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Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny

The Tyranny of Virtue

Tooling tip: Ultimapper 5 is a Windows tool for Ultima V that overlays a HUD above the game and shows a live map of your current location in a separate window. It works great with the GOG version (and typically with other DOSBox-based versions). See my setup guide: Best way to play Ultima 5.

Welcome back to Britannia, Avatar. The land you once saved has fallen under a dark shadow. Lord British is lost in the Underworld, and his regent, Lord Blackthorn, enforces the Virtues with an iron fist, twisted by the influence of the three malevolent Shadowlords.

This interactive guide is your companion in the struggle to liberate Britannia. It's designed to provide quick, accessible information when you need it most. Use the navigation to explore potential party members, learn survival essentials, track your progress through the main quests, and reference critical information like spells and mantras. Your goal is not just to rescue a king, but to restore the very soul of Britannia—the principle that true virtue must be a choice, not a law.

✨ Consult with the Seer

Lost in the Underworld, stumped by a puzzle, or unsure which quest to tackle next? Ask the seer for practical guidance grounded in Ultima V’s mechanics and quest flow.

Building the Warriors of Destiny

This section is your headquarters for assembling the perfect team to challenge Blackthorn. Here you can visually compare the core attributes of all potential companions to find the strongest fighters or most brilliant mages. Below the chart, a detailed, sortable roster provides strategic notes on every character you can recruit.

Companion Stat Comparison

A successful resistance needs a balanced team. While the tables below provide detailed stats, this chart offers a quick visual comparison to help you identify the strongest, smartest, or most agile companions for your party. Use the buttons to switch between attributes.

Potential Companions

Britannia is home to many who would join your cause, but choose wisely. A smaller, well-equipped party can be more efficient. Mages are invaluable, but some potential recruits may have ulterior motives. Use the search bar to find a specific companion or click the table headers to sort.

Name Class Lvl STR INT DEX Location

The Resistance Survival Kit

Success in *Ultima V* is about more than just combat prowess; it's about preparation and resourcefulness. This section provides a quick reference for the core principles of survival in Blackthorn's Britannia, strategies for funding your resistance, and a checklist of the most essential gear you'll need to find to complete your quest.

Essential Gear

Magic Carpet

Found in Lord British's chambers. Allows flight over shallow water, swamps, and hills. Essential for traversing Stonegate.

Skull Keys

Revealed by following Shenstone in Minoc around noon—search the tree stump he visits to collect a fresh set daily. Opens magically locked doors (one key is consumed per use).

Grappling Hook

Given by Lord Michael in Empath Abbey. Necessary for climbing mountains and accessing key areas.

Magic Axes

The best ranged weapon. Purchased at Arms of Justice in Yew and also found in the wild (e.g., near Jhelom’s east walls). They return after being thrown.

Funding & Survival

Core Tenets

  • Save constantly: Avoid losing hours of progress.
  • Avoid death: Resurrection causes permanent XP loss.
  • Manage resources: Food is consumed with every step.

Economic Strategy

The most lucrative way to fund the resistance is by repeatedly looting Lord British's castle treasury. Use Skull Keys to enter the basement, take everything, exit the castle, and re-enter. The treasury will be restocked. Be aware this will lower your Karma.

Navigation

Horses provide faster overland travel. A frigate, won from pirates, is needed for sea voyages. Moongates offer magical transport at night, with destinations determined by the two moons.

The Path to Liberation

Your journey to free Britannia is long and perilous. It involves dismantling Blackthorn's regime, rescuing the true king, and restoring the meaning of Virtue. This quest log is divided into the major acts of your adventure. Begin by restoring the Shrines, then shatter the Shadowlords' influence, recover the king's regalia, and finally, prepare for the descent into Doom.

Early Game Quick Start

Follow this accelerated route to assemble a strong early party, secure mobility tools, and unlock key conveniences before tackling the shrine loops.

