When to play Hearts of Stone in The Witcher 3
Hearts of Stone is designed for Geralt at around level 30 or higher, so most players start it in the late part of the main story or right after finishing it. You can begin as soon as the expansion is installed, but enemies will be tough below that level. Play it before Blood and Wine — that's the release order and the order the story levels follow.
How to start Hearts of Stone
- Install the expansion (it's included in the Complete Edition).
- Check a notice board in Velen or Novigrad for the contract that starts the quest "Evil's Soft First Touches."
- Follow it to Oxenfurt, where the story begins.
If you want to jump straight into the DLC, the main menu also lets you start a new game directly in Hearts of Stone with a ready-made higher-level Geralt.
Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine first?
Hearts of Stone first. It's recommended for a lower level than Blood and Wine (around 34+), and Blood and Wine was written as Geralt's final adventure. Both are self-contained, so there's no strict story requirement.
Why it's worth it
Hearts of Stone is a 10–15 hour expansion built around Olgierd von Everec and the mysterious Gaunter O'Dimm. It's often called one of the best-written parts of the game, with a memorable heist quest, the Runewright for new rune words and a strong final choice.
FAQ
How many endings does Hearts of Stone have?
Two, decided in the final quest by whose side Geralt takes.
Is Hearts of Stone worth it?
Yes. It's widely considered one of the best story expansions in RPGs.
Can you fail quests in Hearts of Stone?
Some quests can end badly depending on your choices, so save before major decisions and finish side content before the final quest.
Should you do Hearts of Stone before or after the main story?
Either works. After the ending the game lets you keep exploring, so you can play it post-story; doing it during the late main story fits the recommended level better and keeps the main quest's rewards useful.