The Lighthouse is the main hub for Rook and their companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. This base in the Fade was previously the headquarters of Solas, aka the Dread Wolf.
This is not only a place for players to interact with companions and undertake quests, but it also has secret areas to discover. Here’s how to unlock every secret area in the Lighthouse:
How To Unlock Secret Areas in the Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is a place of refuge and is rich with intriguing mysteries.
Solving the puzzles hidden in its walls and surroundings can lead to valuable rewards and the achievement Nostalgia Trip.
To get the best out of your time in the Lighthouse, here’s how to access all the secret areas.
Solve the Statue Puzzle to Unlock the Music Room
Once you’ve made yourself at home in the Lighthouse, you’ll soon see that the grounds are dotted with peculiar statues.
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+ 3Shortly after starting, you’ll notice a mysterious note pinned to a statue behind the Workshop area, near the courtyard at the back of the building.
The note hints that to solve the puzzle, three pairs of statues must be arranged to face each other to reveal a secret room.
The statues are scattered throughout the Lighthouse Courtyard, and you’ll need to interact with each one to solve the puzzle.
Here’s how to locate and solve each pair of statues:
- First Pair of Statues - Go down to the space below Neve’s quarters. Her room is on one of the lower levels of the Lighthouse, where you will find the first statue. Turn it to face west, then head over to Bellara’s room on the other side of the Lighthouse. You’ll find the second statue behind her quarters, which must be rotated to face east. Once aligned, these two statues will give off a green wisp that floats on over to the main building.
- Second Pair of Statues - The next pair is near the Dining Hall and Library. Head to the southern part of the Dining Hall to find a statue near the edge of the building. Rotate this statue to face north. The second statue in this pair is close to the outside staircase that goes up to the Library. Rotate each statue so they face each other, and the last of the wisps will be released.
- Third Pair of Statues - The final pair is located on the upper landing above the entrance to the Library. These statues are easy to spot since they’re located close to one another. Rotate them to face one another. Once you complete this final adjustment, the last set of wisps will float into the building.
After aligning all three pairs of statues, enter the main Lighthouse building. The door next to the library table, which was once locked, is now glowing with wisps.
This grants you access to the newly unlocked Music Room. You'll encounter gold, a few collectible treasures, and a Codex entry titled Memories of a Duet resting on the piano.
Explore the Music Room
The Music Room holds more mysteries that can be uncovered later in the game.
click to enlarge + 3As you progress through the main story, you’ll unlock a second puzzle in the Music Room. This happens after completing Chapter 7 in the quest Where the Dead Must Go.
You should see two floating wisps in the Music Room at this stage. The first wisp hovers near the piano. Guide it to one of the empty pedestals near a locked door.
Exit the Music Room and head up the stairs to the rooftop. This is where you solved the first statue puzzle and can now find the second wisp.
Put the second wisp on the leftover pedestal in the Music Room. This opens the portal and lets you cruise on over to the Library Balcony.
You can find a blue crystal here that repairs the Astrolabe once activated. Doing so gives you a lasting discount on upgrades at the Caretaker’s Workshop.
For an extra reward, climb over the balcony railing and jump to the main floor.
The game doesn’t penalize you for fall damage, and you’ll also receive the Nostalgia Trip trophy/achievement for your daring leap.
Solve the Final Puzzle To Unlock Solas’ Study (The Wolf’s Den)
However, there's still much to explore.
click to enlarge + 3As you continue through the game, you will eventually open up the Grey Wardens' faction vendor. This means it's time to return to the Lighthouse.
Once this happens, the Caretaker will notify you of a new development in the area. Return to the Library Balcony, where you’ll find another wisp and a pedestal.
Guide the wisp to the pedestal to open another portal. This portal transports you to an external platform outside the Lighthouse. This is where you’ll find a laser emitter, an elven battery, and several power crystals.
The final puzzle involves using the laser to activate these power crystals. Plug in the battery to power up the laser, then aim it at the crystals on the nearby towers.
Make sure that each one glows and exudes a smoky quality. Once the laser successfully activates all the crystals, the wisps will float back to the main building.
Return to the Library, where a previously sealed door will now be open. Step through to enter Solas’ private study, the Wolf’s Den.
This area holds the final rewards, including treasure chests, lore entries, and items that deepen your understanding of the Lighthouse’s secrets.
Which statue pairing did you find the most challenging to align? Comment down below!
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Dragon Age: The Veilguard page.