  1. Grapple (Empath Abbey) — Ask Lord Michael for GRAPPLE. He’s upstairs in the east wing by day; the hook climbs small peaks only.
  2. Recruit Julia — Also in Empath Abbey’s quarters.
  3. Recruit Jaana — Yew jail’s hidden basement. Enter the fireplace behind the living area; behind a locked door.
  4. Glass Swords cache — Hidden valley in the Serpent’s Spine (south of Yew). Ready a sword after each find to duplicate until everyone has one; save for dragons/balrons.
  5. Swap companions in Britain — Drop off Shamino at the inn; recruit Gwenno at the weapons shop.
  6. Minoc skull keys (+ Shrine of Sacrifice) — Moongate to Minoc and search Shenstone’s stump for 5 keys; exit/re-enter at night to refresh. Free healer here; you can detour to the Sacrifice shrine nearby.
  7. Magic Carpet + Sandalwood Box — Castle Britannia, Lord British’s chambers (skull key the center door). Play Stones on the harpsichord: 6-7-8-9-8-7-8-7-6-7-6-5-3.
  8. HMS Cape plans — East Brittany (The Oaken Oar), in the east room’s drawers. Doubles frigate speed.
  9. Lycaeum stop (Isle of Honesty) — Recruit Mariah and stock reagents in Moonglow.
  10. Magic Axe (Jhelom) — Hidden stump via the tower route and barrel push. Infinite-range thrown weapon that returns.
  11. Fund the arsenal — Farm bridge trolls for gold to buy more Magic Axes (Yew’s Arms of Justice).

Tip: Cities can be afflicted by a random Shadowlord each day. If critical NPCs are hostile, rest until after midnight or plan around tomorrow’s affliction.

The Path of Virtue

Restoring the Shrines of the Eight Virtues is the primary way to increase your party's attributes and is required to learn the final Word of Power. Every shrine uses the same simple loop:

1) Learn the Mantra from NPCs in the virtue's city.
2) Meditate at the shrine using the mantra for three cycles.
3) Visit the Codex on the Isle of the Avatar (Underworld) to receive guidance.
4) Return & Complete by meditating again to gain stats.

Who to talk to for each Mantra

Honesty (Moonglow): Speak to Malifora → mantra AHM.
Compassion (Britain): Greyson (at the inn). Say BRITISH is the rightful ruler, then ask for the mantra of Compassion → MU.
Valor (Jhelom): Trian points you to Thorne → RA.
Justice (Yew): Give Jeremy money, then ask for info. He directs you to Chamfort (Resistance; password DAWN) → BEH.
Sacrifice (Minoc/East Brittany): Rew (East Brittany) sings the mantra → CAH.
Honor (Trinsic): Gruman shares it directly → SUMM.
Spirituality (Skara Brae): Saul sends you to Kindor. Ask Kindor about SHRINE and answer Y → OM.
Humility (New Magincia): Shirita sends you to Wartow. Answer his questions: BRITISH, N, N, N, Y → LUM.

Tip: Ask NPCs about MANTRA unless noted; some steps require the Resistance password DAWN.

Completing all eight shrine quests grants the Word of Power for Doom: VERAMOCOR.

Act I: Shatter the Shadows

The three Shadowlords cannot be beaten in normal combat. You must recover their shards from the Underworld and perform a banishment ritual at the castles of Truth, Love, and Courage.

Step 1: Unlock the dungeons (Words of Power)

  • Deceit → Malik (Moonglow) → Malifora → FALLAX.
  • Wrong → Terrence (Britain) → join the Resistance (password DAWN) → ask Felespar (Yew) → MALUM.
  • Covetous → Rew (East Brittany) → Fiona (Minoc; Resistance password again) → AVIDUS.
  • Hythloth → Kaiko (New Magincia) → Hassad (Blackthorn's dungeon; use Kaiko as reference) → IGNAVUS.
  • Destard → Zachariah (Britain) → Goeth (Jhelom; ask for "DROW") → INOPIA.
  • Despise → Annon (Britain) → VILIS.
  • Shame → Woolfe (Trinsic) → Sindar (sleepwalking mage) → INFAMA.
  • Doom → Complete all eight shrine quests, then say VERAMOCOR at the entrance.

For the Shadowlord quests you need Deceit, one of Wrong/Covetous, and Hythloth. Others are helpful for the Amulet and the finale.

Step 2: Learn their true names

  • Faulinei (Falsehood)
  • Astaroth (Hatred)
  • Nosfentor (Cowardice)

You will shout these names at the appropriate sacred flames during the banishment ritual (see Step 3).

