Quick Links
It is widely accepted that the Blood & Wine expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt set the gold standard for what DLC should be. The beautiful, sun-drenched hills of Toussaint and the incredible story are generally cited as two of the expansion's greatest achievements. But beneath the admittedly stunning surface there are equally impressive quality of life improvements that often go underappreciated by even the most veteran players.
The mutagen conversion system fits this bill perfectly. While It's not necessarily a function to build a trailer around, it's a feature the community long asked for. Many players built up a large collection of mutagens by the end of their time with The Witcher 3. With the implementation of the new system, taking that stockpile and creating those pesky lesser red mutagens is now just a click away.
Mutagen Conversion: The First Steps
The new conversion system introduces two ways to convert the mutagens in Geralt's possession into new mutagens ready for use in alchemy and the character page:
- Mutagen conversion formulae
- Alchemy equipment found at Corvo Bianco
Unfortunately for Geralt, these new methods are not available as soon as he arrives in Toussaint. Each process has a specific set of requirements to fulfill before Geralt is able to use them. The first step is to fully complete "The Beast of Toussaint" and receive the deed to the Corvo Bianco estate. Begin "No Place Like Home" and fully upgrade the estate to unlock the herb garden and the hidden alchemy equipment.
Mutagen Conversion Formulae
This method of mutagen conversion works in conjunction with the alchemy system, and the formulae are discovered much the same way. Like recipes for oils or potions, conversion formulae are found in the world, often in treasure chests or dead bodies. Because not all the formulae are guaranteed to show up in the same place for everyone, the much faster option is simply buying every formula from the Alchemy Supplies merchant in downtown Beauclair. They are available at the following prices:
- Lesser Mutagen Forumla: 190 Crowns
- Mutagen Conversion Formula: 209 Crowns
- Greater Mutagen Conversion Formula: 246 Crowns
There are six formulae in each category for a total of 18. 3,870 Crowns are required to purchase all formulae at once.
The Garden At Corvo Bianco:
Once Geralt has acquired the formulae, the first thing the astute witcher will notice is that each one requires an ingredient he's never heard of. This is where the Herb Garden at Corvo Bianco finds its use. Having completed "No Place Like Home," the herb garden should now contain the following three plants:
- Blue Lotus Flower
- Nazari Basil
- Winter's Cherry
The garden only contains a few of each plant, so make sure to use them carefully. While they will eventually respawn, there is no consensus around exactly how long this will take. Currently, the community is in general agreement that meditation does not work and that Geralt must wait several hours and complete quests in Toussaint before they will grow back.
Alchemy Equipment at Corvo Bianco
The second method is only available after completing "No Place Like Home." Once Geralt has finished all the possible upgrades to the estate, Barnabas will inform the witcher that something was found in the wine cellar. This leads to the discovery of a laboratory behind a wall. Here, Geralt can convert monster mutagens into the basic red, blue, and green variety.
The method of conversion works different in the hidden laboratory. For example, the werewolf mutagen appears to have a red membrane. When placed into the equipment this monster mutagen will convert into a single lesser red mutagen. This holds true along all monster mutagens. The Forktail mutagen has a blue membrane and will convert to a lesser blue mutagen. Unfortunately, none of the monster mutagens convert to any higher version of the red, blue, or green mutagens.
A Note on "Turn and Face the Strange"
While it isn't technically mutagen conversion, the mission "Turn and Face the Strange" will allow Geralt to fundamentally change the way mutagens can be applied to his character attributes. The mission, which can be initiated after finishing "The Beast of Toussaint," will start with Geralt being approached by young boy with a message for Geralt. Follow the instructions for one heck of a crazy trip.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is currently available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. The next-gen update will be available on December 14th for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.