How to Boost Your Caretaker Reputation in Dragon Age: The Veilguard
December 3, 2024Building your reputation with the Caretaker in Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn’t just a side hustle—it’s essential for unlocking high-level upgrades that can carry you through the toughest battles. If you’re wondering how to level up that Caretaker Reputation quickly, buckle up. This will teach you strategies for earning those precious points while exploring Thedas.
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Why Caretaker Reputation Matters
The Caretaker isn’t just a friendly face at The Lighthouse, your hub area—he’s your key to upgrading both your gear and your companions. Without levelling up his shop’s rank, you’ll find yourself woefully underpowered for the game’s most challenging encounters.
Each rank unlocks better upgrades, but you’ll need a hefty amount of Caretaker Reputation Points to climb the ranks. And trust me, these points don’t come easy.
The Core Mechanic: Mementos
The primary way to earn Caretaker Reputation Points is by collecting Mementos scattered throughout the world. Each Memento nets you 50 Caretaker Reputation Points, making them your lifeline for levelling up the shop.
What Are Mementos?
Mementos are collectible items that can be found in various locations or purchased from vendors. Once you collect one, it’s added to your Library and automatically boosts your reputation. While each Memento feels like a small win, you’ll need to collect plenty to make a noticeable dent in the required points for upgrades.
Finding Mementos: The Ultimate Hunt
Hidden in Plain Sight
Mementos often hide in plain view, waiting to be discovered:
- Look for them sitting on tables in faction headquarters or tucked away in rooms you might otherwise skip.
- Break open boxes and crates in cities, as these often conceal Mementos amidst the clutter.
Purchasing from Vendors
Faction vendors sometimes sell Mementos for 150 gold. While it may seem pricey, these purchased items work the same as any other Memento and grant the same 50 Caretaker Reputation Points. If you’ve got the coin, this is a quick and reliable way to boost your reputation without scouring the map.
Explore Everything
Mementos can appear anywhere, so don’t rush through quests. Pay attention to your surroundings, especially after finishing key objectives. Some quests conveniently place Mementos in your path as rewards for your exploration and persistence.
Story Quests: A Bonus Boost
Certain story quests also reward you with Caretaker Reputation Points—sometimes in the hundreds. While these aren’t frequent enough to rely on for consistent levelling, they’re a nice bonus when they appear. Celebrate these wins, but don’t depend on them to carry your reputation grind.
The Grind to Rank Up
Reaching Rank 2 with the Caretaker requires 750 Reputation Points, which means collecting at least 15 Mementos (or combining Mementos with quest rewards). This can feel daunting at first, but once the game opens up after the initial story quests, Mementos become more accessible.
Pro Tip
Focus on areas with dense exploration opportunities, such as faction headquarters or cities, where you’re likely to find multiple Mementos in a single outing.
By improving your relationship with the Caretaker, you unlock better upgrades that can significantly impact your combat performance. These aren’t just nice-to-have enhancements—they’re game-changers, especially when facing tougher bosses or advanced enemy factions.
Ignoring the Caretaker’s shop might leave you struggling in late-game scenarios, where every bit of extra power and defence counts.