What to Do After Conquering The Witcher 3: A Completionist’s Guide

So, you’ve faced the Wild Hunt, made your choices, and watched the credits roll on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Congratulations, Witcher! But your journey doesn’t have to end there. The world of the Continent is vast and full of untold stories, challenging monsters, and lingering loose ends. The post-game offers a rich tapestry of content that can keep you engaged for dozens, even hundreds, of more hours.

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what you can do after beating The Witcher 3:

• Explore the DLC Expansions: Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. These aren’t just add-ons; they’re practically full games in their own right. Hearts of Stone offers a compelling, self-contained narrative centered around the enigmatic Gaunter O’Dimm and the cursed Olgierd von Everec. Blood and Wine takes you to the vibrant, sun-drenched duchy of Toussaint, a region untouched by war, yet harboring its own dark secrets and terrifying monsters. Both expansions introduce new characters, quests, monsters, gear, and areas to explore.
• Start a New Game+ Adventure. This is the ultimate way to replay The Witcher 3. You’ll begin a new playthrough with your character level, skills, and most of your equipment from your previous save. This allows you to tackle the game with a significant advantage, making combat more strategic and rewarding. More importantly, it gives you the chance to make different choices, explore alternative dialogue options, and experience a completely different narrative path. Certain items do not carry over to New Game+, such as quest items, Gwent cards, and trophies.
• Complete Remaining Side Quests and Contracts. Chances are, even with a thorough playthrough, you’ve missed a few side quests or Witcher contracts. Now’s the time to revisit the world and mop up any unfinished business. Many side quests are genuinely well-written and offer intriguing insights into the world and its inhabitants. Contracts provide excellent opportunities to hone your combat skills and earn valuable rewards.
• Collect Every Gwent Card. Gwent, the addictive card game within The Witcher 3, is a significant part of the experience for many players. Completing your Gwent deck is a challenge that requires exploring every corner of the world, winning tournaments, and completing specific quests. A complete Gwent deck will also open some new interactions.
• Go on Treasure Hunts. Hidden across the map are numerous treasure hunts, leading to valuable diagrams for crafting powerful Witcher gear. Equipping a full set of Witcher gear, like the Feline, Griffin, Ursine, or Wolven sets, will significantly enhance your combat abilities. Some enhanced or Mastercrafted sets can only be started with Treasure Hunts!
• Explore Uncharted Locations. The world map is vast and filled with points of interest that you may have overlooked during your main quest. Exploring these uncharted locations can lead to the discovery of hidden treasures, powerful monsters, and intriguing stories.
• Complete All Secondary Character Quests. These quests often delve deeper into the backstories and motivations of characters like Triss, Yennefer, Roche, Ves, and Zoltan. Completing these quests can significantly impact the ending of the game and your relationships with these characters.
• Romance Triss and/or Yennefer (or Both – With Consequences!). If you haven’t already, pursuing a romance with either Triss or Yennefer adds another layer to the narrative experience. Be warned: attempting to romance both will lead to a humorous, but ultimately disastrous, outcome.
• Craft the Grandmaster Witcher Gear Sets. Exclusive to the Blood and Wine expansion, Grandmaster gear represents the pinnacle of Witcher armor and weaponry. Crafting these sets requires finding the diagrams and gathering rare materials, providing a significant crafting goal.
• Clear all the question marks in Skellige. This is often considered a completionist’s right of passage. However, many of them are “smuggler’s caches” in the water, which aren’t terribly interesting, but you may find something special.
• Experiment with Different Builds and Skills. Now that you’re less focused on the main story, you can experiment with different character builds and skill combinations. Respec your skill points and try out new combat styles.
• Increase Your Character Level. The level cap in the base game with the Hearts of Stone expansion is 70, while the Blood and Wine expansion increases it to 100. Leveling up allows you to equip higher-level gear and unlock new skills. Find some high-level monsters and start leveling!
• Spend Time at Corvo Bianco (Blood and Wine). Your vineyard in Toussaint is more than just a home; it’s a place to relax, display your trophies, and invite your companions. Renovating and upgrading Corvo Bianco provides a satisfying sense of accomplishment. It’s also where Ciri will show up, if she isn’t empress.
• Play some other Witcher Games. If you enjoy the Witcher universe, you might want to start playing the other Witcher games. While many of them are older, they offer a good look into the history and lore of the Continent.
• Watch The Witcher on Netflix. The Netflix series offers a different take on the Witcher universe, exploring the stories of Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri in a new medium. While not directly connected to the games, it can provide a fresh perspective on the characters and the world. You may also enjoy The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.

