This guide will cover the exploration part of the quest and how to defeat Nithral, the boss of the “Wandering in the Dark” quest in The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt: Preparation tips, fight mechanics, and rewards for defeating the first member of The Wild Hunt!
This guide is up-to-date for The Witcher 3 Next-Gen version (Update 4.04)
Wandering in the Dark Quest Walkthrough
The Wandering in the Dark is a main quest, part of the narrative of The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt. In the Next-Gen update it has not changed, except that the cave and all of its inhabitants are more detailed, the lighting is a lot better and creates much more intense atmosphere.
How to start the quest
To start Wandering in the Dark, you have to complete the previous main quests and meet Keira Metz. With her help you will investigate a cave in Velen, where Ciri had visited to meet a strange mysterious mage.
The recommended level for this quest is 6, but you can do it earlier. You usually get out of White Orchard around level 3 or 4, depending how many of the optional activities you did. You an easily go into Wandering in the Dark at level 4, even on Blood and Broken Bones. This guide will prepare you for the fights inside.
After the first cutscene plays, you realize you are not only looking for clues about Ciri in this cave, you are now chasing the While Hunt!
After the cinematic, you can explore the large open area below now or later. Your quest will continue when you pass through the portal that Keira had just opened. Beware of the poison clouds down. You can use Igni or Aard (a better choice) to temporarily disperse the poisonous clouds.
How to find Keira after Jumping through the Portal
After you jump through the portal and hear Geralt’s favorite line “Damn portals!”, you will have to fight off a few Drowners level 4. Most of the enemies in the cave are that level. Drowners are weak to Igni. Also, use Necrophage oil on your sword.
After a short trip following the one-way tunnel, including a dive underwater for a bit, you will surface back into the large open area where you first saw the Wild Hunt.
In the northern part, there is a broken stair you can climb up and explore some more. There’s wealthy loot and a fight with a Foglet waiting for you in this tunnel. Later you will get back to the big open area but on its west side.
Your quest progress is on the eastern end of the large open area. Using the entrance to the cave as a starting reference point, turn right. Geralt will start calling Keira.
You will find Keira surrounded by Mice. She hates mice. Help her clear them off by burning the “nests” in the room where Keira is. Use Igni.
Follow the Swallow Symbol
The mysterious (for now) elven mage has left a few puzzles for Ciri to solve. You should be able to solve them too. When you first see the projection of the elf, you will get instructions to follow the swallow symbols.
In this next relatively large underground area there’s the expected poisonous clouds and a few level 5 Wraiths. Wraiths are Specters (Specter oil) and are also weak against Yrden. Use it to force them to take a physical form, so you can hit them. Moon Dust bombs also work great on them. You can use Quen to protect yourself.
At this early level, you are likely to struggle to use all of these things. Prioritize Yrden. Dodging is also very helpful. Try not to roll away. Rolling consumes Stamina.
The right path to progress the quest is to the west, as shown on the image below. As you enter this large open underground area, turn right.
I recommend that you explore the two other areas on the east and south. There’s loot down there.
Solving the Keplie Puzzle
After another short one-way tunnel trip, you will end up in a room with a projection of the elven mage. This is a puzzle.
Watch the cinematic. This is where you could end up fighting a lot and you can avoid it all. You need to find a symbol of Ciri’s horse, Kelpie. Don’t interact with the symbols on the surface. Dive into the well.
After you get out of the water, look for the Kelpie symbol at the end of the staircase on your left side.
This will solve the puzzle and allow you to pass through.
The secret Swallow Portal
The next room features a hidden teleport. To activate it, examine the Swallow symbol on the left side, using your Witcher senses.
Fighting the Golem
The Portal will take you to a room with a Golem mini-boss in it. Golems are easy to fight with the right tools and signs are your disposal. Use Elementa Oil on your sword to deal more damage. Golems belong to the Elementa group of monsters. They are also weak against Dimeritium Bombs.
Dodge back when the Golem swings with its hands. It’s a large creature and has quite a range.
