Map Legend

These are important geographical locations and Fast Travel points.

Every important quest type that appears in your Quest menu is flagged with these icons. Note that Hidden Treasure Hunt Quests are listed under “Chests”.

Main Quest

A critical path Main Quest begins at this point.

Secondary Quest

An optional Secondary Quest begins at this point.

Contracts

An optional monster hunt can begin at this point. This is usually the location of the quest giver, though most of these quests can be started by stumbling into the monster’s territory.

Gwent Quest

An optional Secondary Quest related to the card game Gwent begins at this point.

Fistfight

An optional bout of fisticuffs is available here.

Horse Race

An optional race on horseback can occur at this point.

Scavenger Hunts

(Also known as treasure hunts). An optional treasure hunt to find diagrams for fabled arms and armor of the witcher schools is available here (this isn’t a starting point, as these quests can begin at any diagram stash).

Epilogue

One of the game’s endings begins at this point.

A wooden board, usually found within a settlement, with a variety of notes. You can find (and start) some Secondary, Contract, and Gwent quests by reading the missives here.

A variety of interesting areas not immediately obvious include the landscapes. They are divided into the following:

Smuggler’s Cache

A small item, sometimes valuable, hidden inside a chest or a bundle.

Bandit Camp

A (usually) small encampment with human-sized foes who are almost always hostile. If you wish to wet your steel blade, venture here.

Person in Distress

A citizen, usually caged and in despair. Free them and they head to a particular location (also indicated).

Abandoned Settlement

A location, sometimes in disrepair, that may have been overrun by monsters. This can also refer to stationary merchants you might wish to speak to after clearing the vicinity of enemies.

Dwelling of Interest

An unmarked location, sometimes a place of business, that you can visit, such as a tavern or local landmark in a city.

Spoils of War

Usually the site of a battle, and now usually pockmarked with bodies of the fallen. Explore these areas for valuables.

Place of Power

An important stone of magic that increases a particular ability. The Sign of the Place of Power is indicated, as well.

Monster Nest

A disgusting collection of spittle, rocks, branches, or other detritus. A Samum, Dancing Star or Grapeshot bomb are required to destroy these nests.

Magic Lamp

These are areas where ghosts are known to have been seen. Produce the Magic Lamp given to you by Keira Metz to uncover more at these points.

Gwent Player

Expect a game of Gwent at this location. However, these are rarely seen, as most traders (see “Merchants and Repairs” below) make up almost all of the Gwent players in the lands; so look for them instead.

Gwent Card Purchase Location

Expect to purchase a Gwent card at this location. As with Gwent Players, these sellers may not always be available, so you may wish to buy what they have as soon as possible.

Guarded Treasure

Expect treasure guarded by an enemy or monsters here. The type of enemy is listed.

If you require a boat to sail the waterways of the realms, simply look for this icon.

Interact with the following traders and obtain a variety of services and enhancements. Then check to see if they play Gwent; almost all do.

Armorer

These traders specialize in making protective equipment from materials salvaged in the field, as well as in selling basic equipment. If they have the skill to follow diagrams you bring to them, for a fee and for the materials required, an Armorer can make what you request. These smiths can sell equipment diagrams as well.

Blacksmith

These traders focus entirely on the sales and creation of weaponry. For your purposes, this means steel swords, silver swords, and crossbows. As with armorer, the blacksmith’s individual skill determines what diagrams they can craft from. Blacksmiths may also sell equipment diagrams.

Alchemist

Alchemists specialize in selling the materials required for Alchemy, one of the most important skills at your disposal.

Innkeeper

Expect a variety of consumable goods.

Barber

Feel free to change the appearance of Geralt’s beard and flowing locks at any of these establishments.

Herbalist

Instead of exploring the wilderness for wild flowers, mushrooms, or berries (and any other type of ingredient), feel free to purchase them here, instead.

Whetstone

Whetstones are often found near ‘smithies or workbenches. Whetstones provide a temporary increase to the effectiveness of your equipped weapons but they do not repair durability loss. If you’re going on a tough hunt, it helps to know where whetstones can be found.

Workbench

Workbenches are similar in function to whetstones. If you use them, they provide a temporary increase to the protection your armor affords. They do not restore lost durability.

Merchant

A wide variety of goods can be found here, from rare books to swords, equipment, Gwent cards, foodstuffs, and many other trinkets.

Merchant Rest and Path

Some merchants wander the roads, plying their wares. They tend to use the paths shown, and rest where indicated.

Brothel

If you fancy an evening (or even a morning) of companionship, feel free to visit one of the two knocking shops in Novigrad.

Gathering valuable items is extremely important during your adventure, and this guide details the (random) quality of the treasure you should expect to find:

Good Chest

Expect reasonably valuable (random) items in this type of chest.

Better Chest

Expect better, more valuable (random) loot.

Relic Chest

An extremely valuable relic is found in this chest.

Treasure Hunt Chest

Loot from the witcher school is found here.

Quest Chest

This chest is utilized in a specific quest. The loot itself is not required to complete the quest. Such chests may also be accessible when this quest isn’t active, but it’s usually advisable to find them during a quest that takes you to this location. Check the quest you are on to see if the location is mentioned.

Hidden Treasure Quest: Key and Chest

Some chests can only be opened with a key. Keys might be concealed in lootable areas or on the corpses of the fallen along with clues to read. These chests are are part of short Hidden Treasure Quests.

It is well worth checking each map area for these two icons—which show the locations of dungeons within a realm—instead of stumbling into a cavern without the knowledge of the monsters that prowl within. If a dungeon’s interior is larger than a house, a map is also included so you can gauge the size of the dungeon you’re about to explore.