Why This Quest Guide Matters

RuneScape: Dragonwilds mixes survival crafting with a story-driven quest line, and it's easy to miss an NPC or side objective tucked into the sprawling continent of Ashenfall. Knowing exactly who to talk to, where they stand, and what reward waits at the end saves hours of wandering. This guide breaks the quest system into its primary and secondary tracks so you can plan your route through Temple Woods, Bramblemead Valley, and beyond without guessing.

Every quest in the game falls into one of two categories. Primary quests carry the main narrative and unlock new regions as you finish them, while secondary quests are optional stories that hand out crafting recipes, gear, and extra experience. A handful of secondary quests are gated behind primary quest progress, so finishing the story path first often opens up more side content later.

Primary Quests in RuneScape: Dragonwilds

Primary quests must be completed in order, since each one unlocks the next and often a new region along with it. The tutorial stretch (First Steps through Rune Mysteries) takes place entirely in Temple Woods before the story moves on to Bramblemead Valley and beyond.

| Quest | Region | Where to Start | |---|---|---| | First Steps | Temple Woods | Automatically started when you create a new character | | Getting Started | Temple Woods | Speak to Doric just outside the temple | | Ratcatcher | Temple Woods | Speak to Vannaka near the old windmill | | Rune Mysteries | Temple Woods | Speak to Zanik on the path leading to Bramblemead Valley | | Dragon Slayer | Brynmoor / Ghornfell | Speak to the Wise Old Man in Bramblemead Village | | Withering Heights | Fellhollow | Speak to the Wise Old Man near Ashien's Watch | | Black Knight's Fortress | Dowdun Reach | Speak to Death in the Forgotten Temple | | Icthlarin's Little Helper | Umbral Sands | Interact with the door to the Umbral Sands | | Regicide | Scorned Wilderness | Interact with the Dragon Gate northwest of Velgar's Rise |

Dragon Slayer is the first big story quest outside the tutorial, and it's a long one. You'll need to build a base in Bramblemead Village, hunt a deer for its antler, siege the goblin castle, and eventually track Cathan through the Dragonkin Vault and Velgar's Tower. Along the way you craft a Challenge Horn using Bloodwood Sap (which requires an iron axe) and a Dragon's Tooth (which requires an iron pickaxe) before summoning and defeating Velgar himself.

Withering Heights picks up right after, sending you into Fellhollow to remove a Soul Rift and gather three curse fragments from Emberwood Village, Vekchenven Kara, and Silverthorn Keep. Each location has its own challenge, from activating four elemental shrines to defeating a Zogre boss or climbing to a Green Dragon's perch.

Secondary Quests and Where to Find Them

Secondary quests are optional, but they're worth chasing because many hand out crafting recipes you can't get any other way. Some are tied to a specific region and won't appear until you've made enough primary quest progress to reach that area.

| Secondary Quest | Where to Start | Notable Reward | |---|---|---| | A Room with a Garou | Speak to Caratacus the Elder in the Fractured Plains | Recipes for Hanging Tools, Pots on a Bench, and Sawhorse | | Cook's Assistant | Speak to Slopfinger at the border of Stormtouched Highlands and Fractured Plains | Recipe: Victoria Sponge Cake | | Animal Magnetism | Speak to Manktongue near the ruined building | Ava's Accumulator and its recipe | | Dog Days | Speak to Vannaka in the Stormtouched Highlands | Garou Highborn's Cloak | | Biohazard | Attack a corrupted raven in Dowdun Reach's Courtyard, then speak to Zanik | Zamorak Cape | | Brink of Extinction | Speak to Zi at the Burning Spire in Umbral Sands | Plate of Pure Obsidian | | Contact! | Speak to the Avisk Crystal in the Dunes of Uzzer | Recipe: Pharaoh's Sceptre |

IGN's tracking lists seven core side quests concentrated in the early game: Warding Off Danger, Restless Ghosts, Goblin Diplomacy, Highlighting the Problem, Heartstrings, Granite Mauled, and Dog Days. All seven are found across Bramblemead Valley and the Fractured Plains, and each is tied to a distinct object or NPC — a crumbling well, a wizard statue, a memorial, and so on — rather than a generic quest-giver.

Quest Rewards Worth Knowing

Rewards range from simple recipes to full gear upgrades, and a few quests are the only source for specific items. If you're planning your crafting progression, it helps to know which quest unlocks which piece of equipment before you commit time to it.

| Quest | Key Reward(s) | |---|---| | Rune Mysteries | Stone Pickaxe, Tome of Woodcutting, 10x Astral Rune, 10x Air Rune | | Dragon Slayer | Tome of the Dragon Slayer, Anti-Dragon Shield, Dragon Visage, Masterwork Recipe: Dragonblight Shield | | Withering Heights | Masterwork Recipe: Dragoncurse Shield, Tome of the Undying, Dragoncurse Shield, Undead Draconic Visage | | Doric's Quest | Recipe: Zombie Axe | | Contact! | Recipe: Pharaoh's Sceptre |

Some of the best defensive gear in the early-to-mid game comes directly from primary quests. The Anti-Dragon Shield and Dragon Visage from Dragon Slayer, for example, are essential before you push into dragon-infested territory, while the Dragoncurse Shield from Withering Heights carries you through the undead-heavy areas of Fellhollow.

Tips for Tackling Quests Efficiently

A little planning goes a long way when you're juggling both quest tracks. Keep these habits in mind as you work through Ashenfall:

  • Finish the tutorial quests (First Steps through Rune Mysteries) before wandering off — they teach mechanics you'll need almost immediately, like Runecrafting and cooking.
  • Build a base with a bed and roof in Bramblemead Village early; several primary quests, including Dragon Slayer, require it as a checkpoint.
  • Gather crafting materials for known future quests while exploring. Dragon Slayer needs an iron axe and iron pickaxe for its Challenge Horn ingredients, so upgrade your tools before you reach that stage.
  • Check regional secondary quests before leaving an area for good. Many, like Cook's Assistant or Animal Magnetism, sit at the border between two zones and are easy to walk past.
  • Save side quests that require boss fights, like the Zogre encounter in Withering Heights or the Green Dragon guarding Silverthorn Keep, until your gear has caught up.

Following the primary quest order also naturally unlocks new secondary content, since several side stories — such as those in Fellhollow or Dowdun Reach — don't appear until you've cleared the corresponding main story milestone.

FAQ

How many primary quests are in RuneScape: Dragonwilds? The primary quest line currently includes nine quests, starting with First Steps in Temple Woods and continuing through Regicide in the Scorned Wilderness.

Do secondary quests require primary quest progress? Some do. Region-specific secondary quests in areas like Fellhollow or Dowdun Reach won't unlock until you've completed the primary quest that opens that region.

What's the best way to use a runescape dragonwilds quest guide while playing? Check the primary quest order first so you unlock new regions, then use the secondary quest tables to pick up recipes and gear you might otherwise miss in each area.

Which quest gives the Anti-Dragon Shield? Dragon Slayer rewards the Anti-Dragon Shield, along with the Tome of the Dragon Slayer and Dragon Visage.

Is Dog Days a primary or secondary quest? Dog Days is a secondary quest, started by speaking to Vannaka in the Stormtouched Highlands, and it rewards the Garou Highborn's Cloak.