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Mastering Gwent: A Comprehensive Guide to Playing Innkeeps in The Witcher 3

Introduction

In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Gwent has become a beloved mini-game that offers players a chance to test their strategy skills against various opponents. One of the quests to complete in your journey is "Gwent: Playing Innkeeps," where you must challenge multiple innkeepers in their establishments. This guide will walk you step-by-step through this quest, providing detailed instructions and strategies to help you succeed.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1. Starting the Quest

   • Ensure you have completed the "Gwent: Playing Card" quest as you'll need to have Gwent activated.
   • Head to your nearest inn—these are located in various towns such as:
     • White Orchard: The inn can be found just past the village center.
     • Crow's Perch: Visit the inn located south of the fast travel point.
   • Speak to the innkeeper to initiate the Gwent match.

2. Challenging the Innkeeper

   • Once you approach the innkeeper, select the option to play Gwent from the dialogue menu.
   • Make sure your deck is ready! It's advisable to have a balanced deck containing a mix of:
     • Units: Include cards of various strengths and factions.
     • Special Cards: Use weather cards, spies, and volunteers to enhance your strategy.
   • Pay attention to your opponent’s deck when you start the match.

3. Match Strategy

   • The goal is to win two out of three rounds.
   • Start by drawing cards; aim for a strategic mix in your hand:
     • *
       • Play your units effectively, ensuring to save higher-value cards for later rounds.
       • If you have strong starting cards, consider passing the first round to bait the innkeeper into expending cards. *
     • *
       • Play special cards to counter your opponent’s strategy—e.g., use weather cards to weaken their units.
       • Carefully time your plays, ensuring to create a powerful board presence by the final round.

4. Winning the Match

   • As you progress through your rounds, keep track of which cards you've played and which your opponent has used:
     • *
       • Adjust your strategy based on the opponent’s moves—if they are heavy on a particular type, counter with applicable cards.
       • Should you secure a round win, consider maintaining your momentum into the next rounds to pressure the innkeeper. *
     • *
       • Focus on winning two rounds rather than wasting resources—don't overcommit in the earlier rounds if it can be avoided.
       • If you’re losing, don’t hesitate to pass early in the current round to save cards for the subsequent one.

5. Completing the Quest

   • After you win against the innkeeper, they will generally reward you with a Gwent card and some additional Crowns.
   • If you wish to challenge more innkeepers, repeat the above steps in different locations:
     • Oxenfurt: Look for the inn near the marketplace.
     • Novigrad: Several inns here also host Gwent players.

6. Collecting Rewards

   • Each innkeeper will have a unique card to offer, so ensure you defeat all of them for your collection:
     • Keep track of the cards each location provides, as some are exclusive to specific innkeepers.

Conclusion

Completing the "Gwent: Playing Innkeeps" quest is not just about winning matches; it's an opportunity to expand your Gwent card collection and refine your strategy. Enjoy the challenge of outsmarting various innkeepers, and remember to mix up your strategies based on the cards you have. Good luck, and may the best Geralt prevail on the Gwent battlefield!