You’re standing there on the Isle of the Gods, the world is basically ending, and the game hits you with a choice that feels like a punch to the gut. You have to pick: should Davrin or Harding lead the distraction against Ghilan’nain?
If you’re looking for a way to save both, I’ve got some bad news. You can't.
Bioware loves a good "Virmire" moment—that impossible choice from Mass Effect where someone has to stay behind. This is the Veilguard version. Whoever you send to lead that second team is going to die. There’s no secret sequence of side quests or hidden dialogue tree that changes the outcome. One of them is coming home in a casket, metaphorically speaking.
The Brutal Reality of the Choice
Let’s be real for a second. Most of us spent the whole game thinking that if we just finished every companion quest and got everyone to "Hero of the Veilguard" status, we could pull off a perfect run. You know, the classic "everyone lives" ending.
Not this time.
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The "Isle of the Gods" quest forces a sacrifice. This isn't like the Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2 where the "right" specialist survives. Here, the "right" specialist just dies heroically.
What Happens if Harding Leads?
Lace Harding has been with us since the beginning—literally since the early days of the Inquisition. If you send her, she goes out like a total badass. She scales the environment, raining down arrows on Ghilan’nain to keep the goddess's eyes off Rook.
It works. She buys you the time you need. But then Ghilan’nain’s tentacles catch her, and she’s pulled into the abyss. If you’ve spent the game watching her grapple with her new Titan-given powers and her guilt over Solas, this feels like a heavy, definitive end to her journey.
What Happens if Davrin Leads?
Davrin is a Grey Warden. In his mind, he was supposed to die at Weisshaupt. He’s been living on borrowed time and struggling with the fact that he survived when others didn't.
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If you pick Davrin, he charges in with his sword. The heartbreaking part? Assan follows him. When Ghilan’nain strikes Davrin down, the young griffon dives into the pit after him. While the game doesn't explicitly show Assan’s corpse, he’s gone. If you’re an animal lover, this choice is significantly harder to swallow.
Which Choice Actually Makes Sense?
Honestly, there is no "correct" answer from a gameplay perspective. Both characters provide the same outcome for the mission. You aren't going to get a "Game Over" screen for picking one over the other.
It really comes down to two things: romance and narrative fit.
- The Romance Factor: If you are romancing Harding or Davrin, do not send them. Seriously. If they die here, you lose out on the final romance scene at the Lighthouse. Your relationship essentially ends in tragedy right before the finish line.
- The Narrative Fit: Many players feel Davrin makes more sense. He’s a Warden; sacrifice is his whole brand. He even has dialogue earlier about how he was ready to die. On the flip side, Harding is the scout. Leading a distraction is exactly what a scout does.
- The Future of the Dwarves: Some lore-heavy players argue that Harding is too important to lose. She’s one of the only "Stone-touched" dwarves on the surface and represents a massive shift for her people. Losing her feels like losing a piece of the world's future.
Impact on the Ending
Don't worry about the other companions hating you. Whether you pick Davrin or Harding lead the distraction, the rest of the Veilguard will mourn, but they won't blame Rook. They know the stakes.
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However, keep in mind who you have left for the very final fight. If you’re a Warrior Rook and you sacrifice Davrin, you’ve lost a major tank for your party rotations in the final hours. If you’re a Rogue and lose Harding, you might miss her ranged support.
Basically, keep the person you actually like playing with.
Actionable Tips for the Finale
If you’re staring at that dialogue wheel right now, here is exactly how to handle the rest of the endgame to ensure no one else dies:
- Finish All Companion Quests: Before you go to the Isle of the Gods, make sure every single companion has the "Hero of the Veilguard" status. If they don't, they are much more likely to die in the subsequent tasks.
- Choose the Right Specialists Later: After the distraction choice, you'll have to pick people for other tasks (like dismantling wards). Use Neve or Bellara for magic-heavy jobs.
- Check Faction Strength: If your faction strength (like the Grey Wardens or Shadow Dragons) isn't at least level 3, the NPCs from those factions might perish even if your companions survive.
There’s no way to cheat the system here. Bioware wanted this to hurt. Whether you choose the scout who’s been your rock since 2014 or the Warden who finally found a reason to live, the Isle of the Gods is where the "perfect" run ends.
Make your choice, say your goodbyes at the Lighthouse, and get ready to finish the fight.
Next Step: Check your journal to ensure all companion arcs are marked as "Complete" before proceeding past the point of no return.