How to get Aerondight in The Witcher 3: There Can Be Only One Walkthrough

This guide will explain how to unlock and complete the side quest “There can be only one” and how to get Aerondight, the best silver sword in The Witcher 3!

What is Aerondight

Aerondight is a silver sword of Relic rarity tier, available in The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt’s second expansion Blood and Wine. It was part of the first and second Witcher games as well. Here in The Witcher 3, it makes a return and is arguably the best silver sword available.

Aerondight is only available to you if you own the Blood and Wine expansion, released in 2016. If you don’t currently own Blood and Wine, you can get the expansion by purchasing it separately fto add it to the base game you already own or by getting a copy of The Witcher 3 Complete edition, which includes the base game and all DLCs.

Aerondight is a reward for completing the side quest “There can be only one”, available in Toussaint, the new region unlocked with Blood and Wine.

Aerondight has an incredibly unique and powerful perk. It levels up as you use it:

“Each blow generates charges which increase sword damage by 10%. Charges are lost over time or when receiving damage. A fully-charged sword always deals critical hit damage.
Killing a foe with a fully loaded sword will expend its charge to permanently increase the weapon’s damage. Damage is increased by: 0 (to a maximum of 10 – increasing along with your character level).”

How to access Toussaint

The side quest “There can be only one” is available as soon as you set foot in Toussaint. To get to Toussaint, you have to pick up a Contract quest called “Envoys, Wineboys”. You get it in Velen.

The quest is in the form of a bounty message. The message is titled “Appeal to Sir Geralt of Rivia, the Bridge his Crest”.

This note is available on multiple notice boards all across Velen as soon as you reach the minimum required level. By memory, I think it was 28. The quest itself is for level 34.

Toussaint is intended as a high-level endgame territory in The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt. You can go there earlier, but I would not recommend it.

You could start a brand new character prebuilt and leveled up for Blood and Wine. You can choose that option when starting a new game from the main menu. Keep in mind that making this choice, you will get locked out of all of the base game’s storyline.

For more information and alternative approaches, read the guide on how to unlock and access Toussaint in The Witcher 3.

How to start the side quest “There can be only one”

Once you are in Toussaint, you can ditch the main storyline and opt to go for the side quest “There can be only one”. This quest can be unlocked by picking up a note from a notice board in Bouclair. The message on the board will be titled “Test yourself with the Traials of the Virtues”.

Right in the middle of the city, there is a notice board next to The Gran’place signpost. Note that this message will only hang on noticeboards in Bouclair, not anywhere else in Toussaint.

There can be only one: Full Quest Walkthrough

The following is a step-by-step walkthrough of the entire quest “There can be only one” which rewards you the silver sword Aerondight in the end.

There are multiple ways to complete some of the objectives. In the main portion of the walkthrough, I will give you (what I consider to be) the best path. I will, of course, list the other possibilities for you to choose from as well.

There is no level recommendation for this quest in-game because it involves you completing several other quests and tasks, but more on that later. I would advise you to do it as soon as you set foot in Toussaint, but no sooner than level 34 or 35.

Investigate the isle of Lac Célavy

Lac Célavy is a lake, located northwest of Bouclair. Head there. The shortest path from Bouclair is through the Tourney Grounds.

In the middle of the lake you will find the Hermit. Talk to him.

Geralt will open the conversation with a question to the Hermit asking him how is it possible to walk on water, because that’s what happened when you approached the small piece of land in the middle of the lake, where the NPC was standing.

The Hermit will explain that the lake is extraordinary. He’ll tell Geralt about the special sword that lies in its debts and he watches over it. Only the one who possesses the five chivalric virtues may possess the blade.

The Hermit will also reveal that he knows who Geralt is. Depending on how much you have done in Toussaint prior to starting this quest and talking to the Hermit, you may have already earned one of the five chivalric virtues:

• Valor
• Honor
• Wisdom
• Sympathy
• Generosity

The quest objectives will update after you finish your conversation with the Hermit. You will get the secretive “Wait for a chance to prove you are… [name the chivalric virtue here]”. You will also get an optional objective.

