Achieving the Dijkstra Ending: A Guide to Redanian Supremacy in The Witcher 3
The “best” ending is subjective, but if your goal is to see Dijkstra rise to power as the ruler of Redania in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, then follow this path: you must complete the questline to assassinate King Radovid, siding with Dijkstra in the “Reason of State” quest, and crucially, allowing Dijkstra to kill Vernon Roche, Ves, and Thaler. This secures his control of Redania and leads to a Northern victory in the war against Nilfgaard, albeit at a significant moral cost. Prepare for a world where Redania thrives industrially under Dijkstra’s iron fist, but personal freedoms are severely curtailed.
Laying the Groundwork: Key Quests and Choices
To set yourself up for the Dijkstra ending, several key choices and quest completions are crucial:
- Complete Triss Merigold’s Questline: Finish all of Triss’s quests in Novigrad to successfully evacuate the mages. This step is necessary to unlock the opportunity to pursue the assassination of Radovid.
- “Reason of State” Quest: This quest is the linchpin. It becomes available after you feed Dijkstra information about Ciri. He’ll reveal his plan to assassinate Radovid.
- Side with Roche in “An Eye for an Eye”: Complete this quest. It is not essential for the Dijkstra ending, but it establishes a relationship with Roche that is dramatically altered during “Reason of State.”
- The Coup: In the “Reason of State” quest, when the coup against Radovid occurs, you must side with Roche, Ves, and Thaler initially. This is essential to trigger the later choice that determines Dijkstra’s fate.
- The Crucial Choice: After Radovid is dealt with, Dijkstra will betray his Temerian allies (Roche, Ves, and Thaler) in a power grab. This is where you must choose to let Dijkstra kill them. This is the hardest part, morally, but essential for him to seize control of Redania.
Understanding the Consequences
Choosing the Dijkstra path isn’t for the faint of heart. It comes with serious consequences:
- The Death of Roche, Ves, and Thaler: This is unavoidable if you want Dijkstra to become king. They are casualties of his ruthless ambition.
- A North Ruled by Fear: Dijkstra’s Redania is efficient and powerful, but also oppressive. He rules through fear and intimidation, sacrificing individual liberties for the sake of national strength.
- Ciri’s Fate: Siding with Dijkstra has no bearing on Ciri’s ultimate fate. Her ending is determined by your choices during her own questline, not by your decisions regarding the Northern Kingdoms. To have Ciri become the Empress, you will need to take her to Emhyr before going to fight Imlerith and the Crones and help Nilfgaard win the war and make sure neither Radovid nor Dijkstra are still alive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of achieving the Dijkstra ending:
Will Dijkstra help at Kaer Morhen?
No, Dijkstra never agrees to help defend Kaer Morhen, regardless of your choices. He may give you some coin if you obtain his treasure from Menge, but that’s all. His priorities lie elsewhere.
What happens if I don’t complete Triss’s quests?
If you don’t complete Triss’s questline and help the mages escape Novigrad, you won’t have the opportunity to assassinate Radovid, thus locking you out of the Dijkstra ending.
Is it better for Ciri to be a witcher or Empress under the Dijkstra ending?
Ciri’s fate is independent of the Dijkstra ending. The “best” outcome for Ciri depends on your personal preference, but it’s important to note that becoming Empress is not necessarily the “best” for her character. The Witcher ending is seen by many as the best conclusion for her character arc.
What happens if I kill Radovid but don’t side with Dijkstra during the coup?
If you kill Radovid but then side with Roche and Ves against Dijkstra during the “Reason of State” quest, Temeria will become a free state allied with Nilfgaard instead of Dijkstra taking control.
Is killing Radovid a good thing?
This is a moral question. Radovid is a ruthless tyrant who persecutes mages and non-humans. Killing him ends his reign of terror. However, the alternative – Dijkstra’s rule – is also morally ambiguous. Your decision depends on which set of consequences you find more palatable.
What happens if I let Dijkstra live but don’t help him become king?
If you don’t help him become king, there is no reason for Dijkstra to rule Novigrad or Velen. If you do not side with Dijkstra, he dies.
Does killing Radovid change anything if I don’t side with Dijkstra?
Yes, killing Radovid still significantly changes the political landscape. Without him, the power vacuum allows for either Dijkstra to take control, or for Temeria to rise as a Free State.
How do I keep Dijkstra and Roche alive?
If you want both Roche and Dijkstra to survive, you must allow Radovid to win the war. He will continue his witch hunt for four more years but will be remembered as the “Protector of the North.”
Can Ciri become empress if I side with Dijkstra?
Yes, but only if you took Ciri to Emhyr before the Isle of Mists and ensured a Nilfgaardian victory by maneuvering events after the “Reason of State” quest.
If I choose to do the Dijkstra ending, will other characters be mad at Geralt?
Yes, choosing to side with Dijkstra will make Vernon Roche, Ves, and Thaler very angry at Geralt as they would be betrayed by him.
Is Dijkstra a bad guy?
Whether Dijkstra is “bad” is a matter of perspective. He’s ruthless and pragmatic, willing to sacrifice anyone to achieve his goals. However, he also believes he’s acting in the best interests of Redania. He’s a complex character, not a simple villain.
What kind of ruler does Dijkstra become?
Dijkstra rules Redania with an iron fist. He prioritizes economic and industrial growth, often at the expense of personal freedoms. His reign is efficient, but also oppressive.
Why does Dijkstra want Ciri?
Dijkstra initially wants Ciri as a political pawn. In the books, his plan was for Ciri to marry King Vizimir and ensure the throne of Cintra, thus making Redania more powerful.
Would Geralt break Dijkstra’s leg again?
Given Geralt’s general dislike of Dijkstra’s manipulative tactics and the way he treats others, it’s certainly possible! The decision to break Dijkstra’s leg again after he wanted to conclude unfinished business with Philippa is certainly a viable option.
Are there any resources to better understand game choices and consequences?
Absolutely! I would recommend checking the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. They may have resources and studies related to the decision-making processes and the impact of choices in games like The Witcher 3.