The Last Gambit is a main quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Acquisition[]
This quest is received automatically after completing The Dragon and The Dread Wolf.
Walkthrough[]
A desperate raid on Minrathous offers the only chance to stop both Elgar'nan and Solas.
This quest has two phases. The first phase involves preparation for battle and a battle cutscene, while the second phase, which is the quest proper, begins after the battle cutscene.
Assigning companions[]
Planning the battle
This part of the quest requires assigning companions to three specific tasks. The chances of success depend on the following factors:
- The suitability of the chosen companions and whether they have Hero of the Veilguard status.
- The allied strength of the relevant faction(s) involved in the task. During the companion assignment process, the game will indicate whether the strength of the involved faction(s) is "excellent," "moderate," or "weak."
- For purposes of this quest, only the star rating of the factions is relevant. The specific strength value does not have any impact beyond the number of stars that it gives.
- If two factions are involved, the average number of stars (rounded up) determines the overall allied support. Therefore, if one faction is at 1 star and the other faction is at two stars, the combined allied strength will be rated at "moderate."
- The allied strength of the Shadow Dragons does not play a role in any of the three tasks in this quest. However, it will affect whether Viper survives in a later cutscene in this quest.
- For the second and third tasks, whether the relevant companion quest affecting the appearance of a questline opponent has been completed. In general, the questline opponent is more difficult than the replacement opponent.
If all of the above conditions are optimal (i.e., all companions have Hero status, allied strength for the relevant task is excellent, and questline opponents are not present), each task has only one wrong choice. The two companions not selected to any task will accompany Rook during the gameplay phase of the quest.
Dealing with the magical wards[]
For this task, allied support is determined solely based on Veil Jumper strength. The game will display the following hint:
- Companions who have experience dealing with magical wards or protecting others in battle have a better chance to succeed, especially if they are a Hero of the Veilguard.
Bellara, Neve, Emmrich, and Davrin are the most suitable companions for this task. In general, any companion other than Lucanis can be suitable if the conditions are sufficiently favorable.
In the table below, for each level of allied support, "✔" indicates that the companion is suitable regardless of Hero of Veilguard Status, "✓Hero" indicates that the companion is suitable if Hero status has been obtained (but not suitable without Hero status), and "—" indicates that the companion is not suitable.
| Allied Support |
Companion | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellara | Davrin | Emmrich | Harding | Lucanis | Neve | Taash | |
| Weak | ✓Hero | ✓Hero | ✓Hero | — | — | ✓Hero | — |
| Moderate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✓Hero | — | ✔ | ✓Hero |
| Excellent | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
If a mage companion is selected, they will perform the role of unlocking the wards while Irelin and Strife defend against the Venatori. If a rogue or warrior companion is selected, they will perform the role of helping Strife defend while Irelin deactivates the wards. If the chosen companion is not suitable, Strife dies. Otherwise, Strife is injured but survives.
Dealing with the Venatori war mage or Aelia[]
The opponent is an unnamed Venatori war mage if The Returned Cultist Case was completed. Otherwise, if this quest was not completed, the opponent will be Aelia. Allied support is determined based the combined strength (average number of stars) of the Antivan Crows and the Lords of Fortune. For this task, the game will display the following hint:
- Companions who have experience fighting mages or attacking by surprise have a better chance to succeed, especially if they are a Hero of the Veilguard.
Lucanis is the most suitable companion for this task overall. Neve is as suitable as Lucanis as long as the opponent is not Aelia. In general, any companion other than Davrin can be suitable if the conditions are sufficiently favorable, as indicated in the table below.
| Opponent | Allied Support |
Companion | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellara | Davrin | Emmrich | Harding | Lucanis | Neve | Taash | ||
| War Mage | Weak | — | — | — | — | ✓Hero | ✓Hero | — |
| Moderate | — | — | — | ✓Hero | ✔ | ✔ | — | |
| Excellent | ✓Hero | — | ✓Hero | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✓Hero | |
| Aelia | Weak | — | — | — | — | ✓Hero | — | — |
| Moderate | — | — | — | — | ✔ | — | — | |
| Excellent | ✓Hero | — | ✓Hero | — | ✔ | — | ✓Hero | |
A chosen companion who is not suitable for the task will be killed by Aelia or the war mage. Regardless of whether the companion survives, the war mage or Aelia will be knocked down and then executed by Teia.
If Neve is selected to face Aelia, Aelia will have unique dialogue in the confrontation. However, as indicated above, Neve will not survive against Aelia. Neve cannot face Aelia with Hero of the Veilguard status, since attaining Hero status will preclude Aelia from appearing.
