How to start the Dark Arisen DLC: Brant location, night requirement, level 40/20 guide and quest fixes.
How to Start Dark Arisen DLC: Brant Location & Requirements
To start the Dark Arisen DLC, reach Vernworth in the main story, then talk to Captain Brant inside the Stardrop Inn at night and choose "About the new Arisen...". That conversation starts the DLC's opening quest, which opens the Lost Rites trials, with Norgan following as the second stage. If Brant shows no DLC dialogue, the usual causes are visiting during the day, missing story progress, or the DLC not being installed.
Where to Find Brant: Stardrop Inn at Night
Captain Brant is the single contact for all Dark Arisen content. Capcom's official wording is short: after arriving in Vernworth, speak with Brant at the tavern. Player testing reported by multiple outlets adds the two details the official line leaves out: he must be visited at the Stardrop Inn specifically, and he must be visited at night.
Official source: Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen official site
Follow these steps:
- Travel to Vernworth, the capital of Vermund.
- Wait until nightfall by resting at an inn or dozing.
- Enter the Stardrop Inn tavern and find Captain Brant inside.
- Talk to him and select "About the new Arisen...".
- Accept the DLC's opening quest from his dialogue menu.
Brant keeps his nighttime tavern routine, so if you rest to pass time, do it at an inn and come back after dark.
Brant is the same NPC in the same building you already know from the main story. The only change is the new dialogue option, which appears once the DLC is installed and the story prerequisite below is met.
Story Prerequisite: How Far You Must Be
The DLC unlocks early, but not immediately. Capcom and player guides agree: you must reach Vernworth in the main story, around the "Seat of the Sovran" stage, before Brant offers anything about the new Arisen.
| Requirement | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Own the DLC or bundle | Standalone Dark Arisen expansion, the base game plus DLC bundle, or the Switch 2 bundle | Official store pages |
| Reach Vernworth | Progress the main story to the capital during Seat of the Sovran | Official Q&A, player guides |
| Talk to Brant at the tavern | Stardrop Inn, at night, "About the new Arisen..." | Player guides (VGC, Game8) |
| Updated game | Title Update 4.0 shipped alongside the DLC on October 9, 2026 | Official update page |
There is no separate menu toggle and no new fast-travel point. Everything flows through that one Brant conversation, which is why most "I cannot start the DLC" reports turn out to be a missed prerequisite. Fresh saves should expect several hours of base game first. For what the expansion adds, see the Dark Arisen DLC overview.
The Two DLC Entry Paths Through Brant
Brant does not send you straight into the snow. The DLC opens in two stages through him: first the Lost Rites trial dungeons across the base-game map, then the expedition to Norgan, the Forsaken Dominion far north of Vermund.
| DLC path | What it is | How it unlocks | Recommended level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Rites trials | 12 dungeon challenges across Vermund and Battahl, framed as the Pathfinder's trials | First Brant conversation, starting the DLC questline | 20 |
| Forsaken Dominion (Norgan) | New snowy region with the relic expedition loop and the Fallen Dragon storyline | Second stage via Brant, after the opening DLC questline advances | 40 |
The levels come from the DLC's producer as guidance, not hard gates. Players below the suggested level can still enter, but Norgan's late-game encounters assume a developed character, while the Lost Rites are tuned as mid-game content. If you are unsure which to tackle first, the Dark Arisen level guide compares both paths in detail, and the Lost Rites dungeon guide covers all 12 trial locations.
The Forsaken Dominion is balanced around level 40 characters with upgraded gear. Heading north the moment the DLC unlocks is the most common way to hit a wall. Clear some Lost Rites trials first, appraise the relics you find, and treat Norgan as the second act of the expansion.
Recommended Level: 20 for Lost Rites, 40 for Norgan
Capcom's pre-launch Q&A repeats the same guidance: around level 20 for the Lost Rites, around level 40 for the Forsaken Dominion. As of the Dark Arisen launch on October 9, 2026, no official source calls these enforced minimums, so read them as tuning targets.
What each number means in practice:
- Level 20 (Lost Rites): a character through the early Vernworth quests with a leveled vocation and full pawn party can attempt the trials. Trial gear becomes your stepping stone toward Norgan.
