In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, side quests often present players with moral dilemmas and valuable loot, and A Dangerous Game is no exception. This quest centers around Zoltan Chivay and his ambition to collect three rare Gwent cards to clear a massive debt. Navigating this quest requires helping Zoltan track down these rare items while making key decisions that influence the final payout.
Starting the Quest and Gathering the Cards
To initiate the quest, speak with Zoltan outside the Rosemary and Thyme in Novigrad. He explains his plan to sell three specific cards—Fringilla Vigo, Isengrim Faoiltiarna, and John Natalis—to a buyer named Caesar Bilzen. Geralt must help locate these cards by visiting various collectors across the city and acquiring them through diplomacy, stealth, or combat.
During your search, you will encounter dangerous thugs working for Duke, a crime boss who also wants the collection. Finding the cards requires dealing with Zed's locked room, searching Caesar's residence while staying sharp, and negotiating or fighting Duke's henchmen. Gamers looking for the latest updates on RPG guides often check daily gaming news for optimal walkthrough strategies.
Navigating the Final Stand against Duke
Once all three cards are gathered, Geralt and Zoltan meet with Caesar Bilzen, but Duke's mercenaries interrupt the deal. A fight breaks out, forcing Geralt to defend Zoltan and Caesar from hostile thugs. After clearing the room, Geralt pursues Duke through the sewers of Novigrad to settle the score once and for all.
When you corner Duke in the sewers, he is critically injured from a monster attack. You are presented with a choice to kill him on the spot or leave him to suffer his fate. Regardless of what you choose, Geralt recovers Duke's key and a significant amount of coin from his body.
Choosing Between Cards and Gold
The most important decision occurs at the conclusion of the quest when Zoltan offers Geralt a reward for his assistance. Zoltan asks whether Geralt would prefer to take the three rare Gwent cards or accept a cash reward of 150 crowns instead. Making the right selection depends heavily on your overall playstyle and completion goals in Novigrad.
If you are building a competitive Gwent deck or aiming to complete the Collect 'Em All questline, taking the cards is essential. These unique cards cannot be acquired anywhere else in the game once the quest ends. However, if Gwent does not interest you, choosing the gold provides immediate funds to spend on gear upgrades and crafting materials.
Final Assessment of Quest Rewards
A Dangerous Game stands out as one of the most rewarding side missions in Novigrad due to its dual outcome flexibility. Aside from the final choice between cards or crowns, searching the quest locations yields valuable crafting components, extra crowns, and combat experience points. Completing it also strengthens Geralt's bond with Zoltan, adding rich narrative flavor to the Novigrad storyline.
