Dragon Age Veilguard Lucanis romance guide
Here's your cheat sheet to romancing this grizzled assassin
Wondering how to secure a Lucanis romance in Dragon Age Veilguard? Lucanis has a slow-burn romance in Dragon Age: The Veilguard and it can be completely missed depending on your gameplay decisions. Despite this, he is one of the most popular characters to romance out of the 7 available - and for good reason.
Lucanis is an Antivan Crow with a dark past and an even darker alter ego. Known as the 'Mage Killer,' this loveable rogue has a complicated story and a softer coffee-loving side to him.
If you'd like to know what it takes to tame the heart of a damaged soul like Lucanis, stick around. Below we've listed all the key decisions and dialogue you need to pick to commit to a successful Lucanis romance in Dragon Age Veilguard. As such, beware of early gameplay spoilers from around the 10-15 hour mark.
How to romance Lucanis
The key prerequisites to a Lucanis romance in Dragon Age Veilguard are:
- Save Treviso instead of Minrathous
- Get Lucanis a gift
- Choose romantic dialogue options
- Commit to a Lucanis romance after the 'Inner Demons' quest
Lucanis can be recruited by following the questline into Treviso and completing the 'Sea of Blood' quest. Once recruited, he offers the Companion Quest 'Coffee with the Crows'. Like Neve, make sure you complete this quest before completing 'A Warden's Best Friend' and recruiting Davrin or you can lock yourself out of it and miss an opportunity to bond with him.
Lucanis spends his time in the Pantry behind the Lighthouse Dining Hall. Check back here after completing major questlines for more dialogue and cutscenes with him. If there is one available he may have a speech bubble or exclamation mark on his icon on the map.
As a slow-burn romance, you'll need to chip away at Lucanis before you receive any romance scenes. He won't begin to warm to you really until you complete the 'Bloodbath' story quest, (which becomes available after 'The Siege of Weisshaupt').
Choose to save Treviso over Minrathous
One key moment to take into consideration when romancing Lucanis happens around the 15-hour mark. After recruiting Davrin via the 'A Warden's Best Friend' quest, Rook has to choose between travelling to Minrathous or Treviso to lend the city some aid. If you choose Minrathous over Treviso, Lucanis will temporarily leave the Lighthouse and then return once Emmrich and Taash have been recruited (if you choose Treviso over Minrathous, Neve will leave instead).
Upon return, Lucanis will have 'hardened', meaning it will take more points to level up his Bond Rank. He will also be locked out of healing abilities, and some of his more aggressive combat abilities will be strengthened. Crucially, he will no longer be romanceable, even if you started a flirtatious relationship with him previously.
Throughout multiple playthroughs I managed to confirm that Neve can still be romanced if you save Treviso (as long as you prove your devotion to her and Minrathous in subsequent choices), but the same cannot be said for Lucanis. As such, you should choose to save Treviso if you have any intention of romancing Lucanis.
Interestingly, you may not get the 'Inner Demons' companion quest from Lucanis either (if you do not save Treviso) and instead, you may skip ahead to the 'A Murder of Crows' quest. Additionally, if you pick to save Minrathous, you won't be able to access The Crows merchant for a while, which means you may be locked out of acquiring Lucanis' gift (the Antivan Tea Set). So, make sure you get this first, before making this crucial choice.
Where to get the Lucanis gift
As mentioned above, each companion has a 'gift' you can acquire. Not only will you earn favour with them once you give them their gift, but they will also put them in their rooms for decoration. In Lucanis' case, you can buy the 'Antivan Tea Set' gift from The Crows merchant in Treviso.
This merchant is located with the Crows Diamond headquarters, near Teia and Viago. The gift can be bought for 90 gold and 10 Flawless Crystals (which can be collected from exploring, opening chests and bought off merchants).
Lucanis romance dialogue choices
To show you're interested in a romance with Lucanis, choose the following dialogue when prompted:
| Dialogue choice | When it is available |
|---|---|
| Should you be alone now? | Towards the end of 'The Sea of Blood' quest. |
| I admire your courage | After speaking with Lucanis at the lighthouse after 'The Sea of Blood' quest. |
| Like a kiss goodbye, huh? | During the 'Coffee with the Crows' Companion Quest. |
| I'm glad you made it back | Speak to Lucanis at the Lighthouse after completing 'The Siege of Weisshaupt' main quest. |
| We'll stop her. Together | Speak to Lucanis at the Lighthouse after completing 'The Siege of Weisshaupt' main quest (may need to reload the area). |
| It doesn't change how I feel | Speak to Lucanis at the Lighthouse after completing the 'Bloodbath' main quest. |
| I was looking for you | During the 'Inner Demons' Companion Quest. |
| We're both just fine | During the 'Inner Demons' Companion Quest. |
How to commit to a Lucanis romance
Lucanis' key moments for locking in a romance happen after completing both the 'Bloodbath' and 'Cauldron' story quests. Check in with him at the Lighthouse after doing so. What will follow is another interaction with Spite, and then you'll have the following dialogue options:
- I don't mind: Express romantic interest in Lucanis.
- I'm sorry: Cut off possible romance with Lucanis.
- Could be worse, right? Cut off possible romance with Lucanis.
- Don't be so damned proud: Cut off possible romance with Lucanis.
If you choose the 'I don't mind' option, and subsequently choose 'I like messes', you won't commit to a relationship right away, but flirting can continue and Lucanis' Bond Rank caption will be 'Flirting with Danger'.
To commit to the romance fully, you need to reach the point in the story where you have completed the 'Unwanted Guests' main quest in Arlathan and received the 'Inner Demons' quest. (Make sure you load the Lighthouse area until you get the cutscene of Emmrich and Lucanis speaking to Zara's corpse).
Once you complete 'Inner Demons', visit Lucanis in the kitchen and he will offer the following dialogue choices (if you choose to save Minrathous you won't get the Inner Demons quest nor the chance for this dialogue):
- You're sweet, you know: Commit to an exclusive romance with Lucanis.
- You're too talented: Cut off a possible romance with Lucanis.
- We don't pay you enough: Cut off a possible romance with Lucanis.
- Thank you: Cut off a possible romance with Lucanis.
Once you commit to Lucanis, his title in the 'Companions' menu will change to 'Dancing with a Demon' and you won't be able to explore other romantic connections any more.
Don't worry - the romance doesn't end there! You'll have the opportunity to - ahem - really connect with Lucanis before the final showdown, as is the way with most Dragon Age games. Without treading into major spoilery territory, this will be the night before the final main questline comes to a conclusion.
That rounds up our guide on romancing Lucanis in Dragon Age Veilguard. For more Dragon Age Veilguard tips and tricks, check out our guide to the best Faction in the game, best Class, or see our guide to upgrading gear.