Getting the Full Crew Witcher 3 achievement is honestly one of the most stressful parts of a completionist run. You’re playing this massive, sprawling RPG, making choices that feel small at the time, only to realize forty hours later that you accidentally sent a key ally to their death. It’s brutal. The trophy itself is simple on paper: bring all possible allies to Kaer Morhen to fight the Wild Hunt. But the execution? That's where things get messy because CD Projekt Red loves to hide permanent consequences behind "polite" dialogue options.
Most players think they just need to finish the main character quests. That's not enough. You can do everything "right" and still end up with a half-empty courtyard because you were too mean to Keira Metz or didn't finish a specific side quest in Skellige. If you want that silver trophy—and the best possible defense for Ciri—you have to be meticulous.
The Keira Metz Problem
Keira is the first potential recruit you encounter. She's also the easiest one to accidentally kill. Basically, after you finish the "Towerful of Mice" questline, you’ll meet her at the tower for "Notes from a Dead Man."
Look, Keira is manipulative. She wants those plague notes to bargain with King Radovid. If you let her go to Radovid, she dies. Horribly. If you get into a heated argument with her, you end up fighting her to the death right there on the beach. To get her for the Full Crew Witcher 3 requirement, you must convince her to go to Kaer Morhen instead. Use the dialogue option "Go to Kaer Morhen" and tell her it’s a safe haven. If she isn't there, you lose the achievement, and Lambert's fate becomes much harder to secure later on.
The Skellige Trio (And the One Who Doesn't Count)
Skellige is where most people get confused. You’ll have a bunch of "Brothers in Arms" quests popping up, but not everyone you help actually contributes to the trophy.
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Hjalmar an Craite is a mandatory recruit for the achievement. To get him, you have to help Crach’s children during "Possession" and "The Lord of Undvik." Once the new ruler of Skellige is crowned—whether it’s Cerys or Hjalmar—you can ask them for help. If Cerys is Queen, she sends Hjalmar. If Hjalmar is King, he goes himself.
Then there’s Ermion (Mousesack). He’s an easy "yes." Just talk to him after the coronation.
Surprisingly, Cerys herself does not count toward the trophy, nor does Crach. Crach will give you a legendary sword (Winter's Blade) instead of his physical presence. Don't worry if they stay behind; as long as Hjalmar and Ermion are heading to the mountains, you're on track for the Full Crew Witcher 3 setup.
Roche, Ves, and the Letho Wildcard
Vernon Roche and Ves are a package deal. To get Roche to say yes, you have to complete "Eye for an Eye." If you ignore this quest, or if you let Ves die during the encounter with the Nilfgaardians, Roche won't show up. It’s a bit of a tightrope walk. You have to rush to the Inn at the Crossroads, meet Roche, and then save Ves from her own recklessness.
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And then there's Letho.
Letho of Gulet is the big question mark. If you killed him in The Witcher 2, or if you told the Nilfgaardian general at the start of The Witcher 3 that you killed him, he’s gone. He doesn't exist in your world state. However, if he is alive, you can find him during the quest "The Fall of the House of Reardon."
Here is the nuance: Letho is not required for the "Full Crew" trophy. You can get the achievement without him. But honestly? Having a second Witcher at the battle makes the cutscenes way cooler, and he actually helps out Lambert during the fight. If he’s alive in your save, help him fake his death and invite him to the keep.
The Triss and Zoltan Factor
Zoltan Chivay is the easiest recruit in the game. You just ask. He says yes. No complex prerequisites, no secret dialogue trees. He’s just a good friend.
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Triss Merigold is more complicated but also technically "guaranteed" for the battle regardless of your romance choice. Even if you don't tell her you love her and she sails away to Kovir, Yennefer will eventually invite her to Kaer Morhen anyway. So, from a strictly achievement-hunting perspective, you don't have to romance Triss to get the Full Crew Witcher 3 checkmark. You just have to finish her "Now or Never" questline in Novigrad to ensure she’s available to be called upon later.
Who Specifically Doesn't Count?
I see people stressing about Dijkstra or Emhyr var Emreis all the time. Let’s clear that up.
- Dijkstra: He will never come to Kaer Morhen. If you help him find his treasure, he might give you some gold, but he’s not part of the crew.
- Emhyr: He wants to send an army under his own general. Geralt refuses. He’s never going to be on the list.
- Cerys: As mentioned, she stays to rule or support.
- Hattori: The master blacksmith stays in Novigrad.
The Order of Operations
The point of no return is the "Isle of Mists." Before you get on that boat to find Ciri, you need to have completed all the "Brothers in Arms" quests.
- Complete Keira’s arc in Velen (Send her to Kaer Morhen).
- Complete "Eye for an Eye" in Novigrad (Save Ves).
- Complete the Skellige succession line (Crown a ruler).
- Finish "Now or Never" (Help the mages escape).
- Talk to everyone during the "Brothers in Arms" main mission.
If you head to the Isle of Mists and someone isn't at the keep when you arrive back with Ciri, the trophy won't pop. The game checks for the presence of Keira, Ermion, Roche, Ves, Zoltan, Hjalmar, and Triss.
Why This Matters for the Ending
Beyond just the digital trophy, having a full crew changes the vibe of the battle. It makes the defense feel like a global effort. It also has a specific impact on Lambert. If Keira Metz is there, she saves Lambert’s life during a scripted sequence. If she’s not there, you actually have to manually save him yourself. If you fail, Lambert dies.
It’s these interconnected webs that make The Witcher 3 feel so alive. One choice in a Velen tower dozens of hours earlier determines if a fellow Witcher survives the final act.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
- Check your quest log for "The Fall of the House of Reardon" immediately. If you haven't done it and Letho is alive, go there before finishing the Velen main quest.
- Prioritize "Eye for an Eye" as soon as it triggers. Ves is fragile in that fight, and if she dies, you lose Roche.
- Save Keira's notes. Don't let her take them to Radovid. Use the "I can't let you do that" and then "Go to Kaer Morhen" options.
- Verify your "Brothers in Arms" list. Before interacting with the firefly to enter the Isle of Mists, do a manual save. If the trophy doesn't pop after the battle starts, you can revert and see who you missed.