The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
78 Achievements
2,000
157.5-196h
Full Crew
Bring all possible allies to Kaer Morhen for the battle against the Hunt. Details for this achievement will be revealed once unlocked
15
10.9%
How to unlock the Full Crew achievement in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Definitive Guide
I will make sure to avoid spoilers other than the fact that these people are in the game, so you can read on safely.
The quest sends you to collect allies. Each ally you collect is tied to a quest which you must complete in order to send them to Kaer Morhen to help in the battle. You must complete the quest and convince them to go.
The achievement will unlock immediately after the final person agrees to go to Kaer Morhen. If you think you've got everyone and haven't had the achievement pop, you're missing someone.
The allies, and their quests, are below (Letho is optional, since it's possible he's dead due to events in Witcher 2):
Velen
- Letho - Reardon Manor (near Lindenvale) - complete Secondary Quest: The Fall of House Reardon
- Keira Metz - complete Secondary Quest: For the Advancement of Learning, telling her to go to Kaer Morhen (as of patch 1.10, according to comments you do not need to recruit her though another says you must)
Novigrad
- Vernan Roche and Ves - Temeria Partisan Hideout - complete Secondary Quest: An Eye for an Eye
- Zolton Chivay - Rosemary and Thyme - just ask!
- Triss Merigold - complete Main Quest: Now or Never
Skellige
- Hjalmar an Craite - Kaer Trolde - ask whoever is ruler
- Ermion - Gedyneith - just ask!
The following will not come with you even when you ask them - they can be safely ignored:
- Emperor Emhyr Var Emreis
- Sigismund Dijkstra
- Crach an Craite
- Cerys an Craite (If you speak to her and she is ruler, she will send Hjalmar)
- Folan and Vigi - Go with Hjalmar
There'll be some hefty spoilers ahead, but for the sake of clarity(especially in Keira Metz's case) I'll have to mention them, since some of the folks that you can get as allies have quest lines with some incredibly hard to detect outcomes.
And one thing before we set off here, the trophy pops as soon as you finish speaking with the last person in your Brothers in Arms quest, some of the people here will be determined to go to Kaer Morhen before this quest takes place so they won't need to be talked to.
For the sake of completion, I'm listing all possible allies even though you need only 7: Keira Metz, Vernon Roche & Ves, Triss Merigold, Zoltan Chivay, Ermion and Hjalmar an Craite.
KEIRA METZ - During Act I in Velen - #1
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In order to get Keira on your team, you need to do her entire quest line in Velen's bogs. The quests An Invitation from Keira Metz and A Favor for a Friend are a given in her chain(whether or not you sleep with her isn't important), the important bit comes in at the end of For the Advancement of Learning:
She'll come up with the idea to present what she's found to Radovid in Novigrad, you'll get three options to answer her with:
Tell her its suicide, she'll give the more feisty reply and begin getting upset about the state of her living accommodations, tell her "Go to Kaer Morhen" and finish with "See you at Kaer Morhen", simple as that. She sets off and you'll spot her later post Isle of Mists in Kaer Morhen.
If you let her go to Radovid, you'll find her later in the story during Novigrad: Closed City burning at a stake. And the more violent sounding option of "can't let you do that" leads to combat with Keira, so obviously this option will not get her support as well... as she's dead.
LETHO - During Act I in Velen - Only if Letho lives in your save.
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So this one is tricky, Letho only counts if he lives in your save state. If you chose "I let him live" in regards to Letho during the shave-n'-cut in Vizima to Morvran Voorhis during Imperial Audience, the quest Ghosts of the Past becomes available.
The quest's climax is again where the choices matter; make sure you either interfere Vester and kick his ass or let him and his buddies leave without taking Letho's head but his amulet instead.
Interfering is the safer option in the end and gives some lewts, anyway after the guy is dealt with, Letho reveals himself to be quite alive, you can now ask him if he wants to be welcomed back to Kaer Morhen, do so.
EMHYR VAR EMREIS - During Act II in Vizima
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Easy one, just pop by the Vizima castle during Brothers in Arms: Nilfgaard and speak to good ol' King Deathstare Grumpypants. He'll be the usual wrench in the works in terms of actually giving help, but in the end he pulls through and counts as an ally.
