You’re probably running around the Arlathan Forest or the Necropolis thinking you’ve looted every single chest in sight. You haven't. Honestly, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is packed with so much verticality and tucked-away corners that it's easy to develop a bit of loot blindness. But there’s one specific "Hidden Hoard" that has been tripping people up lately—mostly because the game doesn't just hand it to you on a silver platter with a quest marker. It’s that one pesky spot in the Rivain Coast, tucked behind a series of environmental puzzles and a very missable destructible wall.
Finding it isn't just about getting some extra gold. It’s about the gear. If you’re playing on a higher difficulty like Nightmare, those unique weapon drops and high-tier upgrade materials are basically mandatory for survival.
Why the Hidden Hoard in Rivain Coast is Such a Pain
The Rivain Coast is gorgeous, but it's a nightmare for completionists. The map looks flat, but the actual level design is a mess of caves, scaffolding, and hidden ladders. Most players find the main treasure caches near the Warden fort, but the real "Hidden Hoard" requires you to backtrack after gaining specific companion abilities.
You've probably noticed those glowing crystalline barriers or the heavy stone blocks that Rook can't move alone. That’s the first gate. You can’t even sniff this hoard until you’ve progressed far enough to have Taash or Lucanis help you navigate the verticality of the lava-scarred cliffs.
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I spent two hours circling the same cliffside because the map marker suggested the loot was underground. It wasn't. It was "underground" in the sense that it was inside a sea cave, but the entrance was hidden behind a waterfall that didn't look like an entrance at all. It looked like a texture. BioWare really leaned into the old-school "if it looks like a wall, try hitting it" philosophy here.
The Mechanics of the Search
First off, stop looking at the minimap. It lies to you. In The Veilguard, the verticality means a chest can be fifty feet above your head or thirty feet below your boots, and the icon stays exactly the same.
To get to the hoard, you need to find the "Warden’s Crossing" area. Look for the shipwrecked remains on the eastern shore. There’s a specific crane you can interact with. If you haven't unlocked the ability to repair environmental objects yet, just put a pin on it and move on. You’re wasting your time.
Once the crane is functional, it drops a pallet that creates a bridge to a high-ledge cave. Inside, you’ll find a series of notes—real lore bits, not just flavor text—detailing a group of smugglers who were trying to hide relics from the Antivan Crow hit squads. This is where the actual puzzle starts. You have to light three braziers in a specific order based on the dates mentioned in the smuggler’s diary.
- Light the brazier near the entrance first.
- The one near the back of the cave, partially submerged in water, comes second.
- The final one is hidden behind a breakable wooden crate near the center pillar.
If you mess up the order, a group of Level 30 Venatori shades spawns. It’s a fun fight, but it resets the puzzle. Get it right, and a heavy stone door slides open to reveal the stash.
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What’s Actually Inside the Hoard?
Is it worth the headache? Usually, yeah.
The Hidden Hoard typically scales to your level, but it has a high floor for rarity. You’re guaranteed at least one Unique (Purple) item and a handful of Flawless Crystals. For those of us obsessing over upgrading the Lighthouse or our companion's gear, those crystals are the real prize.
Specifically, I found the "Storm-Touched Longbow" here on my first run. It has a base damage that outclassed my previous gear by nearly 20%. Plus, it adds a chain-lightning effect on critical hits. If you’re running a Veil Jumper build, this cache is basically your holy grail for the mid-game.
Gear Variation and RNG
It’s worth noting that The Veilguard uses a semi-randomized loot pool for these major chests. While the type of loot (Unique weapon, Epic armor) is often fixed, the specific stats might vary based on your class.
If you’re a Mage, don’t expect a massive two-handed axe. The game is smart enough to give you something you can actually use, which is a nice change of pace from some other RPGs where you find "Legendary" gear for a class you aren't even playing.
Common Mistakes When Hunting Hoards
The biggest mistake is trying to find everything too early. The Veilguard is designed with a "Metroidvania" flow. You see a glowing red barrier? You can’t break it yet. You see a floating eluvian fragment? You probably need a specific companion quest completed first.
I’ve seen dozens of people complaining on forums that their game is "glitched" because they can’t reach a chest. It’s not glitched. You’re just impatient. Wait until you have the full team. Specifically, Taash’s ability to melt certain locks and Davrin’s utility for reaching high places are game-changers for world exploration.
Another thing: check the ceilings. BioWare’s level designers love hanging things from ropes. If you see a chest icon but the floor is bare, look up. There's usually a pulley or a rope you can shoot with a basic ranged attack to drop the loot right at your feet.
Misconceptions About the "Hidden" Tag
Some players think "Hidden Hoard" refers to a specific named quest. It doesn't. In the community, it’s become a catch-all term for these unmapped, high-value caches that require environmental interaction rather than just walking up and pressing 'X'.
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There’s a similar one in the Hossberg Wetlands, but that one is gated by the "blight boils" you have to clear. If you haven't upgraded your ability to clear the high-level blight, the hoard remains encased in gunk, and you can’t interact with it.
Nuance in the Loot System
Let’s be real for a second. Not every "Hidden" chest is going to change your life. Sometimes you spend twenty minutes solving a mirror puzzle in the Fade only to get a pair of boots that are slightly worse than what you’re wearing.
That’s the nature of the beast. However, the Hidden Hoard in the Rivain Coast specifically is one of the few that contains a "memento" item. These are crucial for increasing your Caretaker level. If you care about maximizing the Lighthouse’s potential and unlocking the best enchantments in the game, you literally cannot afford to skip these.
How to Maximize Your Loot Haul
Before you go hunting for these hoards, make sure you've equipped any gear that boosts "Loot Rarity" or "Gold Find." It sounds like a small thing, but over the course of a 60-hour campaign, it adds up.
Also, talk to your companions. Sometimes, a companion will bark a line of dialogue like, "Hey, does that wall look thin to you?" or "I smell old parchment nearby." These aren't just random barks. They are literal proximity triggers for hidden areas. If Harding says she feels a draft, stop running and start hugging the walls.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
- Check Your Power Level: Don't bother with the Rivain Coast hoard until you are at least Level 20. The enemies guarding the outer perimeter will turn you into paste if you're underleveled.
- Bring the Right Crew: Take Taash and Lucanis. Their field abilities are the "keys" to most of the environmental locks in the coastal region.
- Invest in "Eagle Eye": If you have skill points to spare, look for nodes in the navigation tree that pulse nearby treasure on your radar. It makes finding the vertical height of a chest much easier.
- Look for the Blue Butterflies: In many areas of The Veilguard, developers used "visual echoes" or blue butterflies to subtly guide players toward secrets. If you see a cluster of them near a cliff edge, look down. There’s likely a ledge you can drop onto.
- Save Your Materials: When you find the high-end materials in these hoards, don't waste them on "Blue" tier gear. Save your Flawless Crystals for the "Unique" items you find later in the game. The upgrade costs jump significantly once you hit the final tiers.
- Read the Lore Entries: The notes you find near these hoards often contain clues to other hoards. The smuggler’s notes in Rivain actually mention a sister-cache in the Crow’s territory in Treviso. Use that information.