Step 3: Retrieve the three shards

Enter the dungeons using the Words of Power. Descend to the Underworld and reach each shard as noted:

  • Shard of Falsehood → Beneath Deceit (FALLAX). Underworld route trends west to a central isle across water; bring the Grappling Hook and Magic Carpet. (You can VAS REL POR out.)
  • Shard of Hatred → Beneath Wrong/Covetous (MALUM/AVIDUS). Use the Sceptre to dispel fields, and the Crown in heavy-magic rooms. The Underworld access from either dungeon leads to a winding southwest labyrinth.
  • Shard of Cowardice → Beneath Hythloth (IGNAVUS). Blink across mountain "rooms" with IN POR and use the Magic Carpet over swamps; the shard lies in a northeast clearing.

Step 4: Perform the banishment

Stand one tile south of the sacred flame, shout the Shadowlord's name, wait one turn, then use the corresponding shard as it stands on the flame:

  • Faulinei (Falsehood) → Lycaeum (Truth)
  • Astaroth (Hatred) → Empath Abbey (Love)
  • Nosfentor (Cowardice) → Serpent's Hold (Courage)

Act II: Recover the Regalia

With the Shadowlords gone, recover Lord British's artifacts. These make the Underworld and Doom manageable.

The Sceptre

Location: Stonegate (north of the east edge of Lock Lake / south of Minoc).
How: Requires Grappling Hook, Skull Keys, and the Magic Carpet. Use a skull key on the center door, answer the demon's riddle (WELL), then outrun the Shadowlords on the carpet to grab the Sceptre and exit. Beware the fire pits.

Function: Dispels magical fields.

The Crown

Location: Rooftop of Blackthorn's Castle.
How: From the entrance, ride the Magic Carpet and outrun the guards. Go up to L2 → L3 → rooftop, then skull key the center room, take the Crown, and fly off the roof to escape. Save frequently: being captured here can permanently erase a companion.

Function: Negates enemy magic.

The Amulet

Location: Underworld burial ground of Lord British's fallen knights.
Quick route: Drop through the waterfall east of Skara Brae on the Magic Carpet, follow the river junctions (Down → Left → Down), circle the lake, go southeast through the swamp and mountain pass to the burial ground, and take the Amulet. Exit: cast VAS REL POR or intentionally die to return to the castle.

Function: Reveals the hidden entrance to Doom.

The Sandalwood Box

Location: Lord British's private study.
How: Play "Stones" on the harpsichord (6-7-8-9-8-7-8-7-6-7-6-5-3) to reveal the secret room and claim the Box.

Function: Proves your identity to the king.

Act III: The Final Descent into Doom

The final challenge. This is a one-way trip, so make a permanent save before you enter. Ensure you have all four royal artifacts and the Sandalwood Box, and that the Shadowlords are defeated.

Final Preparations

  • All 3 Shadowlords must be destroyed.
  • Possess the Sceptre, Crown, Amulet, and Sandalwood Box.
  • The Avatar at Level 8 is strongly recommended.
  • Stockpile healing potions and resurrection spells.

The Rescue

The entrance to Doom is in the central Underworld, hidden in darkness (use the Amulet). Speak the Word of Power VERAMOCOR to enter.

  1. Use the Sceptre to dispel the ethereal walls at the entrance.
  2. Navigate the labyrinthine levels, using the Crown to survive rooms filled with powerful magic-using monsters.
  3. On the final level, find the hidden pit leading to Lord British's prison.
  4. Lord British is trapped in a mirror. Step through and give him the Sandalwood Box to free him.
  5. Use the Orb of the Moons he gives you to escape the collapsing dungeon.

Britannian Archives

This section serves as your complete in-game encyclopedia. Use the tabs to switch between a searchable spellbook, complete with reagent lists and strategic notes, and a directory of all the vital Mantras and Words of Power you will need to unlock Britannia's secrets.

Complete Spellbook

Magic is cast from prepared reagents and consumes Magic Points. A character's level determines the highest circle of spells they can cast. Use the search to quickly find a spell.

Spell Name Circle Effect Reagents

Mantras & Words of Power

These "passwords" are essential for progressing through the game. Mantras are used at the Shrines of Virtue, while Words of Power unlock the dungeons.

Virtue Mantra Dungeon Word of Power

Common Player Tips

    Moongate Phases (Gate Travel)

    Casting VAS REL POR opens a gate to any moongate based on the current moon phase. Use a pocket watch to time your arrival.

    Phase Destination

    Notes: Based on Ultima V moongate order seen in-game and the walkthrough’s examples (e.g., Phase 1 → Moonglow, Phase 2 → Britain, Phase 4 → Yew, Phase 5 → Minoc, Phase 6 → Trinsic, Phase 8 → New Magincia).