Witcher 3 Main Quests: Full List by Act and Location

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has 36 main quests across three acts plus a prologue. This article lists every main quest in order, with the act, recommended level, and starting location for each, so you can track your progress or plan your playthrough.

Prologue: Kaer Morhen (Level 1)

The game opens in the witcher stronghold of Kaer Morhen. These tutorial quests teach combat, signs, and basic exploration. There are 4 main quests here, all starting within the fortress or its immediate valley.

• Killing Monsters – Level 1, Kaer Morhen courtyard. This is the opening cinematic quest that sets up the hunt for Yennefer.
• The Witcher’s Forge – Level 1, Kaer Morhen. You craft your first silver sword and learn about oils and runestones.
• Imperial Audience – Level 1, Kaer Morhen. After the dream sequence, you speak with Vesemir about Ciri’s fate.
• The Beast of White Orchard – Level 2, White Orchard. This quest actually begins in the prologue area, not Kaer Morhen, and ends with the griffin fight.

Note that the prologue is technically part of Act 1 in most quest lists, but the game separates it by location. The recommended level for the prologue is 1–2, and all quests are in White Orchard or Kaer Morhen.

Act 1: Velen and Novigrad (Levels 3–24)

Act 1 is the bulk of the game, spanning the war-torn region of Velen and the city of Novigrad. There are 22 main quests here, and they split into three clear arcs: finding Yennefer, finding Ciri’s trail in Velen, and the Novigrad witch-hunt storyline.

• Lilac and Gooseberries – Level 3, White Orchard. Leads to Yennefer in Vizima.
• The Emperor’s Visit – Level 3, Vizima. A short dialogue quest with Emhyr var Emreis.
• Bloody Baron – Level 5, Crow’s Perch, Velen. The famous quest to find the Baron’s wife and daughter.
• Family Matters – Level 6, Crow’s Perch. Continues the Baron’s story and leads to the Crones.
• The Whispering Hillock – Level 6, Downwarren, Velen. A branching quest involving a spirit under a tree.
• Ladies of the Wood – Level 7, Crookback Bog. You meet the Crones and learn Ciri’s fate.
• Return to Crookback Bog – Level 8, Crookback Bog. Resolves the Baron’s storyline.
• Pyres of Novigrad – Level 10, Novigrad. You begin hunting for Dandelion.
• Broken Flowers – Level 11, Novigrad. A detective-style quest to find Dandelion’s contacts.
• Get Junior – Level 12, Novigrad. You interrogate the crime lords about Dandelion.
• Count Reuven’s Treasure – Level 12, Novigrad. A heist quest that ties into the previous one.
• A Matter of Life and Death – Level 13, Novigrad. A party quest with Triss that advances the romance.
• Now or Never – Level 14, Novigrad. Triss’s escape from the witch hunters.
• The Play’s the Thing – Level 15, Novigrad. You stage a play to get to Dandelion.
• Dandelion’s Story – Level 16, Novigrad. A flashback quest that reveals Ciri’s location.
• The King’s Gambit – Level 17, Skellige. This quest is part of the Skellige arc, which is technically Act 1.
• The Lord of Undvik – Level 18, Skellige. You help Hjalmar on the island of Undvik.
• The Missing Son – Level 18, Skellige. A short quest that leads to Cerys’s path.
• Coronation – Level 19, Skellige. You choose the new ruler of Skellige.
• The Battle of Kaer Morhen – Level 20, Kaer Morhen. The climactic defense of the keep.
• Blood on the Battlefield – Level 21, Kaer Morhen. Aftermath of the battle.
• Ugly Baby – Level 22, Kaer Morhen. You take Uma to the lab.

Note that the Skellige quests (King’s Gambit, Lord of Undvik, Missing Son, Coronation) are often listed as a separate arc, but they are all part of Act 1 in the game’s internal structure. The recommended level range for Act 1 is 3–22, and locations span Velen, Novigrad, Skellige, and Kaer Morhen.

Act 2: The Isle of Mists (Level 23)

Act 2 is very short, containing only 2 main quests. It takes place almost entirely on the Isle of Mists, a fog-shrouded island off the coast of Skellige.

• The Isle of Mists – Level 23, Skellige. You sail to the island and find Ciri in a magical sleep.
• The Sunstone – Level 23, Skellige. You retrieve the sunstone to lure the Wild Hunt to a final confrontation.

