If you're using any kind of stagger build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, do this side quest for the Lords of Fortune right away to get a best-in-slot ring

13 hours ago 18

(Image credit: BioWare, Electronic Arts)

If you've been theorycrafting in Dragon Age: The Veilguard any, you'll probably have come to the same realisation I have. Most builds in the game can be split into two categories: Make stuff hurt, or stagger them. Weapons in particular seem evenly split between offering damage values or huge stagger numbers, the latter especially true for the big, stonking two-handers you'll be using (if you've got good taste, that is).

Well, turns out, the game has a killer unique ring for you that's basically best-in-slot for any stagger build, whether you're a based Slayer like me or something lame like a Spellblade Mage (sorry, Robin). It's called the Call of the Hall ring, and it's your new best friend.

The Veilguard, which gives +50% to stagger, takedown damage, and gives a random advantage on takedowns.

To get your mitts on this thing, all you need to do is—after unlocking Taash as a companion—wait until the game gives you The Hall of Valor side quest. Follow the markers, knock over 10 waves of mooks in the arena, and the ring is yours. What's more, none of these enemy waves are particularly challenging; just your garden variety bozos you spend most of your time popping detonations on, anyway.

While a whopping 50% stagger and 50% takedown damage are enough to make this ring sing, the real star here is its unique ability, which gives you a random advantage (that is, a buff) whenever you takedown an enemy. Playing as a Warrior, I've had great success combining this with the Garb of Kinship, which gives me 10% damage for every advantage I've got stacked. Together, I’ve found they’re best served with skills that give me buffs for smashing, slamming, and crushing my enemies into paste.

While you might find some late-game synergies, this ring is likely to be a winner for any stagger build throughout your adventure, thanks to how easy it is to obtain early and how flatly good the bonuses are. Almost every unique in the game comes with some form of downside or trade-off, but not here—The Call of the Hall ring is here to give you maximum walloping potential with no downside. Happy thumping!

Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.

Harvey's history with games started when he first begged his parents for a World of Warcraft subscription aged 12, though he's since been cursed with Final Fantasy 14-brain and a huge crush on G'raha Tia. He made his start as a freelancer, writing for websites like Techradar, The Escapist, Dicebreaker, The Gamer, Into the Spine—and of course, PC Gamer. He'll sink his teeth into anything that looks interesting, though he has a soft spot for RPGs, soulslikes, roguelikes, deckbuilders, MMOs, and weird indie titles. He also plays a shelf load of TTRPGs in his offline time. Don't ask him what his favourite system is, he has too many.