You’re standing on a rooftop in Treviso, the air smells like ozone and burnt masonry, and everything is going to hell. It’s a classic BioWare moment. If you’ve reached the quest Dragon Age Veilguard Partners in a Dangerous Crime, you already know the stakes are personal. This isn't just about saving the world from ancient elven gods; it’s about the people standing right next to you. Specifically, it’s about Tevinter mage Neve Gallus and Crows assassin Lucanis Dellamorte.
The choice you make here isn't flavor text. It’s structural.
Most players go into this thinking they can save everyone. You can't. That’s the punch in the gut BioWare delivers early on. When the Venatori and the Antaam strike simultaneously at Minrathous and Treviso, you have to pick a side. Picking Treviso triggers the specific narrative path where you hunt down the Butcher alongside Lucanis. It’s gritty. It’s messy. It feels like a fantasy noir film where the detective has wings and a demon in his head.
Why the Choice in Treviso Actually Matters
A lot of modern RPGs give you the illusion of choice, but The Veilguard actually bites back. If you decide to prioritize Treviso during the "On Blighted Wings" segment, you are effectively letting Minrathous burn. Neve Gallus will not be happy. In fact, she’ll be "Hardened," a mechanical state that changes her combat effectiveness and her personality.
But we’re here for the Treviso side of things.
When you commit to the Antivan Crows, you enter a sequence of urban warfare. The city of canals is under siege by the Antaam—Qunari radicals who have no interest in the subtle politics of the Merchants Guild. The Dragon Age Veilguard Partners in a Dangerous Crime quest is the culmination of this desperate defense. It’s where you and Lucanis track down the leadership of the occupation.
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Lucanis is a fascinating mess of a character. He’s the "Demon of Vyrantium," but he’s also a guy who just wants a decent cup of coffee and for his grandmother to stop yelling at him. In this quest, his stakes are sky-high. He’s trying to reclaim his home. If you didn’t pick Treviso, the city falls into a "Blighted" state, and the vibe of this quest shifts from a daring counter-strike to a somber rescue mission.
Navigating the Butcher’s Trap
The quest revolves around finding the Butcher. No, not a guy who sells steaks—a high-ranking Antaam commander who has been terrorizing the citizenry.
The level design here is vertical. You’re hopping across balconies, using Lucanis’s ability to conjure ghostly platforms. It feels faster than previous Dragon Age games. You’ll face waves of Antaam warriors, including those annoying fire-breathers. Honestly, the combat here can get overwhelming if you aren't managing your primers and detonators.
I’ve seen players struggle with the final arena. It’s a tight space. You’ve got the Butcher, a massive Qunari with a heavy blade, and constant reinforcements.
- Tip one: Focus the adds first. The Butcher has high stagger resistance.
- Tip two: Use Lucanis’s "Eviscerate" to chip away at the armor.
- Tip three: Don't get cornered by the fire pots. They hurt.
There is a specific moment during the fight where the environment becomes your worst enemy. The Antaam use explosives to funnel you into kill zones. You have to keep Rook moving. If you stand still for more than three seconds, you’re basically a target dummy.
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The Emotional Fallout with Lucanis
Once the dust settles and the Butcher is dealt with, the dialogue choices you pick with Lucanis determine the trajectory of your relationship. This quest is a major turning point for his "Vows" or his romance arc.
If you’ve been flirting, this is where things get real. Lucanis is guarded. He’s possessed by Spite, a demon that feeds on his impulses. During the aftermath of Dragon Age Veilguard Partners in a Dangerous Crime, he struggles with the guilt of the lives lost during the occupation. You can either validate his guilt or help him focus on the victory.
There’s a misconception that you have to be "edgy" to get along with the Crows. Actually, Lucanis responds better to pragmatism and genuine empathy. He’s spent his whole life being treated like a weapon. Treating him like a person who just survived a traumatic battle goes a long way.
What Happens if You Chose Minrathous Instead?
This is where the "Dangerous Crime" title takes on a different meaning. If you chose to save Minrathous, Treviso is devastated by the Blight. Lucanis becomes "Hardened."
A Hardened Lucanis is different in combat. He loses some of his support capabilities but gains raw damage output. However, his social interactions become colder. The quest still happens, but the atmosphere is tragic. You aren't "saving" the city; you’re performing an autopsy on it. The Butcher isn't just an occupier anymore; he's a monster presiding over a graveyard.
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It’s a stark contrast. In the "Save Treviso" version, the citizens cheer for you. In the "Blighted Treviso" version, the silence is deafening.
Technical Strategy for the Final Encounter
Let’s talk builds. If you’re playing a Rogue, use the Veil Ranger specialization to pick off the casters from the rooftops while Lucanis draws aggro. If you’re a Mage, "Ice Beam" is your best friend here because the Qunari enemies in this quest tend to have high physical resistance but are susceptible to freeze states.
The boss fight against the Butcher has three phases:
- The Shield Phase: He’s guarded by a kinetic barrier. You have to destroy the two generators on the side platforms. Lucanis can reach them quickly with his traversal abilities.
- The Berserker Phase: He drops the shield and starts a whirlwind attack. Just run. Seriously. Wait for the cooldown.
- The Blighted Surge: If the city is Blighted, he gains lifesteal. This is the hardest version of the fight. You need to keep him staggered to prevent him from regenerating health.
The Consequences of Your Company
Your third companion choice matters more than you think. Bringing Taash offers some unique dialogue, as she has a complicated relationship with Qunari culture. She’ll comment on the Butcher’s tactics, sometimes with a begrudging respect that makes for some tense banter. Bringing Davrin, the Grey Warden, adds a layer of tactical solemnity, especially if the city is Blighted.
The "Dangerous Crime" here isn't just the assassination—it's the political fallout. The Merchants Guild is fractured. By the end of this quest, you’ve effectively decided who will lead Treviso into the final battle against the gods.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
To get the best outcome for this quest and your relationship with the Antivan Crows, keep these points in mind:
- Prioritize Treviso early: If you want a "happy" Lucanis and a vibrant city, you must choose Treviso over Minrathous during the "On Blighted Wings" quest.
- Max out Crow Reputation: Before starting the quest, finish the side contracts in the Treviso hubs. This ensures you have the best gear available from the faction vendor.
- Equip Anti-Armor Runes: The Antaam are heavily armored. If your weapons are set for "Health" damage, you’ll be chipping away at them for hours.
- Talk to Spite: Don't ignore the demon in Lucanis's head. When given the chance to address Spite directly during the quest's downtime, do it. It unlocks deeper lore about the nature of the "crime" Lucanis feels he committed.
The beauty of Dragon Age: The Veilguard is that it doesn't let you off the hook. Every choice has a cost. In Treviso, that cost is measured in blood and gold, and as Rook, you're the one holding the ledger.