Dragon’s Dogma 2: How to Start Dark Arisen
Find Captain Brant, choose the Norgan or Lost Rites dialogue, and check your save state before beginning the Dark Arisen expansion.
Quick Answer
Visit Captain Brant at the Stardrop Inn in Vernworth at night. The conversation about a new Arisen opens the Norgan story; the conversation about uncovered ruins opens Lost Rites. Check that the expansion is installed for the account you are playing on.
Which conversation should I choose?
| Your goal | Brant’s conversation | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Begin the northern story | About the new Arisen… | Track Chilling Tidings in the quest log. |
| Investigate challenge dungeons | About the uncovered ruins… | Follow the Lost Rites objective. |
These are different starting threads. Selecting the ruins option is not a shortcut to the Norgan story. For a dungeon-first route, read how Lost Rites begins.
What if Brant has no new dialogue?
Check the installed add-on and your story state before treating this as a missing map location. Launch guidance places the conversation in ordinary Vernworth progression. If you are already in the Unmoored World, the cited access guide reports that starting the DLC requires New Game+.
Do not restart a playthrough just to test a menu option: read its save warning first. Story restart choices can replace current quest progress. Use the returning-player checklist before leaving town.
Is level 40 a hard requirement?
The launch guides recommend around level 40 for Norgan and around level 20 for the opening Lost Rites quest. These are preparation targets, not a verified hard level lock.
Do I need the earlier Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen?
No. This guide concerns the expansion for Dragon’s Dogma 2. Check the edition guide before buying an add-on for a similarly named game.
Sources
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Beginner Checklist
Return to Dark Arisen with a clear plan: check your save, review changed skills, prepare your party and choose your first expansion quest.
Read Guide
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Lost Rites Entry
Start Lost Rites through Brant, understand how it differs from the Norgan story, and avoid treating every sealed dungeon door as a bug.
Read Guide
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Norgan Map Help
Choose the correct map for Norgan or the base world, check coverage before following a marker, and connect blocked paths to the right guide.
Read Guide