Dragon Age: The Veilguard introduces players to an expansive world of powerful High Dragons. With each High Dragon encounter, you must adjust your tactics to understand each dragon’s attack patterns, exploit their weaknesses, and prepare the right abilities and weapons to defeat them. In this guide, we’ll explore the locations of the High Dragons (Fangscorcher, The Formless One, Revenant Dragon, Kataranda The Stormrider, Kaltenzahn, Beartooth Vyrantis, Corius The Icetalon, and Mythal’s Retribution) provide strategies for taking them down and offer tips for maximizing your chances of victory.
All High Dragon Locations in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
1. Location of Fangscorcher
The Fangscorcher is first mentioned during Taash’s Companion Quests when players converse with Cutter, a rival Lord of Fortune. This dragon has taken up residence in an abandoned village on the outskirts of Arlathan Forest, and the Veil Jumpers are increasingly concerned about her attacks on the local Halla. After completing the “A Dragon Class” quest, Taash will contact Rook, kicking off a new quest called “Slaying the Fangscorcher.”
The quest waypoint is north of Arlathan Forest, near the Water Puzzle. When the quest begins, follow Taash’s advice to stay low as the party moves away from the incoming fire. The Fangscorcher knows Rook and the crew are there, so there’s no chance for a surprise attack, unlike in previous Dragon Age games.
Strategy to Beat Fangscorcher
The best way to defeat the Fangscorcher is to avoid its long-range fireballs and get in close, even if you’re playing as a Mage. As with most dragons in the series, the key to taking it down is targeting its feet. Hitting its feet and claws will break through the Fangscorcher’s Barrier, causing it to enter a Takedown state. When this happens, the dragon will fall to the side, exposing its “heart” zone. This is your chance to deal significant damage, so target that area quickly.
When the Fangscorcher’s health drops to 75%, it will fly onto a cliff and launch fireballs at Rook while its Barrier regenerates. Dodge the fireballs and brace for the dragon’s landing, as it will slam down in a targeted area, with the player at the center of the impact.
At 50% health, the Fangscorcher will repeat this phase, but this time, it will summon meteors from the sky, causing heavy fire damage in small areas around the battlefield. It will also use its fire breath in a “jump rope” pattern across the arena. Players must dodge twice to avoid taking significant fire damage and being left Burned.
2. Location of The Formless One
The Formless One is an undead Lightning Dragon trapped deep beneath the Great Necropolis, where they first meet Emmrich Volkarin. Players can explore the area at their own pace after completing the Necropolis Introductory Quest, Where The Dead Must Go. In one of the newly accessible chambers, players will come across a group of Venatori enemies trying to break into a locked vault. After defeating them and investigating the area, they’ll hear a voice inside the vault, triggering a new quest called Pinnacle of Its Kind.
This quest tasks players with defeating three demons located in Dock Town, Arlathan Forest, and the Hossberg Wetlands. The demons are marked on the map, making them easy to track down. Players must find a censer to activate, summon the demon, and defeat it in each location. Once all three demons are slain, players can return to the Necropolis Vault to face the final challenge: a massive Dracolich known as The Formless One.
Strategy to Beat The Formless One
The strategy for fighting The Formless One is similar to the Fangscorcher: start by attacking its shiny hind legs, then move to the front legs to break its Barrier. When the dragon falls to the ground, take full advantage of those precious seconds to unleash everything Rook has, and coordinate with your companions to set up Primers and Combos for extra damage. When The Formless One’s health reaches 75%, it will fly onto the Colosseum Walls, just above the treasure chest, and target Rook with a Lightning attack.
Dodge the attack, and the dragon will roar, creating a Shock shield around itself. It will then land near Rook, dealing Shock damage to any melee attackers. In this phase, switching to ranged attacks is best to avoid heavy damage. Repeat the strategy once the shield is down: target its legs, bring it down, and attack its heart. At 50% health, The Formless One will repeat this phase, but its lightning breath will become faster and more intense. When it lands in the arena, it will use its lightning breath to sweep the entire battlefield from one side to another. This attack requires two dodges to avoid taking significant damage.
3. Location of Revenant Dragon
The Revenant Dragon is one of the toughest High Dragons to track down in the game and arguably the most challenging to find. It’s hidden behind the Thrice Locked Door on Beacon Island, located in the Crossroads. To unlock it, players will need to hunt down three Blight Champions (Ogres), which are spread across Dock Town, Arlathan Forest, and the Hossberg Wetlands. Defeating them will yield their essences, which are needed to unlock three separate doors in the Crossroads. Each door leads to a “Pillar,” a powerful Blighted Knight guarding a large Blight Node.
After defeating each Knight and destroying the Node, a purified essence will drop. Players must then take these essences to the Thrice Locked Door to open one of its seals, triggering the quest The Heart of Corruption. By the time players reach around level 40 and have completed the Regrets of The Dread Wolf quest, they should be ready to face this formidable High Dragon, which shifts between Lightning and Fire elements during the fight.
Strategy to Beat Revenant Dragon
To start the fight, take out all the Blight Cysts on the battlefield. This will prevent Darkspawn from spawning and avoid any unnecessary complications during the battle. Be aware that this dragon can cause blindness, which will block Companion skills and significantly reduce your visibility. If Mythal isn’t available to assist, the strategy is the same as with other dragons: focus on its legs to break the Barrier, bring it down, then target its heart and deal as much damage as you can while it’s vulnerable.
Once the Revenant Dragon drops to 50% health, it will switch to Fire Damage and start spitting flames in all directions. It will use its fiery breath to sweep across the arena, so be ready to dodge twice to avoid taking heavy damage.