There is no leveling up between these two quests; they are back-to-back. The Isle of Mists is a point of no return for many side quests, so finish your business in Velen and Novigrad before starting it.

Act 3: The Final Battle (Levels 24–30)

Act 3 is the endgame, with 8 main quests. It takes place in Skellige, Kaer Morhen, and the world of the Aen Elle (the Wild Hunt’s home dimension). The recommended level for the final act is 24–30, but you can be higher if you did side content.

• The Final Trial – Level 24, Kaer Morhen. You and Ciri prepare for the battle.
• Battle of the Wild Hunt – Level 25, Kaer Morhen. The massive battle against the Wild Hunt.
• On Thin Ice – Level 26, Skellige. You chase the Wild Hunt across the frozen lake.
• The Witcher’s Last Wish – Level 27, Skellige. This quest is optional for the Yennefer romance, but it is a main quest in the structure.
• The Great Escape – Level 28, Novigrad. You free Dandelion and others from the Wild Hunt’s prison.
• Through Time and Space – Level 29, Aen Elle world. You and Avallac’h travel through portals.
• Blood on the Battlefield (part 2) – Level 29, Kaer Morhen. This is a separate quest from the Act 1 one, and it deals with Ciri’s fate.
• Something Ends, Something Begins – Level 30, Kaer Morhen. The final quest, which has multiple endings based on your choices.

Note that The Witcher’s Last Wish is listed as a main quest in some guides but is actually a side quest in the game’s journal. If you follow the game’s own quest log, it is a side quest. The list above follows the game’s journal order, so it is correct for the main quests.

How the Quest List Works in the Game

The game’s quest log groups quests into three categories: Main, Side, and Contract. The main quests are always listed at the top, and they are numbered in the order you receive them. However, the game does not explicitly label acts. The act structure comes from the community and the official guide. The levels are the recommended minimums; you can attempt quests at a higher level, but the game will warn you if you are underleveled.

The locations are the starting points. Many quests move you to different areas once they begin. For example, The Battle of Kaer Morhen starts at Kaer Morhen but has you defend multiple locations within the keep. The level recommendations are based on the average enemy level in that quest.

Common Misconceptions About the Quest Count

One common question is whether the DLC quests count as main quests. They do not. Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine have their own separate main quest lines, with 10 and 8 quests respectively. They are not part of the base game’s 36 main quests.

Another misconception is that The Witcher’s Last Wish is a main quest. It is a side quest, but it appears in the main quest list in some guides because it is required for a specific ending. The game’s own journal lists it under Side Quests.

Finally, some players think Killing Monsters is a prologue quest, but it is actually the first main quest. The game opens with it, and it is required to progress.

Why Levels and Locations Matter

Knowing the recommended level for each quest helps you avoid frustration. If you attempt a quest 5 levels above your current level, enemies will be nearly impossible to damage. Conversely, if you are 5 levels above the quest, you will get reduced experience points. The locations help you plan your travel, especially in Act 1 where you bounce between Velen and Novigrad.

The game is non-linear within each act. You can do Velen quests in any order, and you can leave Novigrad to do Skellige early. However, the game will force you to complete certain quests to progress the story. For example, you cannot go to Skellige until you finish Pyres of Novigrad and Broken Flowers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many main quests are in The Witcher 3? There are 36 main quests in the base game, excluding the two expansions. This count includes the prologue quests and the final quest.

What is the hardest main quest? Most players agree that The Battle of Kaer Morhen is the hardest because it has multiple waves of enemies and a boss fight. It is also a point of no return for some side quests.

Can I skip side quests and still finish the main story? Yes, you can finish the main story without any side quests, but you will be underleveled. The game expects you to do some side content to stay at the recommended levels.

Does the order of quests matter for the ending? Yes, some choices in main quests affect the ending, especially in Blood on the Battlefield and Something Ends, Something Begins. The order you do quests in does not affect the ending, only your choices during them.

What is the point of no return? The quest The Isle of Mists is the point of no return. Once you start it, many side quests in Velen and Novigrad become unavailable. The game warns you before you proceed.

Are the DLC main quests counted in this list? No, the 36 quests are for the base game only. Hearts of Stone has 10 main quests, and Blood and Wine has 8 main quests, all separate from the base game.

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in act | Act | 1, 2, 3 | 1 | 1 | 3
in q | Quest number | - | 1 | 1 | 36
out total | Total quests in act | - | sum(list) | 0