Guides / The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition

Oxenfurt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition guide · Searching for Shani and information on the Professor ✓ Checked against sources
← All areas in this guide

In Oxenfurt during the finale of Hearts of Stone, Geralt visits Shani's clinic to seek advice on Gaunter O'Dimm, who directs him toward Oxenfurt Academy. After infiltrating the barricaded campus with her help, Geralt must find a way into Professor Premethine Shakeslock's residence to learn how to outsmart Master Mirror.

Region
Oxenfurt (and the surrounding Oxenfurt Academy island / Sewers), Redania / Novigrad province
Levels
Level 32–34+
Getting there
Cross the pontoon and stone bridges east from Velen/Novigrad into Oxenfurt proper, or fast-travel via local signposts: Oxenfurt Harbor, Western Gate, or Novigrad Gate / Eastern Gate.
Connects to
Oxenfurt Sewers, Oxenfurt Academy
Related quests
Evil’s Soft First Touches · Dead Man’s Party · Whatsoever a Man Soweth…

Services and people

Merchants 3

  • General Merchant · Merchant trading goodsAt the outdoor market in the northern part of town
  • Stjepan · Innkeeper and Gwent playerInside The Alchemy inn located centrally near the main square
  • Horst Borsodi · Runs the Borsodi Auction HouseIn Oxenfurt's main quarter

Quest NPCs 3

  • Tamara Strenger · Serving with the Witch HuntersIn a residential house in Oxenfurt
  • Shani · Operates her medical clinicIn a townhouse in the northern district of Oxenfurt
  • Professor Premethine Shakeslock · Target of an optional visit objectiveIn his house on the Oxenfurt Academy island

Invaders and enemies 2

  • Gael · Katakan vampire boss hunted during Contract: The Oxenfurt DrunkInside a riverside warehouse/hut in northern Oxenfurt
  • Toad Prince · Boss encountered in Evil's Soft First TouchesIn the sewers beneath Oxenfurt

Services 4

  • Journeyman Armorer · Armorer servicesIn a building just west/off the marketplace in northern Oxenfurt
  • Journeyman Blacksmith · Blacksmith servicesOn the eastern/southeastern side of town, east of the Western Gate
  • Barber · Barber servicesA residence near the main square, directly south of The Alchemy inn
  • Nikolas Beets · Local armorer operating his forge and stallIn the southeastern district of the city

The short version

What matters

  • •Visiting Shani and Professor Shakeslock on the Academy island before going to the Temple of Lilvani.
  • •Grabbing the Diagram: Enhanced Feline trousers behind the brick wall east of the blacksmith.
  • •Collecting Shakeslock's Journal, the house key, and Gilian Alboco’s Lesser Key inside the Professor's home.

Common mistakes

  • •Skipping the optional objective to see Shani and Shakeslock locks out the Academy and permanently misses his journal and keys.
  • •Diving away from the Academy grounds before interacting with the warding candles permanently misses the unique demonic motif.

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.

  1. 1

    North District Visits

    When you head to northern Oxenfurt, make your way to the medical clinic situated inside a local townhouse to talk with Shani. You can also trade with the general merchant at the northern outdoor market or call upon the Journeyman Armorer stationed in the building just west of the marketplace.

  2. 2

    Town Center Stops

    Stroll south toward the central square to meet Stjepan the Innkeeper inside The Alchemy inn, where you can play Gwent or browse his wares. Just south of the inn, you will locate a local barber running his shop from a residence near the plaza. To the east, take note of the Borsodi Auction House managed by Horst Borsodi in the main quarter.

  3. 3

    Crafting Quarters and the Secret Cellar

    Head toward the southeastern quarter to locate the local armorer Nikolas Beets at his forge, or find the Journeyman Blacksmith working east of the Western Gate. Step into the house directly east of this blacksmith to explore the cellar and sewer passages below. Activate the secret brick wall down there to uncover a hidden chest containing the Diagram: Enhanced Feline trousers.

  4. 4

    Tamara's Abode

    Search the residential quarter of the city to track down Tamara Strenger, who is currently serving alongside the Witch Hunters. Confirm any ongoing business with her here before turning your focus to the sealed university grounds.

  5. 5

    Infiltrating the Academy and Shakeslock's House

    Infiltrate the locked Oxenfurt Academy island to seek out Professor Premethine Shakeslock's residence rather than heading straight to the Temple of Lilvani. Head up to the second-floor table to collect Gilian Alboco’s Lesser Key before advancing any further through the estate.

    Watch out: Bypassing Shani's optional lead to reach Lilvani directly locks the Academy permanently and misses this key.

  6. 6

    The Ground Floor Study

    Continue down into the scholar's ground floor study and basement work area to investigate the scene. Be sure to collect these records before making your exit, as the Academy grounds become completely barred once you leave.

    Watch out: Heading directly to the Temple of Lilvani without checking Shakeslock's home locks out his journal and house key permanently.

  7. 7

    The Warding Circle

    Step into the ground floor or basement work area where Professor Shakeslock worked to examine his protective ritual circle. Extinguish the outer warding candles placed around the circle to trigger Gaunter O'Dimm's ominous musical motif alongside a demonic sound. Once you finish your investigation, leap into the water from the Academy grounds to make your getaway.

    Watch out: Jumping out of the Academy grounds or omitting the optional visit entirely forfeits hearing the demonic musical cue forever.

Choices here

What you decide here and what it leads to.

Visit Shani and Professor Shakeslock vs. Go Directly to the Temple of Lilvani

While preparing for the encounter at the Temple of Lilvani during the search for information on the Professor

  • Complete the optional objective to talk to Shani and visit Shakeslock at Oxenfurt Academy→ Allows access to the Academy to meet Professor Shakeslock, gain his information, and obtain Shakeslock's Journal, Gilian Alboco's Lesser Key, and the Key to Professor Shakeslock's Home
  • Bypass Shani and head straight to the Temple of Lilvani→ Permanently misses the visit to Professor Shakeslock, making the Academy inaccessible and locking you out of acquiring Shakeslock's Journal, Gilian Alboco's Lesser Key, and the Key to Professor Shakeslock's Home

Most players pick: Complete the optional objective to talk to Shani and visit Shakeslock at Oxenfurt Academy

Heading directly to the Temple of Lilvani serves as a point of no return that permanently locks out the Academy visit and its unique items.

Checklists

Items May be incomplete

0/1

Secrets May be incomplete

0/1

Enemies
Witch Hunter
Weak to Dimeritium Bomb

Guards encountered inside the Oxenfurt Academy grounds who attack after Shani lets Geralt over the wall.

Shops and people
  • Shani: Gwent matches and medical consultations at Shani's clinic

Tips
  • You must jump to the exterior upper balcony and knock down the door with the Aard sign to get inside Professor Shakeslock's barricaded house.
← Previous
The Sunstone Cave
Next →
Oxenfurt Sewers

Stuck somewhere in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition?

Quest Compendium sees your screen while you play: ask about exactly where you are, and keep this guide open right beside your game.

Get live help while you play

Sources checked: allthings.how, fandom.com, showgamer.com, gamespot.com, gosunoob.com, thegamer.com, gamepressure.com, fextralife.com, gamerwalkthroughs.com

Report a mistake