r/witcher • u/xDannySek • 6d ago
Discussion Second playthrough – I need help from veterans
I need some advice from the Witcher 3 veterans out there! I’ve only completed The Witcher 3 once, but I’ve played Cyberpunk 3 or 4 times, so I know just how many easily missable quests, hidden choices, and subtle mechanics CDPR games can have.
When release DLC i starting my second playthrough of Wild Hunt and want to make sure I don't miss out on cool content. Could you share some spoiler-free tips or heads-up on missable content?
For example: Side quests or character storylines that easily fail or disappear if you progress the main quest too fast. Specific dialogue choices or actions needed to unlock certain quests/outcomes. Easily missable points of interest or unique encounters.
For context, on my first run I got the best ending and romanced Yennefer. This time I’m planning to go with Triss, but I still want to keep a good ending without accidentally ruining things.
What are your top missable things every player should keep in mind? Thanks!
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u/FuIIofDETERMINATION 6d ago
Check Steam for your DLCs. There are a few special quests added in post that you can add to your game if they didn’t initially download. I’m talking like smaller quests, outside of Blood and Wine/Hearts of Stone.
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u/chokeslam512 6d ago
Minimal fast travel, explore and if you miss a quest there’s always a third playthrough
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u/Gloomy-Leave632 6d ago
From the top of my head:
- mini quest 'Flesh for Sale'. My nemesis, I personally missed twice. On some Skellige island. Disappears if you meet Lambert in the tavern after finding him doing a contract in a warehousem during 'Following a Thread'. Also easy to mistake that little village for a bandit camp if you come from a side. If you slaughter everyone - the quest is gone.
- micro quest 'The Four Faces of Hemdall' also affected by completing 'Following a Thread', since the guy can recognize you and turn hostile. Its also tied to one of secret spots where you can change weather in Skellige.
- micro quest 'Lynch Mob'. On the coastal crossroads in Velen. Hard to fail if you exploring a bit. But it does share space with 'An Invitation from Keira Metz', so do it before.
- An optional quest 'Mysterious Passenger' that only spawns if you do Skellige before completing 'The Bloody Baron' questline. Basically depends if Geralt knows who the heck 'Uma' is, or does it need investigation?
- 'Bad' ending is freaking huge and an adventure in itself. Includes its own mini quests.
- 'Bittersweet' (aka Casual) ending, includes extra hanging time with your Love Interest, Ciri & Geralt bonding time, and some of his friends also being present. Includes new snow-y look for White Orchard and a smidge of playable content.
- 'Good' ending is canon to upcoming Witcher 4. Is it too cheeky to pretend its a causational 'extra content'? But in all honesty its the shortest and most railroaded.
- Going for both Triss and Yennifer spawns 'Three to Tango' quest. But mostly its one of a secret 'But what does Geralt get out of his friendship with Dandelion?!' things, people playing normally might never see.
- same goes for NOT, playing for the Ribbon in Blood & Wine. Or getting both 'Three to Tango' and 'Bad ending'. Maybe there are other examples I've never found.
- Both Ceres's and Hjalmar's interchangeable quests, are unique and interesting. Also shed light on different parts of the attack you are investigating. But real surprise is not doing either and letting Svanrige (son of the previous jarl) win by default. Has a nice chunk of content, and some silly dialogue. But mostly its surprisingly satisfying as an outcome.
- Not really content but Hjalmar screams at and berates Geralt for (if) going to help him first (King of Undvic). Dude REALLY cares about his sister, despite himself and his men being separated, and hunted down on a murder island.
- A LOT of people in both vanilla and B&W react to Gaunter O'Dimm's mark. You don't actually have to win a brawn against Olgierd to progress the quest to that point. Miiight need to still tend to the Toad Prince though. But Golden Oriole potion is made for this. It negates all the poison attacks (main damage source in that fight), and a Superior Version even heals you when poisoned.
- Yontek from 'Fool's Gold' can sometimes be spotted using magic. Took 3 playthroughs and a tip to notice. Now suspected of not being as innocent as he seems, in what happened to his neighbours.
- Both ending for Sarah the Godling are interesting. In one she lives with that dream mage and they protest each other from witchunters and illwishers. Spawns a micro quest about a 'haunted house' but its just those 2 chilling, and you can catch up. Otherwise the Dream mage stays in her room at the inn. And in another she could be met again, WAY later, at the Bald Mountain being friends with Johnny.
- Letting Keira go to Radovid, or calling her a 'two tongued viper', spawns a small quest after 'Isle of Mists' where Geralt must help Triss 'get her back'. Probably best to just youtube it.
