Dragon’s Dogma 2: Find the Sphinx & Mountain Shrine

To find the Sphinx and reach the Mountain Shrine in Dragon’s Dogma 2, you must first complete the main quest “A Veil of Gossamer” and then travel to the ancient battleground in the far northeast of Vermund, near the border with Battahl. The Sphinx awaits at the top of a rocky plateau, and the Mountain Shrine is the large stone structure directly behind her, which becomes accessible after you solve her riddles.

Background: Who Is the Sphinx?

The Sphinx is a unique, optional boss-like NPC introduced in Dragon’s Dogma 2. She is not part of the main story, but she offers a series of riddles and challenges that reward you with some of the best gear in the game, including the Ring of Ambition and the Risen’s Crown. She is a one-time encounter per playthrough, and her riddles are designed to test your knowledge of the world, your inventory, and even your willingness to sacrifice companions.

Unlike most enemies, the Sphinx does not attack you directly. Instead, she presents you with a series of 10 riddles, each with a time limit. If you answer correctly, you get a reward. If you fail or run out of time, she disappears and you lose the chance to get her rewards for that playthrough. The Mountain Shrine is her lair, and it is also where you can fight her as a boss if you choose the wrong path.

How to Find the Sphinx: Step-by-Step

Finding the Sphinx is a multi-step process that requires you to progress through the main story. Here is the exact route:

1. Complete the main quest “A Veil of Gossamer” in Vermund. This quest unlocks the ability to travel to Battahl and opens up the eastern part of the map.
2. Fast travel to the Mountain Shrine waypoint if you have already discovered it. If not, you need to walk there from the Dragon’s Breath Tower or the Border Watchtower.
3. From the Border Watchtower, head east along the main road. You will pass through a rocky canyon and then cross a bridge. After the bridge, you will see a large stone structure on a hill to your left. That is the Mountain Shrine.
4. Climb the hill to the plateau. The Sphinx is sitting in front of the shrine, waiting for you.

If you have not yet unlocked the area, the fastest way is to take an oxcart from the Vermund capital to the Border Watchtower, then walk east. The journey takes about 10 minutes on foot, but you can use a Ferrystone to teleport to the Mountain Shrine waypoint once you have visited it.

What to Do at the Mountain Shrine

When you first approach the Sphinx, she will speak to you and present the first riddle. You have a real-time timer (about 2 minutes) to answer. The answer is always a specific item from your inventory or a specific action. For example, one riddle asks you to “show me something that is always behind you” – the answer is to turn around and let her see your back. Another asks for “something that is both a weapon and a tool” – the answer is a Pickaxe.

After you answer all 10 riddles correctly, the Sphinx will reward you with the Risen’s Crown, a powerful headpiece. Then, she will move to a second location in the Ancient Battleground (a separate area to the west). If you follow her there and solve more riddles, you can get the Ring of Ambition and eventually fight her.

If you answer a riddle wrong, the Sphinx will disappear, and you will not be able to get her rewards. However, you can still enter the Mountain Shrine behind her. Inside, you will find a chest with a Wakestone and a few other items, but the main prize is the Sphinx’s own rewards.

Common Problems and How to Solve Them

Many players get stuck on specific riddles or cannot find the Sphinx at all. Here are the most common issues:

• Cannot find the Sphinx: You must have completed “A Veil of Gossamer”. If you have not, the Sphinx will not spawn. Also, check that you are at the correct location – the Mountain Shrine is not the same as the Ancient Battleground.
• Riddle timer runs out: The timer is real-time, so do not open your menu and read item descriptions. Memorize the answer or look it up before you start the encounter.
• Wrong answer: If you give the wrong item, the Sphinx will vanish. You can reload your last save to try again, but be aware that autosave may have overwritten your previous position.
• Sphinx moved to the Ancient Battleground: After the first 10 riddles, she will fly to the Ancient Battleground. You can find her there by going to the western edge of the map, past the Dragon’s Breath Tower.

If you are stuck on a specific riddle, the answers are usually tied to items you have picked up during your journey. For example, the riddle “What is the key to a good life?” requires you to use the Key of the Sphinx from your inventory. The riddle “What is the most precious thing?” requires you to give her a Wakestone.

Rewards and Why It Matters

The Sphinx’s rewards are some of the best in the game, and they are worth the effort. Here is what you can get:

• Ring of Ambition: Increases your experience gain by 20%. This is invaluable for leveling up faster.
• Risen’s Crown: A headpiece that boosts your defense and gives a unique appearance.
• Wakestones: Used to revive fallen pawns or yourself.
• Ferrystones: Used for fast travel.

In addition to the items, solving all the riddles gives you a sense of accomplishment and reveals more about the game’s lore. The Sphinx is one of the few NPCs that directly references the cycle of the Dragon and the Arisen, so she is a must-see for lore enthusiasts.

Comparisons: Sphinx vs. Other Optional Bosses

Unlike the Dragon or the Ur-Dragon, the Sphinx is not a combat-focused encounter. She is more of a puzzle boss, similar to the Wyrmking’s Ring quest in the first Dragon’s Dogma. This makes her a unique challenge for players who prefer exploration and problem-solving over combat.

Compared to the Medusa or the Golem, the Sphinx has no health bar and cannot be killed until the very end. This means you cannot cheese her with high-level gear. You must genuinely solve her riddles, which makes her a refreshing change of pace.

Safety and Save Management

Because the Sphinx is a one-time encounter, it is crucial to save before you approach her. Here are some tips:

• Make a manual save before you climb the hill to the Mountain Shrine.
• If you fail a riddle, immediately reload your manual save. Do not rely on autosave, as it may overwrite your pre-encounter state.
• If you are playing on a console, you can also use the cloud save feature to back up your progress.

Also, note that the Sphinx’s riddles require you to have certain items in your inventory. If you have sold or used them, you will not be able to answer correctly. So, before you go, check your inventory for the following: Wakestone, Pickaxe, Key of the Sphinx, and a Ferrystone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I fight the Sphinx?
Yes, but only after you have answered all 10 riddles correctly. She will then move to the Ancient Battleground, where you can choose to fight her. If you defeat her, you get the Risen’s Crown as a drop.

Q: What happens if I fail a riddle?
If you fail a riddle, the Sphinx will disappear, and you will not be able to get her rewards for that playthrough. You can reload your save to try again.

Q: Do I need to complete the main story to find the Sphinx?
No, you only need to complete the quest “A Veil of Gossamer”. This is usually around the midpoint of the main story, but you can do it early if you rush.

Q: Is the Mountain Shrine the same as the Ancient Battleground?
No. The Mountain Shrine is where you first meet the Sphinx. The Ancient Battleground is a separate area to the west, where she moves after you solve the first 10 riddles.

Q: Can I get the Sphinx’s rewards in New Game Plus?
Yes, the Sphinx resets in New Game Plus, so you can do the riddles again and get the rewards again. This is useful if you want multiple Rings of Ambition.

Q: What is the best reward from the Sphinx?
Most players consider the Ring of Ambition the best reward because it gives a permanent 20% experience boost, which speeds up leveling for the entire game.

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