Like many Dragon Age followers, I’m doing a replay earlier than the brand new sport comes out later in October. I’m on my third playthrough of Dragon Age: Inquisition, and regardless that I’m lastly working the sport on a pc that may assist mods for nice-looking lengthy hair and prettier garments, one thing is lacking from the best model of my Inquisitor. So I took it upon myself to trace down one of many sport’s most elusive gadgets: the Ardent Blossom, a flower crown helmet that you simply solely get after finishing a collection of unintuitive quests.
I solely realized that this merchandise existed on this most up-to-date playthrough, and I found it by trawling the Dragon Age wiki. I turned intent on getting my palms on it, particularly since I’ve spent years drawing and commissioning artwork of my character carrying an identical flower crown, regardless of being fully unaware I might get one within the sport. Since I’d already performed via this sport twice, I made a decision to ignore any logical plot development this time, simply to get my palms on the dang flower crown.
And at last, after sinking hours in and trekking throughout a number of totally different areas, my character can now twirl round along with her stunning (and really fairly highly effective) flower crown each within the sport and on my cellphone wallpaper. All it took was… effectively…

Picture: BioWare/Digital Arts through epicgamejourney
I primarily used the information on the Dragon Age wiki (and a few useful Reddit threads) to seek out this helmet. First, I journeyed to an unmarked spot within the Emerald Graves area. For the reason that quest doesn’t activate till you do a really particular motion (extra on that in a bit), I estimated the place to land based mostly on a map I discovered on the Dragon Age wiki to seek out the precise spot. And so I discovered it, as foretold, beneath an elven mural and behind a thicket of bushes. There lay a tiny, tiny cave (the hunt is, fittingly, known as “The Tiniest Cave”), which seemed extra like a wee rock formation.
After which, I jumped on it 50 instances.
Now, the instructions I used to be following mentioned “round 50” instances and I undoubtedly misplaced depend round 15, so for my journalistic integrity, I’m going to notice that it was actually “round 50” instances. I spammed the bounce button till a voice line was triggered. Lastly, the hunt popped up on my log.

Picture: BioWare/Digital Arts through epicgamejourney
Then got here half two: discovering 10 Crystal Grace flowers.
These flowers are fairly uncommon in-game. I knew, vaguely, which maps they appeared on, however I needed to seek the advice of the web to seek out precisely the place they had been so I didn’t sink too a lot time into wandering the Hinterlands. Sadly, they had been concentrated in a really bear-filled space of the map, which meant that whereas my character went off choosing flowers, her celebration was out killing bears. We do what we should for the aesthetic.
As soon as all 10 flowers had been in hand, I went again to the cave to deposit them. Then, the cave spat out one other cryptic line: “The steps! The steps that go down. Approach, manner down. I’ll be there. You’ll be there.”
The clue is so imprecise, however in line with the wiki, it factors to a hidden collapse Emprise Du Lion, a very separate area. It’s additionally one of many extra complicated maps within the sport, since there’s a ton of tunnels and various topography within the mountainous panorama. Regardless, I made my strategy to that space, zipping via the primary quest strains so I might get to that particular level deep on the map. I’d as effectively thwart the Purple Lyrium mining operation whereas I’m there, however actually I used to be beelining to the underside a part of Suledin Preserve.
Be aware: You do not really must beat the enemies within the Preserve and declare it to get to this space. I didn’t notice that, so I wasted a while on that aspect quest.

Picture: BioWare/Digital Arts through epicgamejourney
I’ve performed this sport twice earlier than, and to be trustworthy, up till my newfound and self-imposed mission, I used to be getting a bit fatigued with exploring the large maps I’d seen earlier than and checking off the quests that I’d already finished. I nonetheless love Dragon Age: Inquisition, so that is no fault of the sport, however somewhat my very own yearning for one thing new. The Ardent Blossom gave my trek via Thedas a brand new perspective. I’m even extra excited for The Veilguard now, as a result of my love for this world has been absolutely rekindled.
That being mentioned, it was nonetheless a bitch and a half to seek out my strategy to the underside a part of the fortress, as a result of even on my third playthrough, the mountainous areas of the sport are nonetheless laborious to learn on the map. And from there, I needed to discover a particular juncture of fallen wooden, bounce on a platform, and enter an illusory wall to get into a wierd tunnel.
Now, in a creepy dungeon, I might comply with the directions of the mysterious voice. Particularly to go “down, manner, manner down.”
I went down so many flights of eerie, darkish stairs that I misplaced depend. Till I lastly reached a tiny little room that was mainly only a single platform of stone tile in full and utter darkness…

Picture: BioWare/Digital Arts through epicgamejourney
And there it was! My coveted flower crown!
However I wasn’t leveled up sufficient to really equip it. Fortunately, that drawback mounted itself after one other major quest and several other (most likely extra related to the primary story) aspect quests. And now, lastly, my Inquisitor is actually at peak kind.

That’s, till I can create her within the Veilguard character creator…
Dragon Age: The Veilguard might be launched Oct. 31 on PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, and Xbox Sequence X.