The world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is known for its twists and turns when it comes to its storyline. It's one of the games where players have an astounding amount of freedom with their choices and decisions in the narrative. Even side quests offer players the opportunity to get multiple endings based on their choices. One of such quests is the 'Wine Wars' side questline in the 'Blood and Wine'.
Based on their decisions, players can play through and get multiple endings in this quest. One of such paths is found during the 'Wine Wars: Deus In The Machina' side quest. To play this quest, players need to make certain choices and play certain routes before this quest is triggered.
Updated on October 6, 2021 by Talha Bin Rizwan:The Witcher 3 is full of engaging side quests that have players engaged for hours. These quests range from simple fetch quests to elaborate ones requiring players to put their thinking caps on. Most of the side quests players encounter will be straightforward, but they will come across certain quests that may have multiple endings based on the choices players make. The 'Wine Wars: Dues In The Machina' side quest, found in the Blood And Wine DLC is one such quest. To trigger this quest, players will need to have made some particular decisions and play another side quest to a certain point.
How To Start The Quest
To start the quest, players first need to play the 'Wine Wars: Belgaard' side quest up until they meet Liam and Matilda. They will find out both individuals want the Belgaard vineyard, but the Ducal Clerk will not let either party buy it. Players need to talk to Liam and Matilda, start both of their quests and find both copies of the 'Orders On Elegant Stationery' to begin the quest. One copy is found on Liam's vineyard, and the other on Matilda's.
Wine Wars: Coronata
Before players can start the Deus In The Machina side quest, they need to clear both Liam's and Matilda's vineyards of their problems. Players will face a group of Archespores, some Cave Trolls, and a group of bandits. Players can use Cursed Oil and Igni against the Archespores to give themselves an advantage. Similarly, Ogre Oil is effective against trolls. When players get to the Guarded Treasure, they will find a corpse that has one of the copies of the 'Orders On Elegant Stationery'. This is a required item in order to trigger the Deus In The Machina quest. Players will need to read this copy and then finish the rest of the objectives of the Wine Wars: Coronata quest.
How To Defeat Monsters At The Vineyard
Players will face three different kinds of enemies during this side quest that can be a bit difficult to deal with for less experienced players. These enemies can be challenging but with some careful planning and utilizing the right items, players can give themselves an edge against them.
- Players will mostly deal with Archespores throughout the Deus In The Machina quest. These are cursed plants that often appear in a small group and can quickly ambush players. They have a powerful ranged attack that also poisons players, draining their health over time, and they deploy pods that explode when players get closer. Moreover, they use these pods to move from one place to another. To defeat them, players must be quick on their feet and roll out of the way once they see an attack coming. The Igni sign or the Dancing Star bomb will set the Archespores on fire immobilizing them briefly and causing damage over time. However, once it's on fire, the Archespore will relocate dousing the flames so players will have to attack quickly after using Igni and the bomb. They can also use Cursed Oil to deal more damage per hit.
- The Rock Trolls pack a deadly punch and can easily drain the players' health bar in just a few hits. They are naturally armored which means players won't be able to flank them and facing them head-on will be their only option. The trolls have a slow attack which can allow players to roll out of the way. Their attacks cannot be parried which means players will have to use Quen to block out any incoming damage. To make matters easier for them, players can use Ogroid Oil to give themselves a boost to their attacks.
Wine Wars: Vermentino
Matilda gives players the Wine Wars: Vermentino side quest which plays out similar to the Coronata side quest. During the course of the quest, players will face Archespores, some Rotfiends, and a group of Bandits. Players can use Cursed Oil against the Archespores, and Necrophage Oil against the Rotfiends. Archespores have a deadly poison attack and Rotfiends explode when killed, so players need to be quick on their feet.
When players arrive at the Guarded Treasure, they will be greeted by a group of Archespores. Players need to dispatch them and loot the corpse to get 'Orders On Elegant Stationery' and a 'Heavy Brass Key'. If players have not found the other copy of the orders on Liam's vineyard, then they need to acquire them. The Deus In The Machina quest will start when players read both copies of the orders.
How To Defeat Rotfiends
Rotfiends are necrophages typically found in the deep wilds and sites littered with decomposing bodies. They roam in packs and share many similarities to Drowners except that they explode once their health has been depleted to a certain point. The Rotfiends will appear to have spasms and then explode damaging anything caught in its explosion radius, including other enemies. However, if the Rotfiends die while being burned, then the explosion will not trigger. Another way to defeat Rotfiends without causing them to explode is to use a downed finisher on it. A powered-up Aard sign can be used to down a Rotfiend. Using Necrophage Oil adds a damage bonus against the Rotfiends, but they can be killed without it.
Finding Proof Of Sabotage
The game sends players to a farmhouse in the south-eastern part of Toussaint, east of Tesham Mutna ruins. Players need to enter using the key they found at the Vermentino Vineyard. Not long after when players start to explore the building, an Archespore will appear and attack the player.
By now players will know how to deal with Archespores pretty well so dealing with this one will be easy. Once it's dealt with, players can resume their investigation and find a chest. Inside they will find a 'Stocktaking Report' which ascertains that both Vermentino and Coronata vineyards had been sabotaged. With this proof in hand, players can then return to Liam and Matilda to share what they have learned.
Exposing The Sabotage
Once players have the proof they need, they will travel back to Liam and Matilda and share what they have discovered. The pair will be happy that their vineyards are clear of problems. They will also be relieved that neither party was responsible for problems in the other's vineyard.
The Ducal Clerk will then give the Belgaard Vineyard to both Liam and Matilda who will share it happily. Players will be given the rewards for completing the 'Wine Wars: Coronata' and 'Wine Wars: Vermentino' and the additional reward for completing Deus In The Machina.
The Aftermath
Once the Belgaard Vineyard has been handed over to Liam and Matilda, the pair will thank the player for their efforts. They will ask the player to come back after 3 days when they will have a reward for them. Upon doing so, the pair gifts players with a bottle of rare wine. Players will have the option of naming the wine as thanks for their help. Liam and Matilda also promise to deliver the wine to Corvo Bianco regularly afterward as well.
Once the conversation ends, the quest is completed. This route yields the best ending for the Wine Wars side quest. All parties are happy, players get the most rewards and the sabotage is exposed. Afterward, Liam and Matilda will ask players to get rid of some problems in the Belgaard Vineyard. This quest plays similar to the ones that players undertake for Liam and Matilda. There are a few differences when it comes to monsters, but otherwise, it is more or less similar.