Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Defeating the Fall of the Protector

There are many optional bosses in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but the encounters you’ll face in the "Heart of Corruption" quest, particularly the Fall of the Protector, are definitely worth pursuing. The Fall of the Protector appears during the "Gate of Pale Reflections" section, part of the Crossroads area, and it’s essential to gear up for this challenge. You’ll need to complete a few tasks to access this boss, but be ready for a tough battle when you arrive.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is packed with intriguing blighted gates, formidable foes, and exciting rewards, and engaging with challenging side quests is almost always a good idea. The encounter with the Fall of the Protector is a prime example; locating this boss requires some effort, but the chance to defeat it and claim the rewards is well worth it.

How to Locate the Fall of the Protector Boss

Unlock the Gate of Pale Reflections

Before you can challenge the Fall of the Protector, a few prerequisites must be fulfilled. Start by picking up the "Heart of Corruption" quest in the Crossroads. You can initiate this by approaching the Blight gate adorned with three locks next to the Eluvian that connects the Lighthouse to the Crossroads. After that, make your way to the Hossberg Wetlands.

In the Wetlands, look for a large, cyst-like Blight pod surrounded by Darkspawn. Clear out these Darkspawn first, then pop open the pod to confront Amarell the Unknown. This boss is a level 25 Blighted Orc that hits hard, so be prepared for a tough fight. As a Darkspawn, he’s particularly vulnerable to Fire attacks, so use this to your advantage while dodging his moves and utilizing your companions’ abilities to bring him down. Once defeated, he will drop a Champion Essence.

Note: Since this boss fight is part of a quest, you can track it in your journal, which will add a helpful marker to your map.

Next, you’ll need to use the obtained Essence to open the Gate of Pale Reflections in the Heights of Athim. If you have the right Essence, you’ll find another blight-blocked gate waiting to be unlocked. Once you open this gate, you’ll be able to face the Fall of the Protector.

Strategies to Defeat the Fall of the Protector

Beware of the Magic Attacks

Unlike the other two Revenant bosses in the "Heart of Corruption" questline, the Fall of the Protector does not rely on melee attacks. Instead, you’ll need to employ different tactics here as he uses magic to deal damage, which can be challenging to dodge.

Before facing the Fall itself, you’ll have to defeat an Undead Horde that rises from the ground within the arena. This Horde has a collective health bar, but each individual enemy features its own health bar, too. Use appropriate attacks against shielded enemies to efficiently dispatch the Horde. Once the Horde is defeated, the Fall of the Protector will awaken.

The Fall is a level 42 boss who will require your utmost attention during the fight. Cold is its weakness, while Fire attacks are less effective, so consider bringing along Neve for support. You may also want to adjust Rook’s skills for this battle if necessary. The Fall primarily attacks with ice magic, so be prepared to dodge incoming spells. Here’s a rundown of notable attacks to look out for:

When the Fall’s health reaches around 60%, it will activate a shield and draw power from a Fade tear, healing itself in the process. You must use RT to chip away at the shield as quickly as possible to prevent this healing from occurring. The shield will shatter once the blue bar depletes, allowing you to deal damage again.

Pro Tip: Don’t overlook utilizing your Rune skills during battle; they can provide crucial buffs.

After breaking the shield, the Fall will summon a few non-boss adds. These enemies will also have shields, making them tricky but manageable. Use your area-of-effect skills to handle them or avoid engaging, focusing instead on the Fall itself.

When the Fall drops to about 45% health, it will isolate you from your teammates. During this phase, your companions can’t assist, so you’ll need to evade its attacks while keeping your damage output high. A fog will envelop the area, requiring you to stay nearby to avoid losing track of the Fall’s movements.

As you deal damage, you’ll gradually weaken the Fall of the Protector until victory is yours. Upon its defeat, you’ll receive the following rewards:

The Unique Chests you receive will vary by class, but they typically contain powerful items worth pursuing. Completing the "Heart of Corruption" quest is a crucial step towards unlocking the secret ending of Veilguard, ensuring that your effort pays off as you defend the Crossroads against the Blight.

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