Dragon Age: The Veilguard - The Heart Of Corruption Guide
The Crossroads is a large region that you'll visit often in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Part of the realm known as the Fade, it holds many secrets. One of these concerns a thrice-locked gate, and the challenges it entails are sure to test your mettle. Here's our guide on how to complete The Heart of Corruption in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Heart of Corruption guide
The Heart of Corruption in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an over-arcing quest. This is due to the following:
- The quest itself appears in your journal once you spot the thrice-locked door. It can be found on Beacon Island, the first area upon entering the Crossroads. From the Lighthouse eluvian, just go immediately to your right to see it.
- The seals can only be removed by obtaining three Revenant Essences. These items come from deadly, high-level bosses found in specific areas of the Crossroads.
- However, you won't be able to enter these areas normally. Instead, you must first eliminate a Darkspawn Champion in another region.
- Tracking The Heart of Corruption quest makes markers appear on your map, and these show you the general location of the revenant bosses. You could then track the side quest that appears to look for the champion enemy in a different region.
In any case, we hope you're well-prepared prior to tackling these tasks. We suggest collecting a few unique items and picking the best skills/specializations. Much later in the campaign, you should also unlock Hero of the Veilguard perks for your companions to bolster their capabilities.
Part 1A: Gate of Deep Sorrows target
Once you've arrived at the Converged City--i.e. the southern island in the Crossroads--you'll notice a large area with a stone structure in the center. To your left, there's a pathway with only one seal. If you approach it, you'll receive a quest called Gate of Deep Sorrows.
The Darkspawn Champion that you're looking for is named Desmal, Bloodbound to Elgar'nan. You can find this level 25 creature on the rooftops of Treviso. The location is just a couple of zipline rides away from the Antivan Crows headquarters.
Once you reach the area, you'll spot a bulging blight boil. Take out the weaker Darkspawn first, then destroy the blight to make Desmal appear. Once you've beaten this foe, you'll receive a Champion Essence.
Part 1B: Betrayal of Felassan
Now that you have the Champion's Essence, use it on the doorway in the Converged City. This unlocks a path that takes you to an underground section of the island. There, you'll face a level 32 boss named Betrayal of Felassan. If you've been tackling the Regrets of the Dread Wolf quest, then you've likely seen Felassan a few times.
In any case, Betrayal of Felassan periodically summons additional enemy mobs, and it also creates a protective barrier that you need to destroy using ranged attacks. Once the boss has been defeated, you'll receive your first Revenant Essence.
For your efforts, you'll receive The Burden, a unique amulet that has the following effects: +20% damage when at low health; low health status triggers earlier; your health cannot go above 70%.
Part 2A: Gate of Parched Hopes target
Your next target if you wish to complete the Dragon Age: The Veilguard Heart of Corruption quest can be found in Arlathan Forest. Head over to the northeastern part of the zone, known as the Tainted Woods, and destroy the blight pods in the area. Clear out the fortress first, then break the larger blight pod to free an elite named Entarus the Rekindled. Eliminate him and grab the Champion Essence.
Part 2B: Slaughter of the Pillars
Make your way to Elvhenan's Haven, the eastern floating landmass in the Crossroads, and use the essence orb to open the Gate of Parched Hopes. The Slaughter of Pillars revenant will awaken and call upon its undead minions. Use area-of-effect abilities to bring them down swiftly. Note that, similar to the Betrayal of Felassan, the Slaughter of the Pillars also creates a barrier that's vulnerable to ranged attacks.
The chest here contains a unique ring called Andraste's Will: +50% burning duration, +1 maximum burning stacks; all afflictions you apply count as burning status instead.
Part 3A: Gate of Pale Reflections target
Your next opponent is a champion known as Amarell the Unwoven, who's hiding in a blight blob in Hossberg Wetlands. Watch out because this elite isn't the only one that's around in this area. If you're also doing the Hauntings quest line from the Necropolis Halls, you might accidentally spawn one of the targets here.
Part 3B: Fall of the Protector
Grab the Champion's Essence from Hossberg Wetlands and make your way to the Heights of Athim, the northeastern landmass in the Crossroads. Trek through the snowy pass until you see several blight pods along a cliffside area. Destroy these and the blight blob, then unseal the Gate of Pale Reflections.
You should now be able to fight a boss known as the Fall of the Protector. This undead specter summons a zombie horde that you need to clear out. Once the horde has been taken care of, the boss will swoop in and start casting ice-based spells. As usual, be ready to break the magical barrier that it creates with your ranged attacks. When the battle is over, you can pick up the Casket Sharp greataxe, which has the following perks:
- +618 physical damage; +438 stagger.
- This weapon's light attacks count as heavy attacks; defeating an enemy causes stagger build-up for other nearby hostiles.
Note: We experienced a bug here that prevented the boss fight from triggering. If this occurs in your playthrough, exit the chamber and double-check if a blight pod magically respawned outside.
Finale: Revenant Dragon boss fight
You're almost done with the Heart of Corruption in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The next step involves returning to the thrice-sealed gateway and using all three Revenant Essences to unlock it. Slide down to the arena below, watch the cutscene, and be ready for a boss fight against the Revenant Dragon.
Here's what you need to know about this battle:
- The Revenant Dragon has high HP and defense. We were at level 50 and had fully upgraded/enchanted weapons, but it still took a while to bring it down.
- It uses the same attack patterns as other High Dragon bosses. The key difference is that, at certain intervals, the boss switches to a different elemental type. It starts off with ice, followed by fire, and then electric.
- This creature can also blind your group, preventing your companions from assisting you.
If you were able to convince Mythal that you're worthy, she'll arrive in her dragon form and blast your blighted foe. This damages it for one-fourth of its health, and it counts as a stagger so you can hit the weak spot on its chest multiple times. Mythal then flies away.
In our playthrough, we were able to gain Mythal's blessing without having to fight her. We've got more details for you in our Regrets of the Dread Wolf guide.
Heart of Corruption rewards
After defeating the Revenant Dragon, you may check out the small area at the back. There, you'll find the following:
- Unique ring: The Last Resort - Each time you use an ability that hits an enemy, gain +20% damage and -20% resistance. This bonus is reset if you defend or dodge.
- A memento that grants +300 Caretaker Power.
- The third and final Mysterious Circle can be found in the small nook next to the wolf statue.
- There's also one more surprise near the end, which we don't want to spoil here.
That does for our Dragon Age: The Veilguard Heart of Corruption guide. Now that you're done with this late-game challenge, it's time to prepare for the game's finale and ending.
The lands of Thedas are under threat from formidable foes, including some menacing elven gods, and it's up to Rook and their allies to save the day. For more tips and tactics, you can visit our Dragon Age: The Veilguard guides hub.
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