Dragon Age: The Veilguard doesn't really care if you're ready for the consequences of your actions. It’s a game built on the bones of a world that’s been falling apart for a decade of real-world time, and nowhere is that tension more obvious than in the questline involving the execution of high-stakes heists and moral dilemmas. When people search for partners in a dangerous crime veilguard, they are usually looking for a walkthrough. But honestly? A walkthrough only tells you where to stand. It doesn’t tell you how to live with the fallout of choosing who stands next to you when the Tevinter nights get cold and the spells start flying.
You’re playing as Rook. You’ve got a crew that ranges from a cynical necromancer to a scout who has seen too much. The game treats your companions not just as combat batteries, but as mirrors.
The Reality of Choosing Your Partners in a Dangerous Crime Veilguard
Early on, the game forces you to realize that "dangerous crime" isn't just a flavor text description. It's the mechanical reality of the mission structure. In The Veilguard, "Partners in a Dangerous Crime" specifically ties into the broader narrative of the Shadow Dragons and the resistance against the Venatori. It’s about infiltration. It’s about the messy reality of Tevinter politics where the line between a "freedom fighter" and a "criminal" is basically just who owns the most slaves in the nearby district.
Picking your partners for these specific high-stakes excursions changes the dialogue drastically. If you bring Lucanis, the atmosphere is heavy with the weight of the Antivan Crow legacy. He isn't just there to stab people; he's there because this is his life’s work. On the other hand, bringing someone like Bellara shifts the tone toward a frantic, almost nervous energy.
The game uses a system of "Approval" that feels much more reactive than Inquisition. In previous games, you could sort of "game" the system by giving people enough trinkets. In The Veilguard, your choices during these "criminal" acts—whether you prioritize saving civilians or securing the magical MacGuffin—create permanent ripples.
Who Actually Fits the Role?
You’ve got to think about synergy. Not just "who does the most DPS," but whose moral compass aligns with the crime you’re about to commit.
Neve Gallus is a natural fit for anything involving the streets of Minrathous. She knows the back alleys. She knows the smell of the rain on the cobbles. Bringing her into a "Partners in a Dangerous Crime" scenario feels like the "canon" choice for many players because her stakes are personal. She’s a private investigator; she’s used to the dirt. If you’re trying to navigate the moral gray areas of Tevinter, Neve offers insights that make the world feel lived-in. She’ll comment on the specific architecture of a hideout or the lineage of a corrupt Magister in a way that makes you realize you aren’t just playing a level—you’re trespassing in someone’s home.
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Then there’s Taash. If your idea of a "dangerous crime" involves breaking down the front door and setting the evidence on fire, Taash is your person. But be warned: the game punishes a "loud" approach in subtle ways. You might get the loot, but you’ll lose the respect of the local resistance cells.
Mechanics of the Heist: More Than Just Stealth
A lot of players get frustrated because they expect The Veilguard to play like a traditional stealth game during these segments. It doesn't. This isn't Dishonored. It’s a tactical RPG disguised as an action game. When you’re looking at your partners in a dangerous crime veilguard options, you need to look at their primers and detonators.
The combat in these missions is often claustrophobic. You're in narrow corridors, basement alchemy labs, or crowded markets.
- Lucanis excels here because of his mobility. He can zip across a crowded room to take out a mage before they can finish a casting animation.
- Emmrich is... well, he’s a lot. Bringing a necromancer to a secret heist is a bold move. It’s not exactly "low profile" to have a skeletal assistant named Manfred helping you pick a lock, but the crowd control he provides is unmatched.
The interplay between these characters is where the "human" quality of the writing shines. If you pair Lucanis and Neve, you get a cynical, professional vibe. They talk shop. They discuss the logistics of the hit. If you pair Bellara and Taash, it’s chaos. It’s funny, sure, but it also highlights how disparate this group of "Veilguards" actually is.
The Tevinter Backdrop
The setting of these crimes is Minrathous, a city that looks like a neon-lit fantasy nightmare. It’s beautiful and disgusting. The "Dangerous Crime" questline highlights the wealth disparity of the Dragon Age world better than any codex entry ever could. You see the floating palaces of the Magisters while you’re literally wading through the sewers.
