Bald Mountain in The Witcher 3: The Defier's Oren, How to Beat Imlerith and the Magic Acorn
Witcher 3 Bald Mountain: the Defier's Oren, Fugas, Ciri vs the Crones, both phases of the Imlerith fight, and the magic acorn for 2 skill points.
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Updated October 2026. Bald Mountain is the first quest of Act III and your chance to pay Imlerith back for Kaer Morhen. He is the guest of honor at the Crones' sabbath in Velen, and you and Ciri crash the party. Getting in takes a dive for a cursed coin, the fight against Imlerith has two phases, and at the very end there's a reward many players walk away from: a magic acorn worth two skill points.
Quick answer
Getting in: Thecla only lets Geralt pass if he brings back the Defier's Oren from the lake. A Killer Whale potion helps.
Split up: Ciri fights the Crones, Geralt goes up to face Imlerith.
Imlerith: roll behind him while he has his shield. At about a third of his health he drops it; burn his frost armor with Igni and keep Quen up.
Don't leave early: stay after the fight and loot Imlerith for a magic acorn. Eat it yourself for 2 skill points.
Bald Mountain Walkthrough
1. The Village at the Foot of the Mountain
The quest starts right after Blood on the Battlefield. Follow the footprints up the path to a guard and the elder Stregomir, who tells you about the sabbath and the magic acorns and points you to Thecla. You pass two merchants and a blacksmith on the way.
2. Thecla and the Defier's Oren
Johnny (and Sarah, if you sent her away in Novigrad Dreaming) warns Geralt that he's too old to meet the Ladies. Thecla accepts Ciri but turns Geralt away, unless he brings back the Defier's Oren from the lake. Drink a Killer Whale potion to stay under longer (see our potions guide), kill the two drowners and dive for the coin. A fiend sits near the cave exit; it ignores you unless you get close. Give the coin to Thecla.
3. Fugas and Rock-Paper-Scissors
Marica opens the gates, which lock behind you. Fugas lets Ciri in but attacks when he sees the Oren. Relict oil works on him; watch out for his burning attacks. Ciri can hold him off alone if you stay back. Then a little rock-paper-scissors scene decides who fights whom: Geralt wins, so Ciri takes the Crones.
4. Ciri vs the Crones
As Ciri, jump down the waterfall and swim to the Crones. They change into their true forms and attack. Use blink to close the distance, and save the charge attack mostly for the Brewess. They hit hard, so keep her health up. Two Crones die; Weavess escapes, taking Vesemir's medallion with her.
Before you jump down the waterfall: it's a point of no return. The Crones' cave holds a chest with the Forgotten Vran sword and up to two diagrams, plus crafting materials, so loot it while you can.
5. Up to the Peak
Activate the Place of Power for Quen on the way, then follow the rocky path to the top.
How to Beat Imlerith
| Phase | What he does | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Shield phase | Blocks with a huge shield and staggers you after two or three hits | Use your silver sword. Roll behind him and hit his back; dodge away after two or three strikes. |
| At about 33% health | Drops the shield, wraps himself in frost and starts teleporting and swinging his mace | Burn the frost armor with Igni. Keep Quen up (Active Shield and Exploding Shield are ideal). Hit him when his mace slams into the ground and he pauses. |
| At about 5% | A cutscene plays | Geralt finishes him. |
Tawny Owl (the superior version at night) keeps your stamina up for signs.
After the Fight: The Magic Acorn
Ciri talks to Geralt and you choose whether to stay or leave right away.
| Choice | Result |
|---|---|
| Stay | You can loot Imlerith's body for a magic acorn. Eat it right away for 2 skill points. |
| Leave right away | You lose the acorn and its 2 skill points. |
| Give the acorn to the villagers | You lose the 2 skill points. Better to use it yourself. |
Then you travel to Novigrad, where your friends are waiting at Dandelion's inn. Bald Mountain ends and Final Preparations begins.
Video: Bald Mountain
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhere is the Defier's Oren?
At the bottom of the lake near Thecla. Kill the two drowners and follow the objective marker down. A Killer Whale potion helps.
QHow do I beat Imlerith?
Roll behind him while he uses his shield. When he drops it at about a third of his health, burn his frost armor with Igni and keep Quen up. Attack when his mace hits the ground.
QWhere is the magic acorn?
On Imlerith's body. Choose to stay after the fight, loot him, and eat the acorn yourself for 2 skill points.
QCan I save the Crones' loot for later?
No. Jumping down the waterfall is a point of no return. Loot the Crones' cave chest first.
QWhat happens to the third Crone?
Weavess escapes with Vesemir's medallion. The Crones' story continues later.
QWhat quest comes after Bald Mountain?
Final Preparations, in Novigrad.
Before this: Blood on the Battlefield. More: Ladies of the Wood (where the Crones first appear) and all Witcher 3 quests.
Sources: in-game quest text and journal; steps, the Imlerith fight and the magic acorn checked against the Witcher Wiki page for Bald Mountain. Screenshots: gameplay frames from YouTube walkthroughs by Awinloo, Lido Spartan and Lu Bu Feng Xian.
Kai Mercer covers game news, free games, release calendars and guides for xGamerss.
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