When the Golem covers its head, like on the image below, you’ve got a few seconds to land some hits on it safely.
When the Golem starts running towards you, dodge to the side. When it stops, you will have a couple of precious seconds to land some hits. You can use the pillars in the room to guard you from some of the Golem’s attacks.
When the Golem lifts his hand high up, expect the AoE attack. The monster will smash the ground, creating a ripple effect that will hurt you if you are in its vicinity. Dodge back or Roll back when you see this happening.
After this fight, further down the path, there is a side entrance to a room with a Gargoyle level 6. This guy is stronger than the Golem, but you can take it. There’s cool loot for you if you defeat this optional mini-boss.
Fighting the Creatures from the Rift
The next step is the first direct meeting with Nithral. This is not the boss fight, however. Nithral will open up thee cracks through which monsters will start spawning. Keira will cast a protective shield. Stay inside. If you go out of the shield, you will quickly start to lose HP.
You will be fighting the ice cracks one by one. Keira will stand in front of a rift and while she is working on closing it, enemies will spawn out of it. Your job is to protect Keira and defeat all the monsters. The creatures are just level 4 alghoul-type Hounds of the Wild Hunt.
You can use Dimeritium Bombs to close the portals before Kira gets to them. Throw the bombs into the portal. This will save you a lot of time.
If you are using the Viper witcher swords from White Orchard (or anything above the common tier), these monsters should not stand more than 2-3 hits.
Even on higher difficulties, this fight is not too complicated. Keira is quite sturdy and her HP pool is large enough so you should not have trouble passing this challenge. You have to close all three rifts, one by one.
After a short cinematic and trip through another one-way tunnel, you will arrive to the boss fight area. The next portion of the guide will help you understand the Nithral boss fight mechanics, how to prepare and how to beat this member of the Wild Hunt.
How to beat Nithral
Fighting Nithral can be tricky and even confusing if you’re playing The Witcher 3 for the first time, but after reading this guide you’ll have no problems.
Preparations
Doing sidequests is very important in The Witcher 3, if you avoid doing them you’ll be severely under-leveled. I would recommend you to be between levels five and seven before starting the “Wandering in the Dark” quest, there are many quests and places to discover in Velen so you won’t struggle with this.
As with the Royal Griffin boss fight, some items can prove useful against Nithral. You can use the Thunderbolt potion to increase your Attack Power.
Use Swallow when your health bar is low. As long as this potion is active it will increase your regeneration rate. Swallow is a starting recipe so when you get to the fight you’ll already have it.
Quen and Igni are the only two signs that you’re gonna need in the fight against Nithral.
Fight Mechanics and Recommendations
This fight is divided into two parts: fighting Nithral and the Summoned Hounds.
You can let Keira attack him with lighting, this will catch his attention and allow you to get close enough to strike him. Use Quen right before attacking.
Nithral has heavy armor, use strong attacks to inflict more damage. You can attack him up to three times, he’ll counterattack when you hit the second time but Quen is going to absorb the hit, allowing you to hit one more time or retreat.
He can also hit you between two and three times, retreat if you can’t land the third hit immediately after the second one. Always end your combo rolling away from his position.
Sometimes he’ll come at you and swing his axe, luckily for you the heavy armor and even heavier weapon make him a very slow opponent. You shouldn’t have any problems dodging it. You can roll away as well if you want to be on the safe side. But being aggressive often pays out in a boss fight.
Do not attempt to block or parry his strong attacks. You’ll end up getting stunned and there’s nothing you can do to protect yourself if this happens.
After taking a certain amount of damage, Nithral will create a protective ice shield around him and summon three Hounds from a portal. Use Igni against the Hounds and strike them down.
Do not attack Nithral while he’s in the shield, it’s impossible to hurt him and you’ll take damage.
You might notice that his health bar is restored, don’t worry. There’s nothing you can do to prevent it, just finish off the Hounds as fast as you can and he’ll come out of it.
