How to Unlock the Skellige Gwent Deck in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Unlocking the Skellige Gwent deck in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a rewarding experience, adding a unique and powerful playstyle to your Gwent arsenal. This deck, focusing on resilience and strategic card revival, is a welcome addition for any Gwent enthusiast. The simple answer to “How do you unlock the Skellige deck?” is: you must travel to Toussaint, the region featured in the Blood and Wine expansion. Once in Toussaint, defeating any merchant or craftsman in a game of Gwent will award you a starting Skellige card and begin the quest line to fully unlock the deck. However, there are several nuances to consider, so let’s dive deeper into the process and related aspects.
Getting Started with the Skellige Deck
Journey to Toussaint
The primary hurdle is accessing Toussaint. This region is part of the Blood and Wine DLC, which is a significant expansion intended for players around level 35 or higher. You cannot access the Skellige deck until you embark on this journey. Attempting to rush to Toussaint too early will likely result in a challenging experience, both in terms of combat and the story’s intended progression. Therefore, it’s advisable to focus on completing a significant portion of the base game and the Hearts of Stone expansion (if you have it) before venturing into Toussaint.
Initiating the Skellige Gwent Quests
Once you’ve arrived in Toussaint, the actual unlocking process is relatively straightforward. As stated, defeating any merchant or craftsman in a Gwent game triggers the first step. This victory will award you with a Skellige deck card and unlock two related quests: “Gwent: Never Fear, Skellige’s Here” and “Gwent: To Everything – Turn, Turn, Tournament!”. These quests will lead you to various Gwent players throughout Toussaint, rewarding you with additional Skellige cards. The first key individual you’ll encounter during this quest is Count Monnier, who gives you the base Skellige deck.
Understanding the Skellige Deck’s Strengths
The Skellige deck is known for its resilience. Its faction ability, which triggers at the beginning of round three, revives two random non-hero cards from your discard pile back onto the board. This is a powerful mechanic that can swing the momentum of a match. The deck also features tight-bond cards, allowing you to increase their strength by playing multiple copies, and units with the ability to trigger additional benefits from the graveyard. It’s a deck that requires a strategic and thoughtful approach but can be incredibly potent in the right hands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Skellige Gwent Deck
1. How early can I get the Skellige deck?
You can only obtain the Skellige deck after travelling to Toussaint, which requires the Blood and Wine DLC and is best attempted around level 35 or higher. There’s no way to acquire it earlier.
2. Where do I start the Skellige Gwent quests?
After reaching Toussaint, defeating any merchant or craftsman in a game of Gwent starts the Skellige deck quests, specifically “Gwent: Never Fear, Skellige’s Here” and “Gwent: To Everything – Turn, Turn, Tournament!”.
3. Is there a Skellige Gwent deck in the base game?
No, the Skellige Gwent deck is exclusive to the Blood and Wine expansion. It is not part of the base game experience.
4. How does the Skellige deck faction ability work?
The Skellige faction ability revives two random, normal (non-hero or special) cards from your discard pile at the beginning of round three. This provides a powerful late-game advantage.
5. Is the Skellige deck considered a strong Gwent deck?
The Skellige deck isn’t considered the most powerful in the game overall but it is a strong and highly competitive deck. It features many potent cards and a unique faction ability. Mastering it will provide you with another formidable Gwent deck.
6. Does the Skellige deck cost anything to unlock?
While you don’t directly pay to unlock the deck, you will be required to purchase the Blood and Wine DLC which includes Toussaint.
7. What are some of the best Skellige cards?
Key Skellige cards include Cerys an Craite, Ermion, and various cards utilizing the revive mechanic and tight-bond. You will gather these through Gwent quest victories.
8. How is Skellige depicted in the game?
Skellige in the Witcher is based on the Skellig Islands in Ireland, featuring a unique Gaelic-inspired culture, landscapes, and naming conventions.
9. How many Gwent decks are there in The Witcher 3?
There are five Gwent decks in the game: Northern Realms, Nilfgaardian Empire, Monsters, Scoia’tael, and Skellige, the latter being added with the Blood and Wine expansion.
10. Which Skellige leader cards are considered strong?
Cerys an Craite is generally regarded as one of the strongest Skellige leader cards, providing a unique advantage and strategic depth to the deck.
11. Is there a connection between Skellige’s storyline and the Gwent deck?
While the main Skellige storyline involves political intrigue and succession, the Gwent deck is a separate, though equally engaging, aspect of the game’s content. The connection is mainly thematic, as Skellige characters like Cerys and Ermion feature as powerful Gwent cards.
12. What happens if I go to Skellige first, before Novigrad?
You can go to Skellige before Novigrad, however, accessing the Skellige Gwent deck requires progression to the Blood and Wine DLC and the region of Toussaint.
13. What is the main strength of Clan An Craite in Skellige?
Clan An Craite is the most powerful clan in Skellige, known for their military might and strong jarls throughout history.
14. Is it possible to get all Gwent cards in The Witcher 3?
Yes, it is possible to collect all of the Gwent cards. This will take significant time and effort, as many cards are tied to specific quests, merchants, and Gwent players throughout the game.
15. What is considered the best Gwent deck overall?
While opinions vary, the Nilfgaardian deck is often considered one of the strongest, thanks to its potent combination of spies, medics, and decoy cards. However, every deck has its strengths and weaknesses, making Gwent a strategic and engaging card game. The Skellige deck is a close competitor when mastered.
Unlocking the Skellige Gwent deck is a rewarding journey that adds a new dimension to Gwent gameplay in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. By venturing to Toussaint and engaging with the new Gwent challenges, you’ll gain access to a unique and powerful deck that can truly dominate your Gwent matches. Happy gaming!