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Last Updated on January 13, 2025

Director Fede Álvarez’s contribution to the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus (you can read our review Here), had only been in theatres for a matter of hours before it stirred up a SPOILERy controversy on social media. That’s because one of the film’s cast members has been dead for several years, so Álvarez and his collaborators decided to resurrect them with CGI… and the CGI wasn’t exactly convincing. Alien: Romulus has since made its way to home video – and if you have watched it in the comfort of your own home, you may have noticed that an attempt was made to fix that unconvincing CGI.

Of course, what we’re talking about here is the fact that the android character Rook was given the face of the late, great Ian Holm (with his estate’s permission), who played the android Ash in the original Alien.

Towards the end of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Rook will have to make several pivotal choices revolving around their companions and their roles in the final quests. After their choices in "The Last Gambit" and other late-game quests determine the fates of their allied factions, traveling companions, and romance options, they'll have to make one last delegation.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for "The Dread Wolf Rises" and the ending of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.]

After watching Rook's other friends kidnapped or brutally killed in the preceding missions, though, it's easy to see why a player might be apprehensive about this decision. They may want to approach it with tact and careful consideration, knowing that the results of the wrong choice could be disastrous. Here's how the ultimate choice in "The Dread Wolf Rises" will play out.

Which Companions Will Volunteer To Stay Behind? How Earlier Choices Affect "The Dread Wolf Rises"

As Rook forges onward to the Archon's Palace, where their final confrontation with Elgar'nan will take place,...

Each of the seven companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard has a unique set of skills that can be mixed and matched to create powerful combinations in combat. Companion skills are divided into five trees available in the Companion menu. Like Rook, each companion can only have three skills active at any given time, plus various passives and upgrades to enhance those abilities. And, like Rook, companions can be respecced in Dragon Age: The Veilguard at any time for free.

In addition to selecting a companion's skills in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, players can also find and select equipment for all companions during exploration. Generally, the best equipment for each companion will come from that companion's associated Faction once those Faction Merchants receive upgrades and loot from completing that companion's questline. However, they can be found anywhere during exploration. Here are the best builds for every companion in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Following BioWare's signature method of storytelling, Dragon Age: The Veilguard often presents players with important choices that can have major effects on the story later down the line. As players get closer to the end of the game, the consequences of these decisions can lead to drastically different outcomes. The decisions can have a major impact on companion approval, quest rewards, and, in some cases, even decide the overall fates of certain characters, so knowing in advance what the consequences are can help players tailor their playthrough to their liking.

One such decision in Veilguard is presented as part of a late-game main quest, "The Siege of Weisshaupt", where Rook has to decide how to deal with the First Warden of the Grey Wardens. Throughout the rest of the game up until this point, the First Warden has been consistently antagonistic towards Rook, leading up to the confrontation in this quest,...

The champion in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a warrior specialization focused on boosting defenses and focusing offensive power through counterattacks. It's been around since the first Dragon Age game and has been popular among players. This is because it's not too focused on anywhere specifically and creates an incredibly strong tank. Veilguard has added a lot of interesting and unique specializations that go pretty far, but the champion is still the best at creating a reliable tank build. Every other Warrior specialization has switched out or come and gone, but the champion remains.

The champion uses their shield a lot, but they've become more offensive. Like other specializations, this build in in Dragon Age: The Veilguard does not limit players to one playstyle but gives them a better way to fight. With the addition of fire-based attacks, champions have become pretty overpowered, but only when you use them effectively.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is rife with tough decisions that can affect entire playthroughs, just like some of the other BioWare RPGs. The fragile relationship system and the emphasis on individual choices helping or breaking the world around Rook give many players a cause for pause. The consequences of the player's actions have previously been more involved in the Dragon Age franchise, as in previous games, their decisions in some cases carried over to the following game and affected the overarching story from the beginning of the playthrough.

There are many choices in Dragon Age: The Veilguard that encourage players to not only make decisions regarding romance or other companion interactions but also for the salvation of cities and other people. The biggest draw to Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the attention to detail that these choices require, as sometimes a simple yes or no can destroy a budding relationship or an entire metropolis.

There are puzzles across Thedas in Dragon Age: The Veilguard and some of them protect more interesting secrets than others. While many renditions of the three-statues-that-rotate puzzle are in the game, the one in the Sheltered Glade is tricky. This puzzle is located in a small area of the Hossberg Wetlands and will take someone with an eye for detail to spot and solve.

Very early on in Veilguard, players are introduced to statues that rotate 90 degrees when players interact with them. This, along with elven power crystals, becomes a game-long mechanic that hides relatively low-stakes treasure for players. If you're anything like me, solving any puzzle is satisfying, no matter the difficulty, with the treasure being rewarded secondary to the feeling of completing a challenge of wits. The statue puzzle in the Hossberg Wetlands is one such puzzle, with the reward it hides being only part of the reason for figuring it out.

