The regions of Dragon Age: The Veilguard aren’t as open as they were in Inquisition, but they can be just as big. That’s why the game gives you access to fast-travel beacons to move around each map, and you can create shortcuts by dropping ladders and fixing bridges.
One such shortcut is in Arlathan Forest, the first big region you can access in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. You can get around without fixing the Tattered Bridge that gives the northwest area its name, but doing so will open up a shortcut and let you loot a valuable chest.
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How to Reach the Tattered Bridge
The first issue you’ll face is figuring out how to find the Tattered Bridge area. There are two routes you can take to reach it, but for either option, you’ll need to unlock “An Unfamiliar Sense” by talking to Harding, and then reach the mirror to Arlathan Forest through the Crossroads.
- Complete the Companion Quest “An Unfamiliar Sense.” Return to the area where you found the injured Veil Jumper, then check the southwest corner. You should see a ladder with a lock on it, and several explosive barrels behind it. You can destroy the lock and set off the barrels with ranged attacks, and the barrels will blow a hole in the wall behind them. This hole leads to the Tattered Bridge area.
- Head north from the beach where you took the boat to D’Meta’s Crossing. Turn west and take the curved stairs, then continue straight north until you reach a room full of display cases. There’s a beacon in one corner of the room. Turn west to enter the Tattered Bridge area.
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How to Solve the Tattered Bridge Puzzle
No matter how you reach this area, you can continue west without fixing the elven bridge. You can climb across a rock to the base of the central pillar, climb up the rubble, and then zipline down to the western edge of the bridge. You can also get there by moving rocks with Harding’s special ability. Keep going west to find a ladder you can climb.
At this point, you can either go north to leave the Tattered Bridge behind, or you can turn south to start fixing it. The solution is the same no matter which party members you have or what class Rook is. Here’s what to do:
- Pick up the power crystal. This will disable the blue barrier.
- Go forward and place the power crystal in the power node to the left (north).
- Cross the new bridge to the north and activate the projector. Point the projector at the power node on the underside of the floating rock to the south. This will activate another projector.
- Pick up the power crystal and place it on the southeast power node. This will create a bridge to the south rock, and block the north projector’s beam.
- Go up to the south rock and bash the wooden beam behind the projector.
- Pick up the power crystal from the southeast node, and place it back on the north power node. This will unblock the projector.
- Head west and break through the boxes, then use the wooden beam to climb back up to the south rock. Don’t forget to open the chest along the way.
- Point the south projector at the power node behind the zipline. This will connect the west and central sections of the Tattered Bridge.
- Cross to the central pillar and pick up the power crystal. Don’t forget to open the chest.
- Place the power crystal on the power node near the southeast corner of the central pillar. This should complete the bridge and give you a “Shortcut Unlocked” notification.
It’s possible to skip this puzzle completely, but the chests you get along the way are more than worth the effort.
- Franchise
- Dragon Age
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Frostbite