Rook and their companions can enter and restore the Crossroads in the Fade in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but only once they can gain access by clearing Blight away from multiple gates. Fairly early in the story of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Rook will through the Eluvian to the Crossroads and meet the Caretaker, who asks them for help restoring the location. In several places around the Crossroads, there are gates blocked by vines and a round seal.

When Rook approaches these gates, the Caretaker will materialize to grant them an associated side quest in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. These Blighted Gate quests task Rook and their team to track down Blighted creatures somewhere in the world called Champions. These are high-level bosses who drop Champion's Essence, which is needed to break the seal and through the gates. Opening all three Blighted Gates in the Crossroads in Dragon Age: The Veilguard will allow Rook to complete the Regrets of the Dread Wolf and Heart of Corruption quests and receive a massive boon ahead of the endgame.

Where To Find The Blighted Gates

Approach all Gates to Unlock Their Quests

There are technically several Blighted Gates in the Crossroads in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. One is associated with the main story and is used to introduce the Blighted Gate and Champion mechanics and open the Regrets of the Dread Wolf questline. Another is located on Beacon Island, the landing area where Rook uses the Eluvian in the Lighthouse. This gate has three seals rather than just one and corresponds to the Heart of Corruption quest.

The remaining Blighted Gates are listed as separate side quests but are associated with one of these two larger Crossroads side quests. Players should plan to complete them for good high-level loot and an endgame boon. These include:

• The Gate of Deep Sorrows (the first gate on the left in the Converged City, near the main story quest Blighted Gate; part of The Heart of Corruption)
• The Gate of Lost Ages (Converged City; part of Regrets of the Dread Wolf)
• The Gate of Faded Glories (Elvhenan's Haven; part of Regrets of the Dread Wolf)
• The Gate of Parched Hopes (Elvhenan's Haven; part of The Heart of Corruption)
• The Gate of Pale Reflections (Heights of Athim; part of The Heart of Corruption)

Each Gate requires the Essence of one of three Champions to open.

The Champions can be found in various regions across Thedas, encased in Blight Cysts. The corresponding locations are:

• The Gate of Deep Sorrows: Treviso, Crows Road Rooftops
• The Gate of Lost Ages: Dock Town, Lost Company Mines
• The Gate of Faded Glories: Arlathan Forest, Tainted Woods
• The Gate of Parched Hopes: Hossberg Wetlands, Old Crossroads
• The Gate of Pale Reflections: Hossberg Wetlands, Solitude's Edge

These Blight Cysts are usually located in areas with other incredibly powerful enemies, so it is a good idea to defeat these mobs first before destroying the Blight Cyst to avoid creating a more difficult and often deadly combat encounter.

How To Unlock The Blighted Gates

Slay High-Level Champions

To unlock Blighted Gates in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Rook will need to travel to each of the areas listed above and destroy the Blight Cyst there, releasing a Champion and triggering a difficult boss fight. Many of these bosses are level 25 and above, so it is best to avoid these side quests until at least level 20 or above, as they will otherwise likely be deadly.

Once Rook has defeated a Champion, they will need to collect the Champion's Essence and bring it back to the corresponding Blighted Gate in the Crossroads. They can then interact with the seal to open the gate and access the area beyond.

Once the Blighted Gates that are part of the Regrets of the Dread Wolf side quest are unlocked, Rook will need to explore the area and defeat enemies to find Solas' Wolf Statuettes. Once the three Blighted Gates that are part of the Heart of Corruption side quest are unlocked, Rook will need to defeat the three high-level Blighted bosses inside (Betrayal of Felassan, Slaughter of the Pillars, and Fall of the Protector) and bring their Essences back to the Heart of Corruption Gate on Beacon island to unlock each of the three seals.

Why You Should Unlock Blighted Gates

Complete Two Crossroads Side Quests for Powerful Boons

All the Blighted Gates in Dragon Age: The Veilguard correspond to larger and longer Crossroads side quests that, once completed, bestow powerful boons upon Rook that can help in the endgame. Unlocking The Gate of Lost Ages and The Gate of Faded Glories to complete Regrets of the Dread Wolf can grant Rook access to Mythal's Essence, an item that can be extremely useful for defeating the final boss of The Heart of Corruption.

Unlocking The Gate of Deep Sorrows, The Gate of Parched Hopes, and The Gate of Pale Reflections brings Rook and their companions face-to-face with a Revenant Dragon, a level 50 boss. Defeating it completes The Heart of Corruption side quest and offers a secret reward that can help Rook in the endgame of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.