How to Beat Betrayal of Felassan in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Key Takeaways:

1. Unlocking Access to Felassan: Before reaching Felassan, you must defeat Desmal and collect the Essence of the Champion from the Gate of Deep Sorrows.
2. Mastering the Battle: Felassan is highly resistant to Ice but vulnerable to Necrotic damage, making strategic choice of spells essential.
3. Claiming Rewards: Defeating Felassan yields a Revenant Essence, crucial for the Heart of Corruption quest, plus unique items.

How to Open the Gate of Deep Sorrows

Betrayal of Felassan in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is one of the most challenging optional bosses you’ll face at the Crossroads. This boss battle plays a vital role in the optional quest “The Heart of Corruption,” where you must cleanse blight from all islands. By defeating Felassan, you can acquire a Revenant Essence, one of three key items needed to complete this quest.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to locate and defeat the Betrayal of Felassan, cover effective strategies for the battle, and highlight the rewards and progression you’ll gain from your victory.

Finding the Betrayal of Felassan

Gaining Access to Felassan’s Arena

To reach Felassan, first head to Treviso and defeat the boss, Desmal, Bloodbound to Elgar’nan. This battle is necessary to acquire the Essence of the Champion, allowing you to unlock the Gate of Deep Sorrows within the Crossroads. This will open a new path toward Felassan’s arena on the Converged City island.

1. Defeat Desmal in Treviso: Desmal is a level 25 boss and resides in a rooftop area accessible after defeating a group of Venatori cultists.
2. Unlock the Gate of Deep Sorrows: With Desmal’s essence, return to the Crossroads and use it to open the gate. As you proceed through, you’ll encounter several undead foes guarding Felassan’s lair.

Facing the Undead Gauntlet

The path to Felassan is filled with waves of undead enemies, including Superior Undead Warriors and Rathera Loyalists. Be prepared to combat both heavily armored warriors and mages with shield barriers. Defeat the General Rathera to stop the spawning of lesser undead, then proceed to Felassan’s arena.

How to Defeat Desmal

Before tackling Felassan, you’ll need to confront and overcome Desmal, who is both challenging and essential to progressing in “The Heart of Corruption.” Here are some tips to make this encounter easier:

• Exploit Weaknesses: Desmal is immune to Necrotic attacks, but Fire spells deal extra damage. Plan your party accordingly, focusing on Fire-based attacks.
• Avoid Lucanis: Since Lucanis relies on Necrotic abilities, his presence will be less effective. Swap him out for companions with Fire damage instead.
• Watch Out for Blight Armor: Desmal’s Blight Armor adds a layer of durability, so be prepared for a drawn-out fight. Desmal’s attack patterns include a wide-area jump, linear charge, teleport, and a multi-swing melee attack.

With Desmal defeated, you’ll gain access to the Gate of Deep Sorrows, leading toward Felassan’s arena.

Battle Strategy for Betrayal of Felassan

Felassan is a formidable level 32 enemy with a varied arsenal of attacks, layered defenses, and multiple phases. Here’s how to prepare:

Preparation and Party Setup

• Use Necrotic Attacks: Felassan is resistant to Ice but vulnerable to Necrotic attacks. Equip your companions with spells and skills that exploit this weakness.
• Equip Healing Skills: Felassan’s attacks are unforgiving, so ensure your party members are well-stocked with healing abilities.
• Avoiding Vulnerabilities: Due to Felassan’s Ice-based attacks, avoid using ice-aligned spells and armor that isn’t prepared for such an elemental onslaught.

Phase 1: Breaking Through the Defense

During the initial stage, Felassan will alternate between melee attacks and summoning reinforcements. Here’s what to expect:

1. Ice Spells and Spear Lunges: Felassan will frequently cast Ice spells and lunge at you with a spear, which can be blocked when it glows golden but should be dodged if it’s red.
2. Shield Mechanics: Felassan uses a tower shield that blocks all frontal attacks. Use guard breaks or attack from the side to bypass this defense.
3. Interruption Opportunities: When Felassan begins charging his attacks, use crowd-control skills to disrupt him, especially as he casts large ice projectiles.

Phase 2: Reinforcements and Barriers

After losing a fifth of his health, Felassan will activate a protective barrier, becoming invulnerable momentarily while calling in reinforcements.

1. Focus on Rathera Loyalists: During Felassan’s recharge, two warriors will spawn. Eliminate them swiftly to prevent them from interfering with your focus on Felassan.
2. Adapt to Felassan’s New Attacks: As the fight progresses, Felassan gains a more potent ice nova and starts using wide-area ice projectiles. Maintain distance during these moments, and prioritize dodging.

Phase 3: The Fade Rift Surge

Felassan’s final defensive move involves drawing power from the Fade Rift, creating another barrier and summoning additional mages.

1. Prepare for a Large-Scale Attack: Felassan’s room-wide ice nova will occur after his rift surge. Evade if possible or prepare for the damage to ensure survival.
2. Quickly Eliminate Reinforcements: The Loyalist mages are your main priority to clear the field, allowing you to focus on breaking Felassan’s barrier.

Rewards for Defeating Betrayal of Felassan

Victory over Felassan brings several rewards that will enhance your character and help progress “The Heart of Corruption” questline.

1. Revenant Essence: This crucial drop is one of three keys required for the Heart of Corruption quest.
2. The Burden Amulet: Located in the chest within Felassan’s chamber, this amulet offers unique attributes to strengthen your character.
3. Progression in the Heart of Corruption Quest: Use the Revenant Essence to unlock a Corrupted Gate, granting access to new areas and helping clear the blight from the islands.

FAQ

Q: What level should I be to face Felassan? A: It’s advisable to be at least level 30 to 32 to face Felassan effectively. His level and the strength of his attacks can overwhelm lower-level parties.

Q: How do I avoid Felassan’s ice nova? A: The ice nova attack has a wide radius, making it difficult to avoid entirely. Use defensive spells or buffs if you’re unable to evade, and prepare healing spells in anticipation.

Q: Can I leave the arena to avoid damage? A: Yes, but this will reset Felassan’s health and armor. It’s generally better to endure the attacks and heal during combat.

Q: What other items do I need to complete “The Heart of Corruption”? A: Alongside the Revenant Essence from Felassan, you’ll need two additional essences from other revenants in the game. Each will require completing a challenging encounter.