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To start Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, travel to Vernworth after dark, enter The Stardrop Inn and speak with Captain Brant. Choose “About the new Arisen…” to begin Chilling Tidings, the route into Norgan and the Forsaken Dominion story. Choose “About the uncovered ruins…” to begin Lost Rites, a separate series of 12 endgame dungeon challenges. The expansion recommends level 40 but does not require it, and reaching the Unmoored World prevents access until you start New Game+.
The two ways to start the expansion
The paid expansion is titled Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen and launched on October 9, 2026. Its opening is handled through Captain Brant rather than a separate title-screen campaign. Both entry points are in the same conversation at The Stardrop Inn, but they do not start the same content.
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| Route | Exact dialogue at Brant | Quest started | What it opens | Recommended timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forsaken Dominion | “About the new Arisen…” | Chilling Tidings | Norgan’s new-region story, featuring Eir and the Fallen Dragon | Level 40 is recommended for the expansion and Norgan, although earlier access is possible |
| Lost Rites | “About the uncovered ruins…” | Lost Rites | 12 new dungeon challenges placed in the existing game world | Difficulty varies by dungeon; there is no single level recommendation for all 12 |
The dialogue wording and the two separate quest routes are documented in PC Gamer’s launch guide. The official expansion listing and Capcom’s announcement describe Norgan, the relic-appraisal system, and the 12 Lost Rites dungeons in the PlayStation Store listing and Capcom’s PlayStation.Blog overview.
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You need the base game and the expansion
The PS5 store listing states that the expansion cannot be used without Dragon’s Dogma 2. It is presented as an add-on for existing owners and as part of a bundle for people buying the game and expansion together. The supplied listings establish the PS5 product; they do not establish a physical edition or availability through any particular retailer, so verify the platform’s current product page before purchasing.
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Install the latest patch
The same listing advises updating Dragon’s Dogma 2 to the latest patch. If the new conversation options do not appear, finish the update and restart the game before changing your save or abandoning the search for Brant. The expansion launched on October 9, 2026, so a disc or download installed before that date may need additional update data.
Level 40 is guidance, not a gate
PC Gamer describes level 40 as the recommended level for the expansion and Norgan. It also says Norgan can be accessed earlier, while the individual Lost Rites dungeons differ in difficulty. Treat level 40 as a readiness benchmark for the story route, not as a condition that unlocks the conversation. A lower-level character can try the route, but should expect the usual consequences of entering content intended for a stronger character.
Check which world state your save is in
Your position in the main game matters more than your level if you have reached the Unmoored World. Once there, you cannot begin the DLC in that playthrough. PC Gamer reports that access becomes available after starting New Game+ instead. Read the save-transition section below before selecting that option: it carries over your level, equipment and items, but resets quest progress and quest items.
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Step-by-step: start Chilling Tidings and reach Norgan
Use this route for the Forsaken Dominion story in the new region. The trigger is available at night and is tied to one exact line from Brant.
- Return to Vernworth. Travel to the capital rather than searching in Norgan or at another inn. The documented starting point is Vernworth.
- Wait until nighttime. Captain Brant’s DLC conversation is reported at The Stardrop Inn at night. If it is daytime, use the game’s normal time-passing option and return after dark.
- Enter The Stardrop Inn. Look for Captain Brant inside. The location is the inn itself, not a general marker elsewhere in the city.
- Speak with Captain Brant. Open his available dialogue and look specifically for “About the new Arisen…”. The wording matters; it is not interchangeable with the ruins option.
- Select that line. Choosing it starts Chilling Tidings. This is the quest that sends you toward Norgan and the Forsaken Dominion story.
- Follow the quest objective into Norgan. The route introduces the new region’s narrative, including Eir and the Fallen Dragon. Your level, gear and healing supplies remain your practical preparation concerns; the documented unlock itself is the conversation with Brant.
Norgan is not simply another dungeon list. It is the expansion’s new-region story space, and the official material specifically identifies relics recovered there that can be appraised for stronger weapons and armor. The listing also calls out additional hairstyles and tattoos, so character customization is part of the expansion’s additions rather than a separate unlock route.
Step-by-step: start the 12 Lost Rites dungeons
Choose this route when you want the dungeon challenges rather than the Norgan story opening. Lost Rites uses the same NPC and location but a different conversation branch.
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- Go to Vernworth. The starting city is the same as for Chilling Tidings.
- Arrive at The Stardrop Inn at night. Brant’s new options are reported in this nighttime setting.
- Talk to Captain Brant. Review the two newly available DLC lines instead of selecting the first one automatically.
- Select “About the uncovered ruins…”. This exact option starts the Lost Rites quest line.
- Proceed to the challenge objectives. Lost Rites consists of 12 unique dungeon challenges located in the existing game world, rather than a single continuous region. Capcom’s description confirms the count of 12, while the launch guide notes that their difficulty varies.
Because the dungeons do not share one stated difficulty, plan to reassess after each challenge. A character near the level-40 recommendation may be suitably prepared for the expansion overall but still find that one Lost Rites dungeon is a poor match for current equipment or party composition. The available sources do not provide a dungeon-by-dungeon level table, so do not treat level 40 as a promise that every challenge will be equally easy.