VERNON ROCHE & VES - During Act I in Novigrad - #2 and 3
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You'll be referenced to these two through your search for Ciri in Novigrad a few times and after doing Roche's quest for meeting King Radovid V, he'll have a quest available in which you go after Ves, who's run off to save a village from Nilfgaardians, This quest, An Eye for an Eye has to be completed in order for them to be eligible during Brothers in Arms: Novigrad. Speak to him during that quest and he'll happily join you at Kaer Morhen along with his partner in war, Ves.
Thanks to jason_ex for the correction that whether you kill or let the Nilfgaardian survivor go doesn't affect Ves' willingness to join Roche.
ZOLTAN CHIVAY - During Act I in Novigrad - #4
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Zoltan is always ready to fight by Geralts side, just speaking with him at the Rosemary and Thyme/Chameleon makes him an ally.
SIGISMUND "SIGI" DIJKSTRA - During Act I in Novigrad
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Another Keira Metz situation, you need to fulfill very specific conditions for him to offer help. The choices you make during the quest Count Reuven's Treasure are the ones that make the difference, specifically during the segment where you deliver Triss Merigold to Caleb Menge and his Witch Hunters. You can ruin this by just having a sharp tongue, so be sure to follow the instructions:
1: Upon getting to the Witch Hunters Stronghold, you'll be greeted by a Witch Hunter, keep your cool and basically be cold to them about Triss. They say they're gonna rip her fingernails off, just agree and let them. Saying there won't be any ripping leads to a big fight.
2: When following the hunter, stay right on him, don't loot anything or deviate from his trail, they'll take your curiousity as a hostile nosy act and your infiltration plan fails.
3: At the top of the stairs the torturer will be taking Triss, answer "Fine, take her" and it goes on as usual.
4: You'll now be seated with Caleb Menge, during the following chat you'll have to answer with these:
Menge makes you drink from a silver goblet to make sure you're not a doppler, say "Why not."
Kurt's being told to leave the room and Menge further questions you about your wits and whatnot while Triss' torturing begins, when the dialogue choices come up say:
"Your hunters are torturing Triss, but I haven't been paid."
He then goes on about your motivations in regards to turning Triss in to start with, either one of the answers works:
"Triss betrayed me first." or "Witchers do anything for gold."
He'll be praising your gutsy attitude soon after and bring up Phillipa Eilhart, at the last dialogue choice here say:
"Free my friend Dandelion."
5: Now **** hits the fan, you and Menge go to investigate the torture room as it went quiet, Triss got free and gains the upper hand on Menge, stabbing him clean through the chin, killing him. Talk to Triss, take the key and walk back to Menge's office. Sneak out through the balcony door at the back of the room and just carry on with the quest.
That's the whole "subterfuge" way that Dijkstra demands for all of this to be good and dandy. During Brothers in Arms: Novigrad, he won't actually be of much help but still won't make you leave empty-handed.
TRISS MERIGOLD - During Act I in Novigrad - #5
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The quest Now or Never has to be started and done for her to go to Kaer Morhen, and you gotta be nice to her about it too. Be supportive in dialogue choices for most the start of the quest, such as answering I will when being asked if you'll help right now.
The choice that matters is again at the end of the quest:
Triss is adamant about going with the mages on the ship, you need to tell her "Stay with me" when the opportunity arises.
She'll say she can't, and won't do it. Now you'll get three options, choose "I love you." She still goes, after a bit of a cheer up from Sigi Dijkstra, Triss will suddenly be back. Make sure you answer nice and politely, saying you like her changeability won't get you anywhere.
You'll go look at the boats from the lighthouse and do a bit of motherboating of your own. This prompts Triss to stay in Novigrad and automatically make her way to Kaer Morhen during Brothers in Arms: Novigrad.
EDIT: As of update 1.02:
Triss will be invited to Kaer Mohren during Brothers in Arms by Yennifer if you let her go during Now or Never and shows up anyway, hurray for no forced love!
