Key Takeaway
Upon finding the Mountain Shrine in northwest Vermund, you’ll meet the Sphinx, a haunting creature that will give you the ‘A Game of Wits’ sidequest. You’ll need to solve ten riddles to successfully complete the quest. After completing five of these riddles, the Sphinx will change locations, traveling to the Frontier Shrine for the latter part of the quest.
Successfully solving each riddle will reward you with treasure. The final reward is the valuable Eternal Wakestone, an item that can be used to revive multiple NPCs at once.
You may only attempt to solve each riddle one time, and giving the Sphinx a wrong answer will end the quest and forfeit both a trophy and any potential loot.
In Dragon’s Dogma 2, finding the Sphinx and solving her riddles will reward you with the Eternal Wakestone, one of the most useful items in the game. Tracking the beast down is a challenge—and defeating her even more so.
Table Of Contents
What Is the Sphinx in Dragon’s Dogma 2?
The Sphinx is a rare and terrifying creature that you’ll first discover hidden in the Mountain Shrine in northwest Vermund. Described as a beast of incredible intellect, finding and confronting the Sphinx will unlock the sidequest titled ‘A Game of Wits.’
During this lengthy Dragon’s Dogma 2 quest, you’ll need to solve 10 riddles correctly. Doing so will reward you with increasingly valuable loot, with the final prize being the Eternal Wakestone. This single-use item can revive multiple NPCs at once, making it incredibly useful for late-game content.
WarningEach time you successfully solve a riddle, you’ll gain access to a new treasure chest.
Where to Find the Sphinx Throughout Dragon’s Dogma 2
During ‘A Game of Wits,’ the Sphinx will appear in two separate Dragon’s Domga 2 locations. After completing the first five riddles, she will abandon her place in the Mountain Shrine and travel to the Frontier Shrine for the latter half of the quest.
The Mountain Shrine
The Mountain Shrine is found in the northwestern corner of Vermund. Travel through the Ancient Battleground through the eastern entrance—this can be reached most easily by going east and north from the Checkpoint Rest Town or straight west from Vernworth.
You’ll find an NPC named Oskar under attack as you progress towards the Mountain Shrine. Saving him will trigger the ‘Tolled to Rest’ sidequest, and accepting it will make your journey much easier. Follow him and defeat the foes you encounter inside the castle and Oskar will give you the Ancient Battleground Key.
Climb the nearby ladder and head up the stone steps to get back outside. Unfortunately, you must defeat a powerful armored ogre to find the entrance to the Worldsend Cavern, but if it’s asleep, you should be able to do some damage before it wakes up. Rest at the campsite to deal with the foes you’ll find within.
Eventually, you’ll find a boulder blocking your path. Luckily, it’s breakable, so shatter it and keep going straight. A golem will attack, but once you’ve laid it low, climb the stairs to (finally) find the Sphinx.
TipThe Frontier Shrine
The easiest way to reach the Frontier Shrine is to first head to the Checkpoint Rest Town. Head down to the riverbank, turn west, and go beneath the bridge. You’ll eventually find a set of climbable rocks which will lead you to a cave. When you reach its end, climb another set of rocks and follow the cliff to find a shaky-looking bridge. (You’ll want to cross as quickly as possible before it breaks!)
TipContinue up the mountainside where you’ll need to defeat another ogre, followed soon after by a minotaur and a chimera. If you don’t feel like fighting, it’s possible to sprint to the shrine. On your mini-map, you’ll see a branching path to the south.
Take it, climb over the pillar, and the Frontier Shrine can be found just ahead.
Answers to All of the Sphinx Riddles in Dragon’s Dogma 2
There are ten riddles overall. Again, you need to answer every question correctly to successfully complete this quest and get its excellent rewards.
#1 – Riddle of Eyes
Our eyes are our allies, yet oft do they betray, for eyes tell lies, so I advise, and thence do lead astray. Yet how will your eyes advise you? Venture through yonder door, and retrieve that which of greatest value.
