Guides / The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition

Bald Mountain

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition guide · Confronting the Crones ✓ Checked against sources

Geralt and Ciri arrive at the festival on the slopes to avenge Vesemir during the gathering of the Crones and Imlerith. After securing permission from Thecla and confronting the sylvan gatekeeper Fugas, the duo splits up so Ciri can enter the cavern to battle the Crones while Geralt ascends to the peak to defeat Imlerith.

Region: Southern Velen (No Man’s Land), southeast of Olena’s Grove and northwest of Destroyed Bastion
Levels: Level 26
Getting there: Arrive by boat at the shoreline below the mountain automatically with Ciri after the conclusion of Blood on the Battlefield
Connects to: Road to Bald Mountain
Related quests: Bald Mountain · Final Preparations

Services and people

Merchants 2

Amateur blacksmith · Provides crafting, repairs, and shop servicesIn the village settlement at the base of the mountain
General trader/merchant · Operates a goods stallIn the village settlement at the base of the mountain

Quest NPCs 4

Johnny · Celebrating villagerAlong the path leading through the upper village
Marica · Guides petitioners up the mountain trailInside Thecla's tent and waiting outside
Stregomir · Celebrating villager seated near the feast campfireIn the lower village encampment on the mountain slope
Thecla · Tasks Geralt with a trial to gain access up the mountainInside her tent across the wooden bridge in the village settlement

Invaders and enemies 3

Fugas · Sylvan gatekeeper and mini-boss who guards passage to the summitIn the cavern guarding the passage to the summit
Imlerith · Wild Hunt general bossAt the summit of the mountain beneath the great oak
The Three Crones (Brewess, Weavess, and Whispess) · Boss encounter fought by CiriIn the cavern beneath the great oak's roots

Services 2

Amateur blacksmith · Provides equipment repairs, crafting, and shop servicesIn the village settlement at the base of the mountain
Road to Bald Mountain · Fast travel signpostAt the settlement at the foot of Bald Mountain

The short version

What matters

•Defeating Imlerith at the peak and looting his corpse to secure the Magic Acorn, which grants two free Ability Points when eaten.
•Drawing from the Quen Place of Power on the upper summit path before finishing the mountain climb.
•Looting Fugas right after his battle to acquire the Bald Mountain Key and access the upper passages.
•Opening the chest on the exit pathway from the Crones' chamber to claim the Forgotten Vran Sword.

Common mistakes

•Leaving the summit arena with Ciri immediately without searching Imlerith's body, permanently losing the Magic Acorn.
•Skipping the Quen Place of Power on the way to or at the peak, as the summit gate locks permanently once the quest finishes.
•Advancing past Fugas's chamber without looting his corpse, locking out the summit passage and the key.

Walkthrough

The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.

1
Reaching the Festival Grounds

When you arrive by boat at the foot of Bald Mountain on Lake Wyndamer with Ciri, head ashore to discover the Road to Bald Mountain fast travel signpost. Follow the lower village slope to meet celebrating peasants around bonfires, where you can talk to Stregomir by the feast campfire as well as an amateur blacksmith and a general merchant stationed in the settlement. Continue upward along the settlement pathway to encounter Johnny (joined by Sarah if she was cast out of Novigrad) enjoying the festivities.

Tip: Take advantage of the village blacksmith and merchant for repairs or gear management before starting the mountain climb.
2
Thecla's Trial in the Flooded Cavern

Cross the wooden bridge in the settlement to reach Thecla's tent, where you will find the blind seeress alongside Marica. Agree to Thecla's challenge to earn passage up the mountain, then leap from the cliff ledge into the submerged cavern pool directly below. Activate your Witcher Senses on the flooded floor to discover and collect the Oren of Defiance from a chest, then bring it back up to complete the trial.

Oren of Defiance (Thecla’s Coin): Bottom of the submerged cave beneath Thecla's diving platformHow: Dive down, use Witcher Senses to spot the glowing coin on the underwater floor, and surface

Tip: Use Witcher Senses immediately upon diving to spot the underwater container without wasting your breath meter.
3
Confronting Fugas at the Gate

Ascend the mountain trail with Marica guiding you toward the entrance cavern, where Geralt and Ciri confront the sylvan gatekeeper, Fugas. Slay this boss mini-boss in combat, then promptly loot his remains to collect the Bald Mountain Key needed to unlock the summit gateway.