CRACH AN CRAITE - During Act I in Skellige
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Meeting with Crach is fruitless in terms of manpower, but he does give you a nice steel blade of legendary status called "Winter's Blade".
CERYS AN CRAITE - During Act I in Skellige
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Complete the quests "Possession" where you free Udalryk's mind of a Hym, "King's Gambit"(pick looking for clues in the hall with Cerys to ensure her becoming queen) and "Coronation".
It's very important that you retrieve enough evidence to support the an Craite clan against Lady Bran, eventually her son will testify against her and she'll be outcast. If you decide to not help either Cerys or Hjalmar, Svanrige Bran will be crowned King and you will not have any allies from Skellige's royal house for Kaer Morhen.
After her crowning coronation, speak to her in Kaer Trolde, she'll say her duties prevent her from helping personally but her brother Hjalmar sure as hell will be up for the bloodshed, see Hjalmar's entry below for more information.
HJALMAR AN CRAITE - During Act I in Skellige - #6
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Complete the quest "The Lord of Undvik", and then the path will merge onto Cerys' path. You can choose to help her instead of Hjalmar or go with Hjalmar on his blood craving revenge quest during "King's Gambit", either way whoever ends up being crowned during "Coronation" isn't very important in regards to Hjalmar's status as an ally, he'll always be up for kicking some ass in your name.
Just go and chat him up in Kaer Trolde during Brothers in Arms and ask for his help.
FOLAN & VIGI - During Act I in Skellige
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These two are optional but still nice to have, they're both part of Hjalmar's hunting party that got wrecked and marooned on Undvik with him during "The Lord of Undvik". During the quest, first head to the Abandoned Village west from Marlin's Coast and find Folan in the troll cave a bit north. He's currently being boiled alive so make a manual save before instigating conversation with the ice trolls.
They strike a deal with you, beat their riddle with your wits and Folan is yours. You got ten seconds to answer the riddle or he boils alive, the trolls still give you a second chance for a riddle if you mess up the answer on the first one but Folan will still boil alive, sadly.
Riddle #1: "A troll".
Second riddle? Well that doesn't matter, Folan'll be boiling like a egg by this point.
In regards to Vigi, it's quite simple. Just progress to the end of the quest and you'll find him in a cage near the mountain giant. Say you'll free him and you'll be allowed to walk around to find the key.
The key is in a chest near the giant, be sure not to walk on any of the ice patches or sprint in general so the big guy doesn't wake up. Loot the key, set Vigi free and he'll go running at the giant like a maniac but at least he's alive.
Failed to get the key without waking the giant up? Well, bad news. He'll crush and kill Vigi during the second stage of the fight where he rips the anchor from the makeshift prison Vigi's in.
Once you rescue both Folan and Vigi, they'll automatically come with Hjalmar during Brothers in Arms: Skellige.
ERMION - During Act I in Skellige - #7
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Easiest for last, while you're chatting to Cerys and/or Hjalmar, pop by Ermion(he's either in Kaer Trolde with the rest or at the druids over at Gedyneith) and ask for his help. He immediately says yes and makes way for Kaer Morhen during Brothers in Arms: Skellige.
And that's all, the required seven plus all the optional ones. As I said, the trophy pops once you chat to the last person who'll agree to go to Kael Morhen.
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Just thought I'd put this out there in case anyone else was worried that they'd have to restart their game!
Before the solution for this achievement is presented, it must be stated right now that this is a HIGHLY MISSABLE achievement.
During Act II, you will receive four main quests entitled "Brothers in Arms [Nilfgaard, Velen, Novigrad, & Skellige]" after the main story quest entitled "Va Fail, Elaine" has been completed and you are about to set sail for the Isle of Mists. It is at this point where you're asked to recruit allies for the upcoming battle against The Wild Hunt in Act III. You must complete a series of lengthy side quests and subplots to recruit everyone needed, which is probably going to take several hours. On top of this, Keira Metz and Triss Merigold can be recruited before reaching this point in the game and both sorceresses are the easiest of the seven allies to miss.
There are a few prerequisites when assembling your party of allies, some of which you may already have already completed, or failed. A list of all possible allies and their prerequisites can be found below.
