Western Approach

The Western Approach is a large, arid expanse in southwestern Orlais.^[1] Farther west lie the Hunterhorn Mountains and uninhabited steppes and forests.

Background Edit

This area was the site of a major battle during the Second Blight. The darkspawn swarmed out of the great chasm to the south named the Abyssal Rift and corrupted the land beyond recovery. Now it is a stark and sad place with unstable purple sands, occasional rocky pillars and ridges jutting out of them and strong howling winds. At night the air grows still and the sky is alight with shimmering auroras, but this is also the time when the darkspawn come out of hiding.

The Orlesians put iron towers at least a hundred feet high to mark the path in the badlands: a traveler who reaches one of them is able to see the next. The towers are now old and rusted. Adamant Fortress, built by the dwarves and used as a Grey Warden outpost, stands on the lip of the chasm.^[2]

Involvement Edit

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

During the Here Lies the Abyss quest, the Inquisitor is following the tracks of the disappearing Grey Wardens. After meeting Hawke in Skyhold, and being introduced to their Grey Warden ally in Crestwood, the Inquisitor learns that the Wardens have been gathering in a Tevinter tower in The Western Approach.

Once in the area, the Inquisitor will have to face multiple dangers while hunting for the elusive Wardens. Local wildlife, White Claws raiders, and Venatori troops present a variety of threats amidst sandy dunes, rocky outcrops, and ancient Tevinter ruins.

When the Inquisitor catches up to the Grey Wardens, they are intent on performing a ritual that Warden Commander Clarel believes will eliminate the Darkspawn once and for all. However, the ritual, lead by Venatori Magister Livius Erimond, is intended to bind the Wardens in Corypheus' service.

Places Edit

Regions Edit

Note: The 25 regions below make up the Regions in the Approach collection. Discovering all of them grants 200 Influence.

Western-Approach-Map — Map of the Western Approach

Abyssal Ledge
Blight Overlook
The Canyons
Death Drink Springs
Dust Plains
Dustytop Fort
Echoback Canyon
Echoback Fort
Forgotten Mine
Gates of Andoral
Gates of Toth
Giant's Staircase
Griffon Wing Keep
Iska's Stand
Lost Spring Canyon
Lost Wash Creek
Nazaire's Pass
Old Prison Road
Prison Ruins
Sand Flats
Sand Rock Mine
Shimmer Stone Mine
The Still Ruins
Valemont Pass
The Wastes

Additional places Edit

Adamant Fortress

Coracavus

Inquisition camps Edit

See Holding the Western Approach.

Craggy Ridge Camp
Echo Back Canyon Camp
Lost Spring Canyon Camp
Nazaire's Pass Camp

Characters Edit

Quests Edit

Still Ruins Overview — Still Ruins overview

Main article: Quests (Inquisition)

Unlock the area by completing the Investigate the Western Approach War table operation.
The Abyssal High Dragon
Assault on Griffon Wing Keep
Draconology
Fortress Squatters
Frederic's Livelihood
The Heart of the Still Ruins
Holding the Western Approach
How to Lure a Dragon
Hunting Patterns
Into the Approach
A Manuscript of Some Authority
On the Chantry Trail
Sharper White Claws
A Stranger Rift in the Ruins
A Tevinter Relic Hunt
The Trouble with Darkspawn
The Venatori
This Water Tastes Funny

Rifts Edit

Main article: Fade rift

Rifts in the Canyons
Rifts in Echoback
Rifts in Sand and Dust
Rifts off the Pass

Requisitions Edit

Main article: Requisitions

Code Requisition in the Approach
Fauna Requisition in the Approach
Lazurite Survey in the Approach
Luster Survey in the Approach

War Table Operations Edit

Main article: War Table

Crossing the Sulphur Pits
Find the Source of Darkspawn
Translate the Dragon Text
Judgment: Recover Sold Artifacts
All That Glitters
Improving Morale
Deal with the Angry Varghests
Secure a Source of Water for Outpost
Investigate Ancient Laboratory

Collections Edit

Astrariums Edit

Astrariums in the Approach

Bottles Edit

Vintage: Warden Jairn - In "Dustytop Fort".
Vintage: Warden Eval'lal - In "Ritual Tower".
West Hill Brandy - On top of the tower above the Astrarium cave. Climb the southern half of the east rubble slope and then up the ladder.

High Dragons Edit

Abyssal High Dragon

Landmarks Edit

Landmarks in the Approach

Mosaics Edit

The Archdemon - 12/12 pieces
Freed Are Slaves - 2/12 pieces:

In Coracavus, behind a locked door in the "Records Room".
In the Still Ruins, behind a locked door, to the right of the first hall.

Shards Edit

Shards in the Approach

Skyhold Customizations Edit

Tevinter Banner - In a chest in a room on the left side of the Main Chamber in the Still Ruins.
Note: Requires Deft Hands, Fine Tools inquisition perk.

