You're wandering through the Crossroads, that shimmering, slightly unsettling dimension between worlds in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and you see them. Faint, ghostly wisps of gold. These are the Dragon Age Veilguard Echoes of the Past, and honestly, they are way more than just another shiny collectible to tick off a checklist. If you’ve spent any time in thedas lately, you know BioWare loves their lore, but these echoes are where the actual emotional weight of the ancient elven gods—and Solas himself—really hides.
Most players just stumble onto them. You see a prompt, you interact, you hear a bit of dialogue. But if you're trying to actually complete the "Memories of the False Gods" quest or just want to understand why Solas is so incredibly moody this time around, you need to be deliberate. These aren't just bits of flavor text. They are the keys to unlocking the Caretaker’s shop upgrades and getting your gear to a level where you won't get absolutely shredded by high-level Pride demons.
Finding the Dragon Age Veilguard Echoes of the Past
Tracking these down is kind of a pain if you don't know the layout of the Crossroads. The game doesn't just hand them to you on a silver platter. You have to unlock specific gates—the Gate of Deep Sorrows, the Gate of Pale Reflections, and the Gate of Faded Hopes. Each of these requires a specific number of champions or specific quest progression to even enter.
The echoes themselves look like small, hovering orbs of golden light. When you get close, the air sort of hums. You’ll find a huge chunk of them in the Conviction’s End area. There’s one tucked behind a fallen pillar near the first major combat arena that everyone seems to miss. It’s annoying. You’ve probably walked past it three times while fighting off darkspawn. Another one is high up on a ledge in the heights of Athim, requiring you to use those floating spirit platforms that move way slower than they probably should.
Basically, if you see a path that looks like it leads to a dead end, go there. BioWare loves putting these things at the edge of floating islands. Just don't fall off. The fall damage in the Crossroads is... well, it's a lot.
💡 You might also like: Stuck on the Connections hint June 13? Here is how to solve it without losing your mind
Why Solas's Memories Change Everything
When you activate an echo, you aren't just hearing random history. You’re hearing the literal perspective of the Evanuris before they were locked away. It’s messy. You hear about the betrayal. You hear about how the "gods" weren't really gods at all, just powerful mages who got a massive ego boost and started treating everyone else like disposable tools.
It adds this layer of nuance to Solas. He isn't just a guy who wants to tear down the Veil; he's a guy who is haunted by the specific moments you’re witnessing in these echoes. One echo in particular, found near the Gate of Pale Reflections, details a conversation about the nature of freedom that makes his current actions feel a lot more tragic. Or frustrating. Depends on how much you like him, I guess.
The Mechanical Benefit (The Stuff You Actually Need)
Let's talk shop. Literally. Collecting Dragon Age Veilguard Echoes of the Past is the primary way you increase the Caretaker’s Rank. Every few echoes you find, you get a notification that the Caretaker has "leveled up."
Why does this matter? Because the Caretaker is your source for:
📖 Related: GTA Vice City Cheat Switch: How to Make the Definitive Edition Actually Fun
- Higher Tier Enchantments: You cannot get the best weapon buffs without a high rank.
- Unique Gear: Some of the best rings and amulets in the mid-game are locked behind these rank requirements.
- Memento Trading: You can exchange these for localized currency that helps you clear the "blight" blocking certain paths.
If you ignore the echoes, you’re basically playing the game on hard mode without the bragging rights. Your weapons will hit like wet noodles by the time you reach the final act. It’s a classic RPG loop: find the lore, get the power.
Common Spots People Miss
I've talked to a few people who got stuck at 90% completion. Usually, the missing echoes are in the Elvhenan Archive section of the Crossroads. There is a small balcony that you can only reach after you've defeated the boss of that sub-region. Most people just fast-travel out as soon as the loot drops. Don't do that. Walk back toward the entrance, look up, and you'll see the golden glow.
Another tricky one is located in the Sunken City portion. There’s a puzzle involving three statues. Most people solve the puzzle, grab the chest, and leave. But if you look behind the center statue, there’s a hidden Echo of the Past tucked into the masonry. It’s subtle. Sneaky, even.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Quest
There’s a misconception that you have to find every single echo to finish the main story. You don't. You can finish The Veilguard without touching half of these. But if you’re aiming for the "best" ending—the one where your companions actually survive the final push—you need the power upgrades that come from these memories.
👉 See also: Gothic Romance Outfit Dress to Impress: Why Everyone is Obsessed With This Vibe Right Now
Also, some players think the echoes are tied to your choice of faction. They aren't. Whether you're a Shadow Dragon or a Grey Warden, the echoes stay in the same spots. Your background might change a line of dialogue here or there when Rook comments on the memory, but the locations are fixed.
How to Efficiently Farm Echoes
Don't go hunting for them one by one. It’s a waste of time. Instead, wait until you have unlocked all three main gates in the Crossroads. Once you have the full map accessible, do a "sweep." Start at the top and work your way down.
- Clear the enemies first. It’s hard to listen to the dialogue when a Despair Demon is trying to freeze your face off.
- Use the "Search" ping constantly. It highlights the golden orbs even through thin walls.
- Check the verticality. In the Crossroads, "above" and "below" are just suggestions. Look for spirit ladders.
The Connection to the Dread Wolf
If you're a lore nerd, the Dragon Age Veilguard Echoes of the Past are basically a prequel to the entire franchise. They explain the origin of the Blight in a way that previous games only hinted at. You see the moments where the Evanuris's greed started to literally rot the world. It’s dark stuff. Honestly, some of the memories are pretty haunting—hearing the screams of ancient elves as their cities were torn apart really puts Solas's guilt into perspective.
It also clarifies the relationship between Mythal and the rest of the pantheon. There’s one echo—I won't spoil exactly where, but look near the large tree structure—that basically confirms a long-standing fan theory about why she was murdered. It’s a "holy crap" moment for anyone who has been following the series since Origins.
Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you want to wrap this up and get your Caretaker to Max Rank, follow this path:
- Complete "The Zenith of Us": This quest unlocks several areas where echoes are concentrated.
- Talk to the Caretaker: Sometimes they give you a hint about a "shimmer" they felt in a specific wing of the Crossroads.
- Check your Map: The game will actually mark the general vicinity of an echo if you’ve walked near it but didn't interact. Look for the small white circular icons that look slightly different from standard loot.
- Prioritize the "Memories of the False Gods" Quest: This is the formal questline that tracks your progress. It acts as a compass of sorts.
Once you’ve gathered enough, head back to the Lighthouse. Spend those points. Upgrade your gear. The final boss fights in this game are no joke, and those extra enchantment slots you get from the Caretaker are going to be the difference between a victory screen and a "Load Game" prompt. Trust me, you don't want to be under-leveled when the dragons show up.