There are numerous things you can perform while in Toussaint to earn these virtues. The game does not reveal them to you, though. If you continue to read this walkthrough, I will tell you the best and shortest path to unlocking each one of them.

Read the inscriptions on the stones (Optional)

To complete the optional objective, find the large stones to the left of the Hermit. Go to them and examine each one. Each one has inscriptions on them about one of the five virtues you have to prove.

Below are the descriptions on each one of the five stones. They also give some vague hints what and how to do to earn these virtues. However, if you are not familiar with the story and quest in Toussaint, you may not be able to decipher the hidden hints in these messages. Each one of these virtues can only be earned in Toussaint, not anywhere else in the game.

Generosity
No man can be called good who does not share his prosperity with others. Generosity is required for dignity in life and peace in death.

Valor
Valor does not make one good, yet how many good men have you met in your life’s journey who were cowards? Those who posses valor do not hesitate to stand against the majority, no matter what the consequences.

Compassion
There are many traits which bear witness to a man’s true nature. Compassion is what separates men from beasts. Whoever feels sympathy for his fellow man will never turn a blind eye to misfortune. He will instead always stand in defense of the wronged.

Honor
Honor cannot be purchased. Honor also cannon be sold, for its value is greater than all the treasure in the world. Yet one can lose it, and whoever does so, shall have sullied his name for all eternity. A truly honorable man always stands behind his actions, faces every challenge and refuses to lie.

Wisdom
Wisdom is a virtue which one should strive to cultivate throughout one’s life, for it is impossible to be so wise one cannot become even wiser. The wise know this… As we journey through life, we should seek to make wise choices. Remember, wise choices are not those which make your lives easier or simpler. Often, they make them more complicated. But always they make us better.

In the next segment I will give you my recommendations for how to earn all five virtues the fast and best way, in my opinion. It’s ideal if you do this before you have done anything else in Toussaint. If you have, I will also list some of the possible alternative quests and objectives you need to complete if you have chosen differently in any of the quests I recommend.

I recommend you do these in the exact order as I have listed them below.

How to prove your Compassion

One of the first main quests in Toussaint will take you to Bouclair, where you will witness a show fight where the knight Guillaume is fighting a Shaelmaar in the arena.

During the fight, the Shaelmaar will free itself from the bells that are placed on its tail and will hurt the knight. Geralt jumps down to defend the knight from the beast.

After you defeat the Shaelmaar, you have to choose to spare the Shaelmaar’s life to prove your Compassion.

Alternative ways to prove your Compassion

If you have missed the opportunity to prove your Compassion in the main quest “The Beast of Toussaint”, here are a few alternatives to do it:

• Allow the old lady Marlene to stay with you at your vineyard Corvo Bianco at the end of the secondary quest “The Hunter Game”. This quest starts automatically two days after you complete “La Cage au Fou” and spare the wight’s life. By the way, if you lift the curse, you would also earn your Wisdom.
• Give the pendant to the wife, Madame de Bourbeau at the end of the Contract: The Tufo Monster – can pick it up from the board at Flovive.
• Allow the old man Hughes to keep the balls of the statue during the secondary quest “Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of Granite” – can start the quest from the noticeboard at Loliver Square in Bouclair.
• Help Roderick during the late main storyline quest “Capture the Castle”.

How to Prove your Wisdom

The best way to prove your wisdom is to make the right decision at the end of the main quest “The Beast of Toussaint”.

With the help of Anna Henrietta, Geralt tracks down the supposed beast that has been killing knights in Toussaint. After you find the clues in the palace’s garden, bring them back to Anna Henrietta.

To earn your Wisdom for the Aerondight quest, chose the correct answer “Greenhouse” to the riddle. This is where you have to go to find the beast of Toussaint – Dettlaff himself.

