- On Thin Ice decision guide: Prepare before speaking with Avallac'h beside the boat.
- Point of no return: The battle begins when you tell Avallac'h you are ready.
- Caranthir strategy: Use Quen, control distance, and surface quickly after the underwater sequence.
- Eredin strategy: Punish ranged attacks, follow the portal, and save stamina for the final phase.
- Quest rewards: Expect 500 XP, Hav'caaren, and a Lesser Glyph of Aard.
On Thin Ice Decision Guide: Preparation
On Thin Ice is a main quest in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, taking place at a Nilfgaardian camp on Marlin Coast before the final battles against the Wild Hunt. The most important decision is not a dialogue branch: it is choosing when to speak with Avallac'h beside the boat and begin the battle.
Before starting, finish any short preparation tasks you still need. The camp's quartermaster can provide repairs and blacksmith services, while nearby buildings contain useful ingredients and weapons. These services are available before the battle, but the camp will no longer function normally afterward.
Repair and Refill
Repair equipped weapons and armor, restock healing items, and prepare combat potions before triggering the battle.
Check Side Content
Travel remains possible until you speak with Avallac'h beside the boat, so finish urgent contracts and errands first.
Protect Your Save
Create a manual save before beginning. It gives you a safer recovery point if a boss glitch occurs.
| Preparation | Why It Matters | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon condition | Boss fights punish weak damage output | Repair before the battle |
| Alchemy supplies | Potions and bombs support both encounters | Brew and refill beforehand |
| Inventory space | Quest rewards include a sword and glyph | Leave room for loot |
| Side quests | The battle changes the camp state | Finish urgent tasks first |
Do not loot outdoor containers or interact with suspicious camp objects while soldiers are nearby. Stealing can cause Nilfgaardian soldiers to attack, even though it does not normally fail the quest.
Battle Start and Ciri's Route
When you are ready, speak with Avallac'h at the boat. Ciri is not allowed to join the initial battle plan regardless of earlier dialogue choices, but the situation changes once Caranthir freezes the allied forces. You then control Ciri and must push through Wild Hunt enemies toward the general.
Prepare at the Camp
Repair gear, organize the inventory, and use your preferred potions before talking to Avallac'h. This is the final convenient preparation window.
Trigger the Battle
Speak with Avallac'h beside the boat when you are ready. The Sunstone is used, the Naglfar is summoned, and the battle sequence begins.
Advance as Ciri
Move forward through the Wild Hunt groups. Ciri's Elder Blood power makes these enemies highly manageable, and Blink can clear several targets at once.
Reach Caranthir
Do not waste time trying to clear every enemy. Groups can continue spawning, so focus on reaching Caranthir and reducing his health until the cutscene begins.
| Phase | Character | Main Objective | Best Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp | Geralt | Prepare for battle | Repair, restock, save |
| First assault | Ciri | Reach Caranthir | Move forward and use Blink |
| Transition | Ciri | Break the staff orb | Damage Caranthir until the scene triggers |
| Next phase | Geralt | Defeat Caranthir | Control distance and avoid elemental pressure |
The Wild Hunt enemies during Ciri's section can continue appearing. Clearing every opponent adds risk without advancing the objective, so keep moving toward Caranthir.
Caranthir Boss Fight and Escape
Caranthir's encounter has two connected parts. Ciri first weakens him and breaks the orb on his staff. Geralt then takes over for the main fight, where Caranthir uses teleportation, magic projectiles, and Ice Elementals.
