Unlocking the secrets of the Warden Vault in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is no simple feat-hidden deep within the ruins of a Grey Warden fortress on the Rivain Coast, this vault guards powerful treasures behind three intricate puzzles. To claim its riches, you’ll need to enlist the fiery aid of Taash, solve cleverly disguised lock mechanisms, and navigate through shadowed corridors filled with ancient traps and restless spirits. Ready your wits and weapons; the path to the Warden Vault is a challenging journey worth every step.
Our Dragon Age: The Veilguard “The Warden Vault” guide will help you solve all the three lock puzzles and show you how to open the Warden Vault.
How to start ’The Warden Vault’ in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
To start “The Warden Vault” quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, head to the Warden Castle located in the Rivain Coast region. The quest begins when you find a locked door inside the castle’s main hall, which triggers the quest. To progress, go back to the entrance of the fort and locate a stairwell on the west side of the room. Descend and find a room with three unlit braziers behind some barrels. Light the braziers in the order: right, left, then middle. This will open access to a lever on a balcony area, which you can pull to open a gate. Inside, open a chest and pull another lever under a shield to officially start the Warden Vault quest and begin solving the vault’s puzzles.
It’s a bit of a hike to reach the castle where you’ll find “The Warden Vault” side quest. When you reach the front gate (portcullis) and the fast travel beacon there, you’re in the right place.
Facing the portcullis, head to the right (west) and through two small doors.
On your left, use Taash’s ability to explode the explodable pot against the wall. Head through the new opening, Keep going south and up the stairs. At the top, turn left and climb the ledges as you turn back to the north. Take that walkway to the end and go through the door on your right.
Inside, throw the lever on your left to open the portcullis and drop the ladder on your right. Drop down to the floor below and deal with the trio of Antaam that attack you.
In the main room, look for a set of stairs leading down along the right (west) side. Take them down, and then use Taash’s ability to burn through the blistering drakestone crystals blocking your way. Down the stairs and to the left, you’ll find the start of the “The Warden Vault” quest, the sealed door, and a note with your clue.
The only part that really matters in the note is the paragraph, “The seals are the key. Find the matching ones and the door should open. They’re hidden around the castle.” That, however, makes it sound a lot simpler than it is.
Warden Vault lock #1 solution: Correct lever order
To solve Warden Vault lock #1 in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you need to find three levers on a wall inside a hallway after destroying a blocking wagon and clearing crates and barrels. The puzzle involves lighting three torches by pulling the levers in the correct order: first the left lever, then the right lever, and finally the center lever. This sequence lights all three torches and allows you to progress further. Afterward, head to the front gate, climb the ladder, and pull the lever to open the gate leading to the first lock. Inside, activate the Grey Warden seal to unlock the first vault lock.
Head back upstairs and take the ladder you dropped back up to the second floor. Go outside, and drop down into the courtyard below you. Directly behind you, there’s a hallway blocked by a wagon. Destroy the wagon and take the hall to the end.
Clear out all the crates and barrels, and you’ll find three levers on the wall. The left and right switches light the two torches on the left and right respectively, and the center lever lights only the center torch.
In order, throw:
- Left lever
- Right lever
- Center lever.
Head back out and take two rights to work your way back to the (now opened) portcullis. Head through and take the ladder up. This time, you’ll see the three mini-seals over the switch there are lit. Throw the switch and head inside.
Open the chest on the left and then throw the lever on the right that’s under the full-sized seal.
Warden Vault lock #2 solution: All ghost locations
To solve the Warden Vault lock #2 in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you need to follow a ghostly spirit through several skeleton locations within the castle. Start by investigating a skeleton surrounded by green butterflies in a small courtyard, which will release a ghost that floats through a nearby wall. Next, follow the spirit to a second skeleton located up the stairs under a stone archway, then to a third skeleton found near the castle entrance gate. Finally, return to the main hall’s back-right corner where the ghost will reveal a secret doorway. Enter this room to find and activate the second lock, progressing further into the vault.
Back downstairs, head to the south by where you fought the Antaam earlier. Head through the door to the west and follow the hall to the left. When you come outside, look to your right to find a stabbed skeleton being circled by some glowing butterflies:
Investigate it to start this puzzle. You’ll have to follow the ghost through three more locations around the castle in order. Check out our map above for the exact locations of each ghost and the order you’ll need to visit them, or read on for more details.
