“The Cauldron” Quest Walkthrough in Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Blight Boil Guide

Key Takeaways:

1. Strategic Planning is Crucial: The “Cauldron” quest involves navigating through darkspawn-infested territory, solving environmental puzzles, and managing intense battles.
2. Companion Selection Matters: Leveraging Davrin’s Grey Warden expertise and fire-centric allies like Taash can significantly boost your chances of success.
3. Efficient Boil Destruction: Targeting blight boils effectively reduces reinforcements and aids progression.

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, companion quests often serve as optional story enrichment, but “The Cauldron” is a critical main quest you must tackle after the Siege of Weisshaupt. This journey takes you deep into the Hossberg Wetlands to a hidden Grey Warden stronghold, where you face waves of darkspawn and uncover secrets that directly impact the main storyline.

How to Enter the Cauldron

Step 1: Travel to Castle Gates

To locate the Cauldron, journey to the southwest corner of the Hossberg Wetlands. The entry point, Castle Gates, is marked on your map. If Davrin isn’t in your party yet, he’ll rendezvous with you at the broken gate leading to the Cauldron. Starting the quest here offers a handy approval boost if you select the dialogue option: “No time to waste.”

Step 2: Breaking Through the Entrance

Davrin or the Lyrium Dagger can be used to clear a stack of boards blocking the front courtyard. Be prepared to fight off an initial wave of darkspawn once inside. Focus on the blight boils to reduce reinforcements.

Navigating the Courtyard: Destroying Blight Boils

Your primary objective in the courtyard is to destroy key blight boils holding a wood pile aloft. This allows you to progress deeper into the keep.

North Boils

1. Turn right from the entrance and climb the nearby ladder.
2. Follow the wooden stairs, cross the stone walkway, and locate the first boil near a chamber filled with dead Wardens. After destroying it, you’ll face two Berserkers be ready!
3. Ascend the stairs to the next floor and destroy the second boil in the south corner of the room.
4. Exit back to the stone walkway, and destroy the third boil near the ballista.

South Boils

1. Head left from the entrance towards the Inner Courtyard.
2. Clear the area of darkspawn, then follow the southern ramp and jump across the wooden walkway to find the first boil.
3. Prepare for another fight, this time against a Frenzied Javelineer and a Repellent Javelineer.
4. Locate the second boil in the wooden-platform room. Destroying these will clear the path to a final boil behind a blight growth.

Finding Collectibles in the Cauldron

The Cauldron is brimming with hidden treasures. Here’s where to look:

1. Central Staircase: Check near the giant door and adjacent platforms for small chests.
2. Inner Courtyard: Look for the Evanuris Altar and use ranged attacks to hit its four targets for a maximum health boost. Nearby platforms and balconies hide several small chests.
3. Ballista Areas: Behind each ballista, you’ll find chests containing valuable loot.
4. Wooden Platforms: Follow the path of the red wisp to unlock new areas. Be quick, as the wisp will vanish if you take too long. The reward? A new weapon and a chest.
5. Archdemon’s Tomb: Destroy the boil to reveal a large chest beneath it.

Beating the Darkspawn Horde

The Gloom Howler, a unique darkspawn, summons waves of enemies, including Ogres, Grenadiers, and Berserkers. Each enemy type has limited reinforcements, so focus on eliminating one type at a time to thin their numbers.

Blight Boil Locations in the Archdemon’s Tomb

1. On the south wall.
2. Beneath the north wall pulleys.
3. Directly in front of the archdemon’s skull.
4. In the southwest corner.
5. In the northwest corner.
6. Behind the archdemon’s skull.

Combat Tips

• Use heavy attacks to shred through enemy armor.
• Retreat to a corner to deal with fewer enemies at once.
• Prioritize killing Ogres and Grenadiers before weaker foes.

Davrin’s Role and Dialogue Choices

While Davrin isn’t essential at the start, he becomes critical in the latter half of the quest. His abilities, combined with insightful dialogue, help unveil the Grey Warden’s secrets hidden in the Cauldron. Make sure to talk with him at the mission’s end to secure an additional +100 Grey Warden Strength bonus.

Best Companions for This Quest

1. Davrin: His Grey Warden expertise and personal ties to the quest add narrative depth.
2. Taash: Her fire-based attacks exploit the darkspawn’s elemental weakness.
3. Rook: A solid choice for environmental puzzles, including using the Lyrium Dagger to clear blockages.

“The Cauldron” quest is a challenging yet rewarding experience in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. By following this guide, you’ll master its intricacies, from navigating treacherous landscapes to dismantling waves of darkspawn. Just remember to take your time exploring, as the collectibles and health boosts scattered throughout can make all the difference in your journey.

FAQ

Q1: Can I skip “The Cauldron” quest?
No, this is a mandatory quest following the Siege of Weisshaupt. It’s pivotal to the main storyline.

Q2: What’s the best way to manage darkspawn waves?
Focus on one enemy type at a time to exhaust their reinforcements. Retreat to corners when overwhelmed.

Q3: Are there any rare items to collect in the Cauldron?
Yes, there are multiple chests containing valuable loot, including new weapons and artifacts.

Q4: What’s the benefit of using the Evanuris Altar?
Interacting with the altar increases your party’s maximum health, a vital boost for surviving the horde battles.

Q5: Does Davrin’s approval affect the outcome of the quest?
While his approval doesn’t change the quest’s outcome, higher approval enhances his dialogue and strengthens his bond with the protagonist.