Kiera Metz
- Return to Kiera's Hut in No Man's Land, and speak with her. She's happy to provide magical support in the forthcoming battle, providing you have helped her. Complete the following:
- Side Quest: An Invitation from Kiera Metz/A Towerful of Mice
- Side Quest: A Favor for a Friend
- Side Quest: For the Advancement of Learning
- At the end of this quest, be sure to convince Kiera to go to Kaer Morhen
Vernon Roche & Ves
- Locate Roche's hideout northeast of Oxenfurt. He is always willing to help, but he (and Ves) can only make the journey to Kaer Morhen once you finish the following:
- Side Quest: An Eye for an Eye
- Once finished, Roche agrees to help you, and both him and Ves will appear in Kaer Morhen.
- Side Quest: An Eye for an Eye
Zoltan Chivay
- Zoltan is eager to aid the cause and agrees to help you. All you have to do is ask, so head to his location at the Rosemary and Thyme (Novigrad).
Triss Merigold
- Triss would love to help, but she cannot leave Novigrad until all the mages are evacuated. You must have already completed the following:
- Main Quest: Now or Never, and the mages escape
- If you forgot this quest, you can't reach Triss.
- If you completed this quest properly, Triss is already at Kaer Morhen, and doesn't need to be asked at all, even when she leaves at the end of the quest.
- Main Quest: Now or Never, and the mages escape
Hjalmar an Craite
- Speak with Hjalmar in Kaer Trolde or at the Coronation. If he rules Skellige, he will aid your cause, and will arrive at Kaer Morhen without question. If Cerys was made ruler instead, she agrees to send him as a representative. To ensure he or his sister becomes ruler, you must complete the following:
- Side Quest: The Lord of Undvik
- Side Quest: King's Gambit
- Side Quest: Coronation
Ermion
- Like Zoltan, Ermion immediately agrees to help defeat The Wild Hunt. Head over to Gedyneith in Ard Skellig to ask him, (he'll stay here after the "Coronation" side quest has concluded).
There are a few other allies that you can try convincing during the "Brothers in Arms" quests, but they're not necessary for this achievement. Thus, feel free to ignore seeking them out since you only need the seven allies listed above.
Here are a few other tips to keep in mind when working on this achievement:
- You could end up killing Keira Metz if you make the wrong dialogue choices at the end of her subplot
- To prevent that, refer to the video above for the "Friends With Benefits" achievement
- Despite the information in video guide below, Triss DOES NOT need to be romanced nor asked to stay at the end of her side quest entitled, "Now or Never"
- Although the game plays out as though Triss boards the ship to Kovir and will never return again, she appears at Kaer Morhen anyways (thanks to Yennefer) so long as you completed both of her side quests
- If you choose the "third" dialogue choice during the "King's Gambit" side quest of the Kingmaker subplot and ignore helping Hjalmar or Cerys, you will walk away and neither of them will become ruler; thus meaning Hjalmar cannot be recruited at all
- You could end up ignoring the "Brothers in Arms" quests entirely and go directly to the Isle of Mists, thus missing all possible allies
This is a lot to soak in, but just remember the only allies needed for this achievement are the seven detailed above. Once they've all been recruited, the achievement will unlock before setting sail to the Isle of Mists. Refer to PowerPyx's video below for even more information if necessary!
*Missable Trophy*
There are 7 allies that you must recruit to earn this trophy. After doing the main quests in Kaer Morhen (towards the end of the story), you will receive a main mission called "The Isle of Mists" and 4 other "Brothers in Arms" quests. That's when you are supposed to recruit people for your upcoming battle in Kaer Morhen. You must play a series of lengthy side quests and subplots to recruit everyone, which is going to take several hours. Keira Metz and Triss can be recruited before reaching this point in the game. Keira Metz can be missed if you kill her, but Triss will show up in Kaer Morhen either way (doesn’t matter if she stays or sails away).