BioWare’s environmental storytelling is at its peak here. You’ll find notes from commoners who are just trying to survive the week, and it puts your "heroic" actions into perspective. Are you a hero if you’re stealing the gold that was meant to pay for a district’s clean water, even if that gold is going to fund the revolution? The game doesn't give you an easy out. It expects you to be an adult about it.
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Avoiding the "Gamey" Pitfalls
One thing that drives me crazy in modern RPGs is when your companions don't react to the environment. Thankfully, The Veilguard avoids this. In the "Partners in a Dangerous Crime" missions, your companions will actively point out shortcuts or warn you about traps. It feels collaborative.
However, there’s a limit. The AI can still be a bit "video-gamey." Sometimes Taash will stand right in a glowing magical trap while lecturing you about dragon hunting. It’s a reminder that beneath the incredible voice acting and the stunning lighting, there’s still code.
But when it works? It really works. There’s a moment in one of the mid-game heists where the music swells, the rain is pouring down, and your chosen partners are covering your back while you hack into a magical terminal. In that moment, you aren't just a player clicking buttons. You’re part of a crew.
The Role of Rook
Your protagonist isn't a blank slate. How you talk to your partners in a dangerous crime veilguard defines Rook’s leadership style. Are you a "the end justifies the means" type of leader? Or are you trying to keep everyone’s hands clean in a world made of mud?
The dialogue wheel (which is more of a diamond now) gives you specific icons for "sarcastic," "direct," or "empathetic." In these high-tension missions, being sarcastic can actually backfire. If you joke around while Neve is trying to save her neighborhood, she will remember that. The game tracks these micro-interactions. It’s not just about the big "Life or Death" choices; it’s about the cumulative weight of being a jerk or being a leader.
Tactical Advice for the "Dangerous Crime" Missions
If you're actually stuck on the gameplay loop, here is how you handle the "Dangerous Crime" mission flow without pulling your hair out.
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First, stop trying to rush. The level design in The Veilguard is surprisingly dense. There are often breakable walls or hidden rafters that allow you to bypass the hardest combat encounters. If you have a partner with a long-range teleport or a jump ability, use it to scout.
Second, pay attention to the resistances of the Venatori. They love their fire shields. If you bring a partner who only deals fire damage to a Tevinter heist, you’re going to have a bad time. You want cold or necrotic damage. Emmrich is a beast here, even if he is a bit "loud" for a heist.
Third, look at the gear. Some armor sets in the game specifically buff your "partnership" abilities—the stuff that happens when you and a companion hit a combo. For these specific missions, you want gear that reduces cooldowns. The faster you can trigger a "Detonation," the faster the fight ends, and the less likely you are to get swarmed by guards.
Why This Matters for the Series
Dragon Age has always been about the "found family." From the Warden’s ragtag group of survivors to Hawke’s band of misfits in Kirkwall. The Veilguard takes that and applies a layer of modern "heist movie" energy.
The partners in a dangerous crime veilguard theme is a microcosm of the whole game. It’s about people who shouldn't be together, doing things they shouldn't be doing, for reasons that are probably right but feel wrong. It’s messy. It’s complicated. It’s exactly what Dragon Age should be.
BioWare had a lot to prove with this title. After Anthem and the mixed reception of Mass Effect: Andromeda, they needed to show they could still write characters you’d die for. When you’re standing on a rooftop in Minrathous with your two chosen partners, looking out over a city that wants you dead, you feel that old BioWare magic.
Final Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
Don't just pick your favorites. Pick the characters who have the most to lose in that specific mission. If you're going into a deep-sea heist, maybe don't bring the person who's afraid of water (metaphorically speaking).
- Check your Relationship Level: Before starting the mission, make sure you've talked to your partners at the Lighthouse. You get bonus passives for having a "warm" relationship.
- Sync your Elements: Look at your skill tree. If you're a Warrior who uses "Sunder," make sure your partner has a "Stagger" detonator.
- Read the Room: If a companion tells you to stay quiet, try to stay quiet. The game often rewards "Ghost" playstyles with extra loot or easier boss phases later on.
- Rotate your Crew: Don't just use the same two people for every "crime." You'll miss out on some of the best banter in the game. The interaction between Harding and Lucanis is gold, but you’ll never hear it if you’re glued to Neve.
The "Dangerous Crime" aspect of the game is where the tension is highest. Embrace the fact that you might fail a side objective or piss off a friend. That’s the point. You're a criminal now. Act like one.