Bald Mountain Key: Cavern Chamber, on the corpse of FugasHow: Defeat Fugas and interact with his remains to loot the keyMissable because: failing to loot Fugas locks you out of opening the mountain gate later Don't miss New

Watch out: Loot Fugas's corpse immediately upon killing him, as failing to grab the key before moving onward permanently prevents backtracking to this passage.
4
Ciri's Descent Against the Crones

Pass through the opened passage until Ciri drops straight down into the subterranean roots and cavern beneath the great oak tree. Take control of Ciri to face the three Crones—Brewess, Weavess, and Whispess—slaying two of them to finish the encounter. As you move along the return path leading out from the Crones' dungeon chamber, search the cavern chest to obtain the Forgotten Vran Sword.
Key fight: The Three Crones (Brewess, Weavess, Whispess)
Forgotten Vran Sword: Inside a chest along the pathway returning from the Crones' dungeon chamber on Bald Mountain New

Tip: Make use of Ciri's blink and dash abilities to manage space when battling Brewess, Weavess, and Whispess together.
5
Slaying Imlerith at the Summit Peak

Switch back to Geralt and climb the mountain path toward the peak plateau directly beneath the great oak tree. Confront and slay the Wild Hunt general Imlerith, making sure to draw from the nearby Quen Place of Power around the summit. Before concluding the scene, search Imlerith's corpse on the ground to loot the Magic Acorn along with his rare crafting materials and relic equipment.
Key fight: Imlerith
Magic Acorn: Summit arena beneath the Great Oak, on Imlerith’s corpseHow: Choose to stay when Ciri asks to leave, walk over to Imlerith's body, and manually loot itMissable because: Choosing to leave immediately with Ciri after slaying Imlerith Don't missQuen Place of Power: From the summit gate, along the winding path leading toward the peak plateau beneath the great oak tree New

Watch out: The Magic Acorn and the Quen Place of Power are permanently missable if you depart the summit with Ciri without looting Imlerith's body and drawing from the stone, as the mountain gate permanently locks afterward.
6
Resting on the Slopes

Following the climactic clashes, take a moment to rest with Ciri on the mountain slopes overlooking the landscape. Once you are prepared to continue your journey, wrap up the quest and depart the region for Novigrad.

Tip: Choose whether to consume the Magic Acorn for two bonus Ability Points or hand it over to the local villagers below.

Watch out: Do not leave the area for Novigrad if you still intend to collect or consume the Magic Acorn yourself.

Choices here

What you decide here and what it leads to.

Fate of the Magic Acorn

After slaying Imlerith at the summit and looting his body

Keep and consume the acorn→ Grants Geralt 2 Ability Points
Give the acorn to the celebrating villagers→ Surrenders the acorn to the villagers without gaining the bonus ability points

Most players pick: Keep and consume the acorn

If you depart directly with Ciri before looting Imlerith's corpse, the Magic Acorn is permanently lost.

Checklists

Don't miss 0/2

Magic Acorn: Summit arena beneath the Great Oak, on Imlerith’s corpseHow: Choose to stay when Ciri asks to leave, walk over to Imlerith's body, and manually loot itMissable because: Choosing to leave immediately with Ciri after slaying ImlerithBald Mountain Key: Cavern Chamber, on the corpse of FugasHow: Defeat Fugas and interact with his remains to loot the keyMissable because: failing to loot Fugas locks you out of opening the mountain gate later

Items May be incomplete

0/2

Oren of Defiance (Thecla’s Coin): Bottom of the submerged cave beneath Thecla's diving platformHow: Dive down, use Witcher Senses to spot the glowing coin on the underwater floor, and surfaceForgotten Vran Sword: Inside a chest along the pathway returning from the Crones' dungeon chamber on Bald Mountain

Secrets

0/1

Quen Place of Power: From the summit gate, along the winding path leading toward the peak plateau beneath the great oak tree

Key fights May be incomplete

The Three Crones (Brewess, Weavess, Whispess)

Enemies: Brewess, Weavess, and Whispess

Threats: Swarm and burrow attacks, blood puddle teleportation, flying insect/raven projectiles, and heavy area-of-effect melee sweeps from Brewess

Tactics: In the cavern beneath the great oak, keep moving across the open chamber to prevent getting surrounded, using Ciri's Blink ability to hit multiple Crones while focusing down Brewess first due to her slower movement and larger hit box before cleaning up the mobile Weavess and Whispess

Imlerith

Enemies: Imlerith (General of the Wild Hunt)

Threats: Heavy shield bashes, sweeping mace strikes, rapid short-range teleportation behind Geralt, and a high-aggression phase where he discards his shield to unleash fast multi-hit overhead teleport slams that generate frost armor

Tactics: At the mountain summit arena near the bonfire, circle around his shield side in Phase 1 to punish his recovery frames; in Phase 2, dodge/roll continuously around the summit edges to avoid his rapid teleport slams, only striking him immediately when his mace gets lodged into the ground

Enemies

Fugas

Weak to Relict Oil, Igni, QuenSteal / drop Key to Bald Mountain

The sylvan enforcer guarding the summit gate who hurls fire attacks and swings a massive club.

Shops and people

Merchant: Sells crafting components, alchemical bases such as Mandrake Cordial, and food items
Blacksmith: Offers basic equipment repairs and weapon/armor smithing services

Tips

When controlling Ciri against the Crones, stay mobile using her teleportation dodge rather than engaging all three at once, and target one sister down first to reduce incoming attacks.

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Hangman's Alley

Novigrad

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Sources checked: fextralife.com, game-checklists.com, fandom.com, gamerant.com, wordpress.com, thegamer.com, ibtimes.co.in, gamestegy.com, gamepressure.com, cheatcc.com, ign.com