A short distance from the Sphinx at the bottom of the steps to the Mountain Shrine, you’ll find the cave’s doorway now unlocked. Above the doorframe, you’ll find a treasure chest. Open it to snag the Sealing Phial inside. Bring this to the Sphinx and she will open a chest containing a Wakestone.
Warning#2 – Riddle of Madness
Love is as twin to madness, they say. They are bound fast as night is to day. So bring forth your most beloved one to me, that I might gauge the depth of your insanity.
As the riddle’s text implies, you’ll need to bring your most beloved character to the Sphinx. While you have the option of bringing the character you’re romancing to the forefront, there’s a quicker way to complete this puzzle: pick up your Main Pawn and place them on the pedestal.
The Sphinx will always accept your Main Pawn as a correct answer, and you’ll immediately be rewarded with a Portcrystal for your correct response.
#3 – Riddle of Wisdom
The parent knows the child, yet the reverse is far from true. The child knows not the parent: such is the parent’s due. I am a lost child; for kinship do I yearn. So bring to me my “Parent”, that might better learn.
Enter the rift and search for a Capcom-made Pawn named SphinxParent. Hire the Pawn and place them on the platform before the Sphinx to complete the riddle and earn 1,200 RC.
#4 – Riddle of Conviction
Life is an enigma – a lender of mortal debt. Yet lighter pack makes fleeter foot and challenge nimbly met. So grant to me what you most prize, and thence elude your pondrous demise.
For this helpful riddle, the Sphinx will require your most precious item. In actuality, you can give the creature any item you like, but we’d recommend handing over a Portcrystal.
Although the Sphinx will pretend as though the item will be lost to you forever, the beast will duplicate the item and return them to you as your reward.
#5 – Riddle of Rumination
It’s ever the first we keep fond in our breast, and ever the first that eclipses the rest. You know of the Seeker’s Tokens, I trust? Those keepsakes of a fondly remembered journey? Yet where was it that you found your first? Retrace your steps, if you can – you might make a new discovery. Seven days, shall we say, ere you return? May your journey be a pleasant one.
This tricky question will test your memory. You must return to the location of the first Seeker’s Token you collected.
NoteOnce you remember the correct location, head there to pick up a Finder’s Token. Bring this to the Sphinx and present it to be rewarded with three Ferrystones.
After solving this riddle, the Sphinx will move to the Frontier Shrine. Be sure to pick up your Portcrystal if you placed one at the Mountain Shrine!
#6 – Riddle of Reunion
Five riddles have I posed, and five answers have you given. Perhaps you expected more, but I’m afraid that’s that. Our next game shall have to take a different tack. Though constant this world may seem, in truth, all is in flux. And so the time has come for me to fly. If you are not yet satisfied, seek me at my new abode.
This is the easiest riddle of the bunch. To complete it, you only need to speak to the Sphinx for the first time after finding her at the Frontier Shrine.
Your reward for starting up a conversation is 100,000 gold. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a little skimpy with currency, so this reward from the Sphinx can be majorly helpful for players after particular weapons or armor.
Note#7 – Riddle of Contest
Though ours is a battle of wits, tests of mettle are more to your strength. Is that not so? Come try your arm–though he shall be your opponent, not I. However, I am not amused by a simple duel. Bear this ring into battle, that I might gauge your true strength.
In order to impress the Sphinx during the Riddle of Contest, you’ll need to defeat a single enemy. This may sound simple, but before your battle, you’ll be equipped with a Ring of Derision, which drastically reduces your damage output to the lowest level possible.
To defeat your foe given this hefty handicap, grab them and throw them off of the nearby cliff. You’ll earn the Ring of Ambition for your creativity—and don’t forget to unequip that pesky Ring of Derision!
#8 – Riddle of Futility
How easily the mind unravels! Some say it’s pain that does it best, others darkness – but I say neither. Rather, I say a mind cannot be more soundly broken than when it beholds its earnest efforts laid low in a single stroke. Could your survive such despair? We shall see. Here I have an amphora destine for Ser Maurits in Battahl. Deliver it to him, but beware; it’s rather fragile.
