In Dragon’s Dogma 2, a young man named Hugo ends up in the dungeon of the capital Bakbatthal through your intervention. But how do you get the bandit out of jail for the quest “Off the Path of Deception”? Back from prison?
What’s the deal with Hugo? When you first enter Batthal from the City of Rest, you receive reports about the crimes of the Coral Snakes bandits. Follow the road south and you will encounter a short sequence with Thor and Hugo.
Chase the fleeing man to track down the bandits’ camp. Through the events you trigger, Hugo eventually—betrayed by his leader—ends up in the dungeon of Bakbattahl. It also becomes clear that Hugo is not actually a bad guy.
The launch trailer of Dragon’s Dogma 2:
Where does the quest start? Once you enter Bakbatthal, you will receive the task “Off the Path of Deception” near the cart station from Benjamin. Hugo longs for an honest life but needs help to leave his bandit career behind.
Follow the road northeast and enter the prison in the palace district. Warden Ekratt will guide you to the cell where Hugo is sitting. Here’s how to free Hugo:
- Talk to Hugo until he tells you half of his life story.
- Then hit up the young guard Dietrich, who gives you the tip that the warden could help you in freeing Hugo.
- Ekratt explains that he needs 1,000 gold to initiate the release request. Processing may take some time.
- Return to Ekratt a few days later. He doesn’t have good news for you: He needs more gold (2,500) and time for the release.
- At this point, it seems irrelevant how many days you let pass: Ekratt tells you to be patient (it is unclear whether this is a bug).
Off the Path of Deception: How to Master the Quest
What’s next?
- Over time, more members of the Coral Snakes may end up in the dungeon. When you speak with them, you learn information that you can pass on to Hugo – about the fate of his parents or where the bandits’ new hideout may be.
- The appearance of bandit Brefft is said to be connected to the quest “The Toll of Peace,” which you can take on northeast of the City of Rest on the way to the Cenotaph.
- When you tell Hugo the new information and return to the dungeon a day later, the guards may tell you about Hugo’s escape.
- Now travel to the Ancient Battlefield, north of the City of Rest. If you are quick enough, you may be able to save Hugo from the leader of the Coral Snakes there. If you succeed, the young man can help find a new career path.
- Some players report that they did not travel quickly enough to the Ancient Battlefields. No one was there. On their next visit to the dungeon, they learned that most other bandits had fled as well, and that they had found the bodies of Hugo and the leader of the Coral Snakes (via Gamespot).
Is there an alternative to free Hugo faster? You can open the cell door with a dungeon key from the start. There is even a key lying around in the first room of the prison area. However, if the guards see you during the escape, they will immediately attack you.
Since your followers had to wait outside the dungeon, you can expect a tough fight. If you get overwhelmed, you will end up in a cell yourself—and the bail for release is steep (30,000 gold). Additionally, by freeing Hugo quickly, you miss the information needed to trigger further events. Hugo simply disappears without a clear goal.
Are you looking for more assistance? Dragon’s Dogma 2 Guides: All tips and tricks at a glance
