The world ofDragon Age: The Veilguardis a varied and exotic one. Spanning new and more familiar realms of Thedas, there are plenty of places to explore - including a few very special ones you might miss if you’re not searching far and wide. Though there’s less free roam here, that also means you need to take specific steps to reach some secret spaces.
But what are the best places you might not have spotted? We take you through the top ten, but remember this is a look at individual locations, so that means buildings or areas in wider regions, or smaller quest-specific regions. You canread our ranking of the regions themselves here.
9The Deep Roads
The Deep Roadsis a classic location inDragon Age, so it’s a little strange that it features so little in The Veilguard. Only getting much of a run out in Harding’s personal quest, we at least get to see it from a different perspective this time around. We’re always explorers and interlopers in the Deep Roads, passing through on the way to somewhere new, but The Veilguard gives it a fresh purpose.
Though our visit is fleeting, through Harding’s eyes we see a more mythical version of the Deep Roads unfold. We learn more of the Titans, lyrium, and the history of the dwarves, and come closer to one of Inquisition’s most underrated character elevated to a starring role this time around.
8Grande Markets
Treviso is a city made up of many districts, and its linear alleyways and streets can make it a little difficult to get around - even if the plentiful zip lines help out a lot. But the best place to breathe in the air of Treviso is not amongst the beautiful buildings, but amongst the people. The best place to do that is the Grande Markets.
There’s not a great deal of shopping to be done in The Veilguard - since merchants are also how you check each faction’s approval, they’re mostly limited to the arrival area of each major region. Grande Market is a rare exception to this rule - as well as listening to the conversations and seeing how the people react to how Treviso’s storyline unfolds, you can also buy a variety of cosmetic items, and Caretaker Mementos here.
7Jagged Ruins
Arlathan Forest is defined by two pairs of opposing idea - the lush, untamed beauty of nature wrapped around ancient Elven architecture, and the wonders of technology and magic working in harmony. It’s this clash between four ideals (the natural, the historical, the supernatural, and the technological) in two parts that makes it such a compelling setting to explore.
Nowhere captures this definition better than the Jagged Ruins, where you must navigate crumbling remains of masonry swarming with vines to magically fix the broken tech. It’s gorgeous to look at, but also pretty annoying to get around at times, which also makes it par for the course in Arlathan Forest.
6The Black Emporium
A strange store hidden in Dock Town, this only becomes available after an invitation from the Caretaker itself. Stocking a variety of unique items, it is rich with the sort of untold backstory that makes fantasy worldbuilding so compelling - and the stuff you can buy there is pretty good, too.
Who is the mysterious Xenon the Antiquarian, who sits atop the high chair in the centre of the store, and makes a return fromDragon Age 2andDragon Age: Inquisition? Why does such an exotic and wondrous store dwell in the poorest part of the city? What ethereal link does it have with the Caretaker? The Black Emporium is an institution of many questions, but few answers.
5Isana Negat
Plenty of what we said about the dwarves and their lore in the Deep Roads entry could be repeated here. Another stop on Harding’s quest, it goes even further into the history of magic within the dwarven race. But it also offers something unique from an visual perspective, something you don’t notice is missing until you arrive.
We head to sunkissed beaches, enchanted forest, rain-soaked city streets, and even come face to face with death itself across The Veilguard. But we never really feel the chill. Though the game spans a range of regions, Isana Negat is the only place you get to hear the snow crunch underfoot. For this peaceful tundra vistas alone, it’s well worth a visit.
4Profane Weisshaupt
Weisshaupt itself is a pretty interesting setting. It, and the Grey Wardens who defend it, ground the Dragon Age mythos in a classic Knights Of The Realm vision of fantasy storytelling. Weisshaupt as a grand old castle backs this aesthetic up perfectly - a aesthethic that is contorted into evil when hunting the Gloom Howler.
In Davrin’s personal story arc, we follow the Gloom Howler down into a twisted version of Weisshaupt, where fallen Wardens have been corrupted by Blight and that poison seeps through the walls. It lets us see a slower, more intimate tragedy than when Weisshaupt was under siege, and reminds us what we’re fighting for - and against. There’s also a surprise appearance in this mission that grows darker the more you think about it.
3The Ossuary
Not enough is made of Lucanis’ underwater blood prison. Maybe we should say those words again. Underwater. Blood. Prison. One of the coolest, more creative settings in this or any Dragon Age game, we unfortunately only visit it once, and that costs it a couple of places on the list.
Obviously, the point of a prison is to break out. Once we get Lucanis to safety, there is no reason to return. Barring a vision in a conversation with Spite, we don’t. But The Ossuary is such an excellent concept that is intriguing enough even in a short stay to be considered one of The Veilguard’s finest locations.
2Blackthorne Manor
Necropolis Halls offers some creepy crypts, but it’s Blackthorne Manor that provides the scariest spectacles. The haunted mansion you visit as part of Emmrich’s quest sees you wander its old corridors, searching for things that go bump in the night.
Because Necropolis Halls is so at peace with death, Blackthorne Manor’s more classic horror tropes stand out a lot more. It’s also very ‘Classic Dragon Age’ to let you explore a large building full of hidden secrets, and Blackthorne is one of the few that keeps this tradition alive in The Veilguard. Though there’s no Hat Box Ghost, there are enough frights and delights to make Blackthorne a top tier tourist destination in Dragon Age.
1Sharksmouth Cave
A secret area on the Rivaini Coast, Sharksmouth Cave is locked until you progress through Taash’s story far enough to track down the Dragon King. Here, you discover his hidden lair, a volcanic temple of fire and violence.See our guide on how to unlock the terrifying abode here.
Looking like the sort of place Bowser might take Princess Peach, this bubbling cauldron is an excellent reward for those who seek out every last corner of Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s maps. With high level fights, a tricky riddle hiding bountiful rewards, and lava spraying forth at every turn, Sharksmouth Cave is one of the best places Dragon Age: The Veilguard takes you. Plus, the outside looks like a big shark’s mouth - what’s not to love?
