The Botchling and Lubberkin — The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Walkthrough

Guide Geralt through The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Botchling and Lubberkin quest. Learn about the moral choice and its impact on the Baron's family.

The Botchling and Lubberkin quest in The Witcher 3 presents a crucial moral choice: destroy the cursed infant or transform it into a guardian spirit. This decision impacts Geralt's path and leads to further investigations into the Baron's family.

After a brief, albeit forceful, conversation with the Baron, Geralt will accompany him to the child's burial site. Upon arrival, the Botchling will manifest, and Geralt must quickly decide its fate. The default action is to kill it, but a more compassionate path involves burying it under the threshold, transforming it into a guardian spirit known as a Lubberkin.

Choosing the Lubberkin path requires Geralt to defend the Baron from two waves of Wraiths as they escort the Botchling back to the fort. These encounters can be challenging, so preparing potions like Swallow and Thunderbolt is highly recommended. Once the Botchling is safely buried, meditating for 24 hours and returning to the grave at midnight will reveal the successful transformation into a Lubberkin.

Following the Lubberkin will lead Geralt through various monster-infested areas until they reach a fisherman's hut. Speaking with the fisherman will reveal the full story behind the child's tragic fate. This revelation is key to progressing Geralt's investigation into the Baron's missing family.

With this part of the bargain fulfilled, Geralt can return to the Baron. Informing him of Tamara's whereabouts in Oxenfurt and agreeing to find her will grant Geralt a Letter of Safe Conduct, essential for bypassing the Redanian blockade. This is the most convenient and cost-effective way to obtain this crucial item.

The Baron will then share another tale about Ciri, initiating a lighthearted horse race quest. While this quest is enjoyable, the search for Anna, the Baron's wife, takes a darker turn and leads to more formidable enemies. The guide then shifts focus to other activities, including the "Fists of Fury: Velen" secondary quest at the Inn at the Crossroads.