How to Conquer the Blighted Gates and Unlock Powerful Boons in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Key Takeaways:

1. Unlocking Blighted Gates in Dragon Age: The Veilguard leads to powerful endgame boons, aiding Rook in critical battles.
2. Conquering Blighted Champions is essential to breaking through Blighted Gates, each connected to unique side quests.
3. Completing both Regrets of the Dread Wolf and Heart of Corruption quests rewards Rook with valuable items and abilities.

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, players are thrust into a mystical journey through the enigmatic Crossroads, navigating deadly Blighted Gates and tracking powerful foes known as Champions. These gates are essential to Rook’s mission, as unlocking them can provide endgame advantages vital for survival. This guide will cover everything you need to know to conquer these gates, defeat Blighted Champions, and earn Rook’s ultimate rewards.

Entering the Crossroads and Meeting the Caretaker

Early in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Rook passes through an ancient Eluvian to reach the Crossroads, an ethereal hub within the Fade. Here, Rook meets the Caretaker, who reveals that the Crossroads are being choked by Blight and requests Rook’s help in cleansing it. The Caretaker points out several gates shrouded in vines and sealed by round sigils, which players soon learn are Blighted Gates.

To access each gate, Rook must destroy the Blight surrounding it, a task that requires hunting down Champions powerful Blighted creatures scattered across Thedas. Unlocking all three main Blighted Gates in the Crossroads is crucial for progressing through the side quests Regrets of the Dread Wolf and Heart of Corruption, both of which grant formidable advantages as Rook nears the endgame.

Locating the Blighted Gates in the Crossroads

Each Blighted Gate in the Crossroads is associated with a unique questline. Here’s a breakdown of where you’ll find these gates and what quests they unlock:

1. The Gate of Lost Ages – Tied to the Regrets of the Dread Wolf questline, this gate resides within the Converged City in the Crossroads and serves as the starting point for understanding Blighted Gates.
2. The Gate of Deep Sorrows – Located on Beacon Island, this gate is central to the Heart of Corruption quest and presents an added challenge, requiring Rook to clear multiple seals.
3. The Gate of Faded Glories, Gate of Parched Hopes, and Gate of Pale Reflections – These gates, found across different areas in the Crossroads, provide additional opportunities for high-level loot and help in advancing the primary Crossroads side quests.

Each gate is blocked by Blight vines, with some requiring multiple Champions’ Essences to break the seals.

How to Unlock Blighted Gates: Tracking and Defeating Champions

Unlocking a Blighted Gate requires retrieving a Champion’s Essence by defeating a powerful Blighted creature. Champions are formidable enemies, often at or above level 25, so tackling them is recommended only after Rook and their companions reach level 20 or higher.

Here are the Champions you’ll need to hunt for each gate and their corresponding locations:

Champions by Blighted Gate

• Gate of Deep Sorrows – Found in Treviso, specifically the Crows Road Rooftops.
• Gate of Lost Ages – Located in Dock Town within the Lost Company Mines.
• Gate of Faded Glories – Hidden within the Tainted Woods of Arlathan Forest.
• Gate of Parched Hopes – Found in the Old Crossroads of Hossberg Wetlands.
• Gate of Pale Reflections – Situated at Solitude’s Edge in Hossberg Wetlands.

Each Champion is encased in a Blight Cyst, typically surrounded by other high-level enemies. It’s wise to clear the surrounding area before tackling the Cyst itself to avoid being overwhelmed in combat.

Defeating Champions and Collecting Champion’s Essences

Each Blighted Champion is an elite-level boss, meaning Rook will need to employ strategy, powerful equipment, and a well-balanced team to take them down. Upon victory, Rook must retrieve the Champion’s Essence, a critical item required to break the seal on the corresponding Blighted Gate. With each gate unlocked, players can advance to new areas within the Crossroads and continue their quest.

Quest Progression in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Regrets of the Dread Wolf Questline

As Rook progresses through the Regrets of the Dread Wolf questline, the mission focuses on unlocking specific Blighted Gates, such as the Gate of Lost Ages and the Gate of Faded Glories. Once these gates are opened, Rook must explore these areas and defeat foes to locate Solas’ Wolf Statuettes—an essential artifact tied to the lore of the Dread Wolf. Completing this questline rewards players with Mythal’s Essence, a powerful item that significantly aids in endgame combat.

Heart of Corruption Questline

The Heart of Corruption questline is intertwined with the Gate of Deep Sorrows, the Gate of Parched Hopes, and the Gate of Pale Reflections. After opening these gates, Rook will confront high-level Blighted bosses, each presenting unique challenges:

• Betrayal of Felassan
• Slaughter of the Pillars
• Fall of the Protector

Defeating these bosses and securing their Essences allows Rook to break the seals on Beacon Island’s Heart of Corruption Gate. This achievement is significant, as it summons the Revenant Dragon, a level 50 endgame boss. Victory against the Revenant Dragon grants Rook an invaluable reward that strengthens their endgame potential.

Why Unlocking Blighted Gates Is Essential

Completing both Regrets of the Dread Wolf and Heart of Corruption questlines by unlocking and cleansing the Blighted Gates can fundamentally change the course of Rook’s endgame journey. These quests reward players with powerful boons, including high-level items and rare abilities essential for tackling the toughest encounters in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

• Mythal’s Essence – Granted upon completing the Regrets of the Dread Wolf questline, Mythal’s Essence is a valuable item that provides a substantial boost to Rook’s combat capabilities, particularly against endgame foes.
• Heart of Corruption Reward – Conquering the Revenant Dragon unlocks a secret, powerful item that gives Rook an edge in the game’s toughest battles.

Tips for Success in Conquering Blighted Gates

1. Level Up First – Since Champions are typically level 25 or higher, reach at least level 20 to ensure Rook and their team are equipped for these encounters.
2. Equip Potent Gear – Equip Rook and companions with high-level armor, weapons, and consumables to maximize survivability in battles against Champions and high-level enemies.
3. Prepare for Multi-Enemy Combat – Blighted Cysts are often in areas crowded with hostile mobs, so clear them out first to avoid being overwhelmed during the Champion fights.

FAQ

What are Blighted Gates in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
Blighted Gates are mystical gates in the Crossroads that are covered in Blight. They require a Champion’s Essence to unlock, which allows players to access new areas and progress through key quests.

How do I unlock Blighted Gates?
To unlock a Blighted Gate, Rook must track down and defeat a powerful Blighted Champion located in various areas around Thedas. Each Champion drops a unique Essence required to break the seal on a specific gate.

What are the main rewards for completing the Blighted Gates quests?
Completing Blighted Gates quests like Regrets of the Dread Wolf and Heart of Corruption provides players with high-level items, including Mythal’s Essence and other boons that boost Rook’s abilities in endgame scenarios.

Can I skip the Blighted Gates side quests?
While optional, completing the Blighted Gates side quests offers significant rewards that can greatly aid Rook in the endgame, making it highly recommended for players seeking an edge in combat.