The Hawke's Key

The Hawke's Key
Quests	Legacy
Appearances	Dragon Age II - Legacy

The Hawke's Key is a plot item and weapon equipped by Hawke in the quest Legacy in the Legacy DLC for Dragon Age II. Uniquely, the identity of the weapon will automatically vary depending on Hawke's class. The damage/dps of the weapon will vary by the level at which Hawke acquires it, but will not increase upon level-up. The bonuses from breaking the seals appear to by affected by level in the same way.

Background

The key is, and always will be, part of the cage that holds Corypheus. The prison's power is tied to that of the key; as the power of one waxes, the other wanes.

The key's origins are lost to time. All we know is that it is an ancient, powerful weapon. The Wardens of old uncovered a few of its secrets—just enough to draw upon its magic to create the seals that hold Corypheus.

Accounts indicate that the key attunes itself to whichever man or woman wields it in the rituals that reinforce Corypheus's chains. It is the nature of the magic, something in the blood. The key is currently attuned to one Malcolm Hawke, the last mage to hold it.

The key is an essential part of strengthening the seals, and also the only thing that can break Corypheus free.

—From Janeka's research notes

—From Codex entry: The Key

Acquisition

The key is acquired by defeating the Carta dwarf Rhatigan in the Carta Hideout (Legacy). The key is then automatically equipped as a weapon which varies depending on Hawke's class.

• For mage Hawke, the key is a magical staff. The staff inflicts electric damage.
• For rogue Hawke, the key is a dagger or an archer's bow, depending on talent choices.
• For warrior Hawke, the key is a 2-handed or 1-handed sword, depending on talent choices.

During the course of traveling through seals and fighting various Guardians (first one just teleports - the second teleports and spawns replicas of himself, the third and final Guardian spawns a large ring of replicas of himself) you will be prompted to make a choice of weapon enchantments for the above mentioned weapon. These stats may vary by weapon type and Hawke's level when the key is obtained.

The first seal - located in Corypheus's Prison - Sashamiri's Floor - gives:

• Electricity Damage: +X electricity damage
• Nature Damage: +X nature damage
• Fire Damage: +X fire damage
• Cold Damage: +X cold damage

The second seal gives:

• Armour Penetration: Attacks ignore enemy armor
• Mana/Stamina Drain: X% chance to regenerate Y% Mana/Stamina
• Health Drain: X% chance to regenerate Y% health
• Attack Speed: +X% attack speed

The third seal gives:

• Stun Chance: X% chance to stun
• Speed Reduction: X% chance to reduce enemy movement and attack speed
• Critical Chance: X% critical chance
• Critical Damage: X% critical damage

Gallery

Two-handed sword

Longsword

Bow

Staff

Dagger

ItemID

• Longsword: drk_im_wep_war_one_artifact
• Two-Handed sword: drk_im_wep_war_two_artifact
• Staff: drk_im_wep_mag_artifact
• Dagger: drk_im_wep_rog_dua_artifact
• Bow: drk_im_wep_rog_arc_artifact

Dragon Age II - Legacy DLC is needed in order to repicate weapons with this textures.

Bugs

• pc ps3 ps3 Cannot be placed into the personal stash at the Hawke Estate and remains stuck in inventory.

Exploit

pc ps3 ps3 It is possible to get all of the bonuses to the weapon if done properly you can arrange all party members around the pillars, pause the game, and then activate the pillar(by individually commanding each party member to press on the pillar before un-pausing). This allows you to obtain all of the bonuses. Much like the Asunder exploit in Dragon Age: Origins (Confirmed on pc)

You should save before each seal. It does not always work right, sometimes not at all - sometimes not all effects are added. You will know if it is working partially or completely by how many times the follow-up cut-scene plays. If it works right for all effects you will see the cut-scene for unlocking the seal 4 separate times. Recommended to save again after all 4 effects at each seal have been successfully added.