Guides / The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition
Skellige Isles
During the quest Destination: Skellige, Geralt books sea passage from Novigrad to reach the Skellige Isles. The voyage is ambushed by pirates in a fierce storm, ending in a shipwreck on the shore of Ard Skellig. From the beach crash site, Geralt travels to Kaer Trolde Harbor to reunite with Yennefer.
- Region
- Ard Skellig (The Skellige Isles)
- Levels
- 16–17+
- Getting there
- Initiated via the main quest "Destination: Skellige" from Novigrad docks. Inquire at three ships docked in Novigrad harbor; Captain Liglad points Geralt to The Golden Sturgeon inn. Pay Captain Wolverstone 1,000 crowns to sail on his ship, the Atropos.
- Connects to
- Novigrad, Kaer Trolde Harbor, Bridge to Kaer Trolde
- Related quests
- Destination: Skellige · The King is Dead – Long Live the King · King’s Gambit · Worthy of Trust · Muire D’yaeblen
Services and people
Merchants 24
- General merchant · Trades goodsDocks of Kaer Trolde Harbor on Ard Skellig
- Sjusta · Operates a tailor shop and barber serviceHarbor settlement of Kaer Trolde on Ard Skellig
- Jonas the Innkeep · Runs The New Port innKaer Trolde Harbor on Ard Skellig
- Travelling merchant · Trades goodsRoadside campsite south of Kaer Trolde Harbor along the road toward the Ard Skellig crossroads
- Herbalist · Herbalist tradeKaer Trolde village on Ard Skellig
- Jonna · Alchemist and herbalistVillage of Rannvaig on Ard Skellig
- Merchant · Trades goodsVillage of Blandare on Ard Skellig
- Merchant · Trades goodsVillage of Fayrlund on Ard Skellig
- Merchant · Trades goodsVillage of Fyresdal on Ard Skellig
- Merchant · Trades goodsPort settlement of Holmstein's Port on Ard Skellig
- Merchant · Trades goodsLiberated Drummond Clan Sawmill located south of Sund on Ard Skellig
- Ilge · Runs the tavern and sells Gwent cardsFishing village of Arinbjorn on Ard Skellig
- Alchemist · Alchemy servicesDruids' Camp near the sacred oak Gedyneith on Ard Skellig
- Gremist · Master alchemistWorkshop near Gedyneith on Ard Skellig
- Yolar · Sells alchemical ingredientsNear Gedyneith on Ard Skellig
- Innkeeper · Operates at the tavernUrialla Harbor on An Skellig
- General merchant · Trades goodsVillage of Larvik on Hindarsfjall
- Innkeeper · Operates inside the tavernLarvik on Hindarsfjall
- Priestess of Freya · Serves as an alchemistFreya's Garden on Hindarsfjall
- Innkeeper · Runs the local tavernVillage of Svorlag on Spikeroog
- General merchant · Trades goodsVillage of Svorlag on Spikeroog
- Innkeeper · Operates at the tavernHarviken on Faroe
- Merchant · Trades goodsVillage of Harviken on Faroe
- Isolated merchant · Trades goodsRemote hut located on the coastline of Faroe
Quest NPCs 5
- Captain Wolverstone · Dead body looted for 1,000 crownsBehind the beached Atropos shipwreck on Ard Skellig beach
- Yennefer · Attends King Bran's wakeKaer Trolde Castle on Ard Skellig
- King Bran · Deceased monarch whose wake is attendedKaer Trolde Castle on Ard Skellig
- Ermion · Has a secret laboratoryUnder Kaer Trolde on Ard Skellig
- Jutta an Dimun · Notable NPCHill east of Harviken on Faro
Invaders and enemies 2
- Myrhyff the Ice Giant · Notable boss encounterHis lair on Undvik
- Earth Elemental · Fought as an enemy during questLaboratory beneath the Druid's tree on Ard Skellig
Services 16
- Axii Place of Power · Save and buff pointOffshore near the shipwreck on Ard Skellig beach
- Quen Place of Power · Save and buff pointBeneath the Kaer Trolde wine cellar
- Crossroads signpost · Fast travel postNear the Ard Skellig crash site
- Blacksmith · Blacksmithing servicesKaer Trolde Castle courtyard on Ard Skellig
- Armorer · Armorer servicesKaer Trolde Castle courtyard on Ard Skellig
- Amateur blacksmith · Blacksmithing servicesCoastal village of Rannvaig on Ard Skellig
- Blacksmith · Crafting and tradingVillage of Fayrlund on Ard Skellig
- Armorer · Armorer servicesFortress of Kaer Muire on Ard Skellig
- Blacksmith · Blacksmithing servicesStronghold courtyard of Kaer Muire on Ard Skellig
- Armorer · Armorer servicesVillage of Fyresdal on Ard Skellig
- Blacksmith · Blacksmithing servicesVillage of Fyresdal on Ard Skellig
- Amateur blacksmith · Blacksmithing servicesClan Tordarroch Forge on Ard Skellig
- Amateur armorer · Armorer servicesUrialla Harbor on An Skellig
- Amateur blacksmith · Operates a smithyUrialla Harbor on An Skellig
- Amateur armorer · Armorer servicesVillage of Larvik on Hindarsfjall
- Amateur blacksmith · Blacksmithing servicesLarvik on Hindarsfjall
The short version
What matters
- •Loot Captain Wolverstone behind the stranded *Atropos* to reclaim your 1,000 crowns.
