How To Defeat Johanna Hezenkoss In Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Each companion quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard allows us to learn more about our companions’ past and help to fix what’s haunting them in the present. In The Sacrifice Of Souls, Rook returns to Blackthorne Manor with Emmrich to settle the score with the necromancer, Johanna Hezenkoss.

Elgar'nan sneers at Rook during The Blood Of Arlathan in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Blood Of Arlathan Walkthrough

Infiltrate a Venatori camp and rescue Dalish prisoners from Elgar’nan.

After your encounter with Hezenkoss during The House Of The Dead, the Manor takes on a different tone, as the venue for a party hosted by Hezenkoss herself. Manfred will be your primary point of contact on the inside, as you all infiltrate the party together.

How To Find Johanna’s Lantern

You find Blackthorne Manor the same as how you left it, save for one important detail: there are dozens of guests inside enjoying a party hosted by Johanna Hezenkoss.

Once Manfred goes inside, head up the stairs to the front of the Manor and pass through the Blackthorne Courtyard with Emmrich until you reach the door.

Investigate the locked front door, then head to the left, following your marker to search for an alternative way inside.

Climb the ladder along the side of the Manor to enter the Guest Room and progress through the Ruined Balcony to the North West Wing.

Follow your marker until you reach a balcony where you can observe Manfred and a conversation transpiring below.

Once the conversation ends, retrace your steps, turn left, and head east to the Upper Halls. Cross to the other side of the Grand Foyer and walk into an ambush in Blackthorne Library.

Defeat the undead here (weak to Necrotic, resist Cold) and search for the spectral tome, which you’ll find on a table between two sets of stairs.

To find the spectral tome, check the table beside a set of chairs on the landing – you’ll spot them in front of a window.

Bring the tome to Manfred by going through the North West Wing and entering the Servant’s Wing, where you’ll find Emmrich’s skeletal buddy.

After you give Manfred his instructions, head back to the balcony and watch Manfred give the spectral tome to a man at the party.

Follow Emmrich back through to the Servant’s Wing and get the key Manfred has for you.

Use the key and witness the cutscene that ensues, then follow the red tapestries out of the Forgotten Shrine and down the wooden scaffolding into The Cellar.

More undead will appear; fight them, then activate a secret door, which Manfred helps to open.

Head inside the passage and follow your marker to an elevator.

Don’t miss out on the unique item you’ll find in the chest here before you use the elevator.

Once you’re down the elevator, you’ll find Hezenkoss’ Workshop, where you’ll need to defeat some undead and fight your way through to another room, where more undead are waiting for you.

Ascend the path toward Johanna’s lantern and defeat another group of undead, then look around.

Manfred will drop a ladder to climb to the Upper Laboratory, where you’ll find the lantern waiting for you.

How To Defeat Johanna Hezenkoss

Once you witness the cutscene, prepare to fight a giant monster controlled by Hezenkoss.

Hezenkoss is weak to Necrotic damage but resists Cold.

Damage Hezenkoss and remove her barrier shield as soon as you can to deal damage, while avoiding the barrage of rocks falling from above.

Hezenkoss will occasionally teleport to the center of the arena and unleash a beam of energy that does impressive damage; use the pillars around the room to avoid this attack.

Once you deplete Hezenkoss’ HP, she’ll retreat and another cutscene will play out, finishing the fight.

Now, help Emmrich decide if you want him to embrace becoming a lich or resurrect his skeletal partner, Manfred.

The choice is clear.