Once he’s out of it you must repeat the same process two more times. Remember; use Quen before attacking him, do not attempt to hit more than three times in a row, cast Igni on the hounds, and defeat them as fast as possible.
Rewards for defeating Nithral
After killing the first member of The Wild Hunt you’re getting some nice rewards.
Beating Nithral grants you the following rewards:
| Icon | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | Crystalized Essence | Alchemy ingredient. Can be dismantled into Monster Essence. |
 | Potion from Tir ná Lia | Potion. 10 Vitality regeneration. 10 Vitality regeneration per enemy killed during combat. 30 s Effect duration. |
 | Diamond dust | Crafting component. Part of a few recipes in the game. |
 | Steel plates | Crafting component. Can be dismantled into a steel lingot. |
 | Diagram: Angrenian cuirass | Crafting diagram. Medium-weight gear. 107 armor. +25% Resistance to piercing damage. +25% Resistance to bludgeoning damage. +35% Resistance to slashing damage. |
 | Wild Hunt warrior’s sword | Steel Sword. 39-47 Damage. |
Wandering in the Dark Quest Walkthrough
This is a quick step-by-step resume and walkthrough of the entire guide to the Wandering in the Dark main quest in The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt. It's up-to-date for the next-gen update of the game. If you need a more detailed explanation of any events or steps, read the full guide!
Instructions
- Complete the main quests in White Orchard and Velen until you are tasked to meet Keira Metz in Velen.
- Go with Keira to the cave and start exploring it.
- After the first cinematic where you see the Wild Hunt, jump through the portal with Keira.
- Follow the narrow tunnel section, featuring a little bit of underwater swimming, until you get back to the large open space where you started from.
- Head through the door in the southeastern end. This is two right turns if you stay at the entrance.
- Keira will start calling you for help. You will find her defending herself from... rats. Take out the two "nests".
- When you see the first projection of the elven mage, follow the swallow symbol.
- In the next large open area in the cave, there will be wraiths and poisonous clouds. Clear the clouds with Aard or Igni to pass through. The path you should take to progress is to the west or right turn as you enter this area.
- When you arrive at the second projection of the mage, the riddle will tell you to follow the Kelpie. Jump in the well and find the Kelpie symbol.
- The next room features a secret Portal. Examine the Swallow symbol on the wall next to the portal to activate it.
- Defeat the Golem mini-boss. Use Elementa Oil and Dimeritium Bombs if you have any of them.
- You will finally catch up with the Wild Hunt. Nithral will escape but will open up 3 rifts surrounded by an ice storm. Protect Keira as she works to close the rifts one by one.
- After a short cinematic and trip through another one-way tunnel, you will arrive at the boss fight area.
- Defeat Nithral, the main boss of this quest. Don't parry his attacks, dodge them. When he activates his shield, focus on the adds that he will start spawning.
- Investigate the area at the back of the boss arena. Watch the cinematic and exit the cave to complete the quest Wandering in the Dark.
A side quest becomes available at the end of Wandering in the Dark. Keira will ask you to help retrieve something – a Magic Lamp. This item plays a role in multiple other quests later on. I strongly suggest that you complete the Magic Lamp quest now. Also, you can pick up one of the six Places of Power in Velen, while doing Magic Lamp.
Want to know more about the Wild Hunt?
The Wild Hunt are a group of Aen Elle elves from Tir ná Lia. Their purpose is to find and capture slaves from other worlds.
During the Conjunction of the Spheres, some of them left their people and arrived at a new world, this place was inhabited by Unicorns and Humans. The elves waged war against both species and the humans were eradicated.
After some time they realized that they wanted slaves so their king created a force designated to capture humans or humanoids from other worlds to serve them as slaves. That is until they found out about Ciri.
They use skeletal armor as a form of intimidation and are capable of casting very powerful magic. The Wild Hunt has been given many names: Wraiths of Mörhogg, Phantom Riders, Red Horsemen, and Dearg Ruadhri.
