How do you ensure Nilfgaard wins the war?

How to Ensure Nilfgaard Wins the War: A Step-by-Step Guide

Nilfgaard’s campaign to conquer the Northern Realms has been a central theme throughout The Witcher series. In The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Nilfgaard is shown to be gaining ground on its rivals, the Kingdom of Tamriel. As Geralt of Rivia, your goal is to aid King Foltest and help his kingdom fend off Nilfgaard’s aggressive expansion. But how can you ensure Nilfgaard ultimately wins the war? We’ve broken it down step by step, outlining the key events and choices you can make to alter the course of history.

Choose Dijkstra over Iorveth in "Blindingly Obvious"

Early in the game, you’re tasked with dealing with a suspicious murder at a party thrown by Dijkstra. There are two primary suspects, Dijkstra and Iorveth, each with their own agendas. While Iorveth appears to be an attractive and seemingly harmless companion, choose Dijkstra, the shady informant, instead. This will create a beneficial chain of events, including siding with Roche later in the game, and ultimately shaping Nilfgaard’s position.

Participate in the Radovid assassination plot

Next, infiltrate and sabotage Radovid’s court by aiding him in an assassination attempt against his advisors. This might seem counterintuitive, as it involves assisting with an attempted coup, but it is a crucial step in pushing the Northern Realms’ conflicts in the direction favoring Nilfgaard. The result of your actions will leave Geralt facing intense backlash, including accusations from his closest allies. Don’t let this deter you – you’re moving forward.

Side with Roche and prevent the formation of a rebellion

Now that Dijkstra has gained power, continue your partnership by aiding him in eliminating Radovid, thereby disrupting his chances at rebellion. The strategic maneuverings and cunning decisions in these interactions will allow Geralt to shape the overall story progression, creating room for Nilfgaard to triumph.

Support Cerny in Skellige

Once your travels have taken you to the harsh land of Skellige, align with the capable mercenary, Cerny, by agreeing to her demand to bring peace to Skellige through negotiations rather than combat. This selection has long-lasting repercussions in the grand tapestry of The Witcher story.

A Glimpse into Alternative Branches:

To delve into more choices that lead to different consequences, take the opportunity in Skellige to choose Cerys instead. The wise warrior Cerys might create an opening for hasty conflict or peace with the forces that once warred Skellige, affecting Nilfgaard’s stance as a force to be reckoned with.

The cumulative effort to alter Geralt’s decisions creates tightly knit chain of cause and effect culminating in the potential of Nilfgaard achieving the sought-after triumph over its competitors.

By engaging with Nilfgaard and pushing for specific strategic maneuvers through these decisions, the door opens to allow Geralt to participate in Nilfgaard’s quest to assert dominance.

Final outcome of ensuring Nilfgaard’s war efforts bears the power of carefully navigated diplomacy and well thought out, purpose-driven battles.

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