After a certain point in the story in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it will become apparent to Geralt of Rivia that he will need allies in the coming battle against the eponymous villains of the game: The Wild Hunt. In preparation to face this powerful foe, the White Wolf must speak with his longtime friends and gather new alliances in order to have the strength to push back the enemy during the climactic battle of The Witcher 3.
The recruitment for the big end-game battle takes the form of the "Brothers in Arms" quests, which usually involve meeting up with acquaintances and allies before convincing them to join Geralt's cause and defend the world from the transdimensional adversaries. There are 4 in total and each will take the witcher to different parts of the Northern Realms as well as Skellige. Many will involve helping the potential reinforcements in secondary quests or in other manners.
Thankfully, all are pretty straightforward, yet it can still be tricky to find all the best outcomes for the optimal fighting force at the final showdown. The best advice to gain the ideal boon from each meeting is to be as nice as possible, for Geralt can be a pretty generous guy.
Updated on September 18, 2021, by Reyadh Rahaman: Players seeking to complete these important quests will need to explore all over the expansive in-game world, however, the quests are usually marked clearly, so finding how to start them should not be too difficult if one checks their map.
Before setting off on any leg of these recruiting adventures, it is advised to check the recommended level so that one does not bite off more than they can chew, lest something preemptively returns the favor. For most of the Brothers in Arms quests, there are decent rewards to be gained, though, unfortunately, not all.
Brothers In Arms: Nilfgaard
Quest Overview
This branch of the Brothers in Arms quests will be unlocked after completing the quest "The Isle of Mists" and will take Geralt to the Royal Palace of Vizima, where he will meet up with a longtime acquaintance Emhyr Var Emreis, emperor of the Nilfgaardian Empire. Things will not go very well, regardless of what choices the player makes, due to Emhyr being most disagreeable and Geralt not yielding to the monarch's demands.
The witcher will walk away empty-handed from this exchange, though also gave Emhyr nothing. However, the player gets some insight into the relationship between the two strong characters and their motivations. This quest ends as Geralt's conversation with the emperor does.
Quest Information Breakdown
Type Of Information | Quest Information |
Regions | Temeria |
Locations | The Royal Palace in Vizima |
Suggested Level | Does not matter |
Rewards | Nothing |
Brothers In Arms: Novigrad
Quest Overview
After being unlocked following the completion of the main quest The Isle of Mists, this leg of Brothers in Arms involves Geralt meeting up with mostly old friends in the crowded city of Novigrad, some of who will agree to help him instantly. However, there are those who need some convincing as well as the witcher's aid. There are 4 people to talk with during this leg of the recruitment quests: Zoltan Chivay, Triss Merigold, Vernon Roche, and Dijkstra. After everyone is spoken to, the quest ends.
Speak To Zoltan
The agreeable dwarf will be more than happy to aid his old friend Geralt. Upon speaking to him and asking for his assistance, he'll be on board immediately. Furthermore, during a later part of the game, he will make available his blacksmithing services during his stay at Kaer Morhen prior to the epic battle.
Talk To Triss
Like Zoltan, Triss is a dear friend of Geralt's and will always help him, regardless of the result of other quests done prior to speaking with her in this one. All that needs to be done is have a conversation with her about the matter and she'll join Geralt at the final fight. It is possible to recruit her even before gaining this quest if one has completed the secondary one called "Now or Never", where one must aid Triss and potentially romance her.
Rally With Roche
This warrior will be a bit trickier to get on board, as he is having some trouble with his close friend, Ves. The only way Roche will pledge his aid to the witcher's cause is if he receives some in return. One must complete the quest "An Eye for an Eye", which Ves must survive, before Vernon will agree to help in the coming battle. For the effort one must put in, the game rewards the player with both Vernon and Ves as allies for completing this portion of the quest.
Deal With Dijkstra
Like the scumbag he is, Dijkstra will decline to aid Geralt, regardless of the help that the witcher gives him (if any). He will, however, possibly donate some finances to aid in preparations for the big battle. If the player has completed the secondary quest "Count Reuven's Treasure", and managed to gather solid intelligence about the loot from Caleb Menge, this can be mentioned to Dijkstra. When the large Redanian man hears this hot bit of information, he will give Geralt 1000 crowns as well as a few other items, though nothing more.
Quest Information Breakdown
Type Of Information | Quest Information |
Regions |
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Locations |
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Suggested Level | 22 |
Rewards | (Only obtainable if Djikstra helps Geralt)
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Brothers In Arms: Skellige
Quest Overview
This branch of the Brothers in Arms quest will also unlock after completing The Isle of Mists, and, as one would expect, the player will need to travel to the Skellige Islands to find and recruit these brave and bold allies. Some will pledge their allegiance willingly, however, some will not. The 4 characters that Geralt can speak to here are Ermion, Crach an Craite as well as Crach's two children: Hjalmar and Cerys. After speaking to them all, this quest will end.
Enter Ermion
This druid, sometimes called Mousesack, is another person whose history with Geralt goes way back. Without blinking, Ermion will agree to aid the witcher with no quest obligations put forth.
Chat With Crach
Initially, the jarl of Skellige won't help at all besides offering some words of encouragement. However, if the player helps both of his children in their respective quests, he will give Geralt an excellent steel sword name the Winter's Blade. While upon these isles, it would be good to take care of the "Coronation" quests to see the succession of Skellige's rule, as it pertains heavily to the characters that one is trying to recruit here.
Hang Out With Hjalmar
The young but mighty warrior will happily agree to aid Geralt against The Wild Hunt, regardless of the Coronation questline's outcome. However, one will need to find Hjalmar first, as he is off hunting down an ice giant on a neighboring island. The quest to track Hjalmar down and bring him back is called "The Lord of Undvik" and can be picked up from talking with Crach an Craite. It should be noted that Hjalmar will come with a couple of other allies if one rescues them during this secondary quest.
Speak With Cerys
The daughter of the Jarl will not be the most helpful, though she still must be spoken to in order to complete this leg of the Brother in Arms quest. Even if the player helps her in the quest "Possession", she will not go to Kaer Morhen herself, however, she will send her best warriors.
Quest Information Breakdown
Type Of Information | Quest Information |
Regions | Skellige |
Locations | Ard Skelling (and some small isles nearby) |
Suggested Level | 22 |
Rewards |
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Brothers In Arms: Velen
Quest Overview
Like the other branches of the Brothers in Arms quest, this one will unlock after completing The Isle of Mists, however, there is only one major ally to recruit in Velen, and it is the sorceress Keira Metz. The player must complete 4 quests (the latter 3 all get activated after completing the prerequisite one in the chain) in a series with her at the center of them all if one wants this powerful magic-using ally. Those quests, in order, are:
- An Invitation from Keira Metz (picked up at her home in Midcopse)
- A Towerful of Mice
- A Favor for a Friend
- For the Advancement of Learning
Following the final one, she will agree to help in the climactic battle. It should also be mentioned that Letho of Gullet, the enemy witcher from The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, can also be recruited as an ally if one did not kill him, though he is not a requirement to complete this section of the Brothers in Arms quest.
Quest Information Breakdown
Type Of Information | Quest Information |
Regions | Velen |
Locations | Velen |
Suggest Level | 22 |
Rewards | Depends on the individual quest rewards |