Creatures Edit

Enemies Edit

Abyssal High Dragon
Darkspawn
Giants
Hyenas
Phoenixes
Quillbacks
Spiders
- Giant spiders
- Poisonous spiders
Varghests
Venatori
- Venatori Mage (Mage)
- Venatori Spellbinder (Mage)
- Venatori Marksman (Archer)
- Venatori Stalker (Rogue - Double Daggers)
- Venatori Zealot (Warrior - One-Handed Weapon)
- Venatori Gladiator (Warrior - Weapon and Tower Shield)
- Venatori Brute (Warrior - Two-Handed Weapon)
White Claws
- White Claw Raiders (Archer)
- White Claw Raider Escorts (One-Handed Warrior)
- White Claw Raider Footpads (Double Dagger rogue)

Crafting materials Edit

Notable items Edit

Elven artifacts Edit

In the "Main Chamber" of the Still Ruins.
In the far western corner of the hidden Astrarium room.
In Griffon Wing Keep, near the main gate.

Logging stands Edit

North-east of "Lost Spring Canyon Camp"
East of "Craggy Ridge Camp", near "Valemont Pass" and "Lost Wash Creek". Walk up a little slope from the river.

Quarries Edit

"Shimmerstone Mine"
South-west of "Echoback Fort"
South-west of "Sand Rock Mine"

Veilfire glyphs Edit

Fire Rune Schematic - In the Astrarium cave (revealed by completing Astrariums in the Approach).

Frost Rune Schematic - In a small cave accessible from the center of "Echoback Fort".

Spirit Rune Schematic - In the Coracavus Holding Cells in the cell containing a hanged man.

Spirit Rune Schematic - In the Still Ruins in the Inner Sanctum (unlocked by the The Heart of the Still Ruins quest), on a plaque behind the magic staff.

Loot Edit

Aegis of the Order - Looted from within the same cave as The Thing in the Dark landmark.

Cowl of the Overseer - Looted from Macrinus during Assault on Griffon Wing Keep quest.

Griffon Plate - Acquired in the cave revealed from Astrariums in the Approach quest.

Kitty's Collar - Looted from Macrinus during Assault on Griffon Wing Keep quest.

Master Cleansing Rune Schematic - Looted from Lucanus in the Still Ruins.

Master Corrupting Rune Schematic - Looted from a chest in the Echoback Fort in the area after the Coracavus dungeon.

Masterwork Enchanter Mail - Acquired in the cave revealed from unlocking Astrariums in the Approach.

Nameless Blade - Looted from the Abyssal High Dragon.

Pyre of the Forgotten - Randomly sold by the Griffon Wing Keep Merchant for 21433

.

Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk

Sad Splinters - Looted after destroying the keep gate during Assault on Griffon Wing Keep quest.

Superb Amulet of Magic - Randomly sold by the Griffon Wing Keep Merchant in the Western Approach for 14495

.

Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk

Superb Belt of Magic Defense - Randomly sold by the Griffon Wing Keep Merchant in the Western Approach for 14495

.

Note: Requires The Short List Inquisition perk

Superb Ring of Armor Penetration - Looted from the Abyssal High Dragon.

Superb Ring of Critical Damage - Looted within a chest in the Coracavus Records Room behind a locked door.

Tempest - Looted in the final room of the Still Ruins.

Codex entries Edit

Codex entry: Adamant Fortress
Codex entry: Constellation: Fenrir
Codex entry: Constellation: Satinalis
Codex entry: Constellation: Toth
Codex entry: Coracavus
Codex entry: The Creation of a Phylactery
Codex entry: The Gate Guardians
Codex entry: Magister Erimond
Codex entry: A Missing Slave
Codex entry: Old Chantry Trail Signs
Codex entry: Our Lady of the Anderfels
Codex entry: Professor Frederic of Serault
Codex entry: Responsible Blood Magic
Codex entry: Ritual Tower
Codex entry: The Secret Tongue of Slaves
Codex entry: The Still Ruins
Codex entry: Surviving the Western Approach
Codex entry: The Western Approach

Note texts Edit

Ancient List of Prisoners
Ancient Tevinter
Ancient Warden Logbook
Barely Readable Unsent Letter
A Blood-Spattered Note
Chantry Logbook
A Crumpled Note
Elegantly Penned Note
Elegantly Written Letter
Elegantly Written Note (about research team)
Elegantly Written Note (about Wardens)
Faded Interrogation Notes
Faded Journal
Griffon Wing Keep (from Servis)
Griffon Wing Keep (to Servis)
Intercepted Venatori Message
Journal on Certain Experiments
A Letter Found on a Grey Warden Mage
Manifest
Memorial
Note from a Templar
Note of Slight Jealousy
A Preserved Note
Rebel Mage's Note
Research Notes
A Scrawled Note
Scrawled Raider Note
Stern Note of Warning
Venatori Orders (to Cassius)
Venatori Orders (to Lucanus)
Venatori Plans
Written Note

Notes Edit

There are two gates in the Approach: "The Gate of Toth" and "The Gate of Andoral" each one can be opened only from the northern side which requires completion of the Find the Source of Darkspawn War Table operation.
There is a sizeable stash of money next to a skeleton right above the Echo Back Canyon Camp. In order to reach it you need to jump on the broken floor (as it can be seen on the left side of the picture) with a mount.