No gamer enjoys quests that force you to carry fragile items, but unfortunately, Dragon’s Dogma 2 had to throw one into the mix. You’ll need to deliver an amphora to Ser Maurits in Bakbattahl, but if the item takes any damage at all, it will shatter.
WarningSince carrying this bulky vase across a map filled with beasts seems like a great way to fail, why not bring the NPC to the amphora?
Head to the Mural Byway and toss Ser Maurits over your shoulder. Use a Ferrystone to teleport to the Portcrystal you’ve (hopefully) placed at the Frontier Shrine. To complete the riddle, share the news with the Sphinx to snag the Eternal Bond ring.
#9 – Riddle of Differentiation
So vast is the world, and full of life; you are but one of many. Indeed, in the grand scheme, we are as distinct from one another as pebbles on a beach – yet we do so love to extol our differences. But are these differences so great? If you believe so, this next task should prove exceedingly simple. I seek this man. If men are so distinct, I’m sure you’ll find him in a trice.
The Sphinx will briefly show you an illusion of a Dragon’s Dogma 2 NPC she seeks in the Checkpoint Rest Town. This man is either Dante or Vergil, but beware: the pair are identical twins.
Vergil has wavy hair parted to the left and can be found on the Battahl side of the town. Dante has straight hair parted to the right and lives on the Vermund side.
Once you’ve figured out who you’re looking for, head to the town and find your man. You can either grab hold of them and use a Ferrystone to return to your Portcrystal at the Frontier Shrine or use the Sealing Phial.
Place the correct man on the platform in front of the Sphinx to receive the Whimsical Daydream, a Trickster Vocation weapon.
#10 – Riddle of Recollection
Now, questions beget questions, and I have one for you: How many riddles have you solved thus far? My memory fails me, you see. Remind me, and make it plain. Let yonder statues be your means. For every question aptly answered, bring one here before me.
Like the Riddle of Rumination, this question will test your memory. A set of stone statues will appear to your left. You must bring the Sphinx the number of statues equal to the number of riddles you’ve correctly answered so far. Since the last few riddles are given in a random order, we can’t solve this question for you.
You’ll be rewarded with an Unmaking Arrow if you solve this riddle correctly.
How to Defeat the Sphinx
After correctly solving all ten riddles, you’ll need to defeat the Sphinx in battle to get your hands on the Eternal Wakestone. She won’t initiate a fight with you, so you’ll need to pick one with her.
WarningThe easiest way to best the Sphinx in battle is to first equip the Archer vocation. Before the Sphinx flees, shoot her at least three times with arrows, making sure to only hit her ‘non-human’ parts.
Once the Sphinx’s health bar appears on the screen, go to your inventory to equip the Unmaking Arrow you just received as a quest reward. Once you have a good shot lined up, shoot her with this powerful item to bring the battle to a quick close.
The Sphinx will leave behind some gold and an item called the Key of Sagacity. Use this to open the golden chest to grab your Eternal Wakestone.
What You Can Get From the Sphinx in Dragon’s Dogma 2
While we’ve noted each reward above, here’s a brief breakdown of what you can gain by embarking on the ‘A Game of Wits’ quest.
| Riddle | Reward |
|---|---|
| Riddle of Eyes | Wakestone |
| Riddle of Madness | Portcrystal |
| Riddle of Widom | 1,200 Rift Crystals |
| Riddle of Conviction | Treasure Chest |
| Riddle of Rumination | 3x Ferrystone |
| Riddle of Reunion | 100,000 gold |
| Riddle of Contest | Ring of Ambition |
| Riddle of Differentiation | Whimsical Daydream |
| Riddle of Recollection | Unmaking Arrow |
| Riddle of Futility | Eternal Bond |
| Final Riddle | Eternal Wakestone |
‘A Game of Wits’ is one of the most extensive and potentially frustrating sidequests in Dragon’s Dogma 2, but the rewards are well worth the potential headache. Follow our guide to the letter to avoid forfeiting any of that gorgeous loot, and don’t forget to save often—just in case.
