Ruins Upper Level

Guide to the Ruins Upper Level in Dragon Age: Origins. Find secret passages, loot chests, disarm traps, and defeat the Dragon to proceed.

Alright, so you've made it to the Ruins Upper Level. It's not too complicated, but there are a few things to watch out for. First things first, head down those steps and give that pile of bones a good loot. You never know what you might find!

Now, pay attention: approach the north wall. You'll notice a secret passageway there, and it's packed with skeletons. Inside this northern secret area, there's a chest waiting for you. Don't miss it – it contains a Love Letter.

Head back down the steps. Some Werewolves are going to jump you here, so be ready to fight. After you've dealt with them, loot the pile of filth and rubble nearby. Then, check out the southern area. You'll find another secret door. Inside, there are two piles of bones. Open that door and hang a right. You'll see more rubble, and then you can head back up. Watch out, because spiders have decided to make this place their home too!

Keep going straight into the next room. You'll find a pile of bones, a cocoon, and another chest. The room to the north has three cocoons, two more piles of bones, and yet another chest. The southern area here is a real pain because it's layered with traps. You'll get a nice chunk of experience for disarming them all, but be super careful – there's a Dragon lurking around.

Warning: That Dragon room is nasty. It's covered in traps, so tread very carefully. The Dragon itself is a tough fight, so make sure you're prepared before you go in.

Once you've managed to slay the Dragon, take a moment to loot the Knight, dwarf, and soldier corpses scattered around. The next section of the room has two more chests and a Dragon Hoard, which is usually packed with good stuff like weapons, gems, and a decent amount of gold. After you've grabbed all that, you can proceed to the lower levels.