Best Side Quests In The Dragon Age Series

Hours upon hours are enjoyably spent in the Dragon Age games traversing Thedas and exploring the different terrains without even checking back in on the player’s current main quest.

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Right from the beginning of Origins, the mind-blowing scenery and sparring nations players are able to fully enter into truly assault the senses and it can be somewhat tricky to work out what to do next. Aside from the bloodthirsty battles, there are a plethora of exciting and, sometimes, genuinely hilarious side quests that take the player away from the main story, yet are still engaging and immersive.

7

Deep Roads Expeditions: Heidrun Thaig Upper Bridge

Hunt Down The Nug King

Systems

Released

November 18, 2014

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

• Appears In: Dragon Age: Inquisition
• Side Quest: Deep Roads Expeditions: Heidrun Thaig Upper Bridge
• Necessary: Cheese Wheel

The Nugs are by far the most adorable creatures in the whole of Dragon Age and in Dragon Age: Inquisition, players get to interact with the kind of them all! Looking like a cross between a baby rhino and a bunny rabbit, the Nugs live and breed underground across the continent. Virtually blind, Nugs are entirely docile and will never attack, unless cornered or under serious threat. Fereldians and Orlesians are just some of the people who take one or more Nug as their companions, however somewhat conflictingly, these harmless animals are also killed for food.

To find the most powerful Nug of them all, the Nug King, players must walk past the Cretahl Hunting Experience marker and then climb the adjacent slope. The Nug King resides inside the Forgotten Caverns, accessed through a narrow tunnel and as long as players have already acquired the cheese wheel, they can simply place the wheel on the throne. Players will love the following hilarious cutscene.

6

The Lost Swords

Play As A Qunari Rogue

Systems

Released

March 8, 2011

ESRB

Mature // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Content, Violence

• Appears In: Dragon Age 2
• Side Quest: The Lost Swords
• Necessary: Conversing With Taarbas In Hightown

One of the millions of reasons why the Dragon Age fandom is so strong is the ability to play the games over and over again with different protagonists at the helm. At the beginning of Dragon Age 2, unlike games later on in the franchise, there is no option to play as a Qunari but, luckily, The Lost Swords side quest makes up for it tenfold. Here, players can embody what it truly means to be Qunari and see the world of Thedas through their eyes for a change.

The Qunari are a race of giant, horned humanoids with scaly, metallic skin and have strict guidelines as to behavior and personal identity. Members of the Qunari race have no connection to family, only associate sex with procreation, and are bred for highly specific battle roles.

5

The Treasure Of Sharksmouth Mountain

Hike The Mountainous Terrain

Systems

Released

October 31, 2024

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

• Appears In: Dragon Age: Veilguard
• Side Quest: The Treasure of Sharksmouth Mountain
• Necessary: Warden Grey’s Final Repose

The Sharksmouth Caves are a secret location hidden inside an entrance into the Rivian Coast and because of this, it will probably be one of the last areas players will get to unlock. This means that The Treasure of Sharksmouth Mountain is one of the last side quests available in Dragon Age: Veilguard, but it is most definitely worth the wait.

As soon as players find themselves inside the tower, the Treasure of Sharksmouth Mountain quest and available treasure chests will begin. Not only are there myriad puzzles to complete, but also be prepared to face the dark Fury of Sharksmouth before players are through. For players to succeed, it is essential that they have as much health and stamina as possible and that they take one room of the cave at a time, instead of trying to rush through the caverns too quickly.

4

The Tomb Of Fairel

Explore The Hissing Wastes

• Appears In: Dragon Age: Inquisition
• Side Quest: The Tomb of Fairel
• Necessary: Key Sketch Fragments

The Tomb of Fairel is one of the most exciting activities, especially as, once players enter the section with the tombs, there is a different puzzle to solve around every corner.

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The Tomb of Fairel is part of a thrilling side quest and involves the acquisition of six separate maps, each map relating to the next tomb. The Sketch of Canyon Tomb and the Sketch of Burial Grounds Tomb are both found in the Venatori Canyon Camp, so be sure to head there beforehand. The Tomb of Fairel is the final tomb players will enter and is by far the most exciting.

3

Leliana’s Past

A Heartwarming Backstory

Systems

Released

November 3, 2009

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content

• Appears In: Dragon Age: Origins
• Side Quest: Leliana’s Past
• Necessary: Have Leliana As A Party Member

Many of Dragon Age’s lifelong fans cite Dragon Age Origins as having the most complicated and, therefore, the most rewarding side quests of any of the games in the franchise and it is easy to see why. The side quest Leliana’s Past is a brilliant example of this, as unlike most of the action-packed and battle-fueled other side quests, this is a poignant and more emotional one.

Here, the Chantry sister who used to be a bard begins to open up to the protagonist on a whole other level and without giving away too much, the player will benefit emotionally, most also materialistically, from choosing to embark upon Leilana’s Past. Just make sure that Leilana is already a member of the party and that the player’s relationship with her is already strong.

2

Capturing Suledin Keep

Become A Giant Slayer

• Appears In: Dragon Age: Inquisition
• Side Quest: Capturing Suledin Keep
• Necessary: Complete Take Back the Lion Quest

Giants in Dragon Age are particularly different from other game franchises, namely due to their nearly humanoid form. Even though the giants appear in every game after Dragon Age: Inquisition, if players are looking to spend an entire run-through focusing on slaying giants, then this is definitely the game to launch. The side quest that introduces the player to the giants of Thedas is Capturing Suledin Keep, whereby the protagonist needs to drive away the cruel-hearted Red Templars from the keep who are raising giants there.

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Due to their aforementioned appearance, players could assume the giants are cleverer and more able than they actually are, but in reality, they are fairly easy (and very satisfying) to vanquish. To begin an out-and-out giant-slaying adventure, head to Storm Coast, and right along the shoreline, players will see the first giant fighting with a dragon, whilst a group of bandits stand awe-struck underneath. Hunting down giants once this side quest is completed will also uncover previously unknown treasure chests.

1

Guilty Pleasures Side Quest

Light-Hearted Comedy Break

• Appears In: Dragon Age: Inquisition
• Side Quest: Guilty Pleasures
• Necessary: A Good Relationship With Casandra

For Dragon Age players searching for a more human, even heartwarming, exploit, then look no further than the Guilty Pleasures companion quest. Unlike the majority of the other more mysterious quests in Dragon Age: Inquisition, Guilty Pleasures allows players to learn more about both Varric and Cassandra in a more personal way.

Centered around books, specifically novels written by Varric Tethras, Guilty Pleasures involves the oft-represented author’s struggle and looks into why Varric’s books have been poorly received. Interestingly, when players view the cover of one of Varric’s books, the front cover image has an eerie resemblance to Aveline.

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