Before The Witcher 4, here’s what happened at the end of The Witcher 3

People have started to calm down about the prospect of a new Witcher game finally being in development, although spirited theory-crafters are still firing on all cylinders. Is it possible to see the White Wolf returning, or are he busy crushing grapes in Witcher France? What about Ciri? Anybody with an interest at all in CD Projekt Red’s Blockbuster Series will be aware of how passionate fans were about Ciri getting her wolfy witcher boot.

The issue with a lot of these theories is twofold. On one hand, it’s hard to buy into speculation when you can’t even remember the vast majority of what happened at the end of The Witcher 3 — it’s been seven years for some people. Some theories that we have seen don’t seem to make sense. When you include some of the more minor scenarios, there are a whopping 36 different endings for The Witcher 3 that all combine to define highly specific world states. Yes, really. Thirty-six!

Obviously, a lot of people are probably way too busy to boot up The Witcher 3 for the 500th time, especially given that Elden Ring simply refuses to end. If you’re included in that bracket, we’ve put together a breezy breakdown of every major event that happened at the end of The Witcher 3 and both of its expansions. We start with Hearts of Stone ,. This a) must be completed before the end of base game and b) is not really that important in the overall scheme of things. Next, we will move onto the main story before wrapping up the tale with the view of the world at the conclusion to Geralt’s Toussaintian journeys.

The Witcher 3 Hearts of Stone ending

Image: CD Projekt Red

While Hearts of Stone is an exceptional expansion featuring one of modern video games’ greatest villains, its endings are fairly unspectacular when considered next to their main-game counterparts. It basically boils down to one of two scenarios: you save Olgierd von Everec from Gaunter O’Dimm, or you allow the former’s soul to be claimed by the latter.

The way this plays out depends on your actions during a quest called “Whatsoever a Man Soweth.” To save Olgierd, you need to reconvene with Shani — a character fans of the first Witcher game will already be familiar with — and learn the whereabouts of Professor Premethine Shakeslock. You are told by the professor that O’Dimm can only be defeated if you offer your soul to him as collateral. At this point, you will need to solve several riddles in order to defeat the Man of Mirrors.

Alternatively, you can choose to let Olgierd die. O’Dimm will reward you in kind, offering you a choice between: the ability to become as swift as the wind; a horn that will never allow you to go hungry; a bottomless bottle of vodka (nice); 5,000 Benjamins; or advice on Ciri, which is actually extremely useful if you haven’t completed the main story and want to get the best ending.

The Witcher 3 main story ending

As mentioned above, there are quite a lot of ways The Witcher 3 can end, although the main three scenarios pertain to whether Ciri becomes a witcher, Ciri becomes the Empress, or Ciri dies. O’Dimm’s advice from Hearts of Stone directly relates to the situations that determine which of these endings you get — while most people would argue that saving Olgierd is the correct choice, the Man of Glass certainly doesn’t cheap out when it comes to remunerating you for your betrayal.

Basically, there are five decisions in The Witcher 3 that impact Ciri’s eventual fate: a snowball fight, a visit to Skjall’s grave, a stop-off at the Lodge of Sorceresses, a meeting with Emhyr var Emreis, and some much-needed vengeance against Imlerith, the Wild Hunt commander who killed Vesemir. Three correct decisions can make Ciri the Empress. Five will give her the ability to be a witcher. To make Ciri meet Emhyr, it is important to ensure not .

The rest of the ending scenarios in The Witcher 3 aren’t quite as important, but they’re still worth considering when discussing the possibilities for a future game. For example, Geralt can either continue witchering his way through the Northern Realms if he romances neither Yen or Triss (or chooses to romance both of them to hilarious results). He can also venture to Kovir or another unnamed area with Yen, along with Triss (implied as Toussaint following the events in Blood and Wine ).).

Image: CD Projekt Red

Other ending conditions include who rules the North at the end of the game, which can be either Emhyr, Radovid, or Sigisimund Dijkstra. The latter two can also die, as can Blue Stripes commander Vernon Roche.

In Skellige there are three options for who will take the throne. Cerys is objectively the best choice here given that her election results in fewer deaths and a thriving Skellige, but it’s really up to you.

Then you have arguably the most famous story from The Witcher 3 with the Bloody Baron, who can either die after seeing his wife being transformed into a water hag, or save Anna Strenger and take her to a healer in the Blue Mountains. This is influenced in turn by the fate of the Whispering Hillock, a mysterious spirit who Geralt can either set free or kill.

The Ciri and Geralt endings are the most important ones though — especially if you’re one of the many people who wants a Ciri-led Witcher 4.

The Witcher 3 Blood and Wine ending

Being the final expansion of The Witcher 3, Blood and Wine is widely regarded as Geralt of Rivia’s stunning swan song. This sprawling DLC is filled with mystery and intrigue. It can be solved in any of three ways.

Before we go into the endings, it is important to note that these are supposed to be played following the conclusion of the base game. Anybody who’s played Blood and Wine in its entirety will be well acquainted with the tear-jerking finale. This is clearly Geralt’s retirement proof.

In the first ending Anna Henrietta, the Duchy de Toussaint and Syanna, both survived. This ending can be achieved by obtaining a magic ribbon in a fairy-tale universe and killing the Dettlaff, a higher vampire.

While this is generally regarded as the “happy ending,” Regis — Geralt’s friend who dies in the books but is brought back by Dettlaff in The Witcher 3 — is forced out of Toussaint for killing one of his own. This is because although Geralt is the one to best Dettlaff in combat, higher vampires can only be killed by higher vampires. Regis is now forced to pay the blood penalty for the same loophole which allowed Regis to be saved by his friend. Remember — anything in The Witcher that seems lighthearted is usually only attained via unseen woe. (Anyone with an inkling for doing some extra digging can find a note Regis writes called “My Last Thought Before I Succumb To Sleep,” which reads, “I have a feeling that my friend Dettlaff will die. I am sad.” Heartbreaking. )

Image: CD Projekt Red

The second ending sees Anna survive, although Syanna is killed by Dettlaff. You have the option to either fight Detlaff as in the first ending or let him escape. Regardless of which decision you opt for, Anna Henrietta will throw you in jail for failing to save her sister, at which point Dandelion miraculously comes to the rescue. This ending has one thing in common. Regis can stay with Toussaint, and he is not required to follow Dettlaff. This is why some consider this the best ending, although Syanna and Anna are still alive.

In the final ending, basically everyone dies. Syanna murders Anna and is then immediately killed by Damien, who shoots her with a crossbow. Geralt defeats Dettlaff, and Regis will be pursued by the vampires that he used to call his friends. This, you can probably surmise, is Blood and Wine’s worst ending, although many fans have argued that its proximity to Shakespearean tragedy makes it the most narratively fascinating one.

Regardless of which ending you get, Geralt retires to a vineyard in Toussaint and decides to spend the rest of his days sipping crisp whites, sweet roses, and the kind of reds that make you want to rock and roll all night. Yen (the correct choice) or Triss (how dare you?) will visit depending on which one you romanced. If neither of you select, Ciri will come to you. If Ciri passes away, Dandelion will visit you as your guest of honour. He is clearly there to steal your wine.

At Blood and Wine ,, you will be privy of one of the most memorable scenes in all of The Witcher 3. It’s not something we’ll spoil, as it’s an amazing scene.