4. Location of Kataranda The Stormrider
Continuing with Taash’s Dragon Slaying Quests, players will face Kataranda the Stormrider as the next big challenge if they want to earn the Bringing Down The Sky Trophy/Achievement. This powerful Lightning Dragon makes its nest on the Rivain Coast, and players can track it down by following the quest. To start, players will need to find some wreckage along the coast. From there, they’ll join Taash to recover pieces of the Lost Hoard of the Dragon, battling crows that have stolen shiny treasures along the way. Once they’ve gathered enough pieces, they can use them to lure the dragon into battle.
Strategy to Beat Kataranda The Stormrider
Once you’re ready, follow the waypoint to the Arena, where Kataranda the Stormrider will appear almost immediately. This High Dragon has two major advantages in the fight. First, it has high resistance to Lightning, Fire, and Ice, so the best way to damage it is with Necrotic attacks. The second advantage comes from the arena itself. You’ll notice large puddles of water scattered throughout, with only small dry areas between them.
Rook needs to be cautious and stay on the dry spots during the fight. Water conducts electricity, and when Kataranda flies up and perches on a rock, she will electrify the battlefield, causing Shock damage to anyone standing in the water. Stay on the dry ground as much as possible. When Kataranda lands again, repeat the strategy: target the legs to bring the dragon down, then focus on the shiny weak spot on its belly.
5. Location of Kaltenzahn
Kalthezahn, a returning High Dragon from Dragon Age: Inquisition, appears in Taash’s final companion quest, Lair of the Dragon King. To track down Taash’s mother, who has been kidnapped by Cutter (the Lord of Fortune players met during the A Dragon Class quest), players will need to head back to the Rivain Coast.
As they make their way through the Lair, Rook and the party will face a series of jumping puzzles to cross the heart of the volcano, avoiding lava pools and fending off attacks from the Antaam, who are determined to stop them from reaching their leader’s chamber. Once they reach the boss area, players will discover that they won’t be fighting the leader of the rebel Qunari, but his pet dragon, Kalthezahn.
Strategy to Beat Kaltenzahn
Kaltenzahn is the final High Dragon players will face, and it’s similar to the Revenant Dragon in both power and attack patterns. The key differences are that Kaltenzahn is an Ice Dragon, making it vulnerable to Fire, and the arena for this fight is much smaller, leaving you with less space to dodge and maneuver.
To take it down, use Fire spells or Fire-imbued weapons (like the Lyrium Knife Runes) to target the dragon’s legs. Once it falls to the ground, quickly stab its belly to deal significant damage.
This fight should be easier than previous ones, as by the time you reach it, your character will likely be stronger than the dragon. Defeating Kaltenzahn will unlock the Bringing Down the Sky Trophy/Achievement. However, the journey isn’t over just yet. Players still have to face two Ruined Dragons during the Ice and Fire quest. And, if you decide to oppose Mythal instead of convincing her, you’ll need to take down her High Dragon form in Mythal’s Retribution.
6. Location of Seartooth Vyrantis
Seartooth Vyrantis is a fierce, fire-breathing High Dragon, known for its lava-filled scales that burst into flames. If players choose to defend Minrathous instead of Treviso, they will face off against Vyrantis. In the Fire and Ice quest, Vyrantis returns, this time teamed up with Corius the Icetalon for a two-dragon fight. Vyrantis uses powerful fire-based attacks, including explosive bursts of flame and molten scales that can melt through armor.
Strategy to Beat Seartooth Vyrantis
Seartooth Vyrantis has fire-breathing abilities and red-tinged scales on its dark body, this dragon looks every bit the predator. Neve will be a default teammate here, so using Cold attacks is the best strategy. However, you won’t actually kill Seartooth Vyrantis at first. Instead, you’ll scare it off, setting up a rematch later. This happens in the Fire and Ice quest, where you’ll face not one, but two dragons.
7. Location of Corius The Icetalon
If you choose to save Treviso instead, your first dragon fight will be against Corius the Icetalon, an ice dragon with a chilling presence. Lucanis will be your default teammate for this fight, so it’s a good idea to bring Davrin along (since Taash won’t be unlocked yet). As with most dragons, you’ll battle Corius until it flies off, setting up a real showdown later in Fire and Ice.
Strategy to Beat Corius The Icetalon
Corius the Icetalon has a light blue hue and can unleash ice bombs, making it a tough opponent. If this is your first dragon fight in The Veilguard, be prepared for a challenge. And when you face it again with the other dragon in Fire and Ice, it’ll hit even harder. Both dragons are Blighted, too, so you’ll notice grotesque growths along their necks.
8. Location of Mythal’s Retribution
After you’ve experienced all the memories of Fen’Harel, you’ll uncover a new truth about Mythal and be tasked with obtaining their Essence by battling them in dragon form. While you’ll see the message “High Dragon Has Been Defeated” after this fight, it’s not required for the Bringing Down The Sky Trophy/Achievement.
However, if you want to truly complete Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you might want to take on Mythal. Keep in mind that if you’re aiming for every Trophy, you’ll need to resolve this conflict peacefully, as fighting Mythal will prevent you from earning the Clear Minds and Open Hearts Trophy/Achievement.
Strategy to Beat Mythal’s Retribution
With that in mind, you’ll have to choose between unlocking every Trophy and experiencing one of the coolest dragon fights in the game. Mythal’s Retribution is like a much stronger version of The Formless One – while both are lightning dragons, Mythal’s version will leave electric bombs scattered across the field, making the fight even more challenging.
