The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is rife with intriguing quests that challenge both the player’s skills and morals. One such quest is “The Phantom of Eldberg,” a witcher contract set in the gloomy region of Skellige. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough of the quest, covering various methods of initiation, objectives, combat strategies, and how to obtain a double reward.
How to Unlock Contract: The Phantom of Eldberg
“The Phantom of Eldberg” can be unlocked in several ways, providing significant flexibility in starting the quest:
- Picking up the notice titled Contract: The Phantom of Eldberg from the notice board in Arinbjorn.
- Directly speaking to Jorund in the tavern of Arinbjorn.
- Investigating the designated area of the quest near Eldberg Lighthouse.
- Defeating Madman Lugos in a fistfight during the quest “The King is Dead – Long Live the King.” This act will trigger the contract.
Note that this contract is neither missable nor failable, ensuring that players can complete it at any time during their adventure in Skellige.
Quest Walkthrough and Objectives
Upon initiating the quest, follow these primary steps to complete the contract:
- Talk to Jorund: Head inside the tavern at Arinbjorn and converse with Jorund to get details about the ghostly apparition on Eldberg Isle.
- Locate Mikkjal: Travel to the isle of Eldberg and find the lighthouse keeper, Mikkjal.
- Investigate the Lighthouse: Use Geralt’s Witcher Senses to examine markings and the surroundings at the lighthouse.
- Discover the Letter: Enter the lighthouse and find a letter on the second floor. This letter reveals critical information about the haunting.
- Face the Penitent: Return to Mikkjal and prepare to survive against the penitent. Assist Mikkjal in lighting the fire at the lighthouse to weaken the spectral foe.
- Defeat the Penitent: With the lighthouse lit, engage and kill the penitent. Once defeated, return to Jorund to report your success.
Combat Tips and Strategies
The Penitent
The penitent is a powerful wraith, requiring specific strategies to defeat:
- Specter Oil: Apply Specter Oil to your silver sword before engaging the penitent, as this will enhance your damage against wraiths.
- Yrden Sign: Use the Yrden sign to force the penitent into a corporeal form, making it easier to hit.
- Moon Dust Bomb: Throw a Moon Dust bomb to prevent the penitent from turning invisible. This bomb is also effective against regular wraiths that you might encounter.
Dealing with Wraiths
While traversing Eldberg Isle and the lighthouse, you will encounter several wraiths:
- Specter Oil and Yrden: The same strategy used for the penitent applies here. Specter Oil and Yrden are indispensable when dealing with wraiths.
- Dodging and Parrying: Wraiths have swift attacks. Utilize dodging and parrying to minimize damage taken.
Critical Plot Points and Decisions
Upon investigating the lighthouse and discovering Mikkjal’s dark secret through the letter, you face pivotal moments:
- Confronting Mikkjal: Mikkjal reveals that he failed his duty as a lighthouse keeper, leading to the shipwrecks and haunts. Confronting him will lead to a decision to either spare him or push him to do the right thing.
- The Final Battle: Your confrontation with the penitent will hinge on your strategy. Encouraging Mikkjal to light the lighthouse fire provides you with a significant advantage in combat.
Receiving Rewards
Upon successfully defeating the penitent and resolving the haunting of Eldberg Isle, proceed back to Jorund for your reward:
| Reward Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Gold | 184 Crowns (or more if you haggled for a higher reward) |
| Experience | 260 XP |
| Items | None |
Double Reward Option
To obtain a double reward, approach the quest in the following manner:
- Complete the sequence as usual, ensuring you light the lighthouse and kill the penitent.
- After receiving the reward from Jorund, make sure you have not completed the “King’s Gambit” quest.
- If “King’s Gambit” is incomplete, initiate it and progress until you fight with Kori and Kraki. During this fight, you’ll be knocked out, resulting in Jorund’s death.
- Following Jorund’s demise, a new quest titled “Stranger in a Strange Land” will begin. This new quest may offer additional rewards as compensation for the conflict resolution and loss of the original quest-giver.
Optional Activities and Grinding
If you’re interested in optimizing your time and resource collection while on Eldberg Isle, consider the following tips:
Wraith Grinding
Near Mikkjal’s house, wraiths respawn frequently. This is an excellent opportunity to farm valuable materials:
- Infused Dust
- Specter Dust
- Amethyst Dust
- Emerald Dust
These materials sell well and are crucial for crafting glyphs, which you’ll need later in the game. Spending even an hour grinding wraiths can yield substantial resources and financial benefits.
Gwent Opportunities
Arinbjorn offers opportunities for Gwent enthusiasts:
- Innkeeper’s Cards: Before leaving the tavern, buy the Gwent cards from the innkeeper, including:
- “Thaler” Spy Card
- “Crone: Whispess” Muster Card
- “Fiend” Close Combat Card
- “Arachas” Muster Card
Conclusion
“The Phantom of Eldberg” quest in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt provides a comprehensive blend of investigative work, combat, and moral choices. Successfully navigating the quest not only leads to tangible rewards in terms of gold and experience but also offers the potential for a unique double reward through the “King’s Gambit” questline.
Whether to confront Mikkjal with empathy or stern justice, exploit the respawn mechanics for profitable farming, or indulge in Gwent, this contract is packed with engaging tasks and strategic decisions that enrich the overall gaming experience. Utilizing this guide ensures an efficient and rewarding completion of “The Phantom of Eldberg.”
