Table of Contents Show
High Stakes Walkthrough
This quest can be acquired via a notice posted on the Hierarch’s Square Notice board.
As with the other Gwent side-quests ‘High Stakes’ requires you to compete against and best a series of four increasingly difficult opponents. To begin this side-quest you’ll need to head to the Passiflora brothel in central Novigrad and speak to the Scribe on the ground floor.
Note: it’s a good idea to save before you attempt this side-quest (and between rounds) as if you lose a single match the quest will fail and you’ll be unable to acquire the rare Gwent cards held by the remaining players.
When you are ready to begin, chat with the Scribe and let him know that you want to enter the tournament. Fork over the 1,000 Crown entrance fee to continue.
Note: At this point you’ll earn 100XP.
Following the conversation with Sasha which triggers upon handing over the entrance fee, we’ll have a bit of time to burn. Make your way around the room and speak to each of the other tournament entrants – Patrick Hazelnutt, Bernard Tulle and Finneas.
Note: You’ll talk to Sasha a few times during the tournament. If you are nice to her all the way through and help her out you can complete the ‘full’ side-quest which will net you Crowns and the option for Geralt to have a bit of a sexy time later with her.
After speaking with the other competitors a scene will play after which you’ll need to play your first game.
Opponent 1: Bernard Tulle
Bernard Tulle plays with a Northern Realms deck and he has a large number of Spy cards in his deck that he’ll wheel out early on to get a large hand. It’s also likely that you’ll see several Medic cards used during your games with him, so be ready for any Spy cards you place on his side of the board or a high strength card or two to make a comeback at the time. He also has several hero cards including most of the Northern Realms heroes and the 15 Strength ‘Geralt of Rivia’ and ‘Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon’ cards. He’ll also usually use Scorch at least once in the match and also has the ‘Villentretenmerth’ card – so keep an eye on your front row strength values (and keep the total under 10) until he plays it. He’ll play mostly Siege level units and can put up Catapults with tight Bond. He’s also a big fan of Biting Frost.
Using the Northern Realms, you should be able to use your Decoy cards and Spy/Medic abilities to quickly gain some additional cards in your hand – if you play your cards right you should be able to keep up with his Spy placement with placements of your own to try and balance out your hand size with his. You’ll also want to try and get him to overcommit early so that you’ll be able to outlast him with your larger hand. He can be a weather man in the latter rounds so it’s a good idea (if you haven’t already) to switch your leader variant to Foltest with the ability to cast clear weather to help out if required.
Defeating Bernard Tulle will earn you one of the Northern Realm deck leader card variants ‘Foltest: The Steel-Forged’.
Note: For beating Bernard Tulle you’ll earn 25XP.
After winning the match, Sasha will approach you once again. Agree to meet her upstairs for another conversation before following her to the second floor balcony for a chat. After you have heard her out, return back to the common area for a scene where you’ll find out who to play in the second round.
Note: It’s a good idea to save at this point, so if you lose you can reload and try again.
Opponent 2: Madam Sasha
Sasha plays with a Nilfgaardian Empire deck and his deck has a focus on units consisting primarily of Medic, high strength unit and hero cards (including the 15 Strength ‘Geralt of Rivia’ card). She’ll use her Medic or Decoy cards to pinch and recycle any Spy cards that you play. The most bothersome aspect of Sasha’s strategy is that if she gets a good draw she has a LOT of Medic cards (including the ‘Yennefer of Vendenberg’ card) and will constantly use them to revive either discarded Medic cards, Tight Bond cards or high value strength cards to repopulate her side of the board – so be ready for that! She’ll for the most part load up her front row and use Commander’s Horn and ‘Dandelion’ to boost damage.
Compared to the first round, with a Northern Realms deck, the second round was much easier. Use plenty of Spy cards (she can’t medic/Decoy them all) and using some Tight Bond Units (Blue Stripes Commando + Catapults), Decoys and Medic cards, you should have no trouble overwhelming her. As always, it’s also a wise move to switch your leader variant to Foltest with the ability to cast clear weather to help out if you get in a bind in the later rounds.
Defeating Madam Sasha will earn you one of the Nilfgaardian Empire deck leader card variants ‘Emhyr: The Relentless’.
Note: For beating Madam Sasha you’ll earn 25XP.
At this point you’ll immediately be thrust into the next round of the tournament and will not be given the opportunity to save. Your third opponent is Finneas.
Opponent 3: Finneas
Finneas works with a Scoia’tael deck and his focus is primarily on overwhelming you with a combination of heroes, Muster cards and the medic ability. He has the full set of the ‘Havekar Smugglers’ which he’ll usually pull out early to try and grab the first roundand a few Medic cards to re-activate discarded cards. His deck is loaded with the majority of the Scoia’tael deck’s hero cards along with the ‘Milva’ card (10 Strength + Morale). He’ll also use Scorch at least once in the match and additionally has in his possession a ‘Villentretenmerth’ card – so as per usual keep an eye on your front row strength values (and keep the total under 10) until he plays it.
