Dragon Age Veilguard Hossberg Wetlands Guide: Complete Exploration of High Anderfels and Beyond
Key Takeaways
- Discover Davrin and other Grey Warden companions, and make the most of their unique abilities and quests.
- Find and solve Fen’Harel and Evanuris altar puzzles for permanent skill and health boosts.
- Utilize beacons, Eluvian Gates, and merchants to streamline travel, item upgrades, and strategic gameplay.
Explore the Hossberg Wetlands in Dragon Age: Veilguard with our detailed guide. Featuring all points of interest in the Anderfels region, from Davrin’s companion recruitment location to mysterious Fen’Harel Altars, this guide covers everything you need for full map completion.
Introduction to the Hossberg Wetlands Map
The Hossberg Wetlands in the Anderfels region is a sprawling, intricate location pivotal to the storyline in Dragon Age: Veilguard. You’ll first enter this zone during the main quest, “Something Wrong,” and can return freely afterward to complete additional quests and uncover secrets. The map features dozens of unique points of interest, bosses, altars, and treasures that will aid in leveling your character, enhancing your equipment, and diving deeper into the game’s lore.
Let’s walk through each key location, item, and character interaction available in the Hossberg Wetlands, with a focus on achieving 100% map completion.
1. Meet Davrin, Your New Companion
Davrin, a unique Grey Warden, joins you in the quest “A Warden’s Best Friend” and can later be found in High Anderfels. Davrin’s defining characteristic is his griffon companion, Assan, who not only appears in cutscenes and dialogue but can be summoned in battle through Davrin’s skills. If you’re a fan of companion customization, Davrin’s interactions provide a great chance to tailor your party’s dynamics. Additionally, Assan is more than just a pet; he’s a battle companion who can help turn the tide in difficult encounters.
After acquiring Davrin, visit the Lighthouse to gain additional insights into his backstory and bond with Assan. For more details about Davrin’s skill tree, check our dedicated companion skills page.
2. Essential Interactive Map Features for Full Exploration
Achieving 100% map completion in the Hossberg Wetlands involves finding various collectibles, defeating specific bosses, and activating numerous points of interest. Key items and objectives include:
- 18 Chests and 2 Timelost Hoards: These treasure caches range from low-tier loot in small chests to unique items in Timelost Hoards.
- 2 Evanuris Altars and 2 Fen’Harel Altars: Completing these altars provides permanent bonuses skill points for Fen’Harel Altars and health boosts for Evanuris Altars.
- Beacons and Eluvian Gates: Activating beacons will allow fast travel across the wetlands, and Eluvian Gates lead to significant locations such as the High Anderfels.
3. Defeating Bosses in the Wetlands
The Hossberg Wetlands is home to several formidable bosses, including the Frenzied Ogre, a miniboss you’ll encounter during Davrin’s companion quest. Preparing for these fights is essential. Make sure to heal, save your game, and check your gear before engaging. Bosses provide excellent rewards upon defeat, including rare equipment and experience boosts. You can locate each boss’s lair through our interactive map markers, making it easier to prepare and strategize for each encounter.
4. Engaging Main and Side Quests
From the outset, the Hossberg Wetlands and High Anderfels serve as hubs for main quest progression and side missions. Main quests help propel the storyline, while side quests enrich your understanding of the game’s world and lore. Companion-specific quests, including Davrin’s, also pop up in this area. Completing these will help you gather resources, level up, and earn favor with companions, unlocking new dialogue options and abilities.
5. Finding Chests and Timelost Hoards
Exploring the wetlands thoroughly will reveal chests that contain equipment, supplies, and rare items. While smaller chests generally hold minor loot, larger chests and the special Timelost Hoards contain more valuable gear. Some of these items can be equipped by specific party members for stat boosts or new abilities, so check each chest carefully to optimize your team’s setup.
6. Unlocking Powers at Fen’Harel and Evanuris Altars
Discovering the mystical Fen’Harel and Evanuris Altars unlocks unique benefits for your character. Each Fen’Harel Altar grants a skill point upon completion, allowing you to expand your skill tree. Evanuris Altars, on the other hand, offer permanent health boosts. Many altars come with their own puzzles, adding an element of challenge to the rewards. Solving these puzzles often requires interacting with environmental elements marked on the map, so pay attention to nearby clues.
7. Using the Lyrium Dagger for Companion Skills
As you explore, you’ll come across locations that are only accessible by using the Lyrium Dagger, a companion-specific artifact. This dagger enables unique abilities tied to each companion’s skill set, such as unlocking new paths or interacting with restricted areas. Recruiting new companions will expand the list of Lyrium Dagger interactions, so make sure to revisit previously explored areas to discover additional secrets.
8. Traveling with Eluvian Gates and Beacons
Eluvian Gates are scattered throughout the Hossberg Wetlands and the High Anderfels, linking significant areas for fast travel. The Beacons serve a similar function, allowing you to travel quickly to specific points within the wetlands. They’re also helpful for adjusting your team’s composition when needed, so activate them whenever you find one on the map.
9. Shopping with Merchants
The wetlands are also home to various merchants, each specializing in different items, from weapons and armor to unique collectibles known as Mementos. Some merchants are faction-based and can be upgraded, unlocking better items and exclusive stock. Be sure to check each vendor’s specialization on the map to plan your purchases wisely.
10. Collecting Mementos and Codex Entries
Mementos, valuable collectibles found in the wetlands, provide Caretaker Power points. These points can be spent in the Caretaker’s Workshop at the Lighthouse, enabling you to craft or upgrade items. Additionally, Codex Entries and Notes are scattered around Anderfels, each entry rewarding you with experience points and additional lore. Check out these details on the map to learn more about the world of Dragon Age.
11. Uncovering Points of Interest
Beyond quests and treasures, the wetlands also feature interactive elements like ladders, elevators, ziplines, and statues. These points of interest add depth to the exploration by allowing you to interact with the environment in unique ways. Some of these elements serve as keys to solving environmental puzzles, so keep an eye out for these markers on the interactive map.
FAQs
Q: Can I return to Hossberg Wetlands after completing the main quest? A: Yes, you can return to Hossberg Wetlands at any time via the world map, allowing you to finish side quests and uncover hidden items.
Q: What are the benefits of finding all Fen’Harel and Evanuris Altars? A: Fen’Harel Altars grant skill points, while Evanuris Altars increase your health permanently, making them valuable for enhancing your character’s stats.
Q: How does the Lyrium Dagger affect gameplay? A: The Lyrium Dagger enables access to hidden paths and activates unique companion abilities. These skills expand as you recruit more companions, so you can explore further with each new recruit.
Q: What items can I expect from merchants in the wetlands? A: Each merchant specializes in different item types armor, weapons, mementos, and more. Some merchants also offer upgrades and special items related to faction allegiances.
Q: Do Mementos impact gameplay? A: Yes, collecting Mementos grants Caretaker Power, which can be used in the Caretaker’s Workshop to upgrade gear and equipment at the Lighthouse.
