Should You Help Minrathous or Treviso in Dragon Age: The Veilguard? A Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

1. Consider Companion Skills: Choose based on whether you rely more on Neve or Lucanis’ support or damage abilities, as the Hardened status affects gameplay significantly.
2. Faction Favour Implications: Decide based on which faction Shadow Dragons or Antivan Crows you prefer to support, as this will influence faction quests and rewards.
3. Re-explore Lost Territories: Be prepared to re-explore waypoints and lose access to city-specific resources in the area you don’t save.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the latest entry in the renowned Dragon Age series, brings players back to the sprawling world of Thedas. Here, every decision impacts your journey and shapes the fate of those around you. Among the early choices you’ll face is a particularly weighty one: deciding whether to save Minrathous or Treviso from a dragon attack. This choice not only affects the cities themselves but also has long-lasting consequences for your companions and factions. So, who should you help? Let’s dive into what happens with each option and how it impacts your journey.

Before Starting the Quest: Wrapping Up Side Quests

Before you start the main story quest, A Warden’s Best Friend, take the time to finish up any outstanding side quests. Once you embark on this mission, there’s no turning back, and side quests left incomplete in either Minrathous or Treviso will automatically fail. Ensure you’ve completed companion quests for Neve or Lucanis, depending on which city you’re leaning toward saving. Notably, quests involving champion gods can be skipped as they remain accessible even after this quest.

Saving Minrathous: Consequences and Benefits

Opting to save Minrathous will trigger the On Blighted Wings side quest. This decision not only affects your faction relationships but also impacts your companions and their abilities.

• Impact on Companions: Saving Minrathous strains your relationship with Lucanis, who gains a “Hardened” status. While this makes his damage-dealing skills more powerful, he can no longer offer support abilities. Lucanis’ absence will also be felt in later missions, including visits to key locations like the Lighthouse.
• Faction Changes: Saving Minrathous strengthens your standing with the Shadow Dragons, giving you a 150-point boost with this faction. Conversely, it reduces your favor with the Antivan Crows by 250 points. Faction-specific shops in Treviso will close, and your waypoint markers will reset, forcing you to re-explore the area.
• New Dialogue Options: In the aftermath of Minrathous’ survival, you’ll encounter new dialogue choices and interactions within the city, providing unique insights into the world post-dragon attack.

Saving Treviso: What Changes?

If you choose to save Treviso, you’ll embark on the On Deadly Wings quest, leading to different narrative shifts and character dynamics.

• Impact on Companions: Saving Treviso results in Neve receiving the Hardened status. Her damage abilities will become more potent, but like Lucanis, she loses access to support skills, complicating future battles. Her absence during key moments, such as the Lighthouse visit, will also alter certain mission dynamics and dialogue interactions.
• Faction Changes: This choice aligns you with the Antivan Crows, earning you 150 faction points. However, it costs you 250 points with the Shadow Dragons. As with saving Minrathous, faction-specific merchant shops will be inaccessible, and you’ll need to unlock new waypoints as you explore the altered landscape of Minrathous.
• Romance Dynamics: Neve’s Hardened status may also slow down romantic progression with her, adding an additional layer of consideration for players invested in this aspect of the game.

Deciding Between Minrathous and Treviso: Key Factors

The decision between Minrathous and Treviso ultimately hinges on several factors, including your preferred companions, faction alliances, and long-term game goals. Here’s what to consider:

1. Companion Abilities and Loyalty: Your decision impacts which companion Lucanis or Neve will receive the Hardened status, which affects their support abilities and strengthens their damage skills. If you rely heavily on support skills, consider choosing the city aligned with the companion whose abilities best complement your playstyle.
2. Faction Favor: Saving Minrathous aids the Shadow Dragons, while saving Treviso benefits the Antivan Crows. Choose the faction whose support aligns with your goals or personal preference, as this decision influences future quests, faction-specific rewards, and character relationships.
3. Exploration and Resources: Both cities have unique shops and quests, and choosing to save one over the other will impact access to certain resources and quests tied to the city left vulnerable to dragon attacks.
4. Replaying the Decision: Fortunately, you can reload a previous save to see the outcomes of both choices. This allows you to experience both sides of the story, explore different endings, and potentially unlock hidden paths within Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

FAQs

1. What happens if I change my mind after choosing a city to save?
Unfortunately, once you make your choice, there’s no going back unless you reload a prior save. The consequences of saving Minrathous or Treviso will shape the rest of your game.

2. How does the Hardened status affect my gameplay?
The Hardened status enhances a companion’s damage abilities but disables their support skills. This change can significantly impact your strategy, especially if you rely on healing or support in battles.

3. Can I avoid losing faction points?
No, helping one city comes at the expense of the other faction’s favor. Choose the faction that aligns with your character’s alliances or benefits your preferred playstyle.

4. Can I romance both Neve and Lucanis?
Yes, but be aware that Hardening a companion slows down romantic progression, potentially complicating relationships depending on your choice.

5. Will the city I don’t save be completely destroyed?
No, neither city is entirely destroyed, but the effects of the dragon attack are long-lasting, affecting the landscape, quests, and certain interactions within the city.