- Level 40 (Norgan): maxed or near-maxed vocations, upgraded equipment, and stocked curatives and Ferrystones. The expedition loop expects long trips, relic hauls, and brand-new monsters.
- Below the suggestion: you can still enter, but expect punishing damage. Leave, level up, and return with no shame.
Switch 2 newcomers and returning veterans face different prep problems, so the beginner tips for Norgan checklist covers gear, vocations, money, and Ferrystones.
Brant Has No Quest Option: Fixes That Work
This is the most reported Dark Arisen problem in the launch window. Work through the causes below in order before assuming your install is broken.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No "About the new Arisen..." option | It is daytime | Return at night; Brant only offers DLC dialogue after dark |
| Brant is not in the tavern | Wrong building or wrong time | Go to the Stardrop Inn in Vernworth specifically, at night |
| No DLC dialogue at all | Story not far enough | Advance the main quest to Vernworth / Seat of the Sovran, then return |
| No DLC dialogue, story is far enough | DLC not installed or not entitled | Confirm the expansion shows as installed; on PS5 check Manage Game Content, on Steam check the DLC list, on Xbox check Manage game and add-ons |
| Quest started but second stage never triggers | Progression step missed | Advance the opening DLC questline, rest at an inn if needed, then talk to Brant again |
| PS5: Brant still offers nothing after all of the above | Community-reported platform hiccup | Fully close the game, verify the DLC is enabled under Manage Game Content, restart, and check licenses; this fix is community-reported, not an official statement |
Edge cases: Switch 2 only has the all-in-one bundle, so entitlement issues should be rare there, but night and story requirements still apply. Base game and DLC on different platforms do not combine, and no cross-save has been announced. For dungeon doors or save trouble, see the troubleshooting guide.
Launch-week sources report an opening quest name for the Brant conversation, but it is not yet cross-verified to this guide's standard, so this page describes the opener as the DLC's opening quest and later steps by stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to finish the base game before starting Dark Arisen?
No. The DLC is picked up early, once you reach Vernworth. Finishing the campaign first is fine too; overleveled characters will simply find the Lost Rites easier.
Does it matter whether I visit Brant during the day?
Yes. Multiple player guides agree Brant only offers the DLC dialogue at night inside the Stardrop Inn. If the option is missing, the time of day is the first thing to check.
What level should I be for Norgan?
Around level 40, per the producer's recommendation. Around level 20 is the suggestion for the Lost Rites trials. Both are guidelines rather than locked requirements.
Can I start the DLC on a brand-new character?
Yes, but a fresh character still has to reach Vernworth before Brant cooperates. Title Update 4.0 also added the option to restart with your current save data.
Why does Brant have no quest on PS5?
Assuming the DLC is installed, the cause is almost always daytime or story progress. A smaller number of PS5 players report needing a full game restart with the DLC re-enabled under Manage Game Content. That last fix is community-reported rather than official.
Related
- Dark Arisen DLC Guide: Release Date, Price & New Content
- Dark Arisen Level Requirement: When to Enter Norgan
- Lost Rites Dungeons: All 12 Locations & Rewards
- Norgan Region Guide: Map, Story & Exploration
- 15 Beginner Tips Before Entering Norgan
- Troubleshooting: DLC Access & Common Fixes
- Eternal Ferrystone: Unlimited Fast Travel Guide
More Dark Arisen coverage lives on dragondogma2.wiki. External references: official Dark Arisen site, VGC how-to-start guide, Game8 DLC unlock walkthrough.
More Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Guides
How to unlock transmog in Dark Arisen: Reaching the Far Shore quest, Hal location and Relic gear limits.
How to change appearance: character creator, mid-game changes, pawn looks, new hairstyles and tattoos.
Best vocations tier list for Dark Arisen: new skills impact, Norgan picks and pawn choices ranked.
Best weapons and armor in Dark Arisen: top Relic gear, appraisal priority and progression loadouts.
Hard Mode guide: how to enable, difficulty changes, old saves, and whether to start fresh or NG+.
All new vocation skills in Dark Arisen: what each of the 10 vocations gets and where to learn them.
Beginner tips for Dark Arisen: what to do first, prep checklist, vocations, ferrystone and money guide.
Does Dragon's Dogma 2 have cross save? Cross-progression status across PC, PS5, Xbox and Switch 2.