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The Gauntlet
Dragon Age: Origins

The Gauntlet

Learn how to defeat the High Dragon in Dragon Age: Origins. This guide covers tactics, resistances, and loot drops for this challenging boss fight.

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Learn how to defeat the High Dragon in Dragon Age: Origins. This guide covers tactics, resistances, and loot drops for this challenging boss fight.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Have your tank engage the High Dragon and position the rest of your party behind her, out of range of her tail swipe.
  2. 2
    When the High Dragon chomps your tank, use stun, bash, freeze, or hex abilities to force her to release. Winter’s Grasp and Cone of Cold are effective for temporary freezes.
  3. 3
    While you cannot shatter the High Dragon, a freeze combined with Stone Fist deals decent damage.
  4. 4
    Focus on survival: keep everyone's health topped off with Health Poultices and ensure your mages have Lyrium Potions for consistent spellcasting.
Tips
  • Fire resistance gear and warmth balms are crucial for mitigating fire damage.
  • Abilities like Winter’s Grasp and Cone of Cold are excellent for freezing the dragon, making it vulnerable.
  • While shattering the dragon isn't possible, a freeze followed by Stone Fist is a good damage combo.
  • Keep your mages supplied with Lyrium Potions to maintain their spell output.
  • Don't forget to use Health Poultices to keep your party alive.
  • Maetashear War Axe
  • Crow Dagger
  • Antivan Longbow
  • The Long Sight
  • Storm Talons
  • Qunari Siege Gauntlets
  • Pure Bitch Braid
  • Deadhead Charge
  • Grandmaster Flame Rune
  • Dragon Scale (starts the quest "Dragon Scale Armor")

Achievements:

  • Dragonslayer: Defeated the dragon guarding the Urn of Sacred Ashes. (30 points)
  • Hero of Redcliffe: Completed "The Arl of Redcliffe". (20 points)

Post-Boss Quests and Shopping:

  1. Looting the Dragon Scale starts the quest "Dragon Scale Armor".
  2. Return to the Ruined Temple via the western shortcut and speak with Genitivi.
  3. Show Genitivi the pouch of Ashes.
  4. Return to Redcliffe Castle and present the ashes to Bann Teagan to heal Arl Eamon.
  5. Accept Teagan's reward: the Champion Specialization and the Redcliffe Elite Shield.
  6. Be merciful to Jowan to allow him to live.
  7. Head to Denerim and turn in "Forgotten Verses" to Sister Justine.
  8. In Wade’s Emporium, turn in "Drake Scale Armor" and "Dragon Scale Armor". Pay 10 and 20 sovereigns for better quality Drake Scale Armor first, then pay 30 sovereigns for superior quality Dragon Scale Armor.
  9. Speak with Genitivi in his abode about a reward.
  10. Check the shops for new, decent items.
  11. When ready, head to the Brecilian Outskirts.

Merchants:

Cesar:

  • Magebane Poison Recipe (4g 65s 60c)
  • Soldier’s Bane Recipe (4g 44s 00c)
  • Demonic Poison Recipe (3g 40s 80c)
  • Concentrated Crow Poison Recipe (2g 73s 60c)

Gorim:

  • Meteor Sword (3g 74s 00c)
  • Chasind Great Maul (151g 19s 50c)
  • Thorval’s Luck (12g 70s 50c)
  • Camenae’s Barbute (13g 25s 50c)
  • Rock-Knocker (6g 24s 25c)
  • Katriel’s Grasp (4g 62s 00c)
  • Sword Belt (0g 66s 00c)
  • Grandmaster Silverite Rune (10g 45s 00c)
  • Backpack (5g 50s 00c)

Wade’s Armor:

  • The Felon’s Coat (88g 95s 25c)
  • Evon the Great’s Mail (107g 64s 00c)
  • Kaddis of the Mountain-Father (5g 03s 11c)

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