Dragon Age The Veilguard: All Endings Explained – Good, Bad and Secret Outcomes

Key Takeaways:

1. In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, players can achieve one of three possible endings: Good, Bad, and Secret, each shaped by choices made throughout the game.
2. Strategic leveling, companion choices, and factional support are crucial for determining which ending players will experience.
3. The secret ending hints at a looming threat, referencing shadowy figures from previous Dragon Age lore.

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the narrative is rich and complex, drawing players into the familiar world of Thedas, where pivotal choices shape the campaign’s ultimate conclusion. With three primary endings to unlock a Good, Bad, and a mysterious Secret ending players’ decisions, companion interactions, and actions taken during the game’s final chapters have a significant impact. Let’s break down the exact requirements, storyline implications, and the steps needed for each ending in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

The Point of No Return: Prepping for the Finale

At Chapter 11, players will encounter a “Point of No Return” message upon starting the mission “When Plans Align.” After this, all side quests are locked, so ensure you’ve leveled companions, upgraded faction ranks, and gathered important items. Every choice in Chapters 12-14 will shape which ending players achieve.

The Good Ending: Saving Companions and Sacrificing Solas

To earn the Good ending, prioritize leveling up both factions and party members. Faction ranks should be at the maximum, ideally with each faction reaching at least three stars or 3,000 points. Your companions should ideally achieve “Hero of the Veilguard” status, giving them better survivability and usefulness in the final battles.

Key Choices and Steps for the Good Ending:

1. Early Choices: Choose to save Minrathous over Treviso in Chapter 6, which favors faction relations and keeps necessary allies available.
2. Distraction Duty in Chapter 12: Choose Davrin, not Harding, to lead the distraction against Ghilan’nain. Davrin’s sacrifice in this role ensures the survival of other allies and sets the tone for the Good ending.
3. Blocking the Path: During the Isle of Gods mission, either Neve or Bellara can clear a blocked path, but they’ll be captured by Elgar’nan. Choose wisely, as they’ll rejoin later.
4. Role Assignments in Chapter 13: In the Last Gambit mission, assign roles to the team:
   • Veil Jumpers: Taash, due to her skills with magical wards.
   • Antivan Crows: Lucanis, given his expertise in stealth and ambush tactics.
   • Grey Wardens/Mourn Watch: Assign Harding to handle large enemies and constructs.
5. Defeating Elgar’nan: With the Essence of Mythal collected, persuade Solas to surrender. If you also have Solas’ replica dagger, trick him into sacrificing himself, which prevents harm to party members.

If done correctly, all but Davrin will survive, and Rook will witness a peaceful ending in which Solas willingly binds himself to the Veil. This unlocks the achievement “The Ones That Last.”

The Bad Ending: Maximum Sacrifice and Dark Consequences

For those pursuing the Bad ending, you’ll need to undermine faction relationships and avoid leveling up companions. Assign party members to unsuitable roles during critical missions and refrain from completing their personal quests. Doing so makes battles harder and increases the likelihood of companions falling in combat.

Steps and Choices for the Bad Ending:

1. Avoid Leveling Companions or Factions: Ensure party members do not reach “Hero of the Veilguard” status, which renders them vulnerable and less effective in fights.
2. Wrong Assignments: Assign companions to tasks they’re ill-suited for, causing them to fall to stronger enemies. The lack of faction strength leads to heavy losses among allies.
3. Final Battle Without Allies: In the concluding fight with Solas, Rook stands alone or with weakened allies who fall quickly. Rook and Solas are dragged into the Veil together, sealing a grim fate.

In the post-credits scene, a somber monument is shown, honoring the sacrifice of those who fell. The Bad ending is a reflection of what happens when hope is lost, and allies are left vulnerable.

The Secret Ending: Unraveling a Greater Mystery

Unlocking the Secret ending requires meticulous preparation and a deep understanding of the game’s lore. To achieve this, players must collect Mythal’s Essence and uncover three hidden “Mysterious Circles” throughout the game.

Steps to Achieve the Secret Ending:

1. Gather Mythal’s Essence: This is unlocked through a specific side quest, “Regrets of the Dread Wolf,” which reveals a connection to Solas’ story and fate.
2. Locate the Three Mysterious Circles: Each circle is hidden across Thedas and requires keen exploration. Collecting these leads to an additional post-credits scene.
3. Final Encounter with Solas: With all these steps completed, a third option will emerge where Solas chooses to bind himself to the Veil of his own free will. This is considered the best possible resolution, hinting at redemption and a promise of peace.

In the Secret ending, players are rewarded with a final cutscene featuring the mysterious Executors, an enigmatic group in Dragon Age lore, who ominously declare, “We Come.” This suggests a future threat and ties back to previous storylines, leaving the door open for more adventures in Thedas.

Ending Slides and Faction Outcomes

Regardless of which ending you achieve, players will see a series of slides detailing the outcomes for companions, factions, and key choices made throughout the journey. Some of these include:

• Who Became the Archon of Minrathous: Dorian or Maevaris could take the position depending on your choices.
• Fates of the Griffons and Grey Wardens: You decide if the legendary Griffons are returned to the Veil Jumpers or the Grey Wardens.
• The Fate of Key Characters: Whether Emmrich ascends to full lichdom or aids Mannfred is also revealed based on your interactions.

FAQs

1. How can I maximize faction strength in Dragon Age: The Veilguard? Complete all faction-specific quests and trade preferred goods to their quartermasters. For instance, the Grey Wardens value items related to griffons and Darkspawn.

2. What happens if I choose the wrong party member for the distraction mission in Chapter 12? Choosing Harding over Davrin for the distraction mission leads to the loss of Harding, impacting later story points and potentially leading to the Bad ending.

3. Can Solas be redeemed in the game? Yes, by collecting Mythal’s Essence and completing specific tasks, players can convince Solas to sacrifice himself, achieving the Secret ending.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard offers a profound conclusion, allowing players to explore the moral complexities and narrative weight of their choices. Whether Rook and their companions emerge victorious, fall into tragedy, or unlock deeper mysteries, each ending brings its own sense of closure and lasting consequences. Dive back into Thedas, choose wisely, and shape the legacy of the Veilguard.