Lake Norgan Ballistas in Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen

Use the ballistas at Lake Norgan to take down the fimbl during “Reaching the Far Shore”, in the task “Fell the ferocious fimbl at Lake Norgan.” This page covers how to mount and fire them, how to tell a hit, and why they keep breaking.

Quick answer: Hold the left mouse button for a long draw of about 15 seconds with the cross-hair on the fimbl’s body, then release to loose. Short draws did not hit.

At the Deserted Lakeside Estate: “F Use” from the seat side, a long hold of “Draw Bowstring” with the fimbl over the sights, a bolt bursting red on its body, then an ice blast wrecking the ballista.

Where the ballistas are at Lake Norgan

On Lake Norgan’s western shore, find the ruins of the Deserted Lakeside Estate. Seven ballistas occupy paved circular platforms and terraces overlooking the water. One is positioned atop a wall, and another stands on a higher terrace accessible by stairs.

A ruin in the lake is where the fimbl rests. When you take a seat at a ballista, it lifts from the ruin, calls out a challenge, then stays suspended above the water with its wings spread. Its health display has no name, just three dots on a thin magenta bar.

Mounting a ballista (why “F Use” may not show)

Sheathe your weapon before you step onto a ballista platform. With a weapon drawn, the “F Use” prompt will not appear. Press X to “Sheathe/Draw” and put it away first.

Walk round to the seat side of the ballista, the side that faces out over the lake. From another side the prompt can read “F Turn” instead.

The Arisen beside a ballista on the upper terrace with the F Turn prompt over him and an ice cloud bursting nearby — From another side of a ballista the prompt reads “F Turn”.

Step in one pace closer than looks necessary until “F Use” shows, then hold F to mount.

The Arisen at the seat side of a ballista on a round paved platform facing Lake Norgan, with the F Use prompt above it — “F Use” at the seat side of a ballista.

Once seated, you get an over-the-shoulder view with a cross-hair. The hints read “Item Shortcut” (Ctrl), “Draw Bowstring” (left mouse) and “Stop” (X). Moving the mouse turns both the ballista and the view.

How to fire and land a bolt on the fimbl

Put the cross-hair on the fimbl’s body. Aim low, and plan to adjust after each shot as it drifts.

Keep the left mouse button held down. The “Draw Bowstring” prompt lights up as the view zooms closer. Hold for a long draw of about 15 seconds, adjusting your aim as the fimbl moves.

Seated at a ballista with the Draw Bowstring hint lit while the fimbl hangs in the air above the lake with its wings spread — “Draw Bowstring” lit during a long draw, the fimbl over the sights.

Release the button to loose the bolt. Bolts loosed after a long draw hit; draws of only a few seconds showed no hit. Watch the fimbl’s body for the result.

A red flare appears on the fimbl when a bolt connects, and its bar flickers before getting shorter. The flash and reduced bar confirm the shot registered.

A red burst on the fimbl's body over the lake after a ballista bolt hits, with its magenta bar flashing at the top — A hit: a red burst on its body and the bar flashes.

Why the ballistas keep breaking

The fimbl’s ice attacks and volleys can wreck a ballista within 5 to 45 seconds of climbing aboard.

An ice blast exploding into a ballista on its platform in blue shards and orange sparks — An ice blast wrecking a ballista.

Nearby ballistas are wrecked too, even if you’re only standing beside one or walking toward it. A destroyed ballista is unusable, with broken timber left on its platform.

The Arisen standing on a paved platform beside the broken timber of a wrecked ballista — A wrecked ballista leaves broken timber and cannot be used.

If all the ballistas are destroyed, the fimbl stays suspended high above the lake.

“Stop” (X) only works while you are seated. If you press X after the ballista under you has broken, you draw your weapon instead, and that drawn weapon then hides “F Use” at the next ballista.

After your ballista breaks, make sure you’ve left the seat before pressing a control. Keep your weapon sheathed and go directly to an intact ballista. Don’t linger beside one the fimbl is attacking.

The hailstorm during the fight

A hailstorm may begin partway through. The screen takes on a grey cast as the sky darkens to black, and the notice “Hailstorms” appears with “Tab View Tutorial Logbook”. Your firing technique stays the same: place the cross-hair over the fimbl’s body and hold the bowstring back for a long draw.

When the fimbl falls

When a bolt brings it down, the fimbl drops into the lake and the quest banner reads “Reaching the Far Shore” / “You felled the ferocious fimbl.” The task then changes to “Wait for the change to come over the lake.”