Some of the strongest character upgrades in The Blood of Dawnwalker are not unlocked through normal skill trees. Instead, certain powerful perks are hidden behind character quest chains and optional story content.
Two of these secret perks are Font of Life and Mandre Ward. Both require completing specific quest chains, but they provide valuable bonuses for players who want to strengthen their character beyond the standard progression path.
This guide explains how to unlock both secret perks, including Anka’s quest chain for Font of Life and Lakra’s quest chain for Mandre Ward.
For more ability and progression information, visit our The Blood of Dawnwalker Skills section.
Two Secret Perks You Should Unlock
The two hidden perks covered in this guide are:
- Font of Life
- Mandre Ward
Unlike regular skills that can be purchased directly from skill trees, these perks require completing character-related quest chains.
Because they are connected to optional progression, many players may miss them without exploring additional quests and activities.
Font of Life Secret Perk
The first secret perk is Font of Life.
Font of Life is unlocked through Anka’s quest chain.
To obtain this perk, you need to progress through several related quests instead of purchasing it directly from a trainer or skill menu.
How To Unlock Font of Life
To unlock Font of Life, you need to complete Anka’s quest chain.
The quest chain eventually leads to the quest called Where Old Devils Lie.
Continue following Anka’s story progression until this quest becomes available.
Completing the required steps in this chain rewards you with the Font of Life secret perk.
Where Old Devils Lie Quest
Where Old Devils Lie is the important quest milestone connected with unlocking Font of Life.
This quest is part of Anka’s larger storyline and must be completed as part of the progression toward the secret perk.
The gameplay route also mentions another quest called Stronger Than Achilles as part of the related progression.
Following the complete Anka quest chain is therefore required rather than searching for Font of Life as a standalone item.
Mandre Ward Secret Perk
The second hidden perk is Mandre Ward.
Mandre Ward is unlocked through Lakra’s quest chain.
Like Font of Life, this perk is connected to optional character progression rather than a normal skill purchase.
How To Unlock Mandre Ward
To unlock Mandre Ward, you need to complete Lakra’s quest chain.
The quest progression includes several connected objectives:
- A Friend Like This
- Song of the Mountain
- Hive and Seek
- Our Rotten Root
- Night of Horrors
Complete these quests as part of Lakra’s storyline to unlock the Mandre Ward perk.
Lakra Quest Chain Requirements
The Mandre Ward route requires completing multiple quests rather than a single objective.
The progression path mentioned in the guide includes:
- Start Lakra’s quest chain.
- Complete A Friend Like This.
- Continue through Song of the Mountain.
- Complete Hive and Seek.
- Finish Our Rotten Root.
- Complete Night of Horrors.
After completing the required Lakra storyline, the Mandre Ward secret perk becomes available.
Font of Life vs Mandre Ward
Both perks are obtained through optional quest content, but they come from different character storylines.
| Perk | Quest Chain | Main Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Font of Life | Anka’s Quest Chain | Complete Where Old Devils Lie progression |
| Mandre Ward | Lakra’s Quest Chain | Complete Lakra’s related quests |
When Should You Unlock These Secret Perks?
These perks are best treated as long-term progression goals rather than immediate early-game upgrades.
Unlike skills that can be purchased instantly, these rewards require progressing through character quests, so they naturally fit into a wider playthrough.
If you are already completing side quests, following Anka and Lakra’s storylines can provide additional character power without requiring you to spend normal skill points.
Why Secret Perks Matter For Builds
Build strength in The Blood of Dawnwalker does not come only from active abilities and passive skills.
Hidden perks provide another layer of character progression that can complement your chosen combat style.
For example, a build using Vampirism, Swordmastery, or mixed abilities can benefit from adding extra permanent bonuses from optional quest rewards.
This is why exploring companion and character quest chains is valuable even after your main combat setup is already established.
Secret Perks Unlocking Order
A simple progression order for these two perks is:
- Complete Anka’s quest chain.
- Finish Where Old Devils Lie and related progression.
- Unlock Font of Life.
- Complete Lakra’s quest chain.
- Finish Hive and Seek, Our Rotten Root, and Night of Horrors.
- Unlock Mandre Ward.
