Dragon Age: The Veilguard – A Guide to Ending Choices: Fight, Trick or Save Solas

Key Takeaways:

1. Your choices at the climax of Dragon Age: The Veilguard shape Solas’ fate and the future of the world, leading to different endings based on your decision.
2. You can choose to fight Solas, trick him, or save him each option drastically alters the story’s conclusion and requires careful planning and preparation.
3. Unlocking the “Save Solas” ending provides the most complex but rewarding path, delivering a satisfying conclusion that reflects redemption and the power of allies.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a game that thrives on the weight of your choices, especially when it comes to determining the ultimate fate of Solas, the once-benevolent elf-god who now threatens to destroy the Veil separating the mortal world from the Fade. In the game’s climactic moments, players must choose one of three paths fight Solas, trick him, or attempt to save him. Here’s a guide to each of these critical choices, the mechanics involved, and the profound impact they have on the fate of the world.

1. Fighting Solas – The “Bad Ending”

If you choose the “But I want to fight you” option, you enter an intense battle where Rook, the protagonist, faces off against Solas with the intent to end him once and for all. This is a straightforward yet brutal confrontation that leaves no room for negotiation.

How to Achieve This Ending:

• Select the “But I want to fight you” dialogue option to initiate combat.
• Be prepared with high-level equipment, as Solas is a formidable foe. You’ll need strong companions with the “Heroes of Veilguard” status to maximize your chances of survival.

What Happens in This Ending: Once Solas is defeated, Rook uses the Lyrium Dagger to bind him permanently to the Veil, effectively ending his threat to the world. However, this quick solution comes at a high moral cost, as it leaves Solas entrapped without ever truly understanding the depth of his errors. The fight brings the story to a conclusive halt but with a hollow sense of victory. Though Solas’ plans are thwarted, this ending is a “bad ending” that lacks a redemptive resolution.

Outcome and Consequences:

• Solas is defeated, but his vision of the Veil’s destruction and his underlying pain remain unaddressed.
• Some allies may question your choice, feeling that the path of violence may not have been necessary.
• This ending feels bittersweet and leaves certain moral questions unresolved.

2. Tricking Solas – The “Neutral Ending”

In the “Let’s try this your way” ending, you attempt to outwit Solas rather than face him directly. By using a fake Lyrium Dagger, you bind him to the Veil without fully engaging in direct combat or shedding blood.

How to Achieve This Ending:

• Choose the “Let’s try this your way” dialogue option, leading to a sequence where you manipulate Solas into using the fake dagger.
• Rook pretends to agree with Solas’ plan, cunningly swapping the dagger for a replica, which Solas uses himself to bind to the Veil.

What Happens in This Ending: In this scenario, Solas becomes trapped within the Veil, unaware of the deception. This outcome provides a cleaner, less bloody resolution than the fight, and it lets Rook maintain some sense of moral integrity by not directly causing harm. However, the trickery prevents Solas from truly seeing the flaw in his plan to destroy the Veil, leaving his underlying motivations unexamined.

Outcome and Consequences:

• Solas is still bound to the Veil, but without the confrontation or personal transformation that could lead to his redemption.
• The world is spared from the immediate threat, but the moral questions surrounding the Veil’s existence remain unresolved.
• This “neutral ending” offers a balance between peace and deceit but does not provide the deeper catharsis that some players might seek.

3. Saving Solas – The “Good Ending”

The most challenging but rewarding ending requires you to complete side quests and obtain a rare item, Mythal’s Essence, allowing you to appeal to Solas’s inner conflict and encourage him to choose a path of redemption.

How to Achieve This Ending:

• Gather Mythal’s Essence by completing the “Regrets of the Dread Wolf” questline, which opens this choice during the final encounter.
• Select the dialogue option, “You don’t have to do this,” using Mythal’s Essence to reach out to Solas on a personal level.
• Morrigan and the Inquisitor will arrive at this crucial moment, calling upon Mythal’s spirit, who releases Solas from his self-imposed mission.

What Happens in This Ending: In a deeply moving sequence, Solas experiences a moment of revelation, understanding the repercussions of his intended actions. He acknowledges the suffering he has caused and willingly binds himself to the Veil to prevent any future harm. This is the true “good ending” that reflects the possibility of forgiveness and personal growth, showing Solas embracing the chance to atone for his past deeds.

Outcome and Consequences:

• Solas redeems himself, offering a sense of closure that is both morally uplifting and emotionally satisfying.
• Rook and the other characters witness the impact of compassion and forgiveness, strengthening the bonds between allies.
• This ending offers the most profound resolution, as Solas’s repentance and self-sacrifice allow for a future free from the shadows of his original ambition.

Which Ending Should You Choose?

The choice ultimately depends on your playstyle and how you envision the protagonist’s moral compass. Each ending brings a distinct experience:

• Fight Ending is straightforward and action-packed but lacks moral depth.
• Trick Ending maintains a neutral tone, balancing resolution without direct violence.
• Save Ending provides a redemptive and emotional experience, requiring extra effort but delivering a deeply satisfying conclusion.

For those who appreciate storytelling rich in character development and ethical dilemmas, the “Save Solas” path is the recommended route. It’s the most challenging, involving additional quests and intricate dialogue choices, but it brings the most fulfilling end to Solas’s narrative arc.

FAQs

1. Can you unlock all three endings in a single playthrough? No, each ending is exclusive to your choice in the final encounter with Solas. It’s advisable to save your game before making a decision to explore each path.

2. How do I acquire Mythal’s Essence for the “Save Solas” ending? To obtain Mythal’s Essence, you must complete the side quest “Regrets of the Dread Wolf,” which involves collecting artifacts and engaging in dialogues that reveal Solas’s backstory and regrets.

3. Which ending is considered canon? There is no official canon ending in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. However, the “Save Solas” ending aligns most closely with themes of redemption and the possibility of change, making it the most popular choice among fans.

4. Are there any post-game consequences to each ending? While the game does not offer an extensive post-game experience, each ending affects how your character and companions perceive the outcome, which could influence future titles in the Dragon Age series.

5. Is the “Save Solas” ending worth the effort? Yes, many players find the extra quests and effort rewarding, as it provides a heartfelt, complex conclusion that ties together the story’s themes of sacrifice, redemption, and forgiveness.

Choosing Solas’s fate is an intricate decision that reflects the broader moral themes at play in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Your choice not only determines the future of the Veil but shapes the legacy you leave behind in the world of Thedas. Whether you lean toward retribution, trickery, or forgiveness, each ending leaves a mark on the rich tapestry of this beloved RPG.