The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has many points of no return, and several of them put a deadline on important decisions Geralt needs to make to secure the best ending. Nobody likes to leave unfinished business, especially a Witcher of renown.
To that end, we have compiled a list of every single quest that can auto-fail, when that cut-off is, and what you may be missing out on if Geralt doesn’t tie up loose ends on time. Read on to ensure no quest leads to an unhappy ending. You wouldn’t want to make any more Leshy, would you?
Updated November 4, 2023, by Sean Murray: If you’re looking to ensure your Witcher 3 playthrough is without failure, then you’ve come to the right place. This guide will make sure you don’t miss any quest cutoffs, and you’ll even pick up a few more tips thanks to the updated links to other helpful Witcher 3 topics.
Witcher 3 Quest Cutoff Points
The main storyline is where you’ll run into the most pertinent quest cut-offs in The Witcher 3, not to mention the base game content harbors more numerous auto fails than either of the game’s DLCs combined. We look at the cut-off points and auto-fail quests in order.
Imperial Audience
This Prologue quest is the first cut-off point of the game, and every side-quest in White Orchard (save one) will auto-fail upon heading to Vizima. Several of these sub-quests act as training for the tough decision-making Geralt will have to contemplate later on. They are as follows:
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
A Frying Pan, Spick and Span |
This is a simple non-combative quest with some decent early-game rewards you might not want to miss. |
10 Experience Apple Juice X5 Baked Apple X5 Bread X5 |
|
Missing In Action |
This is a quest of little consequence; for Geralt. It does include a life-or-death ultimatum for a minor NPC, though. |
25 Experience 25 Crowns |
|
On Death’s Bed |
Another simple non-combative quest that offers some interesting tie-in lore for fans of Saposki’s novels if you delve into the optional dialogue. It’s also another choice-based life-or-death situation regarding minor characters and offers some hefty early-game experience. |
350 Experience 50 Crowns Manuscript Page: Cursed Oil of Sweat and Blood |
|
Precious Cargo |
This quest has a small window of opportunity as it is only available during the Lilac and Gooseberries quest, which leads directly into Imperial Audience. It has a few possible outcomes that change the rewards Geralt will receive, but the payout differences aren’t that substantial. |
1. Turn in OR Let go with the box. 2. Return Box. 3. Let go but keep the box.
|
|
Twisted Firestarter |
A simple investigative quest that exercises Geralt’s witcher senses and tests his moral compass with another life-or-death decision on behalf of a minor NPC. |
50 Experience 20 Crowns |
You’ll technically be locked out of these quests by completing the preceding main quest, Lilac and Gooseberries, as the ending sequence of that quest takes you to Vizima via the cut-scene. Be sure you’ve completed the tasks you wanted to before reconvening with Vesemir at the inn after completing the Griffin Contract.
Faithful Friend is the only side quest in White Orchard that is unaffected by Imperial Audience, and that is because it only takes place after Ciri’s fate has been decided. You can only complete the Faithful Friend side quest during the Something Ends, Something Begins main quest before Ciri returns to Nilfgaard to assume her duties as Empress.
Ugly Baby
The Act 2 main quest, Ugly Baby, only auto-fails two quests, but they both pertain to two very close relations of Geralt.
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
Following The Thread |
In this side quest, Geralt can choose to help his witcher brethren, Lambert, avenge a fallen friend and learn some additional lore regarding the witcher school of the Cat. Moreover, assisting Lambert with this quest will auto-fail the Skellige side quest: “Flesh For Sale.” |
220 Experience Diagram: Eirlithrad (Magic tier silver sword) |
|
The Last Wish |
Team Yennefer fans will need to be sure to complete this one prior to fetching Uma from Crow’s Perch, as it will make or break Geralt’s successful romancing of the haughty sorceress. |
100 Experience |
The Isle of Mists
Sailing to the Isle of Mists is the next important cut-off, auto-failing a slew of quests throughout Velen and Novigrad. It is without question the most significant point of no-return within The Witcher 3.
So much so that the game gives you an unequivocal warning to turn back if there was anything else you wanted to do.
This would pertain to influencing the fates of Geralt’s friends or political acquaintances, reconnecting with long-lost brethren, or sealing the deal with a special sorceress. You’ll want to tie up these loose ends before setting sail on the last leg of the journey to finding Ciri.
