The Final March — Dragon Age: Inquisition Walkthrough

The Final March

As the Inquisition’s forces gather, the air crackles with anticipation and grim determination. “The Final March” is not merely a quest; it is the culmination of your journey, a grand, sweeping assault on Corypheus’s stronghold. This segment is a testament to your leadership, demanding strategic combat, careful resource management, and unwavering resolve. Prepare for a series of large-scale engagements, culminating in the direct confrontation with the Elder One himself. Your objective is clear: breach the defenses, clear the path, and bring an end to Corypheus’s reign.

Phase 1: Breaching the Outer Defenses

The march begins with your army advancing towards the main gates of the stronghold. This initial push is characterized by overwhelming numbers of Venatori and their demonic allies. Your primary goal is to support your troops and eliminate key threats that impede their progress.

• Initial Engagement: As you move forward, you'll encounter waves of Venatori Foot Soldiers, Venatori Archers, and occasional Despair Demons. Focus on crowd control to thin their ranks quickly.
• Siege Breakers: Approximately halfway to the gates, you'll face a few Venatori Spellbinders and a Pride Demon. Prioritize the Spellbinders to prevent them from buffing other enemies or casting powerful area-of-effect spells. The Pride Demon, while formidable, is slow and susceptible to sustained single-target damage.
• Gate Approach: Just before the gates, two Venatori Marksmen will be positioned on elevated platforms, providing covering fire. Send a rogue or warrior to engage them directly while the rest of your party deals with the remaining ground forces.

Recommended Party Composition & Abilities:

For this phase, a balanced party with strong crowd control and area-of-effect (AoE) capabilities is crucial.

• Tank (e.g., Cassandra, Blackwall):
  • Abilities: Challenge, War Cry, Lunge and Slash, Shield Wall. Focus on drawing aggro from large groups and protecting vulnerable party members.
  • Role: Frontline, aggro management, minor damage.
• Rogue (e.g., Sera, Cole):
  • Abilities (Archer): Full Draw, Leaping Shot, Long Shot, Explosive Shot. Excellent for AoE and single-target damage.
  • Abilities (Dual Daggers): Twin Fangs, Deathblow, Flank Attack, Spinning Blades. Ideal for quickly eliminating high-priority targets like Spellbinders or Marksmen.
  • Role: High damage, target elimination, flanking.
• Mage (e.g., Solas, Vivienne, Dorian):
  • Abilities (AoE Focus): Firestorm, Blizzard, Static Cage, Chain Lightning. Essential for clearing large groups of enemies.
  • Abilities (Support/Control): Barrier, Dispel, Fade Step, Stonefist. Barrier is vital for party survivability, Dispel for enemy buffs/barriers.
  • Role: Crowd control, AoE damage, support (healing/barriers).
• Warrior (Two-Handed, e.g., Iron Bull):
  • Abilities: Whirlwind, Mighty Blow, Block and Slash, Pommel Strike. Great for additional AoE damage and staggering enemies.
  • Role: Secondary damage, minor crowd control.

Phase 2: The Inner Courtyard & Catapult Defenses

Once the outer gates are breached, your army will pour into a large courtyard. Corypheus's forces will attempt to halt your advance using strategically placed catapults and a new wave of elite enemies.

1. Catapult Destruction: Your primary objective here is to destroy two Venatori-operated catapults. These are marked on your map. Each catapult is guarded by a contingent of Venatori Reavers and Rage Demons.
2. Elite Venatori: As you approach the first catapult, a Venatori Commander (a more resilient warrior type) will engage you, often accompanied by two Despair Demons. Focus fire on the Commander to quickly remove their leadership bonus to surrounding enemies.
3. Second Catapult: The second catapult will be defended by a Venatori Assassin (a fast, high-damage rogue type) and several Wraiths. Use crowd control to lock down the Assassin and prevent them from targeting your mages or rogues.

Specific Combat Tips for Large-Scale Battles:

• Prioritize Threat: Always identify and eliminate the most dangerous enemies first. This typically means Spellbinders, Marksmen, Assassins, and then high-damage demons like Pride or Rage Demons.
• Utilize Terrain: Look for choke points where you can funnel enemies into your AoE abilities. Elevated positions can give archers and mages a significant advantage.
• Combo System: Don't forget the combo system!
  • Weakened + Impact: (e.g., Stonefist on a Weakened enemy) = Shatter (massive damage).
  • Sleep/Stun + Impact: (e.g., Mighty Blow on a Stunned enemy) = Disorient (additional damage, prolonged stun).
  • Shocked + Impact: (e.g., Lunge and Slash on a Shocked enemy) = Discharge (AoE damage).
• Focus Fire: Against tougher enemies or elites, concentrate your party's damage on a single target to quickly remove them from the fight. Use the tactical camera (PC: 'T', Consoles: D-Pad Left) to issue precise commands.
• Barrier Management: Mages should constantly reapply Barrier to the tank and other vulnerable party members. This is your primary defense against overwhelming numbers.
• Healing Potions: Don't be stingy with healing potions. This is the final push, and you'll want to keep your party healthy. Ensure you have a full stock before starting the quest.

Phase 3: The Ascent to Corypheus

With the catapults destroyed, the path to Corypheus's inner sanctum opens. This final stretch involves navigating a series of ramps and corridors, each presenting a new challenge.

1. Corridor Ambush: As you enter the first corridor, you'll be ambushed by a mix of Venatori Zealots (melee) and Horrors (ranged, fear-inducing). Keep your party tightly grouped and use AoE spells to clear them out.
2. Bridge Encounter: A narrow bridge will be guarded by a Despair Demon and two Venatori Mages. The Mages will attempt to cast barriers and offensive spells. Prioritize them to prevent them from buffing the demon or inflicting heavy damage.
3. Final Approach: Before the door to Corypheus’s chamber, you'll face a final, tougher wave: a Pride Demon, two Rage Demons, and a Venatori Spellbinder. This is a high-damage encounter. Use your tank to hold aggro on the Pride Demon, while your damage dealers focus on the Spellbinder and Rage Demons. Utilize any remaining focus abilities here.

Common Pitfalls & Missables:

• Running out of Potions: Ensure you craft and carry the maximum number of healing and regeneration potions. There are no resupply points during the march.
• Ignoring High-Threat Targets: Allowing Spellbinders, Marksmen, or Assassins to operate unchecked can quickly lead to party wipes.
• Lack of Crowd Control: Without effective AoE and crowd control, large groups of enemies can overwhelm your party.
• Forgetting Focus Abilities: Save your powerful focus abilities (e.g., Flask of Fire, Mark of the Rift, Full Draw) for the toughest encounters, especially the final wave before Corypheus.
• Underestimating Demonic Resistance: Many demons have resistances to certain elemental damage types. Diversify your mage's spells or rely on physical damage against them if you notice reduced effectiveness.

Successfully navigating "The Final March" requires a blend of tactical prowess and strategic planning. Keep your party's strengths in mind, adapt to the evolving threats, and push forward with the full might of the Inquisition. The fate of Thedas rests on your shoulders.