters.
Dragon Age 4 is in development.