In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, many side quests are extended journeys that often conclude with a boss fight. One such quest centers on a demon that preys on the desperate citizens of Minrathous, with its story wrapping up in the Desperate in Dock Town side quest.
Related
Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Who Should You Sell Valuables To?
To earn Faction Strength in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you’ll need to sell valuables. But which faction should you sell them to?
This quest primarily involves locating the Demon of Desperation and preparing for a challenging battle. The boss fight can feel intense as you’re confined to a small area while battling the demon and its minions. In this guide, we’ll walk you through locating the Demon of Desperation and completing the “Desperate in Dock Town” side quest.
How To Get Desperate In Dock Town Side Quest
After completing the A Hidden Hoard side quest, you’ll immediately receive the Desperate in Dock Town side quest.
A Hidden Hoard wraps up in a room within the Catacombs, and you can start Desperate in Dock Town right away from there.
Finding Demon of Desperation
To find the Demon of Desperation, start at the fast travel point either just outside the catacombs or in the room where you used the heavy bronze key and completed the A Hidden Hoard side quest. This room is behind the fast travel point, so reaching the Demon of Desperation from either starting point is easy.
Exit the room and head left up the stairs and continue along the path. Skip the closed door you encounter; instead, follow the road and climb over the debris on the right.
Take another left to discover a lyrium crystal on the left, which has already summoned a bridge. Don’t take this bridge. Instead, keep going straight from here—you’ll notice a red exploding barrel along this route as well.
Next, take a right, and you’ll spot an opening in the wall that was previously sealed. As you enter, you’ll notice bodies and blood scattered across the floor. If you’ve been here before, Rook may even remark, “Nothing in our way now.”
Pass through the gap in the wall to reach the Demon of Desperation, who has been plotting demonic schemes against the desperate citizens of Minrathous for a long time.
The Demon of Desperation will speak for a few moments before summoning itself into the area, along with three other enemies named Isolation, Despondence, and Remorse.
How To Defeat Desperation
The Demon of Desperation is primarily a melee-type boss, but it does have a few ranged attacks. When you’re too close, it will use its claws to perform two or three-hit combos.
If you keep your distance, it will summon a blade and launch several ranged slashes your way. Additionally, it casts a purple orb, which it uses to conjure AoE attacks that cover almost the whole arena. This is also visible through the red circles on the floor.
While the Demon of Desperation is a significant threat on its own, the named enemies in the area add to the challenge by firing homing orbs that explode on impact, dealing cold damage when they hit.
At times, the Demon of Desperation boss will disappear from the arena, surrounding you in darkness. During this phase, you’ll lose sight of your companions and won’t be able to use their skills. Meanwhile, the named enemies become even more aggressive, unleashing a barrage of cold-damage orbs.
To exit the darkness phase, focus on quickly eliminating all the named enemies. Once they’re defeated, the Demon of Desperation will reappear in the arena. With no additional enemies around, the fight becomes much more manageable.
Fire damage is highly effective against the Demon of Desperation and its minions, as its burn effect gradually drains health over time. With multiple stacks of burn, the damage dealt increases significantly.
If you plan to face the Demon of Desperation with a fire weapon, be sure to enchant it with a fire enchantment at the Caretaker.
Companion Recommendation
Bringing a companion who can deal high damage to the armor and provide healing, like Lucanis, will be a huge asset in taking down the Demon of Desperation. His Debilitate and Eviscerate abilities are excellent for damaging armor and staggering the named enemies in the boss arena. Additionally, the Soothing Potion is invaluable for healing during the fight.
To handle the named enemies, consider a companion with strong area control abilities. Neve’s Blizzard ability, for instance, freezes enemies, applies cold, and inflicts continuous damage over a large area—making it ideal for managing multiple foes at once.
Desperate In Dock Town Side Quest Rewards
Once you have defeated the Demon of Desperation, you will get 250 Shadows Dragons Strength, and can loot the arena to get the following rewards:
- Necropolis Defender Shield Rarity Increase
- Magister’s End – Unique Light Armor
Next
Dragon Age: The Veilguard – The Returned Cultist Case Walkthrough
It’s time for Neve to put an end to Aelia and the Venatori.