You’ve finally made it to the Lighthouse in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Maybe you’re thinking, “Great! A cozy little hub where I can catch my breath between quests.” But Dragon Age, as usual, has other plans. Smack in the middle of this floating, misty hub sits a puzzle that’s impossible to ignore—like that friend who insists on telling you a story when you’re trying to leave the party. Only this time, you’re rewarded with an achievement, a solid discount, and some other goodies if you take the time to solve it.
Getting Started: Statues, Statues Everywhere
Here’s the lowdown: early in the game, the Lighthouse opens up with the “Shadows of Ancient Arlathan” quest. Varric and Solas? Yeah, they had it out in the prologue, but now it’s your turn. You’ll notice six statues scattered around the Lighthouse, each begging to be turned (they really can’t take a hint). But as much as you might want to get it over with and turn those statues right away, hold your horses—this is a slow-burn puzzle. You can get started early, but you won’t finish until much later, around Chapter 8.
The first part of this head-scratcher is straightforward enough: make the statues face each other. Like two frenemies forced to make eye contact, each statue needs a buddy directly across. Here’s where they’re hiding:
- Statue Set #1: Up in the gazebo. Take the winding stairs to the second floor and turn these two so they’re facing each other. They’ve got nowhere else to look, right?
- Statue Set #2: Wander over to the left side of the hub where two floating structures stand guard. Behind each one, you’ll find a pair. Get them to line up and face off like two boxers in a ring.
- Statue Set #3: Head to the right side of the hub for this last set. One’s up the stairs, near the first set, and the other’s on the right side of the back building.
Once you’ve got all the statues looking like they’re in a medieval staring contest, you’ll have completed the first half of the puzzle. But wait—there’s more!
The Wisp Hunt: Only for the Patient
At this point, you’re probably feeling pretty proud of yourself. But the Lighthouse has another trick up its sleeve. Around Chapter 8, after you’ve added Emmrich and Taash to your party, wisps will appear. Wisps! Nothing says “you’ve been at this game a while” like floating orbs you have to lead around. There are two of them, and they’re picky about where they want to go.
- Wisp #1: Go back to the Music Room. Head left from the hub chamber, down the hallway, and you’ll find this first wisp, just floating around waiting for you. Guide it over to one of the empty plinths by the locked door.
- Wisp #2: The second wisp is a bit more of a trek. You’ll need to hike up to the gazebo on the second floor, where you found the first set of statues. Snag the wisp there and lead it back to the Music Room.
The Grand Finale: Rewards Worth the Runaround?
Now that you’ve done all the heavy lifting, a portal appears. Stepping through will bring you to a secluded room above the main hall, where a blue crystal awaits. It’s like a treasure chest after a long dungeon run! Give that crystal a little nudge, and bam—you’ll restore the Astrolabe. Not only does this net you the “Nostalgia Trip” achievement, but you also score a hefty discount on Workshop upgrades. So go ahead and start tinkering to your heart’s content.
Is this reward groundbreaking? Maybe not. But if you’re a completionist or just want bragging rights, this is the perfect little side quest to satisfy that itch. And hey, nothing feels quite as good as getting one up on Solas and Varric—again!