Kiera Metz’s Questline
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
A Towerful of Mice |
Involving breaking a curse on an old tower, this quest must be completed in order for Geralt to begin romancing Keira Metz. |
1. Deny Annabelle’s Request 500 Experience 2. Honor Annabelle’s Request 300 Experience |
|
A Favor For A Friend |
Unlocked by a conversation between Geralt and Kiera at the end of “A Towerful of Mice,” this quest is coincidentally a cut-off point for another quest called Lynch Mob, which will fail upon starting this one. |
80 Experience |
|
For The Advancement of Learning |
Triggered automatically at the end of A Favor For A Friend, this quest is the culmination of Geralt’s optional role in Kiera’s storyline, where Geralt will ultimately decide the sorceress’s fate with the decisions made throughout their dialogue. |
1. Don’t kill Keira 100 Experience (There’s a choice – 1a and 1b – here that affects Keira’s sub-plot ending.) 2. Kill Keira 200 Experience |
|
Magic Lamp |
After following a lead on Ciri and persuing the Wild Hunt through an underground elven ruin, Kiera requests Geralt’s help locating a Magic Lamp also hidden within the ruins. You’ll want to accept as Kiera will then reward the lamp to Geralt in a later quest. |
100 Experience |
|
An Invitation From Kiera Metz |
This quest is unlocked after completing “Hunting A Witch.” While it never becomes mandatory, it is a requisite to determining Keira’s ultimate fate. This is also the quest that rewards Geralt with the Magic Lamp, which will help him advance in future undertakings. |
Xenovox Magic Lamp |
Velen Quests
Keira’s sub-ending is far from the only choice Geralt will forfeit by venturing to the Isle of Mists. Before moving on to the other destinies Geralt will be passing on the opportunity to influence, let’s finish going over the other quests throughout Velen that will auto-fail upon sailing for those misty shores.
|
Quest |
Notes |
Reward |
|---|---|---|
|
Ciri’s Room |
Geralt can search the room Ciri stayed in during her time at Crow’s Perch, and gain a few rather inconsequential clues about what she was up to. |
100 Experience |
|
The Fall of The House of Reardon |
This quest is dependent on whether Geralt spared a certain Viper school witcher in The Witcher 2. If he showed mercy, this quest will reunite the old acquaintances and lead directly into the next quest on this list. (If you don’t have a Witcher 2 imported save, you’ll need to tell the questioner that you spared Letho during the save simulation that takes place before Geralt’s audience with Emporer Emhyr in Vizima towards the start of the game.) |
25 Experience 1. From the lockbox 50 Experience 100 Florens 2. From examining the skeleton 80 Experience 50 Experience |
|
Ghosts of The Past |
Geralt must make a choice at the end of this quest, which will decide whether or not Letho will lend aid in the Battle of Kaer Morhen later on. This quest is another minor quest-lock itself: If the Hazardous Goods quest hasn’t been started yet, Geralt will need to wait until finishing Ghosts of The Past before he can undertake it. |
125 Experience |
|
Return To Crookback Bog |
This is the concluding quest to the Baron’s story and ultimately decides Philip Strenger’s and his family’s fate. |
300 Experience 100 Crowns |
Triss Romance
Both of these quests need to be completed successfully in order to romance Triss. They also hold some sway over the assassination questline that proceeds them as well.
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
A Matter of Life and Death |
Geralt will need to kiss Triss during this quest to romance her successfully at the end of the next. |
NA |
|
Now or Never |
Aptly named, this quest seals the deal (or breaks things off) between Geralt and Triss. It also plays a crucial role in sparing the mages and nonhumans from a brutal genocide. The ending conversation with Dijkstra will automatically trigger the Assassin questline, which will also auto-fail if not completed before setting sail for the Isle of Mists. |
1. If Geralt saved Berthold and Anisse
2. Kill the Katakan 500 Experience 3. At the docks 200 Experience 4. If Geralt successfully romances Triss 300 Experience |
The Assassination Questline
This questline explores the subplot of assassinating Radovid, which any non-human and mage supporters will want to accomplish.
|
Quest |
Notes |
Reward |
|
A Deadly Plot |
If you’ve been following the games’ lore from the first installment, there’s extra incentive to complete this quest in particular as Geralt will be reconnected with his old acquaintance Thaler, from the previous games and subsequently unlocking Thaler’s exclusive Gwent match. You’ll want to make the time for this particular round of Gwent as it also auto fails, upon the completion of the questline’s concluding side quest, “Reasons of State.” |
25 Experience |
|
An Eye For An Eye |
On top of being a mandatory quest for the successful assassination of the mad king, Geralt will need to ensure Ves lives through this encounter to secure Ves’s and Roche’s help at the Battle of Kaer Morhen. |
50 Experience |
|
Redania’s Most Wanted |
No make-or-break decisions in this quest, but it will lead you to the witcher gear, Feline Silver Sword, if you take the time to break down a crumbling wall with Aard. |
50 Experience 135 Crowns |
You’ll need to fully complete this questline before sailing to the Isle of Mists if you wish to avoid Radovid’s genocide of mages and non-humans in Novigrad.
