Primary Questline Overview
The RuneScape: Dragonwilds questline is structured into Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary quests. To progress through the main story and unlock new regions, players must complete Primary Quests in a specific order, as each subsequent quest requires the completion of the previous one. Secondary Quests offer personalized stories, introduce new mechanics, or unlock recipes, while Tertiary Quests are triggered by specific Primary Quests.
The main narrative of RuneScape: Dragonwilds is driven by its Primary Quests, which guide players through the game world and open up new areas and regions. These quests are essential for overall progression and culminate in the objective to defeat General Velgar. The progression is linear, meaning you cannot start a later Primary Quest without finishing its predecessor. This structured approach ensures players experience the story and world in a designed sequence.
Detailed Primary Quest Progression
The Primary Questline begins with a tutorial phase and gradually leads players through various regions of Ashenfall. The following table outlines the initial Primary Quests, their starting locations, and key objectives within the early chapters of the game.
| Quest Type | Quest Name | Region | Where to Start | Key Objectives (Early Game) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary/Tutorial | First Steps | Temple Woods | Automatically started | Speak to Wise Old Man, then Doric |
| Primary/Tutorial | Getting Started | Temple Woods | Doric (outside Temple) | Complete tutorial basics |
| Primary/Tutorial | Ratcatcher | Temple Woods | Vannaka (near old windmill) | Complete rat-catching tasks |
| Primary/Tutorial | Rune Mysteries | Temple Woods | Zanik (path to Bramblemead Valley) | Investigate rune origins |
| Primary | Dragon Slayer | Brynmoor / Ghornfell | Wise Old Man (Bramblemead Village) | Read lore book at goblin castle, find Spitfoot in Whispering Swamp Vault |
| Primary | Withering Heights | Fellhollow | Wise Old Man (near Ashien’s Watch) | (Details not specified) |
| Primary | Black Knight’s Fortress | Dowdun Reach | Death (Forgotten Temple) | (Details not specified) |
| Primary | Icthlarin’s Little Helper | Umbral Sands | Interact with Door to Umbral Sands | (Details not specified) |
The early game progression, as detailed in the “Walkthrough and Progression Guide,” provides a clear path for new players. After completing the initial tutorial quests in Temple Woods, you will meet the Wise Old Man again in Bramblemead Valley to start “The First Steps” main quest. This chapter involves establishing a base, crafting essential gear like an Ash Shortbow, arrows, a Wooden Shield, and a Bone Dagger. Progression into “Dragon Slayer” requires reading a lore book at the goblin castle. Further steps include hunting deer and cows for Animal Hide and Bone, building a Tannery to process hides into Leather, and crafting the Reinforced Armor Set, a Leather Shield, and a Bone Club. Raiding the South Temple Woods Vault for a Vault Core is also a key early objective, with blunt weapons being effective against its guardians. Players are advised to build Lodestones near their base before advancing the main story to facilitate fast travel.
Chapter 2, Whispering Swamp, continues the “Dragon Slayer” quest by directing players to the Whispering Swamp Vault to find Spitfoot. It’s crucial to interact with the Dragonkin Effigy in the boss room to obtain the recipe for the Anti-Dragon Shield. Players should also gather clay to build a Kiln for crafting Adhesive, Charcoal, Clay Vessels, and Wild Anima, and then build a Furnace for gear upgrades. Before moving to Fractured Plains, collecting Harralander, Bittercap Mushrooms, and Swamp Tar is recommended for crafting Weak Antipoison Potions. Chapter 3, Fractured Plains, involves scouting for Copper Ore and Tin Deposits, building a Lodestone, and smelting Bronze Bars to craft a Smithing Anvil.
Secondary Quests and Their Benefits
Secondary Quests in RuneScape: Dragonwilds offer additional content, personalized stories, and often introduce new game mechanics or provide recipes for special items that enhance combat. These quests are generally optional but contribute to a richer gaming experience and can provide valuable rewards like XP, niche gear, or crafting recipes. Unlike Primary Quests, Secondary Quests can sometimes be locked until certain Primary Quests are completed or a new region is unlocked.
