Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen shows off its brutal Relic Expeditions ahead of October Launch

Capcom has given us a much closer look at Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, revealing exactly what you will be getting yourself into when the expansion launches on October 9.

The new Relic Expedition Gameplay Walkthrough focuses on Norgan, a frozen region where simply stepping outside the relative safety of the Norgandian Settlement looks like it could end very badly indeed.

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen’s Relic Expeditions are all about risk and reward

The meat of Dark Arisen’s expansion is the Relic Expedition Cycle, with you heading into Norgan’s frozen wilderness in search of increasingly powerful equipment before attempting to make it safely back home.

You’re going to want to prepare because if you don’t, you might regret it. Before setting off, you’ll need to stock up on provisions, improve your equipment, and rest up at the settlement, as there won’t be many opportunities to relax once the monsters start getting in your face.

Beorcan warriors will attack anyone who strays too close to their firepits, while the enormous Norgan Giant is capable of freezing some unfortunate souls solid with its breath. There’s also the ice dragon Fimbl, which guards some particularly valuable relics for anyone brave enough to take it on.

Combat isn’t the only way to find worthwhile loot, either. Abandoned settlements, caves, and other hidden areas can contain relics, while a direwolf named Freki can point you towards spoils, as long as you can part with some coin.

Once brought back to the settlement, relics can be appraised by the settlement’s matron, Jiera. Their appearance won’t necessarily reveal their true value beforehand, with appraisal potentially transforming seemingly similar relics into very different weapons and armor.

Higher-rarity equipment can provide improved stats alongside completely new abilities or enhancements to skills already used by the Arisen and their Pawn.

Capcom has also released a free Dragon’s Dogma 2 Title Update, adding framerate improvements, additional save slots, and increasing the number of weapon skills that can be assigned.

With the Dark Arisen expansion coming to your screens on October 9, it sounds like there’s never been a better excuse to get accustomed to the game’s controls once again.