The Blood Mage is a student of forbidden ancient magic that depends less on lyrium or mana than on the pure essence of life. Their spells are ugly weapons, but powerful in the extreme, able to control the wills of others.

When becoming a Blood Mage, you gain the following benefits:
+2 Constitution
+2 Spellpower

As a Blood Mage you gain access to the following abilities (purchased like spells)
More detailed information about each ability can be found on their individual pages.

Blood Magic	Description	For as long as this mode is active, the blood mage sacrifices health to power spells instead of expending mana, but effects that heal the blood mage are much less effective than normal.
Type	Sustained	Cooldown	10s	Requirements	none
Activation	-	Upkeep	0	Fatigue	5
Range	Personal	Target Type
Blood Sacrifice	Description	The blood mage sucks the life-force from an ally, healing the caster but potentially killing the ally. This healing is not affected by the healing penalty of Blood Magic.
Type	Activated	Cooldown	15s	Requirements	Level 12
Activation	0 Mana	Upkeep	-	Fatigue	-
Range	Medium (25m)	Target Type
Blood Wound	Description	The blood of all hostile targets in the area boils within their veins, inflicting severe damage Targets stand twitching, unable to move unless they pass a physical resistance check. Creatures without blood are immune.
Type	Activated	Cooldown	20s	Requirements	Level 14
Activation	40 Mana	Upkeep	-	Fatigue	-
Range	Medium (25m)	Target Type	Area of Effect, Sphere (10m)
Blood Control	Description	The blood mage forcibly controls the target's blood, making the target an ally of the caster unless it passes a mental resistance check. If the target resists, it instead takes great damage from the manipulation of its blood. Creatures without blood are immune.
Type	Activated	Cooldown	40s	Requirements	Level 16
Activation	40 Mana	Upkeep	-	Fatigue	-
Range	Medium (25m)	Target Type

Specializations in Dragon Age: Origins are not available from the start of the game. In addition to having a free Specialization Point, the character must have found a trainer willing to teach him the specialization before a point can be spent on training it.

Specialization unlocks are persistent between games, meaning that once unlocked in your player profile, your characters can learn a specialization without having to find the trainer first. They can also be unlocked even if the player character does not have the right class to actually learn them.

Spoilers below this point

The Blood Mage specialization can be taught by Connor in Red Cliffe if his quest is solved in a specific way.

Spoilers above this point