| Quest Type | Quest Name | Region | Where to Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary/Tutorial | Growing Pains | Brynmoor | Wise Old Man (Bramblemead Village) |
| Secondary | Shrimp Catcher | (Not specified) | (Not specified) |
| Secondary | Restless Ghosts | Brynmoor | Interact with crumbling well (Bramblemead Village) |
| Secondary | Goblin Diplomacy | Brynmoor | Zanik (Bramblemead Valley) |
| Secondary | Highlighting the Problem | Brynmoor | Interact with wizard statue (Runecrafting Guild, Bramblemead Valley) |
| Secondary | Granite Mauled | Ghornfell | Doric (Fractured Plains) |
| Secondary | Heartstrings | Ghornfell | Interact with memorial (top of hill, Fractured Plains) |
| Secondary | Dog Days | Stormtouched Highlands | Vannaka (center of Stormtouched Highlands) |
| Secondary | Cook’s Assistant | Stormtouched Highlands/Fractured Plains border | Slopfinger (southern border) |
| Secondary | Animal Magnetism | Stormtouched Highlands/Fractured Plains border | Manktongue (southern border) |
| Secondary | A Room With A Garou | Fractured Plains | Caratacus (Fractured Plains) |
| Secondary | A Melody Remembered | Stormtouched Highlands | Repair broken music box (desk) |
| Secondary | The Great Body Robbery | Bloodblight Swamp | Doctor Fenkenstrain |
| Secondary | Even More Restless Ghosts | Fellhollow | Zanik (Fellhollow) |
| Secondary | The Wild Hunt | Bleaksfield Valley | Vannaka |
| Secondary | Things That Go Boom In The Night | (Not specified) | (Not specified) |
| Secondary | Seeking Salvation | (Not specified) | Doric (east of Lake of Lost Souls, inside cave) |
| Secondary | Doric’s Quest | (Not specified) | (Not specified) |
| Secondary | Letters for the Dead | Forgotten Temple | Postie Pete |
| Secondary | What Remains is Written | Coalridge Pass | Abraxus The Eternal |
| Secondary | Mirror, Mirror | Emberwood | Interact with mirror (west of Guthix shrine) |
| Secondary | Biohazard | Dowdun Reach | Attack and loot Corrupted Raven (The Courtyard) |
| Secondary | Wanted! | Dowdun Reach | Vannaka (The Courtyard) |
| Secondary | What’s Theirs is Mine! | The Nexus | Doric (next to Dreaming Stone) |
| Secondary | Contact! | Umbral Sands | Avisk Crystal (Dunes of Uzzer) |
| Secondary | Brink of Extinction | Umbral Sands | Zi (Burning Spire, south of Sinking Pyramid) |
| Secondary | Mapping The Sands I | Umbral Sands | Anamcara (Alcarrid Camp) |
| Secondary | Mapping The Sands II | Umbral Sands | Anamcara (Alcarrid Camp) |
These quests are designed to provide a deeper understanding of the world of Ashenfall and its inhabitants. For instance, “Growing Pains” might serve as an extended tutorial for base building or farming, while quests like “Cook’s Assistant” or “Animal Magnetism” could unlock new crafting recipes or mechanics related to those skills. Players should prioritize Secondary Quests if they are looking to gain additional experience, acquire unique items, or simply explore more of the game’s lore outside the main narrative.
Tertiary Quests and Updates
Tertiary Quests are a unique category within RuneScape: Dragonwilds, distinct from Secondary Quests in their activation method. They are not initiated by speaking to a specific NPC at will but are instead triggered by progress within a Primary Quest. The first Primary Quest known to feature Tertiary Quests is “Icthlarin’s Little Helper,” which was added in the 0.12.0 update on June 23, 2026, alongside the release of the Umbral Sands region. This update also removed a Tertiary Quest called “Warding Off Danger.”
As of June 22, 2026, the game has received several updates that have expanded its quest content. The 0.11.2 update on May 19, 2026, added “A Melody Remembered.” The 0.11.1 update on April 21, 2026, introduced three new quests in Ghornfell and one in Brynmoor. The 0.11 update on March 31, 2026, brought several new quests related to the Dowdun Reach region and removed quest descriptions from the Quest Journal. Earlier updates in February and January 2026 added multiple secondary quests to the Fellhollow region. These ongoing additions indicate a continuous development of the quest system, with new narratives and challenges being introduced regularly.
FAQ
How do I start the Dragonwilds questline? The main questline automatically begins with “First Steps” upon character creation, followed by tutorial quests in Temple Woods, and then continues with Primary Quests like “Dragon Slayer” by speaking to the Wise Old Man in Bramblemead Valley.
What is the difference between Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Quests? Primary Quests drive the main story, unlock regions, and must be completed sequentially. Secondary Quests offer optional side stories, new mechanics, or item recipes. Tertiary Quests are activated by progress within specific Primary Quests, rather than by speaking to an NPC directly.
Are there any quests that unlock new areas? Yes, Primary Quests are specifically designed to help players explore the entirety of the game, including opening up new areas and regions as the narrative progresses.
Can I skip the tutorial quests? The tutorial is optional, but it is recommended for learning the basics of the game.
Where can I find the recipe for the Anti-Dragon Shield? You can obtain the recipe for the Anti-Dragon Shield by interacting with the Dragonkin Effigy in the boss room of the Whispering Swamp Vault during the “Dragon Slayer” quest.