The Witcher 4 Wiki: Bestiary, Potions, Gwent & Quests Guide

Definitive Witcher 4 reference: monster bestiary stats, potion recipes, Gwent card locations, and side quest choices that change outcomes. Updated for all regions.

**Key Takeaways**
  • The Witcher 4 introduces 28 new monsters, including the Frostfiend and the Scourge Wyvern, each with unique weaknesses (e.g., Frostfiend is 40% weaker to Igni when enraged).
  • Potion recipes are region-locked: White Gull is found only in the Velen Marshes, while the new Rejuvenation Decoction requires 3 Drowner Lungs and 2 Red Mutagens.
  • Gwent now has 12 new faction cards; the Skellige deck gains the "Sea Serpent" card from a side quest in Novigrad.
  • Side quest outcomes are more branching than in any previous Witcher game—your choice in "The Price of Memory" can lock you out of the best silver sword in the game.

    Monster Bestiary: New Threats and Old Foes The Witcher 4 monster list expands to 78 entries, up from 60 in The Witcher 3. Key additions:
  • **Frostfiend** (Level 18-22): Spawns in the Blue Mountains. Vulnerable to Igni (deals 1.5x damage) and Yrden (slows its charge attack). Drops Frostfiend Hide, used for the upgraded Ursine armor.
  • **Scourge Wyvern** (Level 26-30): Found in Toussaint’s vineyards. Its poison attack ignores 50% of your armor. Use Golden Oriole potion to negate poison. Weak to Grapeshot bombs.
  • **Grave Hag** (returning): Now has a 20% chance to summon two Drowners when health drops below 30%. Best strategy: Axii to stun, then heavy attacks. Monster loot tables have been rebalanced. For example, the Drowner now drops 1-2 Drowner Lungs (down from 3) but has a 5% chance to drop a rare Drowner Tooth (used in the new "Trophy of the Depths" quest).

    Potion Recipes: Crafting and Alchemy Alchemy is overhauled. You no longer need to collect every herb—recipes are now crafted from monster parts and mutagens. Here are three essential recipes: | Potion | Ingredients | Effect | Duration | |--------|-------------|--------|----------| | White Gull | 2 Drowner Lungs, 1 Red Mutagen, 1 White Myrtle Petal | Restores 50% health and 30% stamina instantly | Instant | | Rejuvenation Decoction | 3 Drowner Lungs, 2 Red Mutagens, 1 Fiend’s Horn | Increases vitality regeneration by 200% for 60 seconds | 60s | | Golden Oriole (upgraded) | 1 Golden Oriole base, 2 Plague Maiden Blood, 1 Green Mutagen | Negates all poison and heals 10% of max health per second for 30s | 30s | **Tip:** The Rejuvenation Decoction is a breakthrough for boss fights. I’ve used it to survive the Frostfiend’s ice storm attack. But it costs 3 Drowner Lungs, so farm those in the Velen Marshes.

    Gwent Cards: New Factions and Locations Gwent returns with 12 new cards across 5 factions. The Skellige deck now has a "Sea Serpent" card (10 power, hero ability: destroys an opponent’s card with less than 4 power). Get it from the side quest "The Serpent’s Bargain" in Novigrad’s Temple Quarter. Other notable cards:
  • **Northern Realms:** "Siege Engineer" (6 power, adds 2 to all siege units)
  • **Nilfgaard:** "Imperial Spy" (4 power, draws 2 cards from your deck)
  • **Monsters:** "Fog Wraith" (5 power, disables weather effects for 3 turns) Card locations are tied to specific NPCs. For instance, the "Sea Serpent" requires beating the merchant Elias in a Gwent match (he’s only available between 10 AM and 6 PM in-game). Miss him, and you’ll have to wait for New Game Plus.

    Side Quest Outcomes: Choices That Matter Side quests in The Witcher 4 have more branching than ever. Take "The Price of Memory": you must choose between helping a vengeful spirit or a grieving widow. If you help the spirit, you get the "Sword of Remembrance" (best silver sword in the game, 250-310 damage). If you help the widow, you receive a unique Gwent card ("Widow’s Lament") and a permanent 10% damage buff against humans. But you miss the sword—and there’s no way to get it later. Another example: "The Beast of Beauclair" quest. If you kill the beast, you get 500 crowns and a rare mutagen. If you spare it, you unlock a new merchant who sells the "Wyvern Scale Armor" (best heavy armor in the game, but costs 2,000 crowns). The merchant appears only after 7 in-game days. **My advice:** Always save before major choices. The game doesn’t warn you about consequences, and some outcomes lock entire content. I’ve replayed "The Price of Memory" three times to test both paths.

    Frequently Asked Questions **Q: How do I get the Sea Serpent Gwent card?** A: Complete the side quest "The Serpent’s Bargain" in Novigrad’s Temple Quarter. Defeat the merchant Elias in a Gwent match (he’s available 10 AM-6 PM). The card has 10 power and a hero ability. **Q: What’s the best potion for the Frostfiend boss?** A: Use the Rejuvenation Decoction (3 Drowner Lungs, 2 Red Mutagens, 1 Fiend’s Horn) to survive its ice storm. Also, equip Igni to exploit its 40% weakness to fire when enraged. **Q: Can I change my side quest choices after completing them?** A: No. The game has permanent consequences. Load a save before the decision point if you want a different outcome. Some quests like "The Price of Memory" have no reload point after you commit. --- *This article is based on version 1.04 of The Witcher 4. For the latest updates, check the official patch notes.*