Dragon's Dogma 2 Dark Arisen Guide: What to Do First

Quick Answer

Speak with Captain Brant at The Stardrop Inn in Vernworth at night. Choose “About the new Arisen…” to start the Norgan story (recommended Lv 40), or “About the uncovered ruins…” to investigate Lost Rites (recommended Lv 20). You can begin either one without completing the other.

Dark Arisen offers two different starting experiences. Norgan is the frozen northern region where the expansion’s main story takes place, while Lost Rites are combat trials scattered across the original world.

You can enter Norgan for the story, tackle Lost Rites for equipment and Offering Flames, or alternate between them. Once in Norgan, the new Relic equipment and Obelisks of Benediction give you additional ways to strengthen your party before the harder encounters.

Should You Start With Norgan or Lost Rites?

Start with Norgan if you want the new story. Captain Brant’s investigation into another Arisen eventually leads you to the northern mountains. Level 40 is recommended, not mandatory, but entering much earlier can make ordinary enemies difficult to defeat.

The opening quest, Chilling Tidings, begins in Vernworth and involves finding a fallen creature near Malachite Forest before traveling north. If you cannot find the creature, Brant has no new dialogue, or you are unsure how to reach Norgan, follow How to Start Dark Arisen and Reach Norgan.

Start with Lost Rites if you want new dungeon challenges first. Brant’s other investigation is recommended for level 20 characters. There are 12 Lost Rites in total: nine in the regular world and three in the Unmoored World.

The first trials introduce the Proving Ground Compass, while later entrances may restrict your vocation, party, or equipment. See All Lost Rites Locations, Conditions, and Rewards to decide which dungeon you can clear and which rewards are worth pursuing.

You do not need to clear Lost Rites to enter Norgan. Equally, you do not need to finish Norgan’s story to begin collecting Offering Flames from accessible trials.

What Should You Do First in Norgan?

After traveling north with Pekdre, survive the opening Beorcan encounter and reach the Norgandian Settlement.

The village gives you a place to rest, manage equipment, and prepare for the mountain roads. Your first main objective leads toward Beorcan Stronghold, where the mystery surrounding the Fallen Dragon begins.

The story later takes you through buried ruins, Lorade Castle, Morria Temple, and the threats beneath Niflhel. Some objectives depend on returning to an NPC after an investigation, obtaining a specific item, or opening a previously inaccessible passage.

Follow the Norgan Main Quest Walkthrough if you need the next destination, cannot advance a quest, or want to finish the campaign without overlooking a required step.

If the ordinary enemies near the settlement are already overwhelming your party, improve your equipment before pressing farther north. Completing another main objective is not always the fastest way to become stronger.

How Do You Get Better Gear and New Vocation Skills?

Norgan has two particularly useful progression systems, and they serve different purposes.

Relics: Improve Weapons and Armor

Enemies, chests, and gathering locations can provide unidentified Spoils. Bring them to Jiera in the Norgandian Settlement and spend Rift Crystals to reveal their contents.

The results can include stronger weapons, armor, and special combat effects. Because appraisals are not guaranteed to produce the item you want, the Spoil’s category and level matter when deciding where to spend your RC.

The Relics and Appraisal guide explains which Spoils to identify first, how equipment effects compare, and where to seek stronger drops.

Obelisks: Unlock and Upgrade Vocation Abilities

Norgan contains nine Obelisks of Benediction, covering nine vocations and ten new initial skill lines.

You can purchase a basic Obelisk skill with Dcp before offering a flame. An Offering Flame, obtained from Lost Rites, unlocks access to additional skill upgrades, permanent attribute enhancements, and temporary Spoils bonuses.

For the shrine locations, northern shortcuts, and upgrade choices, use All Obelisk Locations and New Vocation Skills.

For most parties, upgrading the Arisen’s active vocation and the Main Pawn’s combat role is more immediately useful than spending resources on every vocation at once.

Stuck on Sage’s Wisdom?

The Sage’s investigation is one of the earliest important story obstacles after your first encounter with the Fallen Dragon.

You need to locate the Shrine of Wisdom using the Spirit Compass, then complete three riddles: Body, Soul, and Will. Each requires a particular item, not a dialogue answer.

The Sage’s Wisdom Riddle Solutions explain how to reach the shrine, trigger the required encounters, find the three items, and collect the rewards.

Once the Sage has accepted all three answers, return to Polyeidus to continue the investigation.

What Counts Toward 100% Completion?

Finishing Norgan’s main story does not automatically complete the expansion’s optional challenges.

Dark Arisen adds six achievements, including objectives tied to the story, recovered supplies, a multi-barrier combat challenge, and completing the Final Proving Ground under its Loss Gauge restriction.

Some require actions beyond simply defeating a boss or finishing a quest.

Use the Dark Arisen Achievements and 100% Checklist to check the requirements and track your progress as you play.

Do You Need Dark Arisen for Six Skill Slots or Hard Mode?

No. The increase from four to six equipped weapon skill slots was introduced through a free update to the base game. You do not need to purchase Dark Arisen for that change.

Hard Mode is also available through a free update. You can start a new game in Hard Mode or switch an existing character to it, but once enabled, you cannot return to Normal Mode without completing the current playthrough.

Consider that restriction before changing difficulty, particularly if you intend to explore Norgan on your existing character.