The following contains MAJOR spoilers forDragon Age: The Veilguard.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s story may be lighthearted and fun, but it has its dark moments as well. Despite its new colorful art style and bubbly companionpersonalities like Bellara,Dragon Age: The Veilguarddoes its best to maintain those edgy moments that make aDragon Agegame, particular in its final act.
Consider this the point of no return forDragon Age: The Veilguardspoilers.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s story isn’t filled with as many surprising twists and turns as pastDragon Agetitles, but it still has some that players are likely to remember. One twist, in particular, arguably takes the cake as the game’s biggest, as it involves one of the most beloved characters from theDragon Ageseries.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Varric Plot Twist Hits Harder on a Second Playthrough
Varric Seems to Narrowly Escape a Fatal Wound at the Beginning of Dragon Age: The Veilguard
InDragon Age: The Veilguard’s opening hours, Varric elects himself to attempt to talk some sense into Solas and stop him from using his Lyrium Dagger to remove the Veil, which would ultimately destroy Thedas as well. In the meantime, as Rook works together with the others to disrupt the ritual, Solas is distracted for a moment and Varric seizes the opportunity to take theLyrium Dagger. Unfortunately, this leads to Solas stabbing Varric in the chest with the dagger. Luckily, Varric survived the attack and then takes on more of a mentor role for Rook, primarily from his sick bed, throughout the majority of the story.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Eventually Reveals That Varric Only Survived in Rook’s Mind
AsDragon Age: The Veilguard’s storymatures and begins to reach its closing moments, it is revealed that Varric did, in fact, die when Solas stabbed him at the beginning of the game. The reason Rook was able to see and speak with Varric is because they were tricked by Solas into believing Varric was alive. This means that every conversation Rook has with Varric during the story is only taking place in his mind, and it’s also why Rook initially doubts that Varric ever survived being stabbed by Solas' Lyrium Dagger.
Varric’s Presence Throughout Dragon Age: The Veilguard Makes His Death Hit Harder
For longtime fans,Varric’s deathis going to hit the hardest. Those who have been with the sarcastically charismatic dwarf since his debut inDragon Age 2are bound to feel gutted by the revelation that he has not really been there for the vast majority ofDragon Age: The Veilguard’s story. He is one of the main characters many fans have been looking forward to seeing again, and that alone speaks volumes of the impact he has had on theDragon Agecommunity. However, while this shocking plot twist in and of itself is devastating, playing through the story ofDragon Age: The Veilguarda second time actually makes Varric’s death hit even harder.
While theearliest segments ofDragon Age: The Veilguard’s storylargely involve Rook having one-on-one conversations with Varric, there are many moments later on that see Varric participating in group conversations, especially as Rook and the team are formulating plans for their next steps. In these moments, the sting of Varric’s death can be felt, perhaps even more so than when the truth about his fate is finally revealed, as he will occasionally contribute to the discussion, only for the entire group to completely ignore him. It’s like watching a group of haughty teenagers pretend the annoying middle school kid isn’t even there.
For the player, who already knows during a second playthrough that Varric isn’t actually there, it is arguably all the more heartbreaking. The player is now in a position where they know something that Rook doesn’t know, and their only choice is towatch Rook battle with their grief, talking to a ghost and not knowing any better until the truth is finally revealed a second time. It’s comparable to witnessing a loved one go through a mental collapse and there’s absolutely nothing anyone can do about it.
It might have been suspected thatVarric would die inDragon Age: The Veilguard, but it’s doubtful anyone expected to see him for the majority of the game, only to find out later that he hasn’t been there at all the entire time. The plot twist itself hits hard, but a second playthrough makes it hit even harder, as Varric is downgraded to nothing more than a useless bystander in the group, except perhaps Rook. It is then all the more painful to witness Rook unknowingly interacting with a premonition, all while being powerless to change anything.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you may’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
