BioWare didn’t make it easy. Honestly, if you’re looking for a Dragon Age Veilguard 100 walkthrough, you aren't just looking for a map; you’re looking for a way to keep your sanity while hunting down every last wisp in the Arlathan Forest. This game is massive. Not "I’ll finish it in a weekend" massive, but more like "I’ve forgotten what sunlight looks like" massive. It’s a return to form for the studio, but it’s also a dense, layered nightmare for anyone who needs to see that 100% completion marker on their save file.
People usually get stuck because they think this is just Dragon Age: Inquisition 2. It’s not. The structure is tighter, more mission-based, yet somehow manages to hide more secrets in its linear paths than the Hinterlands ever did in its open fields.
The Dragon Age Veilguard 100 Walkthrough Mentality
First off, forget the idea that you can just breeze through the main story and come back for the scraps. You can't. Well, you can, but you’ll miss the "perfect" ending, and in a BioWare game, that’s basically failure. To get that gold star, you have to treat the Lighthouse—your central hub—like a crime scene you’re investigating every single time you return from a mission.
Talk to everyone. Seriously.
Characters like Neve or Lucanis have these tiny, missable dialogue triggers that don't always show up as quest markers. If you want the full 100% experience, you need to exhaust those dialogue trees. It’s tedious. It’s also where the best writing is hidden. You’ve got to be meticulous. If you skip a conversation because you’re bored, you might lock yourself out of a specific companion quest line later, and there goes your perfect run.
Understanding the Point of No Return
Most players mess up their Dragon Age Veilguard 100 walkthrough because they don't realize when the door shuts behind them. The game will tell you—sort of. But by the time the big "Warning" screen pops up, you might have already missed the chance to finish a specific faction quest for the Shadow Dragons or the Mourn Watch.
Unlike previous games where you could wander around forever, The Veilguard has distinct "stages" of the world. As the Blight spreads, certain areas change. If you didn't grab that one chest in a specific alleyway in Minrathous before a major plot beat? It’s gone. Poof. To truly hit 100%, you have to clear every side quest in a region the moment it becomes available. Do not wait.
Finding the Trinkets and the Lore
It’s not just about the big dragons. You’ve got to find the small stuff. The codex entries in this game are actually useful, which is a bit of a shocker. They provide context for puzzles that otherwise feel like nonsense.
Take the Arlathan Forest puzzles. They use these light-reflecting crystals that require precise positioning. If you're rushing, you'll miss the hidden switches that open the vaults containing "Unique" tier gear. 100% completion requires all Unique gear pieces, not just the legendary ones. This means smashing crates. It means looking behind waterfalls. It means being that person who walks into every corner of the map just to see if the "Fog of War" clears.
- Companion Bonds: These are the backbone of your percentage. You need to reach the "Veilguard" status with every single party member. This isn't just about picking the right dialogue; it's about taking them on the specific missions where they have unique stakes.
- The Hall of Valor: If you aren't fighting in the arena, you aren't completing the game. It’s the ultimate gear check.
- Faction Strength: Each of the major factions—Lords of Fortune, Grey Wardens, etc.—has a rank. You need to hit Rank 10 with all of them. This requires turning in collectibles and finishing every tedious fetch quest they throw at you.
Why Your Build Matters for Completion
You might think a walkthrough is just about where to go. But in The Veilguard, if your build is trash, you won't be able to finish the high-level optional bosses. Those Level 50+ dragons will melt you if you aren't utilizing the primer/detonator system correctly.
If you're playing a Mage, you basically need to be a glass cannon that never gets hit. If you're a Warrior, you’re the primer king. To hit 100%, you have to beat the "Secret" bosses that only appear after you’ve cleared the main regional threats. These fights are brutal. They require specific elemental resistances. You’ll be swapping your gear more often than a fashion model at a photoshoot.
The Gear Grind
Let's talk about the Black Emporium. It's back, and it's essential. For a Dragon Age Veilguard 100 walkthrough, you need to buy every unique schematic. This requires a disgusting amount of gold. How do you get it? By selling every piece of junk you find. But wait! Don't sell the valuables that are actually quest items. The game usually flags them, but honestly, just be careful.
The upgrade system is also tied to your completion percentage. You need to get your workshop to Level 10. This requires finding "Mementoes" scattered across the world. These are tiny, sparkling objects that give you "Careful Study" points. There are dozens of them. Missing even three or four can prevent you from hitting that max level.
The Complexity of Solas and the Inquisitor
One of the most nuanced parts of reaching 100% is managing the relationship between Rook (that's you) and the Inquisitor. There are choices made during character creation and through various mirrors in the game that reflect your past. While these don't always add a "percentage" to a bar, they are required for the "Hidden" ending achievements.
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If you want the "true" 100%, you need to find all of Solas’s memories. These are scattered in the Fade sections and provide a much more sympathetic view of the Dread Wolf. Without them, the finale feels hollow. It’s the difference between "I finished the game" and "I understood the game."
Actionable Steps for Your Perfect Run
If you’re sitting there with your controller or keyboard, ready to dive in, here is how you actually do this without restarting 40 hours in.
- Clear the Map Before the Main Quest: Every time a new region opens up (like the Hossberg Wetlands), stay there until every "!" is gone. Do not return to the Lighthouse to progress the story until the local map is clean.
- The Memento Hunt: Use your pulse scan (V on PC, R3 on consoles) constantly. Mementoes don't always show up on the minimap unless you are right on top of them.
- Rotate Your Party: Don't just stick with Taash and Varric’s best friend. Every companion has a "World Interaction" ability. Some chests are locked behind barriers only Davrin can handle, or magic only Bellara can fix. If you see a weird glowing pillar you can't interact with, you have the wrong person in your party.
- Check the Mail: The Lighthouse has a literal mailbox. Check it after every major mission. Sometimes quests are triggered by a letter rather than an NPC talking to you.
- Save Often in Different Slots: This is the golden rule. BioWare games are buggy. Sometimes a quest trigger just... doesn't happen. If you don't have a save from an hour ago, your 100% run is dead in the water.
This game is a beast. It’s beautiful, frustrating, and incredibly rewarding when all those icons finally disappear from the map. Keep your eyes peeled for those blue butterflies; they usually lead to something worth finding.