In “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” the secondary quest “The Cave of Dreams” provides players with a mix of thrilling combat and the exploration of inner fears, offering both a narrative depth and gameplay challenges. Located in the Skellige Isles, this quest can be unlocked once players complete the prerequisite quest, “Stranger in a Strange Land.” Here’s a detailed guide covering the quest’s walkthrough, strategies, and tips to maximize rewards.
The “Cave of Dreams” takes place in the scenic yet perilous region of Skellige, more specifically on the southwestern shore of Ard Skellig. This quest is closely tied to the storyline involving the character Blueboy Lugos and his infamous father, Madman Lugos. Given its intricacies and potential for rewards, players need to venture cautiously through this quest, ensuring they make strategic choices to gain the best possible outcomes.
Unlocking The Cave of Dreams
To unlock “The Cave of Dreams” quest, players can take two main approaches:
- Completing “Stranger in a Strange Land”: Upon completing this quest, Madman Lugos will direct players to his son, Blueboy Lugos, thus unlocking the Cave of Dreams.
- Direct Encounter: Players might also stumble upon Blueboy Lugos and his crew outside the Cave of Dreams, located near the southwestern shores of Ard Skellig, without having completed “Stranger in a Strange Land.”
However, players should be cautious as this quest becomes unavailable once the main quest “King’s Gambit” is initiated. Thus, timing is crucial to ensure it is not missed.
Quest Walkthrough
The quest flow is straightforward yet challenging, involving several distinct encounters that test both combat skill and mental fortitude. Below is a breakdown of the quest objectives and strategies:
| Objective | Details | Strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Meet Blueboy Lugos | Navigate to the marked location and converse with Blueboy. | Choose the right dialogue options or use Axii (Level 2) for additional XP (35-40 points). |
| Enter the Cave | Proceed into the cave with Blueboy and his crew. | Be prepared with inventory and potions as the cave is home to numerous threats. |
| Defeat Nekker Warriors | Four Nekker Warriors will confront the group. | Utilize crowd-control strategies and Silver Sword enhancements to manage the group effectively. Gain 25 XP upon victory. |
| Face Ghost Warriors | Specters representing Uve Jabberjaw’s fear must be defeated. | Charge aggressively to disrupt their fighting style and secure 50 XP after combating six ghost warriors. |
| Battle Spectral Sirens | Deal with Jorulf’s nightmarish sirens. | Two spectral sirens need elimination; defensive play and patience are key for another 50 XP. |
| Overcome Water Hag | Encounter a Water Hag en route to the next totem. | This fight can be avoided if speedily moving forward, but it’s recommended to engage for practice and consistency in battle flow. |
| Confront Madman Lugos | Defeat the fiery apparition of Madman Lugos. | Employ the Quen shield to protect against fire damage, and attack methodically to bring him down and gain 50 XP. |
| Final Battle with Eredin’s Specter | Face Eredin, the King of the Wild Hunt, and his Hounds. | Strike Eredin until his health reduces to one-third to trigger the end scene, receiving 80 XP. |
Maximizing Rewards
Concluding “The Cave of Dreams” quest also has a bearing on the monetary rewards you receive. Here’s a breakdown to ensure players obtain the maximum benefits:
- If approached directly or with a reference from Madman Lugos: Upon completion, Blueboy Lugos will pay Geralt 80 Crowns coupled with bonus experiences due to the pre-established rapport, especially if no prior payment was negotiated.
- If encountered independently or entering via “Stranger in a Strange Land”: Depending on how players approach Blueboy (either admitting the indebtedness or not), they receive variable rewards. Choosing to decline payment after expressing a debt repayment attitude ensures a lasting positive relationship and esteem with Clan Drummond, though missing some immediate monetary gain.
Tactics and Strategies
Effective approaches to “The Cave of Dreams” can heighten both the efficiency of clearing this quest and maximizing its yield in experience and resources:
- Quen Sign Mastery: Specifically against Madman Lugos, maintain Quen active to mitigate sustained fire damage during the battle.
- Aard and Axii Usage: Utilize Aard or Axii to control tougher groups of enemies or displace crucial targets. This is particularly useful in encounters with the larger packs of Nekker warriors or when facing the ghost warriors.
- Dodging and Mobility: Throughout the quest, many encounters present multiple enemies with unique movements and attack styles. Emphasizing agility and dodging can pivot battles in your favor against specters and heavy hitters.
Is The Quest Worth Completing?
While the rewards of the “Cave of Dreams” may seem modest concerning the prospective dangers, completing this quest is a worthy venture for completionists and those interested in the narrative depths of the Witcher universe. This quest doesn’t greatly impact Geralt’s progression in a direct sense through loot or experience. However, it grants insights into the psyche of those you temporarily align with and grants deeper contextual lore significance in the dynamic socio-political landscape of Skellige.
Nevertheless, for those pursuing a lean gameplay style focusing on quests with substantive rewards and benefits on progression, the “Cave of Dreams” might be deferred in favor of other parallel quests with tangible gear or skill advancements.
Thus, players eager to explore Geralt’s inner fears and gain a decorated completion log will find “The Cave of Dreams” an immersive task, while others may consider it an enriching, albeit optional, chapter within ‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’.
In summary, the multi-layered nature of “The Cave of Dreams” and the decisions within can ripple fascinating angles across the storyline and shed light on characters you’ll interact with throughout the campaign, offering substantial, albeit indirect, benefits.