Quen provides a useful safety layer against sudden projectiles, while Yrden and Magic Trap can help limit the pressure around Geralt. Keep enough space to read Caranthir's teleport patterns. If an Ice Elemental approaches, reposition so it can interfere with Caranthir's line of sight; his attacks can damage his own summoned allies.
| Threat | Warning Sign | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Magic projectiles | Caranthir creates distance | Keep moving and maintain Quen |
| Teleportation | Boss disappears from melee range | Avoid chasing blindly; reset your position |
| Ice Elementals | Adds close in from the arena | Use distance and let attacks collide with them |
| Underwater escape | The arena changes after the defeat scene | Swim upward immediately |
After Caranthir's health is nearly depleted, a cutscene sends both characters underwater. The objective changes to reaching the surface. Swim upward without detouring; Killer Whale can provide additional breathing room if it is available.
You can meditate after the Caranthir fight without losing meaningful time before the next major encounter. Use this opportunity to restore your preparation instead of saving every potion or bomb.
Reaching and Defeating Eredin
After resurfacing, move toward the Naglfar. Several enemies along the route can continue spawning, so clear only the targets blocking your path. Encounters with Udalryk and Hjalmar are part of the approach, but the priority is reaching the ship.
Eredin's fight rewards patience. He teleports like Caranthir, attacks with magic at range, and switches to sword attacks when Geralt closes in. He can be staggered, but repeated attacks may be parried if used without timing.
Quen and Patience
Maintain a defensive layer and wait for openings after Eredin's ranged attacks. Avoid forcing a long melee exchange.
Controlled Damage
Rend can deliver reliable pressure when used without excessive charging. Whirl is effective when activated at a safe opening.
Portal Awareness
Follow Eredin through every portal and watch for falling magic projectiles during the final return to the Naglfar.
| Eredin Phase | Key Danger | Practical Response |
|---|---|---|
| Naglfar arena | Teleports and sword parries | Strike after ranged attacks |
| Icy plateau | Forced relocation | Reorient quickly and continue the duel |
| Return portal | Falling magic projectiles | Reach the portal without delay |
| Final exchange | Scripted finishing sequence | Continue attacking until the cutscene starts |
Final Battle Checklist:
- Repair weapons and armor before speaking with Avallac'h
- Complete urgent side content before triggering the battle
- Defeat Caranthir and swim directly to the surface
- Follow Eredin through the portal and avoid falling projectiles
- Collect the quest rewards before continuing to the next quest
Caranthir may occasionally stop responding after control shifts from Ciri to Geralt. Reloading the previous checkpoint is the recommended first response. If Eredin is defeated unusually quickly, the next scripted portal may take time to appear.
Rewards, Bugs, and FAQ
Completing On Thin Ice ends the battle with Eredin and leads directly into Tedd Deireadh, The Final Age. The listed rewards are 500 XP, the Hav'caaren sword, and a Lesser Glyph of Aard. The quest also closes the Marlin Coast camp state, so collect anything important before starting the battle.
| Reward | Type | When It Appears |
|---|---|---|
| 500 XP | Experience | Quest completion |
| Hav'caaren | Sword | Quest completion |
| Lesser Glyph of Aard | Glyph | Quest completion |
| Next quest | Story progression | After the ending sequence |
For additional quest objectives and the full journal context, consult the On Thin Ice quest reference. The page also documents known issues involving Caranthir, Eredin, camp interactions, and unusual enemy spawns.
On Thin Ice does not present a major branching dialogue choice at the camp. The meaningful decision is when to begin the battle, because speaking with Avallac'h removes the preparation window.
Q: What is the point of no return in On Thin Ice?
Speaking with Avallac'h beside the boat begins the battle. Travel and preparation remain available until that conversation.
Q: Can Ciri fight in the opening battle?
Avallac'h does not allow Ciri to join the planned assault, regardless of dialogue choices. She takes control later after Caranthir freezes the allies.
Q: What is the safest way to defeat Caranthir?
Use Quen, keep distance from his projectiles, let Ice Elementals obstruct his attacks when possible, and swim directly to the surface after the underwater scene.
Q: What rewards does this quest provide?
The quest grants 500 XP, the Hav'caaren sword, and a Lesser Glyph of Aard before the story continues into Tedd Deireadh, The Final Age.