The Battle of Kaer Morhen in The Witcher 3: Allies, Council Choices and Full Walkthrough
Witcher 3 Battle of Kaer Morhen: which allies come, potions or traps, wall or armory, how to close the portals, and every phase of the fight.
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Updated October 2026. The Battle of Kaer Morhen is the turning point of The Witcher 3: you finally have Ciri, and the Wild Hunt comes for her at the witchers' keep. How it goes depends on two things you decide long before the first sword is drawn: which allies you recruited in the Brothers in Arms quests, and what you choose at the council. The battle itself is a long chain of fights with one rule that saves the most time: bring dimeritium bombs or Yrden for the portals.
Quick answer
Before it starts: finish Berengar's Blade (it fails at the council) and recruit allies in the Brothers in Arms quests before The Isle of Mists.
Council choice 1: potions (Superior Swallow for everyone) or traps in the courtyards.
Council choice 2: use the tools to patch the wall (one fewer enemy wave at the end) or clear the armory (better weapons and a silver sword).
In the battle: close every Wild Hunt portal with a dimeritium bomb or the Yrden sign, then kill the warriors around it.
Before the Battle: What Decides How It Goes
The quest starts right after The Isle of Mists, when Geralt and Ciri teleport to Kaer Morhen. Three things are set before you fight:
| What | When you decide it | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Allies | Brothers in Arms quests in Velen, Novigrad and Skellige, before The Isle of Mists | More fighters at Kaer Morhen. The Nilfgaard version brings no allies. Some people (Dijkstra, Crach, Cerys) send money or gear instead of coming. |
| Letho | Back in Imperial Audience (what you told Voorhis) and Ghosts of the Past | If you said Letho was dead, he can't come. See our Letho guide. |
| Berengar's Blade | Before the council | This side quest fails if it isn't finished when the council starts. |
Once you reach Kaer Morhen, fast travel and Roach are disabled for the start of the quest. Stock up on potions, oils and especially dimeritium bombs before you go to The Isle of Mists.
The Council: Two Choices
Enter the keep to start the council. Yennefer greets you; Triss's reaction depends on your romance (see our romance guide). Greet the allies on the way in; Keira sells items and Zoltan, if he came, can craft. Then you plan the defense.
| Choice | Option | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Potions | Everyone gets Superior Swallow; plus Fortified Rafard's Decoction if you finished Following the Thread. |
| Preparation | Traps | Traps go into the courtyards and go off when the Hunt walks in. |
| Tools | Patch the wall | The final stand has one fewer enemy wave. |
| Tools | Clear the armory | Opens an area with a silver sword and gives everyone stronger weapons. |
The Battle of Kaer Morhen Walkthrough
1. The Woods with Lambert
Go out with Lambert to meet the Hunt in the forest west of the keep. Three portals open there. Close each one with a dimeritium bomb or the Yrden sign, then kill the warriors near it. An optional cave has an arachas that Lambert lures out. Then Imlerith shows up, and your signal flare to Triss fails.
2. Ciri and Triss on the Battlements
Control switches to Ciri. Clear the roofs and get to Triss. Back as Geralt, Triss calls down fire on the attackers, and you ride back to the castle on Roach.
3. The Main Gate and the Courtyard
- On Vesemir's signal, pull the lever and close the main gate, then help Lambert.
- Fall back to the middle courtyard, beat the enemies there and retreat behind the main gate.
- Reach Triss and help her fight off Caranthir's warriors.
- Ciri goes looking for Eskel. You save Eskel and face Caranthir, who pulls back when a horn sounds.
4. The Inner Courtyard
Open the gate to the inner courtyard with the wooden wheel. Two more portals: close them with bombs or Yrden (you can take dimeritium bombs from Vesemir's supplies if you're out). Then help Triss at the inner courtyard gate.
5. The End of the Battle
Yennefer weakens and the gates open. Vesemir is killed by Imlerith. Ciri's grief turns into a blast of uncontrolled power that nearly wipes out the Hunt's army and forces them to retreat. Avallac'h appears, and Ciri collapses. Afterwards, the survivors bury Vesemir and plan their next move. The story continues in Blood on the Battlefield.
Combat Tips
- Suggested level is around 24. The Wild Hunt warriors hit hard; keep Quen up.
- Close portals first: they keep spawning enemies until you do.
- Fight with your back to allies. Our combat tips cover dodging and countering groups.
Rewards and What's Next
| Quest | Reward | Leads to |
|---|---|---|
| The Battle of Kaer Morhen | Several XP rewards along the way, plus whatever the armory gives if you cleared it | Blood on the Battlefield |
How you treat Ciri after this battle shapes the ending; see our Witcher 3 endings guide. For the keep itself, see our Kaer Morhen guide.
Video: The Battle of Kaer Morhen
Frequently Asked Questions
QPotions or traps at the council?
Both are fine. Potions give everyone Superior Swallow (plus Fortified Rafard's Decoction if you did Following the Thread); traps hit the Hunt in the courtyards. Neither changes the story.
QPatch the wall or clear the armory?
Patching the wall removes one enemy wave at the end. Clearing the armory gives better weapons and a silver sword. Pick the one you prefer; the story stays the same.
QHow do I close the Wild Hunt portals?
Throw a dimeritium bomb at the portal or cast Yrden next to it, then kill the warriors around it.
QWho can help at the Battle of Kaer Morhen?
The allies you recruited in the Brothers in Arms quests in Velen, Novigrad and Skellige before The Isle of Mists.
QCan you save Vesemir?
No. Vesemir dies in every playthrough.
QWhat quest fails at Kaer Morhen?
Berengar's Blade, if it isn't finished before the council.
Before this: The Isle of Mists. More: all Witcher 3 quests.
Sources: in-game quest text and journal; steps, council choices and allies checked against the Witcher Wiki and Fextralife pages for The Battle of Kaer Morhen. Screenshots: gameplay frames from YouTube walkthroughs.
Kai Mercer covers game news, free games, release calendars and guides for xGamerss.
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