Alternative ways to prove your Wisdom

If you have missed the opportunity to prove your Wisdom in the main quest “The Beast of Toussaint”, here are a few alternatives to do it:

• Chose to lift the curse from the wight during the main quest “La Cage au Fou”. If you allow Marlene to stay at Corvo Bianco (follow-up quest), you will also earn your Wisdom.
• Lift the curse using Gareth’s bones during the secondary quest “A Knight’s Tales” – can be picked up from the noticeboard at Castel Ravello.
• Win the Gwent Tournament in Toussaint – the secondary quest can be picked up from multiple noticeboards all over Toussaint.

How to Prove your Honor

You can prove your honor in two ways during the secondary quest “The Warble of a Smitten Knight”. The first option binds you to choose to participate in the tournament with your own name – Geralt of Rivia. When Prince Anséis challenges you, accept the mounted duel and defeat the prince.

Alternative ways to prove your Honor

The second option during this quest is to promise Vivienne to keep her secret and actually keep it. Do not tell Guillaume what you have learned about Vivienne’s secret. Tell him she asked you and you promised to keep her secret.

Other ways to prove your Honor to the Hermit include:

• Tell Charles Lanzano that there were no beasts in the cemetery during the secondary quest “Till Death Do You Part” – pick up the quest from The Clever Clogs Tavern in Bouclair.
• Bring back the stone balls to the art curator during the secondary quest “Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of Granite”. If you let the old man keep the stones, you will earn Compassion instead – pick up the message entitled “Wanted: Discreet Specialist” from notice board at Loliver Square

How to Prove your Valor

You can prove your Valor during the side quest “The Warble of a Smitten Knight”. This is a side quest given to you automatically during the main quest “The Beast of Toussaint”.

After you defeat the Shaemlaar and save Guillaume de Launfal, you will get this new side quest and be tasked to go talk to the knight in the medic’s tent.

As the quest progresses, you have to agree to participate in the tourney to the end and win it. You have to win the archery contest, the horse race, and the melee brawl. Finally, you have to defeat Gregoire de Gorgon, the reigning champion (who by the way is a reference to The Mountain from Game of Thrones).

Alternative ways to prove your Valor

If you have missed the opportunity to prove your Valor in the side quest “The Warmbe of a Smitten Knight”, here are a few alternatives to do it:

• Defeat Maestro for the Raging Wold secondary quest – unlocked after you complete the previous Fists of Fury quests in Toussaint.
• Force the Witch of Lynx Crag to lift the curse during A Knight’s Tales secondary quest – to start it pick up the message on the notice board at Castel Ravello.
• Defeat the Slyzards for Contract: Bovine Blues – start it by picking up the message on the noticeboard at Flovive.
• Kill the Tufo Monster – pick up the contract from Flovive’s board.
• Kill Dettlaff at Tesham Mutna – a main quest near the end of the story of Blood and Wine.

How to Prove your Generosity

After your first encounter with Dettlaff during the main quest “Blood Run”, you will have to meet Regis at the Mere-Lachaiselongue Cemetery. On your way there, you can start the secondary quest “Turn and Face the Strange“. Starting the Mutations quest is not related to the main quest, but you just happen to (most likely) run through the area where a cinematic is triggered that starts it.

As you exit the Warehouse after your encounter with Dettlaff, turn left and take the stairs to the square. There is a boy waiting for you there (and a quest marker as well). As you approach him, a cinematic will play. Geralt receives a map and a letter. This starts the secondary quest “Turn and Face the Strange”.

During the cinematic, you have to tip the boy for delivering the message to you. This will prove your Generosity.

Alternative ways to prove your Generosity

If you have missed the opportunity to prove your Generosity in the side quest “Turn and Face the Strange”, here are a few alternatives to do it:

• Buy Syanna’s Ribbon from the little flint girl (found north of Longlocks’ tower) during the main quest with Syanna which takes you to the fairy tale Land of a Thousand Fables.
• Spare the life of the basilisk and decline payment by Count Borhis di Salvaress for your work on the secondary quest “Mutual of Beauclair’s Wild Kingdom” – can be started by picking up the message from the board at The Cockatrice Inn. Note that sparing its life, will not grant you the Silver basilisk trophy.
• Buy the portrait of Geralt from the painter after allowing him to paint you for the secondary quest “A Portrait of the Witcher as an old man” – can start the quest by talking to the painter NPC at the southern end of the marketplace south of The Gran’place in Bouclair.