Like all good RPGs, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has a plethora of quests to keep Rook and the team busy in between intense story moments, as well as some sneakily hidden unmarked quests. However, while quests within the main storyline are clearly marked for importance, there is one side quest that really should have been included. In fact, skipping this one quest can mean missing out on perhaps the best ending for the game and the fate of Thedas.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for the ending of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.]

Thankfully, the latest installment in the franchise doesnt repeat Dragon Age: Inquisitions mistake of fetch and filler quests, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard has great side quests to keep an eye out for. The Veilguard's quest Journal also helpfully divides quests into set categories to make it much easier to keep track of the many quests Rook will be sent on. Categories include Story for the main quests, Companions for companion personal quests,...

Like many modern RPGs, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has several ways players can farm more of the game's currency, in this case, gold. It can be easy to forget among the game's many other features, like choice-based events, sword-slashing plus magic-slinging gameplay, and bonding with your companions. However, you'll quickly realize how important gold is when you have enough to spend on important necessities.

While you can get Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Mass Effect armor sets for free, those are only cosmetic. If you want to afford extra weapons and armor that can bolster Rook's stats and make them more capable in combat, you'll need extra gold to bolster your loadout and other parts of your inventory. Luckily, farming gold isn't hard to do at all.

How To Farm Gold In Dragon Age: The Veilguard Smash Whatever You Can

To start farming gold in Dragon Age: The Veilguard as early as you can,...

Although many characters in Dragon Age: The Veilguard return from previous entries in the series, some changes have made them feel like a downgrade compared to when you last met them. While not the case for everyone you meet throughout your adventure, some returning faces that seem quite different from what you'd expect. Some decisions in how characters are written have left some feeling a bit lackluster.

One of the most glaring examples of a character's personality being strangely changed is Harding, who has undergone a shift to her personality following Dragon Age: Inquisition. The writing behind the characters, especially the companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, can be extremely hit or miss in some cases. While one character may be compelling, another may be confusing at best.

Harding Felt Like A Different Character In Inquisition Past Events Are Rarely Mentioned

The events of Dragon Age: The Veilguard take place...

During the late-game Dragon Age: The Veilguard mission "The Last Gambit," Rook must assign several of their allies to aid various factions in the execution of their final plan. Although not technically the last quest in The Veilguard, "The Last Gambit" comprises the penultimate battle against Elgar'nan, as the game's plot approaches its most climactic point. The decisions made from here on out will affect the fates of Rook, Solas, their companions, and the rest of the world, so it's important to understand what's involved and how the decision-making process works during "The Last Gambit."

[Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Dragon Age: The Veilguard.]

"The Last Gambit" is effectively divided into four different tasks, although the player will only participate in one directly. They must delegate the rest to their various companions, each of whom can only help in one particular effort: removing the wards, fighting the war mage, and defeating the Juggernaut. While there's no single right or wrong decision for each option,...

Quick Links What Is The Crossroads in Dragon Age: The Veilguard? A Magical Meeting Place & Transit Hub Into The Crossroads Quest Walkthrough Follow the Caretaker Through The Eluvian Defeat The Champion, Claim Its Essence Unlock The Barrier And Complete The Quest

One of the first locations players will explore in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the magical realm known as the Crossroads. Since different sections of the Crossroads will open up for players to explore as the story progresses, Rook and company will spend plenty of time exploring this area throughout the entire game. Beyond using it to traverse Thedas, you will also be able to hunt down sources of corruption for unique rewards and even relive moments from Solas's past during his rebellion against the Evanuris.

To reach the Crossroads, players will need to complete the game's opening quests until they reach the Lighthouse. After developing a game plan with your companions,...

Dragon Age: The Veilguard follows in the footsteps of all Dragon Age games before it and allows its protagonist Rook to find love among their companions. However, Rook isn't the only person available in Thedas, and just like Dragon Age: Inquisition, The Veilguard's companions can look to other characters for romance. While not all companions will pair off with someone else, others have some surprising choices for new partners.

Non-romanced companions finding love or simply having some fun together isn't something new for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. One example can be seen with Fenris and Isabela, who will enter into a casual arrangement in Dragon Age 2's Act 3 if neither has been romanced by Hawke. However, this idea was expanded on for Dragon Age: Inquisition with companions pairing off with each other and NPCs such as Sera and Dagna or Blackwall and Josephine.

Companions Can Find Love Without Rook Veilguard...

Quick Links How To Romance Neve Gallus In Dragon Age: The Veilguard Make Neve Your Romantic Companion

Neve Gallus is a shadowy figure operating within the bustling metropolis of Minrathous in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. As an investigator with ties to the secret Shadow Dragons, she is part of the city's underbelly. However, she works to protect its vulnerable citizens from the various threats that lurk in the darkness, so she's more of an antihero. Neve has a very sharp wit and a playful but cautious demeanor, and she prefers to observe from the sidelines rather than be the center of attention.

