The Dark Arisen DLC for Dragon's Dogma 2 adds a new region called Norgan, and scattered across its frozen terrain are nine Obelisks, one for each vocation. Each monument permanently upgrades your Arisen's stats and unlocks new combat skills that aren't available anywhere else in the game. Your main pawn receives the same stat bonuses, making these some of the most impactful collectibles in the entire expansion.
How do Obelisks work in Dark Arisen?
Each Obelisk is tied to a specific vocation. When you find one, you can spend Dep (the vocation currency earned by defeating enemies) to purchase the base form of its associated skill. That's the free option, and it's available even if you arrive empty-handed.
The real reward comes from spending an Offering Flame at the Obelisk. Do that, and you unlock both the base skill and its upgraded superior form. You also gain access to a one-time purchasable Stat Enhancement that permanently raises a core stat for the Arisen and main pawn. On top of that, you get a temporary buff that increases rare loot drop rates across Norgan.
Skill purchases cost either 2500 or 5000 Dep. The Stat Enhancement can only be bought once per Obelisk, so there's no reason to delay picking it up.
Where to get Offering Flames
Offering Flames come from completing Lost Rite Trials, the challenge dungeons added to the base game's map after installing the Dark Arisen DLC. Talk to Brant at the tavern to get the location of the first dungeon marked on your map. Clearing it rewards you with a Proving Ground Compass, which then reveals the positions of the remaining Lost Rites. Work through those dungeons to stock up on Offering Flames before heading into Norgan.
Offering Flame item in inventory
All 9 Obelisk locations in Norgan
The table below covers every Obelisk, what it unlocks, and the stat it permanently enhances.
| Obelisk | Location | Skills Unlocked | Stat Enhancement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mage | East of the Norgardian Settlement, requires a climbing rope | Virtuous Bolt / Exalted Bolt | Magick Defense |
| Fighter | North-east of the Mage Obelisk, just off the main road | Whirlwind Strike / Hurricane Strike | Defense |
| Archer | East of Beorcan Stronghold, top of a cliff accessed from the north | Falcon Arrow / Kite Arrow | Stamina |
| Thief | North of the Archer Obelisk, top of a cliff, guarded by enemies | Fanged Schism / Fanged Rift | Strength |
| Sorcerer | South of Beorcan Stronghold, at a cliff's edge | Brontide / High Brontide | Magick |
| Warrior | Mad-Lord's Chapel, up the stairs before the Shrine of Wisdom sage | Iron Cleave / Steel Cleave | Health |
| Mystic Spearhand | Through the northern pass toward the upper map | Bataille Twinne / Bataille Idole | Strength and Defense |
| Magick Archer | Norgan Snowfield, east of the chasm up a hill | Shadebind Bolt / Shadefetter Bolt | Magick and Magick Defense |
| Trickster | East of the Magick Archer Obelisk, circle around the chasm then up the mountain pass | Curing Cloud / Vitalising Vapor + Diverting Fume / Rousing Aroma | Health and Stamina |
Obelisk interaction prompt in Norgan
What skills do the Obelisks unlock?
Every new skill introduced through the Obelisks is exclusive to the Dark Arisen DLC and represents a genuine upgrade for its vocation rather than a sidegrade.
Melee vocation highlights
- Fighter (Whirlwind Strike / Hurricane Strike): A fast sword combo that closes with a powerful slash. Fits naturally into the Fighter's aggressive counter-based playstyle.
- Warrior (Iron Cleave / Steel Cleave): The Arisen drags their two-handed weapon through the ground, then launches the enemy skyward with a final swing. Multi-hit, crowd-clearing, and satisfying to land.
- Thief (Fanged Schism / Fanged Rift): A flip kick into a fire blast. The fire component gives the Thief elemental damage it wouldn't normally have access to.
Ranged and magic vocation highlights
- Mage (Virtuous Bolt / Exalted Bolt): Summons extra projectiles that trigger when you use a core skill. Strong synergy with the Mage's existing rhythm.
- Sorcerer (Brontide / High Brontide): Returns from the original Dragon's Dogma. Summons an electric whip used to lash enemies in a combo. A nostalgia pick that also performs well.
- Magick Archer (Shadebind Bolt / Shadefetter Bolt): A magickal bolt that significantly slows enemy movement. Exceptional for controlling fast or aggressive targets.
- Archer (Falcon Arrow / Kite Arrow): Close-range flip kicks followed by a powerful arrow shot as the Arisen leaps to safety. More mobile than the Archer's standard toolkit.
Hybrid vocation highlights
- Mystic Spearhand (Bataille Twinne / Bataille Idole): Summons a phantom copy of the Arisen that attacks enemies independently for a limited time. One of the more visually distinctive skills in the DLC.
- Trickster (two skills from one Obelisk): The Trickster Obelisk is the only one that offers two separate skill pairs. Curing Cloud / Vitalising Vapor lets the Arisen spend their own health to heal their simulacrum, while Diverting Fume / Rousing Aroma boosts pawn attack power and redirects enemy aggression toward pawns. Both are support-focused and work well together.
Should you prioritize Obelisks or Lost Rites first?
The honest answer is Lost Rites first. Offering Flames only come from those dungeons, and arriving at an Obelisk without one means you miss the Stat Enhancement and the superior skill form. Since the Stat Enhancement can only be purchased once, you want to make sure you have an Offering Flame ready every time you find a new Obelisk.
That said, scouting Obelisk locations early is worthwhile so you know what to expect. The Mage and Fighter Obelisks sit close to the starting area of Norgan and can be reached relatively quickly. The Mystic Spearhand and Trickster Obelisks require pushing deeper into the northern portions of the map, so save those for later in your Norgan exploration.
After testing the Warrior Obelisk fight in Mad-Lord's Chapel, the enemies guarding it hit harder than the surrounding area suggests. Bring a full party and ideally have pawns with healing inclinations before attempting it.
Norgan region map overview
Which stat enhancements matter most?
The Mystic Spearhand Obelisk gives both Strength and Defense, and the Magick Archer Obelisk gives both Magick and Magick Defense. These dual-stat upgrades make those two Obelisks particularly valuable regardless of your current vocation, since the bonuses are permanent and apply to the Arisen across all playthroughs.
For players running physical builds, the Warrior (Health) and Thief (Strength) Obelisks are the most direct damage investments. Magic-focused builds benefit most from the Sorcerer (Magick) and Mage (Magick Defense) Obelisks. The Archer (Stamina) Obelisk is useful for any vocation that relies on dodging or sprinting frequently.
For more on vocations, builds, and everything else the DLC adds, the Dragon's Dogma 2 guides collection has you covered across all content areas. Dragon's Dogma 2 sits comfortably among the best rpg games released in recent years, and the Dark Arisen expansion deepens that foundation considerably.