Novigrad & Kaer Morhen Quests
There are more loose ends Geralt will likely want to tie up around Novigrad before setting sail for the misty islands.
|
Quest |
Description/ Incentive |
Reward |
|---|---|---|
|
A Dangerous Game |
An important quest for Gwent players, given by Zoltan outside the Rosemary and Thyme after rescuing Dandelion. |
Varying amounts of Experience. 3 Unique Gwent Cards OR 350 Crowns. |
|
Cabaret |
Aside from helping Geralt’s old pal Dandelion refurbish his newly acquired cabaret, this quest has no real consequence. However, it does lead into the next quest, which has a more grievous impact. |
1. Declining to race. 220 Experience 2. Winning the race. 245 Experience 80 Crowns (Losing doesn’t earn a consolation prize.) |
|
Carnal Sins |
Though it doesn’t change anything, abandoning Dandelion and his lady bard, Pricilla, in their time of great need is a shoddy way to repay Dandelion’s loyalty throughout the years. |
500 Experience Varying amounts of Crowns Deargdeith (Relic tier silver sword) |
|
Fencing Lessons |
No consequences here, but it is a fun jaunt. |
25 Experience |
|
Berengar’s Blade |
This Kaer Morhen quest is tied to an old witcher colleague of Geralt’s referenced in the first game. This quest technically locks when setting out for the Isle of Mists due to the fact Geralt won’t have another opportunity to strike a casual conversation with Vesemir. There is a loophole, however. If Geralt seeks out the quest location manually after returning from the Isle of Mists before the council at Kaer Morhen, he can complete the quest without talking to Vesemir. |
50 Experience Diagram: Torhaerne (Relic tier silver sword) |
​​​​​​On Thin Ice
On Thin Ice is a late-game cut-off point towards the end of Act 3. It only locks a mere two quests, but those include a pertinent deciding factor to the end-game and the only Witcher contract in the game that’s subject to auto-fail.
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
Contract: Devil By The Well |
You likely completed this Velen contract well before now, but if you didn’t, here’s your warning. |
50 Experience 1. Accept the reward 20 Crowns 2. Decline payment Amethyst 3. Talk to Tomira
|
|
Reasons of State |
This is the concluding chapter of the Assassin’s questline, ensuring Radovid’s death, and includes the additional decision that decides whether Dijkstra or Roche will lead Temeria. However, it is only unlocked under the additional stipulation that Geralt chose diplomacy over force when convincing the spy to let him and Philipa go. |
NA |
King’s Gambit
The King’s Gambit is a Skellige side quest and holds some weighty decisions as to crowning the next ruler of Skellige and will subsequently auto-fail a couple of quests for Mad Man Lugos and his son, Blue Boy.
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
Stranger In A Strange Land |
This quest obligates Geralt to take on the next quest. |
80 Experience |
|
The Cave of Dreams |
This quest can be activated with or without subjecting Geralt to the previous quest. This quest has no real pertinence, but it is a fun hallucinogenic side trip to experience. |
Varying Experience depending on how you come about the quest 80 Crowns |
Battle Preparations
This is the final cut-off point of the main story, auto-failing several Skellige side quests, including the quests that determine the sub-ending for Skellige.