Though she initially maintains a certain distance, her guarded exterior gradually softens as she forms connections with Rook, so you'll know how close you're getting over time. If you want to romance her, you will need to make the right decisions because doing the wrong things can lock...

Quick Links How To Romance Bellara Lutare In Dragon Age: The Veilguard Begin Her Romance By Completing Her Companion Quest Pick Up Some Gifts, Choose The Right Dialogue, And Don't Forget To Flirt Bellara's Romance Dialogue Choices

Bellara Lutare is by your side for almost all of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but it will take more than just bringing her on missions with you to win her heart. If you want to romance this bubbly elf and learn what lies beneath her exuberant exterior, you must work. Romance in Veilguard is pretty simple, so follow along to learn exactly which choices to make to snag yourself an elf.

Bellara is a Veil Jumper who's been tasked with cataloging and studying ancient elven artifacts found around Thedas. When you first meet her, she's studying ruins in Arlathan Forest, and she immediately comes off as high-energy but very intelligent. Bellara's position as...

After a rocky decade-long development, Dragon Age: The Veilguard was finally released to the excitement of many fans. While Veilguard has been received with mostly positive reviews and sales, the newest entry in the Dragon Age franchise is far from being without flaws. A common and valid criticism is the limitations on roleplaying freedom in Veilguard, with the player character, Rook, missing elements that made past BioWare protagonists so memorable.

This isn't the first time BioWare has faced criticism over a lackluster protagonist, with fans having a similar reaction to Dragon Age: Inquisition. While both protagonists share similar traits, the Inquisitor still provides players with more freedom in how to tackle decision-making and roleplay mechanics. While many players are still enjoying Veilguard's world and its colorful cast of companions, the protagonist, Rook, is not likely to be missed by fans looking back at Veilguard's storyline.

Roleplaying Rook Isn't As Fun...

Quick Links Where To Find The Blighted Gates Approach all Gates to Unlock Their Quests How To Unlock The Blighted Gates Slay High-Level Champions Why You Should Unlock Blighted Gates Complete Two Crossroads Side Quests for Powerful Boons

Rook and their companions can enter and restore the Crossroads in the Fade in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but only once they can gain access by clearing Blight away from multiple gates. Fairly early in the story of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Rook will pass through the Eluvian to the Crossroads and meet the Caretaker, who asks them for help restoring the location. In several places around the Crossroads, there are gates blocked by vines and a round seal.

When Rook approaches these gates, the Caretaker will materialize to grant them an associated side quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. These Blighted Gate quests task Rook and their team to track down...

Once the player's options for exploration open up in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, they must choose which of two pivotal story locations to visit first: Dock Town or Treviso. The player chooses one or the other by traveling through the corresponding eluvian portal in the Crossroads. Each houses the headquarters of an important Dragon Age faction that Rook wishes to partner with: Dock Town is the harbor district of Minrathous, home to the Shadow Dragons resistance, and Treviso is a high-rising city of zip lines and gondolas, home to the Antivan Crows, a guild of thieves and assassins.

Although players will inevitably visit both Treviso and Dock Town during their travels, the choice of which to visit first does make a difference. Each region includes an entirely different quest, entirely different enemies, and entirely different opportunities for advancement, so it's important to understand what the decision means, and prioritize what's...

Ewan Mitchell has broken out in the past few years thanks to role in movies like Saltburn and shows like House of the Dragon, where he plays the one-eyed dragon-riding revenge machine Aemond Targaryen. “He almost floats into scenes," Mitchell told GQ about the character. "He’s almost an idea rather than a person,” says Mitchell. “The way he looks, he screams ‘villain.’”

That he does. Mitchell went even further, comparing Aemond to famous movie monster Michael Myers, who's been hacking and slashing his way across the big screen since the 1970s. “No matter how much Jamie Lee Curtis’ [character] tries to wind through the trees to escape Michael Myers, [he always] catches up with her. The idea that this guy is your maker, and you will meet him eventually.”

And yet, it's possible to see where Aemond is coming from, at least some of the time. In the first season, we saw...

Dragon Age: The Veilguard has four playable races for the players to choose from - Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Qunari. Each of these lineages are involved in the lore of the Dragon Age series, and the first three have been present as playable races throughout the franchise. Upon starting a playthrough, the first decision players will face is the choice of a lineage to assign to the protagonist, Rook. However, with most of the bonuses depending on Rook's faction, this choice may prove difficult to make, given that the effects of their lineage are not immediately laid out for the player.

Though most choices after character customization can be changed, such as name and appearance, this does not apply to the things that are core to their character. For example, players can respec Rook, but cannot change their class overall. Once selected, the player cannot change Rook's lineage, meaning whatever...