Here's how to start Hearts of Stone in The Witcher 3
You'll want to know everything about the Hearts of Stone so you can experience all the new content that was added in the game's first expansion. The Witcher 3 is nearly seven years old at this point, but many players are just taking their first dive into its massive world with the release of the next-gen version.
This version also comes with all the DLC, so make sure you know how to play The Witcher 3 Hearts of Stone, which we cover below.
How to start the Hearts of Stone
The Witcher 3 Hearts of Stone is the first of the two major expansions that were released after launch. Hearts of Stone is a roughly ten-hour experience that adds a new main questline to follow that includes the mysterious Man of Glass and the undying Olgierd von Everec.
Along with this main quest are a bunch of side quests, a new Witcher 3 romance option, monsters, Gwent cards, and the Runewords mechanic that lets you add bonuses to weapons and armour. You may wonder how exactly you're supposed to explore all this new content though.
There are three ways to start the Hearts of Stone content. One of the simplest options for returning players is to select Hearts of Stone from the main menu, which will create a new save where you're level 32 and have already explored lots of the content.
Click to enlargeThe other options are either starting a completely new game or loading it into your old save. Regardless of what option you pick, you need to be at least level 30 before starting, or you will have a bad time.
Once you're in-game, open your quest journal and follow it toward the Seven Cats Inn, just southeast of Novigrad, on the city outskirts. As you arrive, you should see someone hanging a contract on the notice board, and speaking to them will begin the quest called Evil's Soft First Touches.
Click to enlargeFrom here, it should be pretty simple to follow the main quest line as they all segue into the next. It's also worth mentioning that you can find many of the new locations and quests in the northeast section of Velen.
Looking to get some new gear? Check out how to find The Witcher 3 White Tiger of the West armor, which is some fancy new gear added as part of the next-gen update.
