A shrouded land of fire and danger awaits beyond the borders of Battahl-Agamen Volcanic Island, Dragon’s Dogma 2’s most perilous endgame zone, teeming with rare loot, powerful bosses, and secrets locked behind ancient doors. But did you know there’s more than one way to breach its volcanic defenses? Whether you’re seeking the thrill of the main quest or daring to forge your own path through monster-infested caverns, this guide will reveal every route to the island where legends-and vocations-are born.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 will, of course, send you back to where it all began eventually, but the most obvious route is blocked off when you first get to Battahl. You’ll want to reach the island, too – not just for the story, but so you can unlock the Magick Archer and Warfarervocations as well.
In this Dragon’s Dogma 2 guide, we’ll tell you how to reach Agamen Volcanic Island via two methods: the official way (opening the Flamebearer Palace Spellseal Door) or the back way (a route through Drabnir’s Grotto).
How to open the Flamebearer Palace Spellseal Door in Dragon’s Dogma 2
To open the Flamebearer Palace Spellseal Door in Dragon’s Dogma 2, you need to progress to a specific point in the main campaign, specifically the beginning of the quest “The Guardian Gigantus.” At this stage, a cutscene will trigger where a character opens the door for you. Afterward, you will receive a key item from Ambrosius that allows you to open the door permanently by simply examining it, granting access to the Volcanic Island region directly from Bakbattahl. Prior to this, the door cannot be opened, and players must take a more dangerous southern route through caves and cliffs to reach the island. Be prepared, as passing through the door will initiate a challenging story boss fight.
When you first arrive in Battahl, you’ll likely be on a quest called “Nation of the Lambent Flame,” which will send you to its capital, Bakbattahl. If you explore around, near the Flamebearer Palace, you’ll find a Spellseal Door blocking you from going further south into the Agamen Volcanic Island.
To open the Flamebearer Palace Spellseal Door you’ll need to play the main story through the “A New Godsway” mission (two quests after “Nation of the Lambent Flame”). You’ll then get “The Guardian Gigantus” as your next quest, which will send you to the door.
Follow the quest marker to the stone door, interact with it, and it’ll finally open for you. Just be warned: Opening the Spellseal Door will unleash a large boss, which you’ll need to chase down in the new area. Only open the door if you’re ready to do the next mission and proceed to Agamen Volcanic Island immediately.
How to get to Volcanic Island via the back way in Dragon’s Dogma 2
To reach Agamen Volcanic Island via the back way in Dragon’s Dogma 2, you need to travel through Drabnir’s Grotto, a challenging cave system located south of Bakbattahl. Instead of progressing the main story to unlock the Spellseal Door, head out of Bakbattahl and follow the southern canyon route, staying on the east side until you reach the entrance to Drabnir’s Grotto. Inside, navigate the maze-like tunnels filled with tough monsters and dead ends-bring a strong party, plenty of lamp oil, and provisions for the journey. Once you emerge from the far side of the grotto, you’ll find yourself just a short walk from the Volcanic Island Camp, effectively bypassing the main quest requirements and accessing the region early, though at significant risk due to the area’s high difficulty.
If you don’t want to burn through the main story to reach Agamen Volcanic Island – maybe because you’re just looking to get some vocations early – you’ll need to go through the back route: Drabnir’s Grotto, a large cave in southern Battahl.
To reach Drabnir’s Grotto, exit through the front gate of Bakbattahl and head south via the roads. (You can also take the pulley platform system from Bakbattahl to the junction and then take the southern one down the rest of the way.) Continue along the southern path until you find an armored cyclops guarding the cave entrance. Kill it, ignore the NPC who warns you to stay out of Drabnir’s Grotto, and head inside.
Drabnir’s Grotto is a pretty big cave with a lot of side tunnels. However, there is only one way through and the game maps out where you’ve been before, so you can’t really get lost. There are no big, scary bosses here. Just some hobgoblins, rattlers, slimes, and a cyclops. If you venture into any of the open-air cliffside areas, you might encounter a griffin as well.
As long as you’re around level 30 and you have healing supplies, this cave shouldn’t give you much trouble, coming in as slightly more of a gauntlet than the rest of Battahl.
Once you exit Drabnir’s Grotto, you’ll find yourself just a short walk from Agamen Volcanic Island and the route to the Volcanic Island Camp. Just be sure to drop a portcrystal somewhere on the island. Getting back here will be a massive pain – until you open the door.
Want to discover the secret back route to Agamen Volcanic Island in Dragon’s Dogma 2
To discover the secret back route to Agamen Volcanic Island in Dragon’s Dogma 2, you need to navigate through Drabnir’s Grotto-a challenging cave south of Bakbattahl. This path allows you to reach the island without progressing the main story or unlocking the Spellseal Door, but it is significantly more dangerous, with tougher enemies and no fast travel options until you place a Portcrystal yourself.
Here’s how to take the back route:
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Head south from Bakbattahl, staying on the main road and avoiding the forested areas.
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Cross the bridge into bandit-occupied ruins, clear them out, and continue south.
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Enter Drabnir’s Grotto and fight your way through the cave system.
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Exiting the grotto brings you to the land bridge that leads directly to Agamen Volcanic Island.
Prepare for a tough journey-bring plenty of healing items, lamp oil, and provisions for blight. This shortcut lets you reach the volcanic region much earlier than intended, but only if you’re ready for the challenge.
What hidden paths or shortcuts lead to Agamen Volcanic Island in Dragon’s Dogma 2
Hidden Paths and Shortcuts to Agamen Volcanic Island
Drabnir’s Grotto: The Secret Back Route
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The primary hidden shortcut to Agamen Volcanic Island is through Drabnir’s Grotto, a dangerous cave south of Bakbattahl.
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To take this route, head south from Bakbattahl, keeping to the east side of the canyon and avoiding the forest. Cross a bridge into ruins occupied by bandits, clear them out, and continue south to find Drabnir’s Grotto.
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Inside Drabnir’s Grotto, expect a maze-like layout with multiple dead ends and frequent monster ambushes-bring a strong party and plenty of supplies.
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Successfully navigating the grotto brings you out just a short walk from Agamen Volcanic Island and the Volcanic Island Camp.
Comparison with the Main Path
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The intended route is through the Spellseal Door at Flamebearer Palace, which requires significant main quest progress and the Godsbane item.
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The Drabnir’s Grotto shortcut allows you to reach the island much earlier, bypassing main quest requirements, but is considerably more dangerous and offers no fast travel options until you place your own Portcrystal.
Summary Table
| Path | Requirements | Danger Level | Fast Travel | Main Quest Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spellseal Door/Main | Story progression, Godsbane | Moderate | Yes | Yes |
| Drabnir’s Grotto | Exploration, combat | High | No (unless you place Portcrystal) | No |
Tip: Prepare thoroughly before attempting the back route-bring lamp oil, blight remedies, and a strong party, as the monsters inside Drabnir’s Grotto are tough and the journey is long.