With a well-constructed Northern Realms deck featuring Heroes, some Tight Bond Units (Blue Stripes Commando + Catapults), Decoys and Spy/Medic cards, you should have no trouble outlasting him. As always, it’s also a wise move to switch your leader variant to Foltest with the ability to cast clear weather to help out if you get in a bind in the later rounds.
Defeating Finneas will earn you one of the Scoia’tael deck leader card variants ‘Francesca: Queen of Dol Blathanna’.
Note: For beating Finneas you’ll earn 25XP.
After defeating Finneas, he’ll immediately attack you and thus Geralt will find himself in the midst of a fist fight. Fend him off with a combination of dodging and heavy blows for another short scene/conversation after which you can attempt the final round of the tournament. Fortunately, you’ll be free to move around at this point and save if you wish.
Note: It’s a good idea to save at this point, so if you lose you can reload and try again.
When you are ready to go, speak with Count Tybalt to begin.
Opponent 4: Count Tybalt
Tybalt plays with a Monsters faction deck and he focuses on a combination of high strength Heroes and the Decoy and Muster ability. He the full set of Crones and Arachas Muster cards and will use them in an attempt to overwhelm you when he senses a round can go in his favour. His deck features most of the Monsters faction Heroes and some neutral ones including the 15 Strength ‘Geralt of Rivia’ card. He’ll use his large number of Decoys to remove and re-play any Spy cards that you place on his side of the table. His leader ability is to re-draw a discarded card and replay it – so watch out for a high value or useful abilitied card to make a comeback when he uses it. A good portion of his strategy is similar to Sasha’s – he’ll load up the front row and use Commander’s Horn and ‘Dandelion’ cards to boost damage.
However, despite his place at the end of the tournament I found that compared to the previous opponents (and to other Monster deck players in the game) Tybalt actually seemed to fall fairly easily. I found that the best strategy against him is to try to get him to use as many Musters as possible early on – use high level units and Decoys – especially if you have the ‘Villentretenmerth’ card (you can put it out after a Muster to destroy his front row, then use a Decoy to return it to your hand and push it out again after another Muster) to get him to overcommit in the first round. A Northern Real deck (which should be stacked with heroes, Medics and Tight Bond cards by now) should have little trouble against him.
Defeating Count Tybalt will earn you one of the Monsters deck leader card variants ‘Eredin: Bringer of Death’.
Note: At this point you’ll earn the “Gwent Master” achievement/trophy.
After defeating Count Tybalt a conversation will play out. Someone has stolen the prize money! You can either decline to help at which point the quest will end (with no reward!) or alternatively – agree to help track down the thief. Let’s do the latter! Once the chat has gone the distance, follow the guard up the stairs and he’ll take you to the scene of the crime.
After defeating Count Tybalt a conversation will play out. Someone has stolen the prize money! You can either decline to help at which point the quest will end (with no reward!) or alternatively – agree to help track down the thief. Let’s do the latter! Once the chat has gone the distance, follow the guard up the stairs and he’ll take you to the scene of the crime.
When you arrive Geralt will find himself in the midst of a new search area. Throw on your Witcher Sense and you can inspect the following:
- The body propped up against the left hand wall of the room.
- The drag marks by the door on the right side of the room.
- The Crossbow Bolt stuck in the wooden support on the terrace outside.
Following another brief chat, you’ll need to exit the Brothel and investigate another, smaller search area outside and behind the building. Activate Geralt’s Witcher Sense and you can inspect the following:
- The rope tied around the pillar by the fountain.
Once we have examined the Rope, a scent trail will appear whilst in Witcher Sense mode. Follow this along the road a short distance and up a small flight of stairs and it will lead you to a crate on the ground. Examine this to update your objectives.
Note: At this point you’ll earn 25XP.
We’ll now have a new point of interest to investigate. Check out your map and you’ll see that there is a new objective marker at the northern end of the Novigrad Docks. When you arrive, speak with Sasha to learn that the building of interest is locked and stuff. Time to find another way in.
Make your way around to the back of the building to find a conveniently placed stack of crates that we can use to jump up to a wooden ledge above. Once on the wooden platform, enter the building via the open window.
Drop down inside and make your way over to the group of NPCs standing around at the far end of the warehouse. After a brief conversation (both options will end the same way) you’ll find yourself in a fight.
There are 6-7 level 24-26 enemies in the warehouse who you’ll need to dispatch to continue. Fortunately, Sasha will team up with you at this point and she’s pretty handy with a sword. Use your normal techniques to deal with the enemies (or let Sasha handle them if you are a little under-levelled) and once they have all bit the dust a scene will play.
During the conversation you’ll be given two options. Both of which will end the side-quest but both will end it in slightly different ways. They include:
- “Invitation accepted.” – You’ll earn Geralt a sexy time in addition to a Crown reward.
- “Got other plans this evening.” – The quest will end and you’ll earn a Crown reward.
Either way you choose to complete the side-quest it will end at this point.
Note: For completing the side-quest you’ll earn 4,500 Crowns.