You need to recruit the following Allies:
- Keira Metz (Velen, send her to Kaer Morhen at the end of her subplot instead of killing her. Her subplot consists of the side quest "An Invitation from Keira Metz", "A Towerful of Mice", "A Favor for a Friend", "For the Advancement of Learning. See Friends with Benefits for more details.)
- Triss Merigold (Novigrad, complete her subplot. It starts with the side quest "A Matter of Life and Death" and ends with "Now or Never". It does not matter if she sails off at the end or stays. She’ll show up in Kaer Morhen either way)
- Roche (Novigrad, complete side quest "An Eye for an Eye", then talk to Roche during Main Story Mission "Brothers in Arms: Novigrad" and he will come to Kaer Morhen)
- Ves (Novigrad, complete side quest "An Eye for an Eye", then talk to Roche during Main Story Mission "Brothers in Arms: Novigrad" and he will bring Ves with him)
- Zoltan Chivay (Novigrad, simply talk to him during Main Story Mission "Brothers in Arms: Novigrad")
- Ermion (Skellige, simply talk to him during Main Story Mission "Brothers in Arms: Skellige")
- Hjalmar (Skellige, complete the subplot about choosing Skellige's ruler to earn the Kingmaker trophy. The subplot consists of the side quests "Possession", "The Lord of Undvik", "King's Gambit". During King's Gambit you must choose whether to help either Hjalmar or Cerys, and it does not matter which one you side with. Talk to them once they are ruler and Hjalmar will come with you. If you don’t help either of them, someone else will become ruler and you’ll miss the trophy!
There are other characters that you can talk to during the "Brothers in Arms" quests. Also some that can be recruited from side quests, but they are optional and have no impact on the trophy at all! It does not matter if they die or if you talk to them or not, so feel free to skip them all. Cerys an Craite is only important if she becomes ruler of Skellige, then you must talk to her.
These characters are NOT needed, even though they are part of the "Brothers in Arms" questline or can be recruited otherwise:
- Emperor Emhyr Var Emreis (Royal Palace of Vizima)
- Letho (Velen)
- Sigismund Dijkstra (Novigrad)
- Folan (Skellige, during side quest "The Lord of Undvik")
- Vigi (Skellige, during side quest "The Lord of Undvik")
- Crach an Craite (Skellige)
- Cerys an Craite (Skellige, should she become ruler of Skellige, you will need to talk to her and she will send Hjalmar to Kaer Morhen)
This is missable:
- You could end up killing Keira Metz if you make wrong dialogue choices at the end of her subplot.
- If you choose the third dialogue choice during the King's Gambit quest of the Kingmaker subplot you will walk away and neither Hjalmar, nor Cerys will become ruler. Then Hjalmar cannot be recruited anymore.
- You could ignore the Brothers in Arms story quests entirely and go directly to the Isle of Mists, thus missing all possible allies.
1) Keira Metz (I’m not sure about her, it’s better to do it just in case) - completed a chain of her quests in the lands of Velen, in the final he persuaded her to go to Kaer Morhen
2) Triss Merigold - completed her chain of quests in Novigrad, when saying goodbye to the port, he chose any lines, this does not in any way affect her appearance in Kaer Morhen
3) Vernon Roche - completed his only side quest near Novigrad (please help with Bianca), in gratitude he will come to help in Kaer Morhen
4) Zoltan - completed his side quest in Novigrad to collect 3 (three) cards for gwent - the dwarf agrees to go to Kaer Morhen
We also need support from Skellige, for this we carry out the following quests on the islands: (request from Jarl Crach an Crait to go to the island and find his son, and the second quest is to help his daughter). We complete quests - we watch a video with the coronation of the new jarl of Skellige (either a brother or a sister, depending on our actions), and at the right moment we turn to them for help.
1) Krah an Krayt gave me the family sword
2) Keris (she became my queen) sends her brother to Kaer Morhen
3) Mousefur - agreed to go to Kaer Morhen (we intersect with him in a couple of story quests, in the dialogues I was simply not rude to him)
Dijkstra, Emhyr, and even more so I had no trace of Summer - the achievement was lost.
IMPORTANT: Keira needs to be dissuaded from collaborating with Rodovid, because if you just don’t kill her, she will be hanged!