DLCs: Hearts of Stone & Blood and Wine

Master Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine in The Witcher 3 REDkit. Tackle new contracts, enemies, and storylines within these major DLC expansions.

Welcome, Witcher, to a comprehensive guide for navigating the treacherous contracts and sun-drenched vineyards of Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. These expansions offer hundreds of hours of additional gameplay, challenging new enemies, powerful gear, and unforgettable storylines. This guide will help you prepare, conquer, and fully experience everything these acclaimed DLCs have to offer.

Hearts of Stone: O'Dimm's Pacts and the Immortal Man

Hearts of Stone introduces Geralt to the enigmatic Gaunter O'Dimm and the cursed Olgierd von Everec. This DLC is best tackled around level 30-34, as its challenges are significant. It's set in the familiar lands of Velen and Novigrad, but with new areas and secrets to uncover.

Starting the Adventure

• Quest Trigger: Look for the "Evil's Soft First Touches" contract posted on notice boards in the Northern Realms (e.g., Mulbrydale, Oxenfurt). Accepting this contract will lead you to the Garin Estate.
• Initial Encounter: The contract involves a monster in the sewers beneath Oxenfurt. Be prepared for a challenging fight against a giant toad. This encounter will directly lead to your fateful meeting with Gaunter O'Dimm.

Key Quests & Strategies

• Dead Man's Party: This quest requires Geralt to attend a wedding as a ghost.
  • Preparation: Before heading to the Von Everec Estate, ensure you have plenty of alcohol (e.g., Dwarven Spirit, Mahakaman Mead) for the festivities. You'll also need to acquire suitable formal attire, which can be purchased from tailors in Novigrad or found as loot.
  • Objective: Your primary goal is to make the wedding guests laugh, cry, and feel desire. Pay attention to the dialogue and character interactions to choose the correct responses. For example, to make the guests laugh, participate in the pig herding mini-game or tell a funny story.
• Open Sesame!: A thrilling heist in the Borsodi Auction House.
  • Recruiting a Crew: You'll need to assemble a team of specialists.
    • Safecracker: Look for Quinto in the sewers beneath Oxenfurt. He's involved in a side quest there.
    • Thug: Find Casimir in the herbalist's hut near the Devil's Pit. He's contemplating blowing himself up. Persuade him to join by offering him a new purpose.
  • Auction House Infiltration: You'll have choices on how to proceed. A stealthy approach is often rewarded, but a direct assault is also an option. Be mindful of the guards and their patrol routes.
• Whatsoever a Man Soweth...: The climactic confrontation with Gaunter O'Dimm.
  • The Gauntlet: You'll be transported to a surreal realm. Your objective is to solve a series of puzzles and find the "Mirror's Reflection" before O'Dimm.
  • Puzzle Solutions:
    • First Puzzle (Illusionary Wall): Use your Aard sign to dispel the illusionary wall blocking your path.
    • Second Puzzle (Broken Bridge): Look for a hidden path or use your Witcher Senses to find a way across the chasm. Sometimes, there's a destructible wall or a climbable ledge.
    • Third Puzzle (Mirror Shard): The shard is often hidden in plain sight, but protected by a magical barrier or a group of spectral enemies. Defeat the enemies and use your Witcher Senses to pinpoint its exact location.

Blood and Wine: The Land of Wine and Wonders

Blood and Wine transports Geralt to the vibrant, sun-drenched duchy of Toussaint, a land seemingly untouched by war. This expansion is designed for higher-level characters, ideally level 35+, due to its formidable enemies and complex narrative. It introduces new mechanics like Mutations and Grandmaster gear.

Starting the Adventure

• Quest Trigger: The quest "Envoys, Wineboys" will appear on your quest log after reaching a certain level (usually around 30-35) or after completing the main story of the base game. You'll be summoned by two knights of Toussaint, Palmerin de Launfal and Milton de Peyrac-Peyran, in Velen or Novigrad.
• Arrival in Toussaint: The journey to Toussaint is swift and leads to a grand introduction to the duchy and its unique challenges.

Key Quests & Strategies

• The Beast of Toussaint: Your first major contract in Toussaint.
  • Investigating the Murders: Follow the trail of the Beast, examining crime scenes and interviewing witnesses. Pay close attention to details, as the true nature of the Beast is not what it seems.
  • Initial Confrontation: Be prepared for a fight against a powerful Garkain. Use Vampire Oil and Igni to your advantage.
• La Cage au Fou: A pivotal quest involving the eccentric hermit, Orianna.
  • Exploring the Mansion: Orianna's mansion holds many secrets. Use your Witcher Senses to uncover hidden passages and clues.
  • The Spoon Collector: This quest involves a unique interaction with a higher vampire. Your choices here will significantly impact the narrative. Consider your options carefully, as a peaceful resolution is possible.
• Capture the Castle: A grand siege on Dun Tynne.
  • Allies and Tactics: You'll have the opportunity to recruit allies for the assault. Consider bringing along Regis for his unique abilities.
  • Breaching the Walls: There are multiple ways to enter the castle. A stealthy approach through a hidden passage can be effective, or a direct assault with your allies.
• What Lies Unseen: Delving into the Unseen Elder's lair.
  • Navigating the Lair: This area is dark and filled with powerful Fleders and Garkains. Equip your torch and use your Witcher Senses constantly.
  • The Unseen Elder: This is one of the toughest boss fights in the game. He is highly resistant to most attacks. Focus on dodging his powerful blows and exploiting any brief openings. Quen is essential for survival.

New Features & Essential Gear

• Mutations: Unlock powerful new abilities through Professor Moreau's laboratory.
  • Unlocking: Complete the side quest "Turn and Face the Strange" to gain access to the Mutation system.
  • Acquiring Mutagens: Greater Mutagens are crucial for unlocking and upgrading Mutations. Farm them from powerful monsters or craft them.
  • Recommended Mutations:
    • Euphoria: Increases sword damage and sign intensity based on toxicity. Excellent for alchemy builds.
    • Bloodbath: Increases attack power with each successful sword hit, stacking up to 250%.
    • Adrenaline Rush: Increases attack power and sign intensity based on current adrenaline points.
• Grandmaster Witcher Gear: The pinnacle of Witcher armor.
  • Scavenger Hunts: Each Grandmaster set (Griffin, Feline, Ursine, Wolven, Manticore) has its own scavenger hunt quest. These quests will lead you to diagrams scattered across Toussaint.
  • Crafting: You'll need a Grandmaster Armorer and Blacksmith to craft these sets. Lazare Lafargue in Beauclair is your go-to craftsman.
  • Required Materials: Grandmaster gear requires rare materials like Infused Slyzard Hide, Enriched Dimeritium Plate, and Flawless Rubies. Farm these from powerful enemies or purchase them from merchants.
• Corvo Bianco Vineyard: Your very own estate!
  • Upgrades: Invest in upgrades for your vineyard, including a bed, alchemy lab, grindstone, and armor repair table. These provide useful buffs and conveniences.
  • Trophy Room: Display your most prized monster trophies and weapons.