Byways

Walkthrough

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

1. 1

   Village Approach & Square

   When you arrive in Byways, clear out the pack of Level ~23 Ghouls and Alghouls prowling the main road and yards. Burst down the ghouls before they regenerate health, and cast Axii to force the Alghouls to retract their damage-reflecting defensive spikes.

   item: Elven Ruins Loot New

   Tip: Apply Necrophage Oil and keep Quen active so the swarming necrophages do not overwhelm you.

2. 2

   Barricaded Huts

   Approach the barricaded huts to speak with Bytomir and the surviving villagers as they emerge from hiding. Refuse to simply walk away, and instead insist that you are nosy or that it is your job so you can investigate the slain Nilfgaardian soldiers.

   Tip: Choose the "I'm nosy" dialogue option if you want Bytomir to promise an additional payment of up to 210 crowns.

   Watch out: If you tell Bytomir "Fine, if you say so" and leave, the contract ends prematurely, permanently locking you out of the ruins, the Sarasti battle, the relic weapon, mutagen, trophy, and achievement.

3. 3

   Inspecting the Dead

   Activate your Witcher Senses in the village square to examine the fallen Nilfgaardian soldiers and the dead carcasses scattered nearby. Follow the detected scent of blood leading away from the square toward the northern edge of the settlement.

   Tip: Using Witcher Senses highlights the blood trail directly toward your next objective.

   Watch out: Leaving the village without investigating the Nilfgaardian corpses permanently locks you out of the cellar key, the ruins, and all underground loot.

4. 4

   Plundered Hut

   Follow the scent trail into the plundered hut situated on the northern edge of Byways, where debris covers a hidden trapdoor. Clear away the rubble to expose the locked wooden door, then speak with Bytomir to obtain the key to the cellar and tunnels.

   A locked trapdoor under moved debris inside a plundered hut on the northern edge of the village conceals the entry point down into the subterranean elven ruins; it can be opened with a key obtained from Bytomir.Key to the cellar/tunnels: Plundered hut on northern edge of Byways, right beside the hidden trapdoor from BytomirHow: Discover the locked trapdoor under the debris and speak to BytomirMissable because: Leaving Byways without investigating the fallen Nilfgaardian soldiers forfeits the key Don't miss New

   Watch out: If you depart without uncovering the trapdoor and securing the key from Bytomir, you will lose access to the underground ruins entirely.

5. 5

   Elven Underground Ruins

   Unlock the trapdoor, drop down into the cellar, and navigate through the fallen stone passages leading to the subterranean tomb. In the central chamber, confront and defeat Sarasti by using Yrden to slow it down, Moon Dust bombs to prevent its invisibility and regeneration, and Quen to absorb its claw swipes. Loot Sarasti's remains for Bloed Aedd, an Ekimmara Mutagen, and the Ekimmara Trophy before collecting the surrounding container loot.

   Key fight: Sarasti
   Bloed Aedd: Subterranean elven ruins tomb beneath BywaysHow: Looted from Sarasti's corpseMissable because: Walking away after killing the ghouls without probing Bytomir further Don't missEkimmara Trophy: Subterranean elven ruins tomb beneath BywaysHow: Looted from Sarasti's corpseMissable because: Walking away after killing the ghouls without probing Bytomir further Don't missEkimmara Mutagen: Plundered hut on northern edge of Byways, through the cellar trapdoor into the subterranean elven ruins tomb to Sarasti's corpseHow: Loot the remains of SarastiMissable because: Leaving the village after clearing the ghouls without probing Bytomir locks the tomb permanently Don't miss New

   Tip: Coat your silver blade with Vampire Oil and dodge toward Sarasti's flanks to punish its gap-closing claw attacks.

   Watch out: Sarasti and all its unique drops—including the Fearless Vampire Slayer achievement—are permanently missed if you abandoned the contract on the surface.

What you decide here and what it leads to.