TL;DR
- Complete the Caged Magistrate quest by infiltrating Vermouth Castle Gaol Tower during daytime hours
- Use stealth tactics to bypass patrolling guards and access the Magistrate’s prison cell
- Select ‘Urge the Magistrate to Escape’ dialogue option to trigger the quest progression
- Navigate to the Slums through multiple access points to find Kendrick and complete the Heel of History quest
- Return to the Magistrate with information about the vaults to successfully conclude the mission
Dragon’s Dogma 2 presents players with minimal guidance for its intricate quest system, requiring careful observation and strategic thinking rather than following explicit markers. The Caged Magistrate mission exemplifies this design philosophy, offering only basic directives from Brant in Vermouth while leaving critical pathfinding and execution details to player discovery.
Before initiating your infiltration attempt, ensure you’ve acquired the essential Gaol Tower key from Brant during your initial briefing. This crucial item cannot be obtained elsewhere and serves as your primary access tool for the prison area. Time management becomes vital since the Royal Quarter imposes strict nighttime access restrictions that will halt your progress if ignored.
Strategic preparation involves resting at the Vermouth inn to advance time to morning hours, as Royal Quarter guards enforce curfew regulations after dark. Consider stocking up on healing items and ensuring your party composition includes versatile vocations capable of handling unexpected combat encounters during your journey to the slums later in the questline.

Navigate to the Royal Quarter during daylight hours and locate the distinctive Vermouth Castle Gaol Tower structure. Approach the stationed guard outside the entrance, who will acknowledge your authorized access based on prior arrangements with the captain. This interaction confirms your legitimate entry rights while alerting you to the security measures within.
Upon entering the tower, immediately assess the patrol patterns of the two guards circulating the bottom floor. These sentries follow predictable routes between the locked prison doors on either side of the corridor. Patient observation reveals their movement timing, creating windows for undetected access to the Magistrate’s containment area.
Position yourself strategically near the entrance and wait for both guards to move away from your intended target—the first prison door on the right. Swiftly utilize your Gaol Tower key (provided earlier by Brant) to unlock the door during this brief vulnerability period. Hesitation may result in detection and potential quest failure, so timing proves critical for successful infiltration.

Inside the prison cell, engage the Magistrate in conversation, preparing for his extensive monologue about his circumstances and scholarly requirements. During this dialogue sequence, carefully monitor the available response options until “Urge the Magistrate to Escape” appears as a selectable choice. This specific prompt triggers the quest’s progression to its next phase.
The Magistrate will elaborate on his need for a location containing extensive scholarly tomes where he can conduct research essential to his escape plan. This revelation directs your next objective toward the Slums district, where such resources allegedly exist. His cryptic description suggests knowledge repositories rather than conventional libraries.
Exit the prison carefully, employing the same stealth techniques used during entry to avoid alerting the patrolling guards. Two primary routes lead to the Slums from your current position: the direct path from Vermouth Castle Gaol Tower or the alternative route beside the Oracle location. Each path presents distinct environmental challenges and potential encounters requiring different preparation approaches.

Upon reaching the Slums, initiate the Heel of History questline by locating and conversing with Kendrick, who serves as your primary contact in this district. This secondary quest intertwines with your primary objective, requiring completion to access the vaults and locate Malcolm—key components for satisfying the Magistrate’s requirements.
Thoroughly explore the Slums area to discover the vault locations Kendrick references, which contain both the necessary scholarly resources and Malcolm’s whereabouts. This investigation may involve multiple NPC interactions and environmental puzzles characteristic of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s exploration-focused design philosophy. Documenting locations and key information proves valuable for the return journey.
After successfully completing the Heel of History quest objectives, return to the Magistrate with detailed information about the vaults and their contents. This intelligence enables his escape planning and concludes the Caged Magistrate questline. Ensure safe passage back through the Royal Quarter by again adhering to daytime access restrictions and employing stealth navigation past the gaol tower guards.
Pro Tip: The Slums district contains numerous side quest opportunities and valuable resources. Consider completing additional objectives while navigating this area to maximize your efficiency and character progression. The interconnected nature of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s quest design often rewards comprehensive exploration with unexpected benefits for main story progression.

Action Checklist
- Acquire Gaol Tower key from Brant and rest until morning at Vermouth inn
- Navigate to Royal Quarter and locate Vermouth Castle Gaol Tower during daytime
- Infiltrate prison area using stealth timing to bypass patrolling guards
- Select ‘Urge the Magistrate to Escape’ dialogue option after his monologue
- Travel to Slums via either access route and initiate Heel of History quest with Kendrick
- Locate vaults and Malcolm in Slums to complete secondary quest objectives
- Return to Magistrate with vault information and ensure his safe passage conclusion
No reproduction without permission:Tsp Game Club » Dragon’s Dogma 2 Caged Magistrate Quest Guide: How to Free Waldhar Complete Dragon's Dogma 2 Caged Magistrate quest guide with stealth tactics and slums navigation strategies
