The Hearts of Stone expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt introduces Geralt of Rivia to an otherworldly gardener known as The Caretaker. Encountered in the opening section of "Scenes From a Marriage," this boss has been known to throw many witchers for a loop. Do not be fooled by his placement early in the mission, his unique abilities and unsettling appearance make him a formidable threat to the health of any witcher who dare approach him.
Before Geralt can fight this shovel-wielding servant, he must first complete "Open Sesame!" and "Dead Man's Party" from Hearts of Stone. Only then can he initiate "Scenes From A Marriage" and begin battling this Witcher 3 masterpiece.
The Man With No Face
The Caretaker is first encountered as Geralt enters the Von Everic estate. The trail that begins at the front door of the estate will lead Geralt around the back to the locations of several graves, initiating a cutscene that marks the beginning of the boss encounter.
Fighting The Caretaker - Stage 1
The fight with the Caretaker can be broken down into two main sections. The first section of the fight is relatively straightforward, with Geralt and the Caretaker facing off squarely against each other. The general approach here is strike quick and back off.
Remember, every attack the Caretaker lands will replenish his health. This is indicated by a green glow around his body. Try to avoid all attacks!
Basic Attacks:
The Caretaker uses his spade to swipe wildly at Geralt. Let him complete his full set of attacks before getting in close for 1-2 hits.
Spread AOE Attack:
This incredibly powerful attack is preceded by a blue glow directly beneath the affected area. If Geralt acts quick, rolling out of the area is possible.
Circular AOE Attack:
This attack is attempted when Geralt gets in close to the Caretaker. It is also preceded by a blue glow and can easily be dodged if caught in time.
After AOE attacks, the Caretaker will take a few moments to rest. He is vulnerable in this state, but don't stay too long! Watch for the glowing ground and another AOE attack as he recovers.
Fighting The Caretaker - Stage 2
Once he has been dealt a decent amount of damage, the Caretaker will introduce two new attacks in the second stage:
Shovel Thrust:
The Caretaker's shovel will begin to glow as he prepares to run and thrust it into Geralt. Dodging behind will allow Geralt to attack.
Healing Specters:
By far the most difficult to deal with, this ability allows the Caretaker to summon multiple specters from the ground. While they are no threat to Geralt, he should immediately kill them. Their entire purpose is to be sacrificed. Each specter the Caretaker kills will gain him health.
Final Tips:
- Because the Caretaker can heal so easily, it is far better to be patient with attacks. This is especially true in the second stage as he will use AOE attacks after hitting him once.
- Using Quen can be extremely effective at stopping him from hitting Geralt and healing. Upgraded versions can cause damage while exploding.
- Use relict oil to increase all sword damage.
The Witcher 3 is available now on the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions are set to launch on December 14, 2022.