The Skelliger Crown Sub-Ending
Both of the following quests launch in consecutive order and ultimately decide who will be the next ruler of Skellige.
|
Quest |
Description/Incentive |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
The Lord of Undvik |
This quest is a prerequisite to activating the King’s Gambit quest and is necessary for recruiting Hjalmar for the Battle of Kaer Morhen. |
600 Experience |
|
Possession |
This quest is also a precursor to King’s Gambit but requires Geralt to help Crach An Craite’s daughter, Cerys, rather than his son, Hjalmar. |
750 Experience |
|
King’s Gambit |
The culmination of this quest will lead to Geralt needing to decide whether to again help Cerys or Hjalmar, or remain neutral and help neither. |
Hjalmar’s Steel Sword (Relic tier) Fate (Magical tier silver sword) Death From Above (Relic tier crossbow) |
|
Coronation |
The actions or inactions Geralt took following events in the King’s Gambit will directly impact who becomes ruler of Skellige. If Geralt refrained from helping Cerys and Hjalmar both, Svanrige an Tuirseach will be crowned, which isn’t the preferred ending for most players and will consequently forfeit the possibility of recruiting Hjalmar to the Battle of Kaer Morhen. |
200 Experience |
Hearts Of Stone Quest Cutoff Points
There are only two cut-off points in the Heart of Stone expansion, though that’s a rather substantial amount considering there are only six main quests (excluding subquests within the same questline.)
Open Sesame!
This main questline acts as the expansion’s mid-game, comprised of three subquests. It is also the first point at which the Heart of Stone side quests will begin auto-failing.
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
Avid Collector |
This is a mini-quest within “Open Sesame!” that is activated by talking to Yaromir Ivanovitz Zaytsev. You can work a deal on winning the Starry Night Over The Pontar painting at auction, but you’ll need to neglect to tell Vimme Vivaldi what you’ve learned about the painting to get the discount. |
100 Experience 500 Crowns Conserved Shaelmaar Trophy |
|
A Dark Legacy |
This is an exclusive quest only able to be activated and completed during Open Sesame! Additionally, Geralt will need to win Count Romilly’s Figurine at the auction to unlock it. Then be sure to see the quest to completion before wrapping up the Open Sesame! questline. |
Randomly generated loot from chest. |
Scenes From A Marriage
This main quest following Open Sesame! will auto-fail only one quest, but many fans won’t want to miss out.
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
A Midnight Clear |
This quest is Geralt’s chance at one last fling with his old flame, Shani. He can enjoy this romp without endangering his successful romance with Triss or Yennefer. |
300 Experience |
Blood And Wine Quest Cutoff Points
Though it’s a much more substantial expansion, the list of quests that can auto-fail is also fairly simple for Blood and Wine.
Where Children Toil, Toys Waste Away
Both of these quests have a small window for completion, only accessible after La Cage au Fou, which comes directly before this one.
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
The Hunger Game |
If you lifted Marlene’s curse in La Cage au Fou and brought her safely to Corvo Bianco Geralt can invite her to stay. She’ll reward his generosity with a rather substantial payout and a memento. |
400 Crowns Gold Stick of Joy |
|
Amidst The Mill’s Grist |
This is an extremely standard side-quest with absolutely no repercussions or difficult choices. |
400 Experience |
​​​​Capture The Castle
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
The Warble of a Smitten Knight |
This quest helps Geralt towards achieving the five Chivalric virtues needed for completing There Can Only Be One and obtaining Aerondight, the best sword in the game. It will auto-fail if not completed before meeting Captain de La Tour during Capture The Castle. |
300 Experience 100 Experience per tournament challenge won 500 Crowns Winning the tournament: 250 experience and 200 Crowns |
Beyond Hill And Dale
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
Duck, Duck Goosed |
While this quest’s technical cut-off is the Tesham Mutna quest, it can only be accomplished while Geralt and Syanna are traversing the Land of A Thousand Fables. Thus, you need to complete it before leaving the fairytale land at the end of Beyond Hill and Dale. |
250 Experience Golden Egg |
Burlap Is The New Stripe
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
The Perks of Being A Jailbird |
This mini-quest will technically auto-fail upon starting the quest Be It Ever So Humble. However, it is only available while Geralt is imprisoned in Toussaint, which only happens if Syanna dies. So if Geralt successfully saved Syanna and convinced her to make peace with Anna Henrietta, this quest won’t be an option at all. |
Wine Wars: Belgaard
|
Quest |
Notes |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
Wine Wars: The Deus In The Machina |
The Deus In The Machina can only be activated after completing Wine Wars: Belgaard’s part one, and then only by discovering a certain location in the other two subsequent Wine Wars quests, Vermentino and Coronata. Be sure to check out our Wine Wars quest guide as the trail of events can be rather tricky to navigate and secure the best ending to make this questline worthwhile. |
1. Find the Stocking Report: 250 Experience 2. Destroy Seedlings: 100 Experience |