Every Possible Ending to Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts in Dragon Age: Inquisition

One of the more noteworthy main story quests in Dragon Age: Inquisition is Wicked Eyed and Wicked Hearts. This is one of two main quests that triggers following the fall of Haven and the Inquisition’s relocation to Skyhold, and it follows the plot the Herald uncovers in either Champions of the Just or In Hushed Whispers to assassinate Empress Celene and throw Orlais into chaos. Unlike many of the more straightforward main story quests, Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts doesn’t focus its attention on battling enemies. Instead, players spend most of their time playing politics and uncovering several plots by Celene, her cousin Gaspard who claims the throne is his, and Briala, Celene’s jilted Elven lover and former advisor. Players will need to decide who to side with in the fight for the throne and throw the Inquisition’s support and manpower behind one of these three key players.

What makes this quest interesting, in addition to its focus on discovering secrets and snooping around the Winter Palace, is that there is no clear right answer. In fact, the quest could end in one of five different ways, with different benefits and consequences for each. While many of the major decisions in Dragon Age: Inquisition don’t have a clear “right” answer, such as whether to allow Cole to become more human or more spirit or whether to conscript or ally the rebel Mages or Templars, most of the main story missions have clear distinctions between good and evil that make decisions clearer. Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts doesn’t; all three parties are revealed to be complicated people out for their own gain, with good qualities and poor judgement. It is more than likely, however, that the outcome of this quest will have broader implications for Dragon Age 4. For players unsure what to do and who to support during the ball, here is every ending to Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts and how to access them.

All Endings to Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts in Dragon Age: Inquisition

The ending to Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts is largely determined by the Inquisitor’s choices throughout the quest, the kind of blackmail they are able to find while exploring the unauthorized areas of the castle, and the number of Halla statues they manage to find. Additionally, the ending players see hinges on whether they choose to allow Duchess Florianne to attack Celene, speak to Florianne themselves, or order Cullen to have her detained, and how much court approval the Inquisitor has.

Players earn court approval by turning in secrets from eavesdropping and blackmail they find to Leliana, tossing Caprice Coins into the fountain in the garden, and playing The Game, Orlesian politics, properly in their responses to NPCs. Players lose court approval by committing a faux pas in dialogue, and court approval drops like a ticking clock any time players are exploring unauthorized areas of the castle.

Players should note they must have court approval of 85 or greater to publicly out Florianne as a traitor to court and avoid the boss battle and further bloodshed. Players who choose to execute Florianne themselves will not be able to save the Empress’ life.

Outcome 1: Celene survives and rules alone

To get this ending, players must take the following actions:

• Gather evidence against Gaspard.
• Choose “Detain the Duchess,” or, if court approval is high enough, “I’ll talk to Florianne.”

Players can then decide to allow Celene to have Gaspard executed or ask her to spare his life, with various benefits and consequences.

Outcome 2: Celene and Briala are reconciled and rule together; Gaspard is executed

This is a difficult ending, as it requires players to open a specific Halla door in the palace and perform a few extra tasks in the ballroom for it to work. In doing so, players cut off access to completing at least two of the side quests during the ball. To get this ending, players must take the following actions:

• Use 3 Halla statues to open the door to Celene’s vault in the Servant’s Quarters/Grand Apartments upper level and retrieve the Elven locket.
• Speak to Briala about the locket.
• Speak to the Empress’s Ladies in Waiting about the locket. This will trigger a cutscene where the Inquisitor can speak to Celene about the locket.
• Choose “Detain the Duchess,” or, with high enough court approval, “I’ll talk to Florianne.”
• Choose to give Briala credit for rooting out the assassins (the option called, “Briala helped stop Florianne”).
• Use evidence against Gaspard to out him for treason.
• Choose “What about Briala’s reward?”

This will reconcile the couple and give Elves greater visibility and status in Orlais. With this option, players absolutely cannot choose to spare Gaspard. Doing so, rather than requesting Briala be rewarded, will result in Outcome 1 instead, with Celene ruling alone.

Outcome 3: Gaspard rules alone; Celene is assassinated

In this case, the Inquisition can decide Gaspard would be a better ruler for Orlais with a fairer claim to the throne. To get this ending, players must take the following actions:

• Choose “Wait for Florianne to attack,” and allow Celene to be assassinated.
• Defeat Florianne in the boss fight.
• Choose, “Gaspard will be emperor.”
• Use discovered blackmail material to implicate Briala.

Cullen and Cassandra both appear to favor this outcome. It is also a politically sound decision, given the Inquisition is invited to attend the ball in the first place as Gaspard’s guests.

Outcome 4: Gaspard rules as puppet with Briala pulling the strings; Celene is assassinated

Players can put Briala in power without reconciling her relationship with Celene. To get this ending, players must take the following actions:

• Choose “Wait for Florianne to attack,” and allow Celene to be assassinated.
• Defeat Florianne in the boss fight.
• Choose “Briala can take over.”
• Use blackmail material against Gaspard

Gaspard earns his title this way, but Briala and her spy network hold the real power. Cassandra does not at all approve of this move despite her support of Gaspard.

Outcome 5: A public truce; all parties involved work for the Inquisition

This outcome requires similar work to the reconciliation ending. Players must obtain enough Halla statues to enter the Empress’s Private Quarters, obtain blackmail about all three politicians, and have at least 85 court approval. To get this ending, players must take the following actions:

• Collect blackmail material against Gaspard, Celene, and Briala.
• Use five Halla statues to enter the Empress’s Private Quarters, free the tied-up soldier, and ask him to testify against Celene.
• Choose “Detain the Duchess,” or, with high enough court approval, “I’ll talk to Florianne.”
• Use blackmail to publicly accuse all three characters before the court.
• Choose “You work for me now.”

As with the reconciliation outcome, players will want to hold onto their Halla statues and will not be able to enter Celene’s vault or some of the other locked areas in the unauthorized parts of the castle

Players can also ask all of their companions and advisors who they think the Inquisition should support and why. Players can take those answers into account to make the decision that best fits their character’s values.

Each ending comes with a set of new War Table operations, some rewards, and different levels of companion approval. The outcome also affects votes for Cassandra, Leliana, and in the election for who becomes the next Divine.

At the end of the night, the player has one final choice to make: they can decide whether they want to be alone to think about their decision, go straight back to Skyhold, or be held by or share a dance with their love interest.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

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