Guides / The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition
Herbalist's Hut
Geralt travels northeast of Oxenfurt to the Herbalist's Hut to rendezvous with the Stranger during the "Open Sesame!" quest. After dealing with hostile trespassers outside, you must give the secret passphrase to the halfling herbalist to access the underground hideout and coordinate preparations for breaking into the Borsodi vault.
- Region
- Novigrad / Gustfields territory in Redania
- Levels
- Level 33–34
- Getting there
- Across the river northeast of Oxenfurt (Novigrad Gate), east of Gustfields Farm, and south of the Temerian Partisan Hideout.
- Connects to
- Oxenfurt, Gustfields Farm, Temerian Partisan Hideout
- Related quests
- Open Sesame! · Without a Trace · Open Sesame: Witcher Seasonings · Open Sesame: Breaking and Entering · Open Sesame: The Safecracker
Services and people
Merchants 1
- Otto Bamber · Sells herbs, alchemy ingredients, Wolfsbane reagents, Formula: Enhanced Full Moon, and Formula: Dragon's DreamInside the cottage/hut northeast of Oxenfurt
Quest NPCs 2
- Otto Bamber · Unlocks the trapdoor during "Open Sesame!" and acts as quest giver for "Without a Trace"Inside the cottage and around the garden
- The Stranger (Ewald Borsodi) · Plans the Borsodi Auction House heist during "Open Sesame!"In the hidden basement beneath the trapdoor of the hut
Invaders and enemies 2
- Fallen Knights of the Flaming Rose · Harass Otto Bamber and fight GeraltOutside the entrance door to the hut
- Wild boar · Hostile beast that charges GeraltAlong the road just outside the hut's vicinity
Services 1
- Herbalist's Hut signpost · Fast-travel signpostNortheast of Oxenfurt in the Gustfields
The short version
What matters
- •Defeating the wild boar on the approach path to secure the Hunter's letter document before proceeding.
- •Purchasing the Formula: Enhanced Full Moon and Formula: Dragon's Dream directly from Otto Bamber.
- •Looting the New Moon Armor Set from the shelves and chests next to the basement paintings.
Common mistakes
- •Bypassing the wild boar on the road, which permanently prevents you from obtaining the Hunter's letter.
What you can skip
- •Seeking blacksmith or armory upgrade services here, as none are present at the hut.
Walkthrough May be incomplete
The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.
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1
Approach the Gustfields Road
Reach the Herbalist's Hut signpost situated northeast of Oxenfurt within the Gustfields. As you head down the road approaching the grounds, a wild boar will suddenly attack you. Defeat the beast to claim raw meat and beast ingredients, and be sure to inspect the immediate trail area for dropped notes before heading towards the garden landmark.
Tip: Autosaves and manual saving are available out of combat near the signpost.
Watch out: Don't bypass the wild boar and its tracks upon arrival, or the Hunter's letter document on the road will be lost forever.
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2
Rescue Otto Bamber at the Hut Entrance
Continue toward the primary landmark of the hut and its exterior garden. Outside the front door, you will find three Fallen Knights of the Flaming Rose bothering the halfling Otto Bamber. Drive off or strike down all three hostile knights, who yield crowns, Order steel swords, and Fallen Knight armor parts upon defeat.
Key fight: Door Confrontation -
3
Trade and Converse with Otto Bamber
Step toward Otto Bamber, who tends to herbs around his cottage and outdoor garden grounds. You can pick Wolfsbane directly from the surrounding outdoor garden or trade with Otto inside to purchase Wolfsbane reagents, the Formula: Dragon's Dream bomb recipe, and the Formula: Enhanced Full Moon manuscript. Note that Otto has no blacksmith or armorer services, though he also acts as the quest giver for "Without a Trace" regarding his lost apprentice.
Tip: Wolfsbane respawns in the wild garden patches if you need more later.
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4
Unlock the Shop Hatch
Talk to Otto Bamber within the hut during "Open Sesame!" and utter the secret password ("extract of yarrow"). Upon hearing this passphrase from the stranger, the halfling unlocks the trapdoor hatch hidden at the back of his shop floor. Head over to the newly opened hatchway to reveal the route into the basement hideout below.
Watch out: The floor hatch will remain firmly shut until you recite the yarrow extract passphrase.
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5
Meet Ewald Borsodi in the Cellar
Descend through the floor trapdoor to reach the underground planning safehouse. Inside, speak with the mysterious stranger, Ewald Borsodi, to coordinate the heist on the Borsodi Auction House. Before completing your business and departing, search the shelves and chests sitting right beside the wall paintings to loot the New Moon Armor Set.
Watch out: Make sure to collect the New Moon Armor Set from the chests and shelves by the paintings before leaving the cellar.
Checklists
Items May be incomplete
0/2
Key fights May be incomplete
Enemies: Three Fallen Knights of the Flaming Rose
Threats: Two carry shields that block frontal melee strikes; one wields a two-handed heavy warhammer delivering guard-breaking overhead swings
Tactics: Use Aard to knock them back and break shield defenses; parry and dodge the hammer
Enemies
Three hostile knights pounding on the door who attack Geralt as soon as he nears the hut.
Shops and people
- Otto Bamber: Alchemy ingredients and herbs
Tips
- When speaking to the herbalist through the door, choose the password dialogue option asking for "yarrow extract" so he will unlock the hatch leading to the underground planning room.
Not listed for this area: secrets.
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