How to cross the waterfall near the Borderland Campground in Dragon’s Dogma 2

Shortly after leaving the Borderland Campground, you’ll stumble upon a waterfall. On the opposite bank resides a chest containing a Wakestone Shard, a very crucial item to find so early in the game, considering enough of these shards can resurrect the dead. Here’s how to cross the waterfall near the Borderland Campground in Dragon’s Dogma 2. 

How to open the chest at the Borderland Campground waterfall in Dragon's Dogma 2

Of course, attempting to wade through the deep water isn't an option, as the Brine lurking within will drown you before reaching the other side. The Arisen will take damage, but it's instant death for your Pawns, so don't risk their safety. Instead, take the path situated to the left of the waterfall, which leads up a hill and, subsequently, the waterfall. You'll be going up and around instead of straight across.

In mere moments, you'll reach the waterfall’s summit. Wade through the shallow passage of water, providing a safe route to the opposite bank. Now you can reach the chest without drowning in Brine.

Once across, head towards the right and follow the clearly marked path leading to the treasure chest. Look for ore deposits that you can mine for resources you’ll use later. If your pack is too heavy, offload the ore to a pawn or increase your carrying capacity. Yes, it's early in the game, but I'm a firm believer that hoarding resources begins the moment you press start. Once you reach the capital you can offload items into storage too, so you're not losing anything by collecting items now.

Once you've reached the other side (the chest side), slide down to the chest and open it. Your reward is a Wakestone Shard. To return to the starting point, carefully navigate your way back up the rockslide. Again, you can't travel through the water, so you need to retrace your steps to the starting point. Utilize strategic jumps to ascend — it requires some janky parkour like the Gathering of the Beasts chest — and don't be discouraged by the occasional slide backward. It’s totally possible to defeat these dreaded physics by mashing the jump button.

Related: How to give a gift in Dragon’s Dogma 2

Waterfall Cave warning: Turn back, do not press go!

As you backtrack, you’ll notice an opening in the cliff that’s shrouded in darkness. This is the Waterfall Cave. While advanced players may attempt to clear the cave, I suggest new players exercise caution. Most new players will get absolutely wrecked in here, barely doing any damage, so don't explore the cave now. 

For science, I ventured onward, fending off bats, high-level Saurians, and eventually getting spanked by a formidable two-headed nightmare.

I won't spoil the boss, but I definitely wasn't ready for the fight. I actually lost Gregor, the NPC for the "In Dragon's Wake" quest, and couldn't revive him. Big sad. As a result, I failed the quest and missed the fast travel opportunity to the capital via Oxcart. I had to walk all the way there. So don't run with scissors, folks, don't be like me. That was the moment I ran away crying, vowing to return at a higher level. Y’all newbies should consider the same.

You'll need to be prepared for challenging boss fights in Dragon's Dogma 2, especially by preparing the best Pawns during the early game. Every mechanic matters, so it's best to learn all of the crafting recipes to increase your health and apply valuable buffs.