You’ve spent dozens of hours tracking down Ciri, playing Gwent in smoky taverns, and decapitating drowners in the swamps of Velen. Now, the game basically hits the brakes and says, "Wait, we need a plan." Battle Preparations Witcher 3 is that weird, sprawling late-game questline that feels like a massive chore list but actually determines how the world ends. It’s not just one mission. It’s a messy umbrella that covers everything from breaking into a Nilfgaardian flagship to diving for ancient elven glass.
Most players treat this as a checkbox exercise. Big mistake.
If you rush through these final preparations, you're going to miss some of the best character beats between Geralt and his inner circle. This is where the political landscape of the Continent actually solidifies. You’re not just getting ready for a fight with the Wild Hunt; you’re deciding who sits on the throne and whether Ciri actually feels like a human being or a weapon.
What Battle Preparations Witcher 3 Actually Consists Of
Basically, after the gathering at Kaer Morhen, the action shifts to Skellige. This isn't just about sharpening swords. The questline is split into several major "sub-quests" that run simultaneously. You have The Sunstone, Veni Vidi Vigo, and Child of the Elder Blood.
Let’s talk about Veni Vidi Vigo first because it’s honestly kind of hilarious. You have to sneak onto Emperor Emhyr’s flagship in the middle of the night. Geralt, the legendary Witcher, basically has to play Navy SEAL. You’re swimming past searchlights and trying not to get shot by crossbowmen just to hand a letter to Fringilla Vigo. It’s a bit of a tonal shift from fighting monsters, but it reminds you that despite all the magic, Geralt is still caught in the gears of an empire.
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Then there’s the Sunstone. This is the "Indiana Jones" portion of the evening. You’re trekking through caves with Philippa Eilhart. Honestly, Philippa is one of the most polarizing characters in the franchise. She’s brilliant, arrogant, and totally untrustworthy. Watching her and Geralt trade barbs while navigating ancient elven ruins is peak Witcher writing. They need the Sunstone to lure the Naglfar—the Wild Hunt’s ghost ship—into a trap. Without it, the final battle can't even happen.
The Emotional Weight of Child of the Elder Blood
This is where the Battle Preparations Witcher 3 phase gets serious. While the other quests are about logistics, this one is about Ciri’s psyche. You travel to Avallac'h’s laboratory on a remote island.
It’s creepy. It’s filled with geneology charts and a very bitter elven woman who basically tells Ciri she’s nothing but a biological experiment.
How you handle Ciri here is everything.
You have a choice: tell her to calm down or let her trash the place. If you’re playing for the "good" ending, let her go wild. Seriously. Let her break the expensive elven glassware. It’s one of the five critical "parenting" moments in the game. If you try to be the "sensible" adult and tell her to chill, you’re actually pushing her toward a darker fate. It’s a counter-intuitive bit of game design that CD Projekt Red loves—sometimes the "responsible" choice is the wrong one for the person’s spirit.
Navigating the Sunstone and the Lore of the Aen Elle
The search for the Sunstone isn't just a fetch quest. It’s deep lore. You end up talking to a bard named Eyvind who is trying to spot a legendary white whale. It’s a small, missable moment that adds so much flavor to the Skellige culture. You can actually lie to him about seeing the whale or just focus on the cave's location.
Once you get inside the Cavern of Elms with Philippa, you have to solve a mirror puzzle. It’s not particularly hard—just rotate the mirrors until the light hits the stone—but it feels ancient. It feels heavy. This is the part of Battle Preparations Witcher 3 where the scale shifts from "local monster slayer" to "cosmic protector." You’re messing with artifacts that haven't been touched in centuries.
Philippa’s dialogue here is crucial. She’s trying to rebuild the Lodge of Sorceresses. She wants Ciri to be part of it. As Geralt, you can feel the walls closing in on your "daughter." Everyone wants a piece of her. The Emperor wants her for the throne, the Lodge wants her for her power, and the Wild Hunt wants her for her blood.
The Logistics Most People Forget
While the main quest markers tell you where to go, your personal Battle Preparations Witcher 3 should include your inventory. You are about to enter a point of no return.
- Stock up on White Gull. You’re going to need it for the high-level alchemy recipes.
- Finish the Runewright quests. If you have the Hearts of Stone DLC, having "Severance" on your silver sword is a literal game-changer for the final encounter.
- Visit the Grandmaster Smith. If you’re playing Blood and Wine alongside the main quest, get that Grandmaster Witcher gear. The set bonuses are massive.
Most players walk into the final battle with half-broken armor and basic swallow potions. Don't be that guy. This phase of the game gives you the freedom to roam Skellige one last time. Use it. Go hit those "Question Marks" in the ocean if you need the gold for upgrades. It’s tedious, yeah, but having a fully upgraded Superior Blizzard potion makes the final boss fights feel like a dance rather than a slog.
Why Avallac'h is the Wildcard
Throughout the entirety of the preparations, Avallac'h remains an enigma. Is he helping Ciri because he loves her (in his own weird, elven way) or because he’s obsessed with the prophecy? The game never fully gives you a straight answer. During the quest The Grave of Skjall, which is technically part of this final act, you see Ciri's humanity again. She wants to pay her respects to the boy who saved her.
If you refuse to go with her, you're a monster. Straight up.
This quest is a breather. It’s a moment of silence before the screaming starts. It’s also another "point" toward her survival. Giving her the agency to mourn is what makes her strong enough to face the White Frost.
Final Tactics for the Naglfar
When you finally finish the preparations, everyone gathers on the shore of Undvik. It’s a "who’s who" of the game’s best characters. Hjalmar, Crach an Craite, Ermion, the Sorceresses... even the Nilfgaardian fleet is there.
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The atmosphere is thick.
One thing people often overlook: talk to everyone before you tell Avallac'h you're ready. There is unique dialogue for every companion. You can find out what Hjalmar thinks about the Emperor, or how Keira Metz (if she’s alive) feels about being back in the thick of things. It’s the last time the game lets you breathe before the frantic, multi-stage finale.
The actual battle begins with the Sunstone being activated. The Naglfar appears, frozen in ice, and the world starts to end. If you haven't upgraded your Superior Oils—specifically Elementa oil for the hounds and Hanged Man's Venom for the riders (who are technically elves)—you’re going to have a rough time.
Actionable Steps for the Perfect Setup
If you want the absolute best outcome for this stage of the game, follow this logic. It’s not about following a guide; it’s about understanding the mechanics of the story.
- Prioritize Ciri's Agency: In the lab and with Skjall, always choose the option that lets her act. Don't protect her. Empower her. It's the difference between her living or dying.
- The Political Fallout: Make sure you've completed Reason of State before finishing Battle Preparations if you care about who rules the North. If you don't, the game will default to a Radovid victory, and that is... well, it’s bad for everyone who isn't a fanatic.
- Alchemy is King: Spend your gold on the recipes for Superior Thunderbolt and Superior Maribor Forest. The final fights are endurance matches. You need your stamina and attack power to stay high without constantly retreating.
- Gear Check: Your silver sword needs to be the best it can be. If you haven't found the Aerondight from the Blood and Wine expansion, find a high-tier Witcher school sword (like the Ursine or Feline silver swords).
Battle Preparations Witcher 3 is the deep breath before the plunge. It’s a mix of ancient elven myth and very human father-daughter drama. Get it right, and the ending feels like a triumph. Get it wrong, and you'll be staring at a very depressing credits roll wondering where you went left when you should have gone right. Check your oils, fix your armor, and let Ciri wreck that lab. You won't regret it.