Witcher 3 When To Do DLC Recommended Quest Order Guide

23 September 2026 | 191

Navigating the expansive world of The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt can be overwhelming with its rich main storyline and massive expansions. Determining the best time to start the downloadable content ensures a smooth narrative flow and prevents your character from becoming underleveled or overleveled. This guide outlines the recommended quest order to help you get the most out of your journey through the Continent.

Completing the Base Game Main Storyline

The core campaign of The Witcher 3 introduces Geralt's primary quest to track down Ciri across Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige. Completing the main story first allows you to fully experience the central narrative without breaking the emotional pacing. It also ensures that Geralt reaches an appropriate level, usually around level 30 or higher, which is ideal for tackling expansion content.

Starting Hearts of Stone at the Right Level

Hearts of Stone is designed as a standalone adventure that fits neatly near the end of the main game or right after its conclusion. The recommended starting level for this expansion is around level 32. Tackling it before the final main story quests offers unique dialogue choices, but completing it after the main campaign is equally rewarding.

Saving Blood and Wine for the Grand Finale

Blood and Wine takes Geralt to the sunny, picturesque duchy of Toussaint and serves as the definitive epilogue to his adventure. Because of its narrative significance and higher level requirement of level 34 or above, it should strictly be played after finishing both the main story and Hearts of Stone. Playing this expansion last provides a satisfying conclusion to Geralt's legendary saga.

Balancing Side Quests and Free DLCs

Throughout your playthrough, small free DLC quests and witcher contracts can be integrated naturally as you reach their recommended levels. Staying mindful of quest level recommendations helps maintain balanced combat difficulty and prevents you from missing out on unique rewards. Following this structured approach guarantees a cohesive and immersive RPG experience from start to finish.