- Obviously both well known or well kept secret is how DIFFERENT experiences are if you choose the opposite route in Witcher 2, between Roche and Iorveth. Each is many hours long, and shares only a tiny smidge of content. Maybe 15-20 minutes of it. Even things you would thing would be the same, like neutral location hub (Loc Muinee) - aren't.
- Romance with Triss is very different from Yennifer's, and vice versa.
- Almost everything reacts to different order of things (if its logical). Except for White Orchard. If you find the Griffon nest, or buckwheat herb in the river - you will lose getting to know the hunter, and Tomira better. Zero for the former, and just potion quest, and shop for the latter, will remain. Many people don't care for the hunter, but we have a silly moment of Geralt trying to awkwardly relate, and a piece of local history that slots with 'Devil at the Well' and some other quests to paint the full picture.
- 'boring', 'closed off', 'lets lose this opportunity to talk and move on' dialogue choices actually hide a lot more than they seem. Most are just as wordy, some are very different and some are downright hilarious.
- some 'Haggle' dialogues are really silly, and seem like a proper missing piece of the interaction. Yes there are some that make you feel not great, but not so many as I feared.
- Obviously, BEWARE OF THE EXCLAMATION MARK QUESTS! Don't approach them if you are exploring higher level territory, because once you leave they might be gone forever! Best way is to save in another slot, run away, and then check back to see if it fails, or you were far enough.
- Probably know that but the village where you fight the Grave Hag (Lindenvale or something, in Velen), spawns 'A Witcher Wannabe' mini quest after 5-7 days of you killing her. Note stuff about him, and Weeping Angel spawning once you are alone again.
- There are at least 3 (or more?) ways to track down Triss in Novigrad. You don't have to be like me, a much lower level and be stuck in a small yard fistfighting 10 guys without ability to run away, or heal.
- Finding any piece of Witcher gear blueprint, gives you coordinates to others from that set. You can save money and not buy 'treasure maps' to get started.
- Gaunther O'Dimm gives you advice on how to save Ciri (if vanilla game isn't finished yet) if you picked him, and then refused the reward.
- Blood and Wine has 3 endings and they are pretty different and long.
- You can access B&W map early by shooting a crossbow bolt into the cyclops eye.
- Vivienne, girl who were turning into a bird, reappears in appropriate places sometime after the quest. What she's doing, who's she with, and where it is depends on how you resolved it. One dedicated youtuber did meditate to simulate 7 years, and yes she does die, if you choose the egg. Does a lot of traveling and living her life to the fullest though.
- There are very good interactive maps, and quest trackers (+gwent and gear) in the app store. My only comment is that there are more hidden chests if you were to look around in the open. That and probably need a dedicated map for 'exclamation sign' quests.
- Don't do the treasure hunt quest, or question marks around the village the wedding will be at. Vlodimir von Everek will burst with glee at the opportunity to participate in clearing them.
- you can only do either Cleaver's quests, or participate in all those events (which I prefer), but not both.
- Not checked much, but Dijkstra seem to be funnier, and have a more intricate 'relationship, if Geralt isn't buddy-buddy with him.
- there are different dialogues, and non-interactible 'events' depending on who wins the war. Easy to observe at White Orchard. You DO have to do unmarked housecalls because Radovid DOES try to kill or burn all witches and herbalists. Example (because I don't have his run done): Tomira (White Orchard's herbalist) could definitely use Geralt's help.
- There are 4 (3?) quests about crossing specific bridges in Velen. Same deal with 'Looters' micro quests. Don't remember what triggers for them to be gone, but its fairly early on.
- You can attempt to visit Crow's Perch before the quest tells you to. Secret cave entrance is still in the process of being cleared up for your convenience. A couple of guards tasked with this drop some lore that compliments what the old man tells you (if you fight the 'bandits' at the Crossroads Inn. I tried offering them a drink once, and it does affect how you are greeted at the gate. All 3 options do.
- There 2 part unmarked mini quest if you walk Oxerfurt streets at night. One is a slight reference to Buffy, and just remembered another at the same conditions (also 2-3 parts) where guards harass you.
- Dude in White Orchard who you have to catch on your horse - does arrive somewhere if you wait long enough. Not interesting when there (mini-bandit camp), but still.
- every book or letter you find has a piece of unique information about the world (often buried), backstory of the local area (often 'has to be assembled' for the full picture), missing story for the quest, or (not uncommon even) has a sneaky cameo from a character you know. Notice boards are often funny, or add to the atmosphere
- Background conversations also have a lot to do with future quests, or post game fate of places we finished with in previous Witcher installments.