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Which dialogue option should you choose first?
| If your priority is… | Choose… | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| A new area and a continuing narrative | “About the new Arisen…” | It starts Chilling Tidings and leads to Norgan’s Forsaken Dominion story. |
| Combat-focused repeatable objectives in familiar territory | “About the uncovered ruins…” | It starts Lost Rites, the line for 12 dungeons in the existing world. |
| Trying the content below level 40 | Either line, with caution | Level 40 is recommended, not required; Lost Rites difficulty is uneven by dungeon. |
These are two entry points into one expansion, not competing editions or mutually exclusive purchases. The key decision is whether you want Norgan’s story first or the dungeon challenges first. The supplied launch information does not state that selecting one option permanently removes the other, so avoid assuming a lockout or promising a particular order. If both options are present, record your choice and follow the resulting quest objectives before switching focus.
What changes if you have reached the Unmoored World?
The Unmoored World is the important exception to the normal Brant procedure. According to PC Gamer’s guide, a character that has reached it cannot begin the DLC in that current playthrough. Waiting at the inn, changing the time of day or trying the other dialogue option will not bypass that story-state restriction.
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The New Game+ route
To make the expansion available, the guide describes using the game’s “Change save slot” option to begin a new playthrough from your existing save. This is a consequential transition, not a simple return to an earlier checkpoint.
- Carries over: your level, equipment and items.
- Resets: quest progress and quest items.
- Unlock result: after entering the new playthrough, the DLC can be started through Brant in Vernworth at night.
Because quest progress resets, make a deliberate record of unfinished objectives, relationship or escort plans and any quest-specific items you still need in the current cycle. Do not select “Change save slot” merely because Brant’s options are missing until you have confirmed that the save is in the Unmoored World and that you accept the reset. The carry-over of equipment and levels helps you begin the new cycle with your existing power, but it does not preserve the old cycle’s narrative state.
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Forsaken Dominion in Norgan
Chilling Tidings is the story-facing route. It leads to Norgan, where the Forsaken Dominion narrative involves Eir and the Fallen Dragon. The region is the main destination for players seeking new setting, characters and plot rather than a sequence of isolated arenas.
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Relics recovered in Norgan can be appraised to earn stronger weapons and armor, according to the PlayStation Blog description. That makes exploration relevant even if your immediate objective is the story: relics are not merely collectibles, but part of the equipment progression described for the region. The official listing also identifies newly added hairstyles and tattoos, giving you additional appearance options alongside the combat and story content.
Lost Rites’ 12 dungeon challenges
Lost Rites is the challenge-focused route. Capcom’s announcement calls these “12 new unique dungeons,” and the official listing places them in the expansion’s endgame offering. They are set in the existing game world, so unlocking this line does not require treating every objective as a trip to Norgan.
The dungeons vary in difficulty. Use the route as a progression ladder rather than assuming all 12 are calibrated to the same character strength. If one challenge overwhelms your current build, return to equipment upgrades, party preparation or the Norgan route and try again later; the available material does not establish a mandatory order among the 12 challenges.
Troubleshooting: Brant’s DLC options are missing
- Confirm the time. The documented trigger is at nighttime. Leave the inn, advance time, and speak with Brant again after dark.
- Confirm the place. You need Captain Brant at The Stardrop Inn in Vernworth, not another inn or a different city NPC.
- Confirm the patch. Update the base game to the latest available patch, as advised by the PS5 store listing, then restart the game.
- Confirm ownership and installation. The expansion requires Dragon’s Dogma 2; make sure the add-on is installed on the same platform account as the base game.
- Check the dialogue wording. The story route is “About the new Arisen…”. The dungeon route is “About the uncovered ruins…”. If you are expecting Norgan after choosing the ruins line, you selected the other branch.
- Check for the Unmoored World state. If you have reached that state, the guide says DLC access waits until New Game+. Do not keep repeating the inn visit as though it were a normal missing-NPC bug.
- Check your expectations about level. Being below 40 does not by itself explain a missing option, because level 40 is a recommendation rather than a stated requirement.
If all of these checks pass and the options still do not appear, the supplied launch sources do not document another prerequisite or a separate trigger quest. Avoid inventing one or deleting your save; verify the platform’s installation status and consult the game’s current support information for a version-specific issue.
A practical order for a new expansion playthrough
- Update first. Install the latest patch and confirm that the expansion is available to the same base-game account.
- Assess your save state. If you are not in the Unmoored World, keep the current playthrough and travel to Vernworth. If you are, decide whether the New Game+ reset is acceptable.
- Use the level recommendation as a readiness check. Aim for approximately level 40 for the broadest margin in Norgan, while remembering that earlier access is allowed.
- Choose the content that matches your goal. Select “About the new Arisen…” for Norgan’s story, or “About the uncovered ruins…” for Lost Rites.
- Prepare for the specific route. For Norgan, leave room to explore and appraise relics. For Lost Rites, expect uneven dungeon difficulty and adjust after each challenge.
- Protect your save decision. Treat “Change save slot” as a new-cycle transition because quest progress and quest items reset even though level, equipment and items carry over.
Release and platform notes
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is a paid expansion for the existing game. The official PS5 listing identifies the base-game requirement and the need to update if necessary. It also presents a bundle for new players, while the PlayStation Blog describes the expansion as standalone content for existing owners. Those sources do not establish Amazon availability or a verified physical release, so the safest purchasing step is to use the platform listing for your edition and region.
The launch date is October 9, 2026. Content details in the official materials include Norgan, relic appraisal for stronger weapons and armor, new hairstyles and tattoos, and 12 Lost Rites dungeons. The practical unlock remains the same: nighttime, The Stardrop Inn, Captain Brant, and the dialogue line matching the content you want.
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