Hunting a Witch in The Witcher 3: Where the Midcopse Witch Lives, the Husband Choice and Keira's Portal
Witcher 3 Hunting a Witch: who to ask in Midcopse, pay or Axii the husband, the trail to the witch's hut, the skull portal and meeting Keira Metz.
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Updated October 2026. Hunting a Witch is one of the two leads from Hendrik's notes in The Nilfgaardian Connection. The notes say Ciri had a run-in with a witch who lives near Midcopse, but not where. You have to get it out of the villagers, and the witch turns out to be an old friend: Keira Metz. It's a short quest that opens Keira's whole storyline in Velen.
Quick answer
Find the witch: ask in Midcopse during the day. The old man with the pipe at the west entrance tells you right away, or you can pay, Axii or follow the woman's husband.
The trail: go north from the village along the pond, past the big rock and the abandoned cart (watch for nekkers), to the witch's hut.
The portal: the witch isn't home. Search the hut with your Witcher Senses and touch the skull to open a portal to her hidden cave.
Next: Keira takes you to an elven mage who asked about Ciri. That's Wandering in the Dark.
Hunting a Witch Walkthrough
1. Ask Around in Midcopse
Go to Midcopse in daylight. At night most villagers are asleep and won't talk. You have three ways to learn where the witch lives:
| Who | Where | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Old man with a pipe | Near the western entrance | The fastest option: he tells you where the witch lives. |
| Women gossiping | By the well | Listen from a distance. They go quiet if you walk up to them. |
| Woman sweeping | Near the well | She sends you to her husband, who visited the witch for his bad back. He is behind the house. |
2. The Husband (Optional)
The husband doesn't want to talk. You can:
| Option | Result |
|---|---|
| Pay him 50 crowns | He gives you the trail. |
| Use Axii (needs the Delusion skill at level 2) | He gives you the trail, and you get a small XP bonus. More on Axii in our Signs guide. |
| End the conversation | He leaves the village. Follow him: five nekkers attack him on the way. Save him and he tells you the way for free. |
Whichever way you get the directions, he warns you about witch hunters in the area and asks you not to hurt the witch.
3. Follow the Trail to the Hut
Go north out of the village and follow the road along the pond to its northwest tip. Just past it there is a large rock. Take the path on the right to an abandoned cart. Usually a group of nekkers is there, so be ready to fight (our combat tips for beginners help if they surround you). The witch's hut is straight down the path.
4. Search the Witch's Hut
A line of villagers waits outside for the witch's help. She sends them away for the day, but you can walk straight in. The hut is empty. Use your Witcher Senses: you find ointment, candles, books, robes, a chalk pentagram and a skull with symbols on it. Touch the skull. It glows and opens a portal.
5. Meet Keira Metz
The portal takes you to a hidden cave full of grass, trees and rabbits. Walk to the building in the middle, and Keira calls you up the stairs. She tells you that a masked elven mage came asking about Ciri, and she wants you to bring him to her if you find Ciri. She offers to take you to him: he is hiding in elven ruins in the wilderness northwest of Byways. Go with her now or agree to meet her there. Either way, Hunting a Witch ends.
What Comes Next
| Quest | What it is |
|---|---|
| Wandering in the Dark | Keira takes you to the elven ruins to find the mage. Next main quest in this chain. |
| A Towerful of Mice | Keira's side quest on Fyke Isle. One of the most played side quests in Velen. |
| For the Advancement of Learning | Another quest for Keira, later in her story. |
| Bloody Baron and Family Matters | The other lead from Hendrik's notes. You can do it before or after Keira. |
For everything about Keira, including where her story ends, see our Keira Metz guide.
Video: Hunting a Witch
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhere is the witch in Hunting a Witch?
North of Midcopse. Follow the road along the pond to its northwest tip, take the path on the right past the big rock and the abandoned cart, and the hut is straight ahead.
QWho is the witch of Midcopse?
Keira Metz, the sorceress from earlier Witcher games. She has been helping the villagers while hiding from witch hunters.
QShould I pay the husband or use Axii?
Axii is free and gives a small XP bonus, but it needs the Delusion skill at level 2. If you don't have it, end the conversation and follow him: saving him from the nekkers gets you the directions without paying.
QHow do I get into the witch's cave?
Search the hut with your Witcher Senses and touch the skull with the symbols on it. It opens a portal.
QWhy won't the villagers in Midcopse talk to me?
It's probably night. Most of them are asleep and won't answer. Come back during the day.
QWhat quest comes after Hunting a Witch?
Wandering in the Dark, where Keira takes you to the elven mage who was asking about Ciri.
Before this: The Nilfgaardian Connection. More: all Witcher 3 quests.
Sources: in-game quest text and journal; steps and options checked against the Witcher Wiki and Fextralife pages for Hunting a Witch. Screenshots: gameplay frames from YouTube walkthroughs.
Kai Mercer covers game news, free games, release calendars and guides for xGamerss.
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