In short, the post-game of The Witcher 3 is what you make it. Whether you’re a completionist striving for 100% completion or simply looking to spend more time in this beloved world, there’s plenty to keep you entertained long after the main story concludes. Consider how the Games Learning Society helps to further our understanding of how engaging gaming can be. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to find out more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Witcher 3 have a post-game?

Yes, The Witcher 3 has a robust post-game experience. After completing the main story, you can continue exploring the world, completing side quests, contracts, treasure hunts, and the DLC expansions.

2. Can you meet Ciri after beating Witcher 3?

Yes, depending on the choices you made throughout the game and which ending you received, Ciri can visit you at Corvo Bianco in Toussaint after completing the Blood and Wine DLC. This happens if you didn’t romance Triss or Yennefer, or if you romanced both, leading to neither ending up with Geralt.

3. Can you play DLC after beating Witcher 3?

Absolutely. The DLC expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, are designed to be played after the main story. Blood and Wine, in particular, is recommended as the last thing you do in the game due to its higher level requirements and narrative placement.

4. Can you do side quests after beating Witcher 3?

Yes, you can complete any remaining side quests and Witcher contracts after finishing the main story. However, certain side quests that are directly tied to the main questline may become unavailable.

5. Can you free roam after beating Witcher 3?

Yes, the game allows you to free roam and explore the world after the main story. This is a great opportunity to discover hidden locations, complete unfinished quests, and experience the expansion content.

6. Should I finish the Witcher 3 main quest or DLC first?

It is generally recommended to complete the main quest before diving into the DLC expansions. Playing Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine before finishing the main story can potentially lead to story spoilers and a less impactful narrative experience. The recommended order is: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Hearts of Stone, and Blood and Wine.

7. What is the max level in Witcher 3?

The maximum level in The Witcher 3 is 70 with the base game and the Hearts of Stone expansion. The Blood and Wine expansion raises the level cap to 100.

8. Can you keep playing Witcher 3 after the main story?

Yes, you can continue playing after completing the main story. The game allows you to explore, complete side quests, and play the DLC expansions. Be aware that some side quests may fail depending on your choices during the main story.

9. Where is Yennefer/Triss after you beat Witcher 3?

Yennefer can typically be found in Kaer Trolde, in the room she rented at the Inn after beating the game. If you finish the story, Triss will be gone. She disappears from the game world after the main story concludes.

10. Does Ciri stay at Corvo Bianco forever?

Ciri’s stay at Corvo Bianco is not permanent. Her availability depends on the ending you received. If she becomes a Witcher, she will stay for a visit. If she becomes Empress, she will show up briefly.

11. What is the last main quest in The Witcher 3?

The last main quest in The Witcher 3 is Tedd Deireadh, The Final Age. This quest begins automatically after “On Thin Ice.”

12. Is there a point of no return in Witcher 3?

The Isle of Mists quest is often considered a point of no return. The game will warn you that progressing past this point will cause some unfinished quests to fail.

13. What is the strongest monster in Witcher 3?

Determining the “strongest” monster depends on the criteria (difficulty to defeat, lore significance, etc.). However, some of the most powerful monsters include Gaunter O’Dimm, Dettlaff van der Eretein, and Archgriffins.

14. What’s the best silver sword in Witcher 3?

Aerondight is widely regarded as one of the best silver swords in The Witcher 3. It levels up with you and becomes more powerful as you use it, making it incredibly effective against monsters.

15. Should you finish Witcher 3 before Blood and Wine?

Yes, it is highly recommended to finish The Witcher 3 main story and Hearts of Stone before starting Blood and Wine. This ensures that you experience the narrative in the intended order and avoid potential spoilers. Playing Blood and Wine before the main story can also make other remaining quests award only small amounts of experience.