Unlocking the World: A Comprehensive Guide to Area Unlock Missions
The vast and perilous continent of Thedas is not fully accessible from the outset of your journey in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Instead, new regions, vital resources, and crucial questlines are gradually unveiled through a series of strategic operations initiated at the War Table. These "Area Unlock Missions" are pivotal for expanding your influence, securing your Inquisition's future, and ultimately, shaping the fate of the world. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of these essential operations, detailing their requirements, costs, and rewards to help you make informed strategic decisions.
Area Unlock Missions are primarily found within the "General Missions" tab or specific regional sections of the War Table. Their activation often hinges on fulfilling certain prerequisites, such as clearing enemy strongholds, establishing a secure foothold in a region, or completing key story objectives. Successfully completing these missions not only grants access to new territories but also provides valuable resources, Influence (essential for leveling up your Inquisition), and sometimes unique items or crafting materials.
Understanding Area Unlock Mission Mechanics
Each Area Unlock Mission has a specific Power cost, a Time cost (representing the in-game duration for the operation to complete), and a set of Prerequisites. These prerequisites can range from controlling specific landmarks within a region to having completed certain quests or having a particular companion in your party. The Category of the mission often indicates the type of benefit you'll receive, such as Connections, Forces, or Secrets.
Key Elements of Area Unlock Missions:
- Power Cost: The primary resource required to initiate an operation. Power is gained through various activities, including completing quests, closing rifts, and undertaking other War Table missions.
- Time Cost: The in-game duration the operation takes to complete. This can range from a few minutes to several hours. During this time, your chosen agent (e.g., Cullen, Leliana, Josephine) will be occupied.
- Prerequisites: Specific conditions that must be met before the mission can be started. These are crucial for unlocking the operation on the War Table.
- Category: The strategic area the operation falls under (e.g., Connections, Forces, Secrets, Trade). This often influences the type of rewards or benefits gained.
- Influence Reward: A direct increase to your Inquisition's Influence, which is used to level up your Inquisition rank, unlocking more powerful War Table operations and perks.
- Other Rewards: This can include crafting materials (e.g., Reagents, Metal, Cloth), gold, experience points, or even unique items and schematics.
Comprehensive List of Area Unlock Missions
Below is a detailed list of common Area Unlock Missions. Note that some missions may have slight variations or additional requirements depending on your specific game progression and choices.
| Operation Name | Power Cost | Time Cost | Prerequisites | Category | Influence Reward | Other Rewards | Strategic Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure the Hinterlands | 0 Power | 10 min | Complete the "In Your Heart Shall Burn" main quest. | General | 25 Influence | 1000 Gold | Essential for accessing the full Hinterlands region and its quests. |
| Secure the Storm Coast | 0 Power | 10 min | Complete the "In Your Heart Shall Burn" main quest. | General | 25 Influence | 1000 Gold | Unlocks the Storm Coast, a region rich in resources and side quests. |
| Secure the Emerald Graves | 0 Power | 10 min | Complete the "Here Lies the Abyss" main quest. | General | 25 Influence | 1000 Gold | Opens up the vast and beautiful Emerald Graves, crucial for story progression and companion quests. |
| Secure the Hissing Wastes | 0 Power | 10 min | Complete the "Here Lies the Abyss" main quest. | General | 25 Influence | 1000 Gold | Grants access to the desert region, important for specific quests and lore. |
| Secure Emprise du Lion | 0 Power | 10 min | Complete the "Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts" main quest. | General | 25 Influence | 1000 Gold | Essential for accessing the challenging Emprise du Lion region and its associated quests. |
| Restore the Port on the Storm Coast | 15 Power | 15 min | Claim the "Storm Coast Lighthouse" Landmark. | Connections | 30 Influence | 3x Reagents, 3x Metal | Improves trade and communication, potentially unlocking new merchant options. |
| Repair Pont Agur | 5 Power | 5 min | Claim the "Pont Agur" Landmark in the Storm Coast. | Trade | 0 Influence | 500 Gold, 2x Metal | Facilitates travel and trade routes within the Storm Coast. |
| Restore Judicael's Crossing | 10 Power | 10 min | Claim the "Judicael's Crossing" Landmark in Emprise du Lion. | Forces | 0 Influence | 2x Metal, 2x Cloth | Secures a strategic point in Emprise du Lion, potentially aiding in future operations there. |
| Establish a Camp in the Western Approach | 5 Power | 5 min | None (available early in the game). | General | 15 Influence | 500 Gold | Allows for basic exploration and questing in the Western Approach. |
| Secure the Western Approach | 15 Power | 15 min | Claim the "Fort Revasan" Landmark in the Western Approach. | General | 25 Influence | 1000 Gold, 2x Reagents | Unlocks the full potential of the Western Approach for quests and resources. |
| A Battalion for Sera and Verchiel | 1 Power | 30 min | Speak to Sera in Skyhold. | Forces | 30 Influence | None | A minor operation that boosts your Inquisition's military strength. |
| Investigate the Fade Rift in the Hinterlands | 5 Power | 5 min | Close the initial Fade Rift in the Hinterlands. | Secrets | 15 Influence | 1x Reagents, 1x Metal | Provides insight into Fade activity and a small resource boost. |
| Clear the Dragon's Tooth | 10 Power | 10 min | Reach the Dragon's Tooth area in the Storm Coast. | Forces | 20 Influence | 2x Metal, 2x Cloth | Removes a threat and potentially opens up further exploration in the Storm Coast. |
Strategic Considerations and Tips
The order in which you tackle Area Unlock Missions can significantly impact your progression. Prioritize missions that:
- Unlock new regions for story quests: If a main quest requires you to go to a specific area, unlocking it should be a high priority.
- Grant access to valuable resources: Regions like the Emerald Graves and Emprise du Lion are rich in high-tier crafting materials essential for creating powerful gear.
- Facilitate companion quests: Many companion quests are tied to specific locations or require you to explore new areas.
- Provide substantial Influence: Regularly completing missions that grant Influence will allow you to level up your Inquisition faster, unlocking more powerful operations and perks.
Common Pitfalls:
- Forgetting about prerequisites: Always check the War Table carefully for any hidden requirements before committing Power.
- Underestimating Time Costs: Some operations take a long time. Plan your War Table assignments to ensure you always have active missions running.
- Ignoring the Storm Coast early on: While it can be a challenging area, the Storm Coast offers valuable resources and unique quest opportunities that are beneficial to pursue once you are adequately prepared.
By strategically utilizing the War Table and understanding the importance of Area Unlock Missions, you can effectively expand your reach across Thedas, gather the necessary resources, and advance your Inquisition's critical mission to save the world.