Geralt has gotten himself entangled in politics with Vernon Roche, Dijkstra, and other members of the Temerian patriots as they attempt one final assassination of King Radovid. There’s one pivotal choice in Reason of State for The Witcher 3 that determines who wins the war, and that depends entirely on who you side with. Below, we’ll share all outcomes of this quest and which choice you should make for the best ending!
How to Start Reason of State in The Witcher 3
To start Reason of State, you will first have to meet these key requirements:
- Complete “A Deadly Plot”, which is made available after completing Triss Merigold’s quests (A Matter of Life and Death & Now or Never).
- Complete “An Eye for an Eye” and “Redania’s Most Wanted”.
- During “Blindingly Obvious”, make sure to tell Dijkstra: Tell you what the emperor’s after if you let us go.
Provided that you have completed these missions, Reason of State will become available in your Secondary Quests tab. So the earliest you can start this quest is in Act 3 during Final Preparations. You must also complete this quest BEFORE “On Thin Ice”.
Should You Help Kill Radovid?
Yes, you should definitely help kill Radovid, as there’s no negative consequence for Geralt in Nilfgaard, because there are no witnesses to this. Plus, Radovid has lost his mind, and he’s begun using witch hunters to kill mages, dwarves, and anything he deems a threat to humans. To make sure you’re on the right path, select these dialogue options in the meeting:
- Let’s say Radovid bites. What then?
- I’m in.
Best Choice in Reason of State (Should You Let Dijkstra Kill the Temerian Patriots?)
No, you should not let Dijkstra kill Roche and the other Temerian patriots. To save Roche and the Temerian patriots, select the dialogue option: “Won’t let you kill them.” This will force you to kill Dijkstra, but it saves the same people who put their lives on the line to help protect Ciri in The Battle of Kaer Morhen.
The reason you should side with Roche and not Dijkstra is for a few reasons, but the first and foremost reason is loyalty. Roche has been a valuable ally, and the fact that he risked his life to help you protect Ciri from the Wild Hunt is reason enough, whereas Dijkstra just gave you pointless coin.
Another major reason is that the Temerian alliance has made a deal with Emhyr, where Nilfgaard claims Aerdirn and Lyria, but Temeria gets to remain self-ruled with its own courts, administrative structures, and army. This is a major win for Temeria, and the only safe choice to make against an unstoppable army.
All Choices & Outcomes in Reason of State
If you don’t want to side with Roche and the Temerian patriots, then you can see what happens with all outcomes shown below:
|
Choice |
Outcome |
|---|---|
|
Geralt refuses to help kill Radovid |
Radovid wins the war against Nilfgaard, which results in further genocide for all non-humans, mages, and wizards. |
|
Geralt lets Dijkstra kill Roche |
Dijkstra becomes the ruler of Redania and manages to win the war against Nilfgaard, bringing a new age of peace and order to the North, including restoring Temeria. |
|
Geralt kills Dijkstra to protect Roche |
Nilfgaard wins the war, but enters a truce with Temeria that lets it keep its independence as long as it stops the guerrilla warfare. |
- Released
-
May 19, 2015
- ESRB
-
M for Mature: Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