For the next ghost location, head back into the main hall and go back through the portcullis. Take a left and retrace your steps to how you entered a minute ago. This time, at the top of the stairs, take a right and duck behind the wall there to find the second ghost location. You’re looking for the glowing green spot in the image below:
Turn around and retrace your steps back toward the front gate (we’re tired of saying portcullis). On your way, you’ll pass by the third location. You’re looking for the glowing green spot in the image below:
The final ghost location is inside. At the south end of the hall where you fought the Antaam earlier, you’ll find the ghost near the right (west) wall. You know the drill. Spot, glowing, green.
After you find the ghost at its final location, a secret door will open. Head inside the room and throw the lever.
Warden Vault lock #3 solution: Where to bring the wisp
To solve the third Warden Vault lock in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you need to bring a wisp to a skeleton inside the castle. First, head to the Castle Bailey courtyard and look to your right for a ruined building with an explosive Gaatlok Barrel on top. Use Taash or the Lyrium Dagger to blow up the barrel, which will drop a ladder. Climb up and collect the wisp waiting there. Quickly return with the wisp through the castle, passing through a room with training dummies and a path blocked by Blistering Drakestone that you can melt. Lead the wisp to the skeleton through a hole in the wall; the wisp will animate the skeleton, which then pulls a lever to open the door and activate the third seal needed to unlock the vault.
Head back to where you first started following the ghost. Just a little farther south, you’ll find another hallway. Take that, and continue south.
Eventually, you’ll come to an open area full of Antaam. Clear them out, and then head back to stand behind the statue overlooking the courtyard.
Look up and to the right to find an explodable pot. Hit it with Taash’s ability, and you’ll knock down a ladder. Before you head up, look to the right (north) to find the hall where you entered.
Go inside and take an immediate left. At the back of the next room, you’ll find some more blistering drakestone. Melt it, and follow the hallway inside to the end. Rook will comment that you need to find a wisp. Let’s go do that.
Head back to the clearing and climb the ladder you knocked down. At the top, you’ll find a wisp waiting for you. Collect it, and hurry back to the waiting skeleton and lever.
Warden Vault rewards
The Warden Vault rewards in Dragon Age: The Veilguard are substantial and well worth the effort of solving the vault’s intricate puzzles. Upon opening the vault, players receive 500 XP, which helps level up their character, along with a significant boost in faction strength: +50 Grey Warden Strength and +100 Lords of Fortune Strength. Additionally, the vault grants a follower bond increase and +50 Caretaker Power. Players also obtain rare crafting materials such as Etheric Remnants and Vhenadahl’s Tears, as well as 399 gold pieces. Unique gear includes the Crookytail’s Rest ring and Trussed Finery armor for Taash, plus Weisshaupt’s Wall armor for Rook, making the vault a treasure trove of valuable and exclusive items that enhance gameplay and character progression.
Head all the way back to where you started the quest. This time, you can just open the door and claim the three treasure chests inside, plus a memento, which increases Caretaker’s level. You’ll also get 500 XP for completing the “Warden Vault” quest.
What secret puzzles do I need to solve to unlock the Warden Vault
To unlock the Warden Vault in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you need to solve three secret puzzles involving distinct tasks:
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Torch Lighting Puzzle: Find three torches attached to Grey Warden crests hidden behind smashed wooden crates in a newly revealed courtyard. Light them in the correct order-left, middle, then right-to activate the first lock. Then pull the lever on the balcony to open the first vault door.
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Spirit Escort Puzzle: Locate a ghostly spirit by investigating a skeleton with green butterflies in a small courtyard. Follow this spirit as it moves through several skeletons scattered around the castle. Each skeleton interaction causes the spirit to move to the next location. Eventually, the spirit reveals a hidden door with a lever that opens the second lock.
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Wisp Escort Puzzle: Climb a ladder to collect a wisp and quickly escort it through the castle to a specific location. The wisp will open a door leading to the third lock. This involves navigating quickly before the wisp disappears.
Completing all three puzzles activates the Grey Warden seals and opens the Warden Vault beneath the main hall of the castle.
What are the specific order and actions to light the shields in the first lock
To unlock the first Warden Vault lock in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you need to light the three shields in the specific order of left, middle, then right by interacting with them. After lighting all three shields in this sequence, head back upstairs and pull the lever next to the now-lit shields to raise the gate and gain access to the room containing the chest and the lever that opens the first lock.
