Witcher 3 Blood and Wine: Complete Walkthrough & Tips

Published January 28, 2026  |  witcher.co

CD Projekt Red's Blood and Wine expansion is widely considered one of the greatest pieces of DLC ever released in RPG gaming. Set in the sun-drenched duchy of Toussaint — a land of vineyards, knights, and dark secrets — it gives Geralt a proper send-off worthy of the witcher series. This Blood and Wine walkthrough covers every major quest, boss, and secret you need to experience the expansion to its fullest.

Before You Begin: Recommended Level and Preparation

Blood and Wine is designed for characters at level 35 or higher, but level 40+ is strongly recommended before starting. Enemies hit hard and scale aggressively, especially on higher difficulties. Before heading to Toussaint, make sure you have:

• A full set of Grandmaster Witcher gear — visit the Grandmaster Smith in Beauclair early
• Decoctions stocked, especially Ekimmara (sustain) and Ekhidna (stamina-to-health on sign use)
• Mutations unlocked — the Mutations system is introduced in this DLC and dramatically changes combat
• At least 5,000 crowns for crafting and upgrades

You can begin the expansion by reading the notice board in Velen or by traveling directly to Toussaint via the World Map.

The Main Quest: Chasing the Beast

The central Blood and Wine walkthrough begins with Geralt being summoned to Toussaint to investigate a series of brutal knight murders. The main questline is structured around identifying and confronting Dettlaff van der Eretein, a higher vampire of terrifying power. The story unfolds across roughly 12 main quests and offers three distinct endings depending on your choices.

The critical branching point occurs during "The Night of Long Fangs." Whether you side with Syanna, spare or condemn Dettlaff, and whether Syanna survives all determine which of the three endings you receive. The "good" ending — where both Syanna and Anna Henrietta survive — requires you to retrieve the ribbon from the Land of a Thousand Fables and bring Syanna to confront Dettlaff peacefully. Don't skip the fairy tale land; it's also one of the most creative zones in the entire witcher game.

Boss Fights: Dettlaff and the Royal Wyvern

Dettlaff is the hardest boss in the base witcher game and both expansions combined. The fight has two phases. In phase one, he uses swift melee combos — dodge laterally, not backward. Yrden signs slow his teleport attacks significantly. In phase two, he spawns blood-based clones and unleashes area attacks. Focus on depleting his health quickly and use Black Blood potion, which damages vampires when they strike you.

The Royal Wyvern encountered early in Toussaint is a good warm-up challenge. Use Draconid Oil, keep Quen active, and attack its neck after it crashes to the ground following a dive. Don't get greedy — two hits and then roll away.

Mutations: The Most Important System in Blood and Wine

The Mutation system is unlocked after completing "Turn and Face the Strange," a main-adjacent quest. Mutations allow Geralt to gain powerful passive bonuses that interact with his existing skill tree in new ways. The strongest mutations for most builds include:

• Euphoria — Increases sword damage and sign intensity based on toxicity level. Paired with decoctions, this is game-breaking in the best way.
• Cat Eyes — Crossbow bolt damage increase and free bolt usage. Excellent for hybrid builds.
• Metamorphosis — Applying status effects triggers random decoction buffs. Excellent for sign-heavy players.

Euphoria is almost universally the best choice for experienced players. Build your toxicity high with decoctions and watch your damage numbers skyrocket.

Toussaint Secrets and Side Quests Worth Doing

Toussaint is packed with content that rivals entire standalone RPG games. These side quests are essential for the full experience:

• Equine Phantoms — A touching quest about Roach's inner world. Don't skip it.
• Wine Wars: Belgaard — A multi-stage quest chain that determines who controls the Belgaard vineyard. Has real consequences for your estate.
• The Warble of a Smitten Knight — A tournament quest with genuinely funny writing and a great payoff.
• Feet as Cold as Ice — Solves the mystery of a frozen corpse. Short but memorable.

Corvo Bianco, your personal vineyard estate, can be upgraded over time using funds and quest rewards. Fully upgrading it unlocks bonuses like automatic meditation XP and stat buffs — invest early.

Grandmaster Witcher Gear Locations

The Blood and Wine walkthrough wouldn't be complete without covering Grandmaster gear. Each witcher school set has a Grandmaster tier available exclusively in Toussaint, crafted by the Grandmaster Smith in Beauclair's market district. Diagrams are found via treasure hunt quests — look for notices titled "Scavenger Hunt: Grandmaster [School] Gear." Griffin and Feline sets are excellent for sign and fast attack builds respectively. Bear (Ursine) is best for tank-style heavy attack builds. All six sets are worth collecting if you plan multiple playthroughs.

Final Tips for Completing Blood and Wine

This Blood and Wine walkthrough comes down to one philosophy: slow down and explore. Toussaint rewards curiosity. Hidden caves, abandoned manors, and unmarked locations contain some of the best loot and lore in the entire witcher series. Read every notice board, talk to every innkeeper, and follow every question mark on the map. The expansion is roughly 20–30 hours if you engage fully — and every hour is earned. Geralt deserves a proper retirement, and Blood and Wine delivers exactly that.