Dealing with the Juggernaut or Bone Golem[]
The opponent is a Juggernaut if The Sacrifice of Souls was completed. Otherwise, if this quest was not completed, the opponent will be Johanna Hezenkoss' Bone Golem. Allied support is determined based on the combined strength (average number of stars) of the Grey Wardens and the Mourn Watch. The game will display the following hint:
- Companions who have experience fighting massive enemies or constructs have a better chance to succeed, especially if they are a Hero of the Veilguard.
Taash is the most suitable companion for this task overall. Bellara, Davrin, and Harding are as suitable as Taash as long as the opponent is the Juggernaut (and not the Bone Golem). In general, any companion other than Lucanis can be suitable if the conditions are sufficiently favorable, as indicated in the table below.
| Opponent | Allied Support |
Companion | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellara | Davrin | Emmrich | Harding | Lucanis | Neve | Taash | ||
| Juggernaut | Weak | ✓Hero | ✓Hero | — | ✓Hero | — | — | ✓Hero |
| Moderate | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | — | — | ✔ | |
| Excellent | ✔ | ✔ | ✓Hero | ✔ | — | ✓Hero | ✔ | |
| Bone Golem | Weak | — | — | — | — | — | — | ✓Hero |
| Moderate | ✓Hero | ✓Hero | — | — | — | — | ✔ | |
| Excellent | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | — | ✓Hero | ✔ | |
If a warrior companion is selected, they will climb and damage the construct before Vorgoth deflects its weapon into a building. Harding, if selected, will do the same if the opponent is the Juggernaut. If a mage companion is selected, they will fire an initial magic bolt at the construct at the beginning and later deflect the construct's weapon after Evka climbs and damages the construct. A companion who is not suitable for the task will die from being crushed by debris.
Once the assignments have been finalized, the battle will play out based on the assignments made.
Find Solas[]
The open combat phase of this quest begins after Rook and the two party companions have breached the gate. If either Strife or the companion assigned to deal with the construct has died, the game will provide a notification. Proceed forward and defeat a required group of enemies guarding a blight boil. After the enemies are defeated, destroy the blight and proceed to see the resolution of the task of taking down the mage commanding the Venatori forces.
Following the cutscene, proceed up the wooden platforms and continue forward to trigger a cutscene. The Viper being attacked by a blight tendril. If the Shadow Dragons' faction strength is weak (i.e., 1 star), then he dies and Tarquin will mourn the loss. Solas is seen fighting the blight tendrils, assisting Tarquin and preventing a tendril from attacking Rook. Rook then confronts Solas, who apologizes for his actions. Solas tells Rook that they must work together to stop Elgar'nan. Solas pledges to Rook, "I will leave the Veil untroubled. It will never come down by my hands." Solas also states that there is an intelligence guiding the blight that is prevented him from reaching Elgar'nan.
Accompany Solas[]
Solas joins Rook's group and will fight alongside your party members. During this time, Solas will have banter dialogue with your party when your party is not engaged in combat.
Continue forward with Solas to discover that the intelligence that Solas spoke of is none other than the companion (either Neve or Bellara) who was previously taken by Elgar'nan to serve as a means for directing the blight. However, the archdemon Lusacan attacks. Solas tells Rook that he will defeat the archdemon; thus, the final blow against Elgar'nan must come from Rook. Solas gives Rook the lyrium dagger, before transforming into the Dread Wolf to fight the archdemon.
Free Bellara/Neve[]
Proceed down the ramp to encounter a blood forge, named Elgar'nan's Wrath, that is controlled by the blighted companion. This blood forge is resistant to electric damage, but vulnerable to necrotic damage. After defeating the blood forge, Rook frees the blighted companion, who surprisingly tells the party that they must not kill Elgar'nan yet. Before the conversation can continue, the group is interrupted by the ongoing battle between Solas and the archdemon. With the help of Morrigan, the party takes shelter at the Divine's Manor, where they rendezvous with the Inquisitor and their allies.
Rewards[]
- 10,000 XP
Results[]
After fighting through the streets of Minrathous, recovering the lyrium dagger from Solas, and finding a lost friend, the team has reached the Divine's manor, where friends and allies take a moment to recover before the final assault on the Archon's Palace begins.
Notable loot[]
- This quest has one map-marked chest at the Thalsian Court section, found below a bridge leading to upper-level areas. This chest's content is variable depending on the player's inventory; it will provide a weapon that is not currently at legendary rarity. If all weapons are already at legendary rarity, then no item will be given.
