Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen adds a new story, a frozen region, and extra dungeon challenges to Capcom’s action role-playing game. You need to find Captain Brant in Vernworth and choose the correct dialogue option. Here is how to unlock the content, reach Norgan, and prepare for its tougher fights.
Check That the Expansion Is Installed
Before looking for the quest, make sure you own and have installed the Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Expansion. It is paid downloadable content and requires the base game, Dragon’s Dogma 2. On PC or console, check the game’s add-ons or downloadable content section and install any available update.
You do not need to finish the main story or create a fresh character to begin the expansion. You can use an existing save once you have reached Vernworth during the early Seat of the Sovran story. There is one important exception: if your save is already in the Unmoored World, you must start New Game Plus before you can access the expansion.
Find Captain Brant at Night
Travel to Vernworth, the capital city, and visit the Stardrop Inn after nightfall. Captain Brant can be found inside the tavern. If you arrive during the day, use a bench or rest at an inn until night, then speak with him again.
Once the expansion is installed, Brant offers two additional conversation choices. Each opens a different part of the new content, so choose based on what you want to do first.
- About the new Arisen… begins the main expansion story, starting the quest called Chilling Tidings.
- About the uncovered ruins… starts the Lost Rites questline, which leads to 12 new dungeon challenges scattered through the existing game world.
For players who want to explore the new snowy region and follow the central story, choose the first option.
Start Chilling Tidings and Reach Norgan
After selecting “About the new Arisen…,” follow the quest instructions and rest overnight at the nearby inn as directed. The story points you toward a fallen creature near Melve. Travel to the marked area southwest of Melve and follow the route through the Malachite Forest toward the waterfall clearing.
Look for Pekdre, the man connected to the fallen creature. Speak with him and follow the instructions to continue the journey. This sequence leads you into a region covered in snow.
If the route is not obvious, check the active quest in your journal and set it as the tracked objective.
What Level Should You Be?
The expansion can be unlocked early, but that does not mean every area is suitable for a low-level character. Access and recommended level are not the same thing. Norgan is designed for a stronger party, with level 40 recommended for its main story content. The Lost Rites dungeons are a separate challenge, and their difficulty varies.
Before travelling north, consider the following preparation:
- Upgrade your weapons and armour, and bring healing items.
- Make sure your main Pawn and hired Pawns have useful roles that complement your vocation.
- Carry curatives for status effects and enough supplies for a long trip.
- The first Lost Rites challenges may be manageable around level 20, but check each trial’s difficulty.
If enemies defeat you quickly or take very little damage, return later after gaining levels and improving your gear. You can still begin with the quest and come back when your party is ready.
How to Start Lost Rites
To access the extra dungeons, return to Captain Brant at the Stardrop Inn at night and choose “About the uncovered ruins…”. Follow the new quest objective to the first Lost Rites dungeon. Completing the initial challenge helps reveal the wider set of dungeon locations.
