Dragon Age: Inquisition was not the first game in the franchise to introduce epic dragon fights, but it did take these battles to a whole new level. Scattered across the continent are 11 high dragons, each of them a challenging boss in their own right. Facing off against these dragons yields some epic loot -- if the Inquisitor manages to survive the fight.
The Highland Ravager in Emprise du Lion is the highest ranking dragon in the core game at a whopping level 23. Only Hakkon Wintersbreath, the dragon introduced in the Jaws of Hakkon DLC is more powerful at level 25. But that doesn't make the battle against the Highland Ravager any less daunting.
This dragon makes her home in Leontine's Ring, which looks to be an old arena -- the perfect setting to encounter a high dragon. The Highland Ravager can only be accessed and challenged after the player uses the War Table to restore Judicael's Crossing. Upon entering the newly opened region, the area's dragons can often be spotted circling overhead, but they don't attack until their territory has been breached.
The Ravager shares her territory with two other high dragons, which is not entirely unexpected for their breed. Highland Ravagers tend to be vicious showboats who like to wreak massive destruction on the regions they claim as their own. Those who do share their territory tend to be even more dangerous, as they like to show off and establish their dominance over the other dragons occupying their space.
Because of their fiery temper and breath, the fact that there are two other dragons nearby makes her a remarkably dangerous foe. Not only is she going to attack the moment she spots an intruder, but she'll also be itching to prove her power to the other dragons by being as destructive as possible.
The Highland Ravagers' fire breath means she's immune to fire, so leaving behind mages who specialize in fire damage like Dorian often does is a must. It's also important, especially at higher levels, to bring along fire-resistance potions, otherwise she'll be able to cook the party alive in their armor. She also shoots fireballs, potentially knocking party members low in health instantly unconscious, so having fire-resistance is essential to surviving.
Her fiery nature does make her susceptible to cold damage, so a mage like Vivienne who is skilled in cold magic is perfect to bring into this fight. Weapons enchanted with cold-damage will also give players an edge, so taking time to equip everyone before crossing over to hunt her down is important.
One nice thing about the Highland Ravager fight is that she starts off a little sleepy. Approaching her lair wakes her, but if the party can get into position quickly and start firing off cold attacks before she's fully awake, there's a chance they'll be able to to knock a significant portion off her health meter before she gets her first guard up.
The dragon also regularly generates a guard bar to protect herself, so bringing along a warrior with enhanced shield bash like Blackwall or Cassandra is important for knocking that bar down quickly and exposing her to the party's attacks more regularly. It's also important to focus a good amount of melee damage on her legs, which will eventually make her massive body stumble and fall to the ground. This is awkward for her, and attacks that land while she's prone can do a lot of damage before she gets back up and raises her guard again.
The Highland Ravager also has little dragonlings she can summon to help her in the fight. She throws back her head and lets out a ground-shaking scream, and moments later, a swarm of dragonlings enter the fray to defend her. It is important to dispatch them quickly, otherwise they start to accumulate. Despite their size, they are capable of causing a lot of damage in conjunction with the high dragon's attacks.
Defeating the Highland Ravager takes some strategy and careful planning, but the effort is well worth it for the hefty pile of very rare and valuable loot it yields. The guard belt is worth its weight in gold, as it provides defense for players and party members who can't generate that kind of protection for themselves. There is also a set of masterwork battlemage armor in the pile that really comes in handy for the favored party mage. She also nets the player seven power points and 3600 influence, both of which are necessary for accessing other important parts of the game. Plus, she counts toward the "Dragon Hunter" achievement.