Dragon Age: Inquisition – Skyhold Side Quests

Add Dagna to Skyhold and upgrade your new base of operations!
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Once you reach Skyhold there’s a lot to do. Many of the quests in Skyhold change the appearance of your new base and require a large number of materials. Most of the materials in question can be found in the Hinterlands.

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Welcome to Skyhold

Description: This new home for the Inquisition has a lot to offer. Take a look around.
Starting NPC: N/A
Requirements: Complete the “In Your Heart Shall Burn” main scenario quest to unlock Skyhold
Reward: +50 XP

Quest Objectives:

  • Find the war room
  • Find the blacksmith

As soon as you arrive in Skyhold you immediately begin this quest. You need to find the war room and the blacksmith. Head into the undercroft door waypoint marked on the map and read the journal to your immediate left. Speak to Harritt in the middle of the room to complete the blacksmith portion of the quest, then examine the Skyhold customization bench on the far side of the room for the Inquisition Trappings quest. Now head back out to the main hall and into the next available door slightly down the hall on the right. Continue through the two doors ahead, passing Josephine in the next room and enter the door at the end of the hall to reach the war room and complete the quest.

Inquisition Trappings

Description: Skyhold can be customized in a variety of ways to best reflect the style and priorities of the Inquisition.
Starting NPC: N/A
Requirements: Complete the In Your Heart Shall Burn main scenario quest to unlock Skyhold
Reward: Skyhold appearance customization

Quest Objectives:

  • Go to the undercroft
  • Customize Skyhold

Head to the undercroft (marked on the map) where you met Harritt. On the far side of the room is the Skyhold customization bench. Access the bench to customize the aesthetic features of Skyhold and complete the quest.

A Greener Garden

Description: With the right materials, improvements can be made to Skyhold’s garden.
Starting NPC: N/A
Requirements: Skyhold construction is complete
Reward: Garden in Skyhold

Quest Objectives:

  • Upgrade Skyhold’s garden
  • Obtain 30 spindleweeds, 30 elfroots, 30 blood lotuses, and one logging stand

To complete this quest you need elfroot, spindleweeds, blood lotuses and one logging stand. Elfroot are found all over the Hinterlands while spindleweed is found near water in the Hinterlands. Blood Lotus can also be found around water areas in the Hinterlands, but it’s more prominent in Fallow Mire. A logging stand can be found in almost every region, but since you’ll be in the Hinterlands for the other items, look southwest of the Tyrdda Bright-Axe, Avvar Mother landmark or south of the Forest Camp.

A Better Courtyard

Description: With the right materials, improvements can be made to Skyhold’s courtyard.
Starting NPC: N/A
Requirements: Skyhold construction is complete
Reward: Improved courtyard in Skyhold

Quest Objectives:

  • Upgrade Skyhold’s tower
  • Obtain 30 elfroots, two quarries, and two logging stands

The choices you make in upgrading Skyhold’s tower will influence some of you general abilities in the game. You need to obatin more elfroot, two quarries and two logging stands. Elfroot is found all over the Hinterlands, logging stands are found southwest of the Tyrdda Bright-Axe, Avvar Mother landmark or south of the Forest Camp in the Hinterlands, and quarries are found in the southeast region of the Storm Coast, southwest side of Crestwood and in the center of the Western Approach to the north and south.

A Superior Tower

Description: With the right materials, improvements can be made to Skyhold’s tower.
Starting NPC: N/A
Requirements: Skyhold construction is complete
Reward: New tower for Skyhold

Quest Objectives:

  • Upgrade Skyhold’s tower
  • Obtain 10 spirit essences, three quarries, and three logging stands

To upgrade the main tower you need spirit essences, quarries and logging stands. Spirit essences are found by defeating enemies that appear during rifts. Seal a few rifts, collect the loot from the fallen enemies and you should have plenty of spirit essence. Logging stands can be found in the Hinterlands, southwest of the Tyrdda Bright-Axe, Avvar Mother landmark or south of the Forest Camp. Quarries are located in the southeast region of the Storm Coast, southwest side of Crestwood and the center of the Western Approach, to the north and south.

Rune Crafting

Description: Recruiting an arcanist will allow the Inquisition to craft runes to enhance weapons and armor.
Starting NPC: N/A
Requirements: Complete the In Your Heart Shall Burn main scenario quest to unlock Skyhold
Reward: Rune Crafting

Quest Objectives:

  • Recruit an arcanist at the war table
  • Craft a rune in the undercroft

Head to the war table and select the Acquire the Arcanist operation near the upper-left corner of the Ferelden section. Once that mission is complete, head to the undercroft to find Dagna present. Speak with her, then add a rune to your gear to complete the quest.

Scattered in Skyhold

Description: Varric’s writing is more popular than he lets on. Find all 48 copies of Hard in Hightown in Skyhold.
Starting NPC: Librarian
Requirements: Skyhold construction is complete
Reward: +200 Influence per book

Quest Objective:

  • Find all 48 copies of Hard in Hightown

Head to the library in Skyhold and speak to the librarian to discover that 48 copies of Hard in Hightown are missing. These are scattered all around Skyhold and reappear in the same place every time you go back to Skyhold after visiting another region in the game. This allows you to find one location and continue collecting from that same location every time you return to Skyhold. Collect all 48 to complete the quest.

Sit in Judgment

Description: Someone being held in Skyhold awaits judgment.
Starting NPC: Josephine
Requirements: Take a prisoner into custody
Reward: Varied

Quest Objective:

  • Judge the prisoner

As you complete various quests and missions (the main scenario quests), you will take various enemy agents into custody. When this happens, a waypoint marker appears on your throne, which is located near the undercroft room. Examine your throne to initiate a cut-scene and pass judgment on the prisoner. The reward varies depending on who the prisoner is and what judgment is made. Some prisoners offer no reward.

Return to the Dragon Age: Inquisition Walkthrough.


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About the Author

Bryan Dawson

Bryan Dawson has an extensive background in the gaming industry, having worked as a journalist for various publications for nearly 20 years and participating in a multitude of competitive fighting game events. He has authored over a dozen strategy guides for Prima Games, worked as a consultant on numerous gaming-related TV and web shows and was the Operations Manager for the fighting game division of the IGN Pro League.