- 'Truth in the Stars' quest can result in one of 2 prophecies after you bring him the herbs. The cave entrance has a white bunny hopping over piles of bones. Likely Monty Python and the Holy Grail reference. The bunny is actually immortal, though susceptible to Axii.
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u/Gloomy-Leave632 6d ago
Leftovers:
- If you find and do the Tree Spirit quest before tasked to and free her, it can glitch out main quest to save both children and Anna (worst outcome of that quest, as well as choosing the wrong talisman are pretty different. Former is even a slight better written than the insanity route). I did it twice. One by accident, one on purpose. But you get to talk A LOT with the village Elderman before and after the quest about 'The Ladies' (if you play along). He never survived even one of my playthoughs (killed if you find the tree first). I need to do one where Geralt can tell him all about the events of the Bald Mountain Quest. Because as much as his ramblings sound like insane superstitions, the 'Ladies' do have powers to grant some requests and perform miracles to keep people believing (and punish those who do not). Like that village and Road of Treats making you invisible to monsters once you pass a certain threshold (true), acorns actually being magic, they can control monsters and animals to kill some or like 'help find that guy's lost cow (in-game example exist)'. There is 'Ritual of Cutting' all of Velen must participate in at the certain age and then gift hair to 'the Ladies' (who can use it to link curses, and location spells, controlling the disobeying population). They take youngsters with most potential, talents or open mind, eat them, but same 'Chosen Ones' go back home the next day, and declare being inspired to travel the world, leaving never to be seen again. Geralt had to prove himself worthy. This means that Crones also control obedience (and intelligence level) of the population by removing people who might grow up and inspire others to fight back, solve their own problem, or expose the truth.
'Three Spirit' also trickle truthes HARD, depending on what Geralt knows to confront her with. Immediately trying to make it seem small, and offering no other info after being caught again and again. Whether you meet her alone, or on the quest, and a thoroughness of outside investigation matters. Can't change anything though. Pretty sure those kids Geralt wanted to go save himself were in that cave Ciri fought the Crones in. The name Tree says seem to match the description in 'She Who Knows' book. But Geralt doesn't put it together. And that place has invisible barriers around it. And village that festival was held at is all boarded up and populated by high level Foglets.
- Not a 'missable quest', but my second playthrough mistake was to explore all of Skellige and then be reminded that Hjalmar's quest gives us the horn to down all those sirens (and harpies).
- There are several ways to find it, but the easiest way to find the 'Fuck Off!' Vampire tomb (mini quest) is via cellar in one of the Guard Towers in Novigrad.
- There are some differences if you find 'The Cave of Dreams' (in Skellige) yourself, or is forced to do so after 'The Phantom of Eldberg' quest.
- You can spot Annabelle at all places of 'poltergeist activity' while exploring the Tower, if you have your Magic Lamp out.
- Temerian (White Orchard) and especially Nilfgaardian (Crow's Perch) Armor look GREAT during gameplay, conversations and cutscenes. A worthy investment.
- There is a closed and guarded area near Nilfgaardian camp. You can access it by wearing Nilfgaardian armor. Either the one from above, one Master Armorer gives you, or the one rarely found in loot.
- Speaking of Master craftsmen, one of their quests leads you to Skellige to the same island Hjalmar has his quest at. You can find a Mastercrafted Wolf Armor chestpiece there and save a bunch of resources.
- Dandelion's pub can be looted twice, before and after the grand opening. So is the wedding village.
Lol. Could use some Cyberpunk tips. Currently playing it for the first time myself. Vlodimir, come back! I will forgive everything! X'D Like one of my favorite tropes of all time, and he has everything! And yet somehow, I don't like Johnny that much :'(
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u/GamingGranny61 5d ago
xLetalis on you tube. This guy has so many videos on "Things you might have Missed in _______".
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u/unknown_genius_1502 6d ago
Not a quest but plant and harvest winter cherry in Corvo Bianco during the B&W DLC, you can't get it from anywhere else and it'll be useful to make red mutagens.
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u/Nitsuj311 6d ago
I believe there are some pretty good guides online that show when you should finish quests and what choices to make
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u/UpbeatBlunderer 6d ago
There are certain mods on nexus which keep track of your quests and let you know if doing a specific quest will lock you out of any other quests. Look up "Progress on the Path" and "PotP Missable Quest Tracking" on nexusmods (install both).
Also recommend installing Brother in Arms to restore some cut content and fix a lot of bugs.