In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, several side quests take players on extended adventures, often culminating in intense boss battles. One notable quest involves a demon that feeds on the despair of the citizens in Minrathous, revealing its narrative through the "Desperate in Dock Town" side quest.
This quest is primarily about tracking down the Demon of Desperation and gearing up for a tough fight. The confrontation can be quite intense, as players find themselves in a confined space, grappling with the demon and its minions. This guide will help you find the Demon of Desperation and successfully complete the "Desperate in Dock Town" quest.
How to Begin the "Desperate in Dock Town" Side Quest
As soon as you wrap up the A Hidden Hoard side quest, you’ll automatically receive the Desperate in Dock Town quest. A Hidden Hoard concludes inside a room within the Catacombs, allowing you to start the new quest without delay.
Locating the Demon of Desperation
To find the Demon of Desperation, begin at the fast travel point either just outside the catacombs or in the same room where you completed the A Hidden Hoard quest using the heavy bronze key. This room is conveniently located behind the fast travel point, making it easy to reach the demon from either location.
Exit the room and turn left, going up the stairs and continuing along the path. When you encounter a closed door, by-pass it and keep going straight, climbing over the debris to your right.
Take another left to spot a lyrium crystal on your left, which has already summoned a bridge. However, don’t use this bridge. Instead, continue straight ahead—you’ll see a red exploding barrel on this path as you go.
Next, take a right and you’ll discover a previously sealed opening in the wall. As you enter, you’ll find bodies and blood strewn across the floor. If you’ve been through this place before, your companion Rook may even comment, “Nothing in our way now.”
Go through the gap in the wall to reach the Demon of Desperation, who has been plotting against the vulnerable people of Minrathous for a significant time. The Demon will speak briefly before summoning itself, along with three allies named Isolation, Despondence, and Remorse.
Strategy for Defeating the Demon of Desperation
The Demon of Desperation mainly relies on melee attacks, though it does have some ranged capabilities. When you are too close, it will use its claws to perform two or three-hit combos.
If you stay at a distance, the demon will summon a blade and unleash several ranged slashes at you. Additionally, it will cast a purple orb to create area-of-effect (AoE) attacks that cover nearly the entire arena, identifiable by the red circles marked on the ground.
While the Demon is a formidable opponent on its own, its minions intensify the challenge. These named enemies fire homing orbs that explode upon impact, causing cold damage.
At times during the fight, the Demon of Desperation will disappear, casting you into darkness. In this phase, you won’t be able to see your companions or use their abilities, while the surrounding enemies grow even more aggressive, launching a volley of cold-damage orbs at you.
To escape this darkness, it’s crucial to quickly eliminate all the named enemies. Once they are defeated, the Demon of Desperation will reappear, making the battle considerably simpler.
Fire damage works exceptionally well against both the Demon of Desperation and its minions, as it inflicts a burn effect that gradually saps health over time. Stacking burn effects significantly increases your damage output. If you’re going in with a fire weapon, remember to enchant it with a fire enchantment at the Caretaker.
Recommended Companions
Choose a companion capable of inflicting high armor damage and providing healing, like Lucanis. His Debilitate and Eviscerate abilities are particularly effective for damaging armor and staggering the minions in the arena. The Soothing Potion is also invaluable for keeping your health up during the fight.
To manage the named enemies, consider a companion with strong area-control abilities. For instance, Neve’s Blizzard ability can freeze foes, apply cold damage, and deliver continuous damage across a large area—perfect for dealing with multiple enemies concurrently.
Rewards for Completing the "Desperate in Dock Town" Quest
Upon defeating the Demon of Desperation, you’ll earn 250 Shadows Dragons Strength and can loot the arena for these rewards:
- Necropolis Defender Shield Rarity Increase
- Magister’s End – Unique Light Armor
Successfully completing this quest not only advances your story but also grants valuable items to enhance your capabilities in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
