Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Guide to Entering the Blighted Tree

Key Takeaways:

1. Master the steps to locate and unlock the Blighted Tree in the Heights of Athim.
2. Understand the unique requirements to eliminate Blight and gain treasure.
3. Learn strategies to maximize Darkspawn encounters to reach your goal.

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the journey to the Blighted Tree in the Heights of Athim is a challenging and rewarding one. This massive tree, corrupted by Blight, guards a hidden treasure, and players must fulfill a specific requirement to unlock its secrets. Follow this guide to understand the mechanics, solve the puzzle, and uncover the loot waiting for you.

Locating the Blighted Tree in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Before you can tackle the Blighted Tree, you need to find it within the intricate layout of the Heights of Athim. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to reach the Blighted Tree:

1. Start at the Dock: From the Heights of Athim dock, proceed up through the ruined building to reach the combat area just below a zipline.
2. Turn Right and Move Past the Altar: Head right past the Fen’Harel Altar, leading you to a tilted house that you’ll pass through.
3. Ascend the Wooden Staircase: Climb the wooden stairs to your right, then continue up the ladder at the top.
4. Continue Up the Stone Passageway: After the ladder, turn left, go up the stone stairs, and follow the stone passage.
5. Approach the Blighted Tree: Turn left once more and climb the wooden stairs, which will bring you directly to the base of the Blighted Tree.

With this route, you’ll reach the corrupted tree, and your companions may comment on its ominous presence, hinting at the potential to remove the Blight blocking your way.

Unlocking the Blighted Tree: Understanding the Darkspawn Requirement

Unlike standard Blight spots that you can clear by interacting with them, the Blighted Tree demands a unique approach. Simply clearing Blight boils around the area won’t affect it. Instead, you’ll need to engage in combat with the Darkspawn in the Heights of Athim.

Meeting the Requirement: Kill 50 Darkspawn

When you approach the Blighted Tree, a counter will appear with the text “X/50 Darkspawn Killed.” This means you need to slay a total of 50 Darkspawn in the Heights of Athim area to make the central Blight mass on the tree vulnerable. However, a single sweep through the Heights likely won’t spawn enough Darkspawn, so you’ll need to get creative.

Strategies for Maximizing Darkspawn Encounters

Since Darkspawn encounters are limited in the Heights of Athim, you may struggle to reach the 50 kills required. Here are several techniques to help you respawn Darkspawn and reach your goal:

1. Save and Reload: Save your game, quit to the main menu, then load the game again. This often resets the area and brings back previous encounters.
2. Save and Reload Without Exiting: If you don’t want to fully exit the game, try simply saving and reloading without quitting entirely. This can cause some Darkspawn to respawn.
3. Leave and Return to the Crossroads: Exit the Heights of Athim and then return from the Crossroads. Doing so should refresh certain encounters in the area.
4. Explore Other Areas and Return Later: Spending time in other areas or on side quests can allow time for Darkspawn to naturally respawn within the Heights of Athim.

With these strategies, you can efficiently accumulate Darkspawn kills to reach the required total of 50.

Unleashing the Tree’s Secret

Once you’ve hit the 50 Darkspawn kills mark, return to the Blighted Tree. You’ll notice that the central Blight patch on the tree has started glowing, signaling that it’s vulnerable. Blast it open, and you’ll reveal a hidden path leading into the hollowed interior of the tree. Inside, you’ll discover a treasure chest containing a rare item.

One of the notable items you might find is the Maw of the Black City, a unique ring with both a boon and a curse: it enables all abilities to deal critical damage but reduces your health by 20% with each use. Choose carefully if you equip it, as its power comes at a steep price.

FAQs

Q: Can I remove the Blighted Tree’s corruption without killing 50 Darkspawn?
A: No, killing 50 Darkspawn in the Heights of Athim is essential to unlock the Blighted Tree.

Q: What’s the fastest way to reach 50 Darkspawn kills?
A: Combining multiple methods such as save and reload cycles and exploring other areas before returning can maximize respawn rates and help you hit 50 faster.

Q: What items are available inside the Blighted Tree?
A: The primary reward is often the Maw of the Black City, a unique ring that boosts critical damage but at a health cost. You may also find additional valuable loot based on your character’s progression and choices.