Return to the Hermit and have him judge your deeds

Once you have completed the objectives related to the five chivalric virtues, go back to the lake and talk to the Hermit again. He will confirm that you have proven yourself and there is one last challenge you must face – you have to defeat the Hermit in a fight.

During the fight, the lake will become your arena. The Hermit will raise walls of water around the lake, so you will have limited space to move around. It’s still more than large enough for you to do whatever you want and not feel pressured by limited space.

During the fight, you will use your Steel Sword. Put Hanged Man’s Venom oil on your blade to increase the damage you deal.

The Hermit’s special attacks are similar to the Mage you face on the beach after the shipwreck during the main quest for Hearts of Stone. Some of the attacks are also similar to Caranthir’s special attacks.

The Hermit will fire “bolts” of water and summon a water tornado that chases you. You can easily avoid all of his attacks by dodging and rolling to the side. Don’t get greedy. Move in and out of melee range of your opponent. The Hermit can also teleport like Caranthir (and like the Mage).

After you defeat him, the Hermit will disappear underwater and in his place you will see The Lady of the Lake. She will bring up Aerondight, the best silver sword in the entire game. It is yours for the taking!

Why Aerondight is the best silver sword

Aerondight is a silver sword that you will most likely use during the remainder of your playthrough in The Witcher 3. It is very likely that you will also keep it for the duration of your NG+ playthrough (if you decide to do one).

Aerondight has the ability to level up with you. Not only that, but you can Engrave it with Runes at the Runewright in Velen. The unique perk of that sword allows you to increase your DPS significantly during long fights or encounters with multiple enemies. It is by far the strongest and most useful sword in the game.

The one and only downside to using Aerondight is that you will not be able to equip six pieces of Grandmaster witcher gear to get the set bonuses they provide.

How to permanently increase Aerondight’s damage

Find groups of monsters (NPCs that Geralt fights against using his Silver Sword) and fight them. At this point of the game you will deal a lot of damage as you will be high level. There are a few places in Toussaint that have multiple NPCs to fight. You can also go back to Velen or Skellige.

When fighting with the goal to level up Aerondight, do not put oils on the sword. You want to deal smaller increments of damage and land more hints on your opponents. Your goal is to get the stacks up to 10 and then defeat a monster.

All that without receiving damage, of course. Getting hit by your opponents will lower the stacks you have built.

Aerondight’s damage can be increased by 10 points with each level Geralt gainst. In the example below you see the sword’s stats right after I earned it on my most current playthrough. The sword has a level requirement identical to Geralt’s current level when he gets the sword from the Lady of the Lake. In the second image below, you see Aerondight’s damage increased by +4. This is done after two upgrades.

To increase Aerondight’s damage output, you have to hit ten times a monster (any monster, or multiple monsters) using Aerindight, build up the 10 stacks, and on the eleventh hit, you will permanently gain +2 damage points to your sword. Don’t let your stacks go away. Their numbers drop one by one after a certain amount of time has passed when you do not hit a monster or when you receive a hit.

When at a maximum of 10 stacks, Aerondight will emit glowing golden light around its blade and it will leave a glowing gold trace when you swing it around.

After you earn all extra damage points, the 10 stacks you build by hitting monsters will not disappear on the eleventh hit. Instead, you get to keep them. The stacks will still disappear in time while you are not fighting.

How to add Sockets and Runewords to Aerondight

To add Rune sockets to Aerondight, visit the Runewright NPC at the Upper Mill in northeastern Velen. The Runes enchantment system was introduced with the Hearts of Stone expansion. You can add up to three sockets to the sword at an increasing cost for each socket.

After you add the total of three available sockets, you can enchant the silver sword with any Runeword you wish to and have accessible.