- •Accept Cerys's race to the summit above Kaer Trolde Castle to claim Hjalmar’s Axe from the stump.
- •Aid Cerys in "King's Gambit" so you can enter the wine cellar tunnels and draw from the Quen Place of Power.
Common mistakes
- •Ignoring Cerys's footrace challenge at the wake locks off the summit, permanently costing you Hjalmar’s Axe.
- •Siding with Hjalmar during "King's Gambit" permanently bars the door to the Kaer Trolde cellar and its Quen Place of Power.
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
Shipwreck on Ard Skellig
When you wash ashore on the beach of Ard Skellig following your shipwreck during the quest "Destination: Skellige", look around the crash site to spot the wreckage of the ship *Atropos*, a siren monster nest, and the nearby Crossroads. Before leaving the shore, step just offshore near the ruined hull to draw from a coastal Axii Place of Power, and check directly behind the beached ship to loot Captain Wolverstone's dead body. Grabbing the purse off the captain's corpse allows you to reclaim the 1,000 crowns you spent on passage.
Tip: You can always fast-travel back to the Crossroads signpost to reach the crash site later if you do not loot the corpse right away.
Watch out: Do not leave the beach without checking behind the hull if you want your passage fee back early, as players frequently overlook the captain's corpse.
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2
Journey North to Kaer Trolde Harbor
Travel north from the beach past the Crossroads toward Kaer Trolde Harbor, keeping an eye out for a travelling merchant camping along the roadside south of the harbor. Once you enter the port settlement, you can browse goods with the dockside general merchant, get a trim or clothing from Sjusta at the tailor shop and barber service, visit the village herbalist, or stop by The New Port inn run by Jonas the Innkeep.
Tip: Stock up on tailoring or barber services at Sjusta's shop while passing through the harbor settlement.
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3
King Bran's Wake at Kaer Trolde Castle
Head up to Kaer Trolde Castle courtyard to find a working blacksmith and an armorer before joining Yennefer for King Bran's wake. During the quest "The King is Dead – Long Live the King", agree to run the footrace against Cerys to the summit of the mountain peak above the castle. When you reach the peak, pull Hjalmar’s Axe out of the tree stump before finishing the race.
Watch out: If you refuse Cerys's challenge or neglect to draw Hjalmar's Axe from the tree stump before concluding the quest sequence, the upper peak becomes blocked without terrain glitching, making the weapon permanently missable.
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4
Infiltration of Ermion's Secret Laboratory
While navigating the laboratory under the druid's tree, you must confront and destroy an Earth Elemental guarding the area.
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5
Investigation in the Kaer Trolde Cellar
During the quest "King's Gambit", elect to help Cerys investigate the mystery rather than choosing Hjalmar or ignoring the succession. Go through the cellar door in Kaer Trolde to enter the cavernous basement tunnels beneath the wine cellar. Follow the underground path to locate and draw magic from the Quen Place of Power.
Watch out: Siding with Hjalmar or skipping the succession leaves the cellar door permanently locked, locking you out of the Quen Place of Power.
Choices here
What you decide here and what it leads to.
Footrace to the summit
During "The King is Dead – Long Live the King"
- Accept the challenge and reach the peak→ You can retrieve Hjalmar's Axe from the tree stump
- Decline or fail to take the axe→ Hjalmar's Axe becomes permanently inaccessible as the peak area gets locked
Most players pick: Accept the challenge and draw the axe from the stump
Missable permanently if declined or if the axe is not pulled before the quest sequence ends
Investigation path during King's Gambit
During the quest "King's Gambit"
- Help Cerys investigate→ Unlocks the Kaer Trolde wine cellar path, allowing access to the Quen Place of Power in the tunnels beneath
- Side with Hjalmar or ignore succession→ The cellar door stays permanently locked, permanently locking out the Quen Place of Power
Most players pick: Help Cerys
Point of no return for accessing the cellar Place of Power
Checklists
Achievements here
Items
0/1
Key fights May be incomplete
Enemies: Earth Elemental
Threats: High armor, ground pound AoE tremors, heavy stun resistance.
Tactics: Use Elementa Oil, Dimeritium Bombs (suppresses magical attacks), and Quen. Avoid swinging into its stone-guard stance; attack from behind immediately after its ground slams.
Enemies
Board the Atropos during the sea journey to Skellige, attacking with swords and axes
Found scavenging along the shorelines and water banks across Skellige
Shops and people
- Armorer (Kaer Trolde citadel): Armor diagrams, crafting supplies, repair tools, and maps for the Bear School Witcher gear
- Jonas the Innkeeper (The New Port Inn at Kaer Trolde Harbor): Food, drinks, and alchemy ingredients
- Merchant (Kaer Trolde Harbor docks): Regional travel maps to unlock fast travel posts and general oddments
Tips
- Immediately head south along the coastline right after waking from the shipwreck to salvage the wreckage and recover your travel payment before moving on to Kaer Trolde.
Not listed for this area: secrets.
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