Dragon Age: The Veilguard – The Heart of Corruption Quest Guide

Key Takeaways

1. Unlocking The Heart of Corruption Gate requires three Revenant Essences, obtained by defeating powerful Champions across challenging regions.
2. The quest involves multiple mini-boss battles, strategic gameplay, and culminates in an epic face-off with the Revenant Dragon (level 50).
3. Successful completion rewards players with rare items, faction strength, and valuable in-game upgrades that bolster your party for future battles.

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, “The Heart of Corruption” stands out as one of the most challenging and rewarding quests. Set against the backdrop of the Blight’s encroaching darkness, this quest revolves around unlocking a mysterious gate on Beacon Island, referred to as The Heart of Corruption Gate. This gate is unlike others it requires three Revenant Essences rather than the usual single Champion Essence. Each Revenant Essence is earned through defeating formidable Champions tied to different Gates across the map.

Prepare to face dangerous foes, navigate intricate mechanics, and defeat the ultimate challenge: the Revenant Dragon. This guide will walk you through every step of the journey, offering detailed strategies for defeating each boss and unlocking the treasures within.

How to Unlock the Heart of Corruption Gate

Unlocking the gate requires a multi-step process, including defeating several Champions, completing key quests, and gathering the Revenant Essences. Below is a breakdown of each step.

Step 1: Complete the Gate of Deep Sorrows Quest

Location: The Gate of Deep Sorrows is found near the market area when you first enter the Crossroads.

1. Mini-Boss: To access the essence behind this gate, you must first defeat Desmal, Bloodbound to Elgar’nan (level 25). Desmal is a relatively simple encounter, though his necromancer allies may prolong the battle by summoning undead. Take out the necromancers first before focusing on Desmal.
2. Main Boss – Betrayal of Felassan (Level 32):
   • Weaknesses: Vulnerable to Necrotic damage, resistant to Cold damage.
   • Strategy:
     • Bring Lucanis or Emmrich, who specialize in Necrotic abilities, for boosted damage.
     • Felassan uses a shield to block attacks, which requires breaking before significant damage can be dealt.
     • Watch out for his bubble shield phase where he attempts to charge an AoE (area-of-effect) attack. Focus all damage on breaking his shield before he completes the charge.
3. After defeating Felassan, collect the Revenant Essence it drops.

Step 2: Complete the Gate of Parched Hope Quest

Location: The Gate of Parched Hope can be accessed after completing the “Something Wrong in the Wetlands” side quest.

1. Mini-Boss: Locate the Blight Cyst in Hossberg Wetlands and defeat The Displie-in-Ichor (level 35). This fight introduces poisonous environments, so manage your health carefully.
2. Main Boss – Slaughter of the Pillars (Level 37):
   • Weaknesses: Vulnerable to Necrotic attacks, resistant to Cold damage.
   • Strategy:
     • The boss is highly aggressive, with long-reaching spear attacks that can catch you off guard. Be quick with dodges.
     • Like Felassan, this boss uses shield mechanics during the fight. Reserve your companions’ special abilities to break the shield quickly during this phase.
3. Collect the Revenant Essence after defeating Slaughter of the Pillars.

Step 3: Complete the Gate of Pale Reflections Quest

Location: This Gate is also in Hossberg Wetlands, near Solitude’s Edge. Complete “Something Wrong in the Wetlands” first to unlock access.

1. Mini-Boss: Defeat Amarell the Unwoven (level 35) near the Blight Cyst. Don’t forget to loot the Timelost Hoards chest for a unique weapon.
2. Main Boss – Fall of the Protector (Level 42):
   • Weaknesses: Vulnerable to Cold, resistant to Fire.
   • Strategy:
     • The Protector uses ranged magic attacks, making this battle much different from the previous ones. Stay mobile to avoid taking heavy damage.
     • When the fog mechanic activates, your vision and companion abilities will be disabled temporarily. Focus on evasion rather than offense during this time.
     • Like earlier bosses, the Protector will summon a shield at half health. Break the shield to avoid a devastating AoE attack.
3. Collect the final Revenant Essence after defeating the Protector.

Unlocking The Heart of Corruption Gate

With all three Revenant Essences in hand, return to Beacon Island and place the Essences on the gate’s roots. This will clear the Blight blocking your path and open the gate to the next stage of the quest.

The Revenant Dragon: How to Defeat the Final Boss

Location: Behind the Heart of Corruption Gate on Beacon Island.

Level: 50 (but can be defeated at lower levels with the right strategy).

Key Tips to Prepare for the Revenant Dragon

1. Optimize Your Build:
   • Infuse your weapons and armor with enhancements to boost Fire-based attacks (the dragon’s main vulnerability).
   • Equip Trinkets with Revival Charges for extra survivability.
2. Team Composition:
   • Add Taash or Davrin to your party for maximum Fire damage output.
   • Include a healer with high survivability to counter the dragon’s devastating attacks.
3. Stockpile Potions:
   • Equip enhancements that increase your carrying capacity for healing potions.
   • Save potions specifically for the dragon’s fog phase, when Rook and companions may become blinded.

Strategy for the Revenant Dragon

1. Attack Patterns:
   • The dragon alternates between ranged and melee attacks. Ranged attacks are fast and deal heavy damage, so dodge frequently.
   • Watch for the glowing pink or purple parts on the dragon’s body attacking these deals bonus damage.
2. Fog Mechanic:
   • When the dragon darkens the arena, it disables companion abilities and reduces visibility. Focus on evading attacks and waiting for the stagger bar to fill before resuming your offense.
3. Ground Slam AoE:
   • When the dragon flies into the air, it’s preparing a massive AoE attack. Run to avoid its devastating range.
4. Shield Mechanic:
   • Like the other bosses, the Revenant Dragon will shield itself periodically to charge an AoE attack. Focus all damage on breaking the shield as quickly as possible.

Rewards for Completing the Heart of Corruption

Defeating the Revenant Dragon rewards you with:

• 1,000 XP.
• 2 Dragonfire Catalyst.
• 10 Etheric Remnant.
• 1 Dragon Tooth.
• 200 Mourn Watch Faction Strength.
• 300 Lords of Fortune Faction Strength.
• Dragon’s Tear Memento.
• Timelost Hoards Chest containing a Unique Ring, Decor Item, and 1,684 Gold.

FAQs

Q: Can I attempt the Revenant Dragon at lower levels?
Yes, but you’ll need a strong build, excellent dodge timing, and upgraded equipment to survive the fight.

Q: What happens if I fail to break a boss’s shield in time?
Failing to break the shield will trigger a massive AoE attack that deals significant damage to your entire party. Use companion abilities wisely to minimize this risk.

Q: How long does The Heart of Corruption quest take?
This quest spans multiple areas and requires significant preparation. Expect it to take several hours, especially if you are under-leveled for the bosses.

Q: What is the best companion combination for this quest?
Lucanis and Emmrich are excellent choices for their damage-dealing capabilities. Additionally, Taash or Davrin can provide extra Fire-based damage against the Revenant Dragon.