You’ve probably seen the notice board in Flotsam and thought, "Killing a few monsters for easy coin? Sign me up." Then you spend three hours wandering through a foggy, monster-infested swamp only to realize you have no idea how to actually finish the job. That’s the nekker contract witcher 2 experience in a nutshell. It’s one of those early-game quests that feels straightforward until the game decides to stop holding your hand.
Honestly, it's a bit of a classic Witcher-style headache. You're expected to act like a professional monster hunter, which means doing your homework before you start swinging a silver sword around. If you just run into the woods hoping to find a "Destroy" button, you’re going to be disappointed.
Why You Can’t Just Hit the Nests
Most players make the mistake of finding a nest and trying to Aard it into oblivion. Doesn't work. To complete the nekker contract witcher 2, you need specialized knowledge and specific equipment.
Geralt needs to "know" how to destroy the nests first. You can get this knowledge in two ways:
- Reading: Buy the book Nekkers in the Mist from Einar Gausel in the Flotsam market. It’s the fast way, though it costs a few orens.
- Field Research: Go out and kill about a dozen nekkers. Eventually, Geralt will figure out their biology and tunnel system.
Once your journal updates, it’ll tell you that you need Grapeshot bombs. This is the part where people get stuck because they forget to visit Cedric.
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Cedric is the elf who hangs out on the lookout platform in Lobinden (the village right outside Flotsam’s walls). He sells the Grapeshot formula. Buy it. Craft at least four of them. If you’re short on ingredients like calcium equum or sulfur, he usually has those in stock too.
Finding the Four Nests in the Flotsam Forest
The map in The Witcher 2 is notorious for being... well, kind of unhelpful. It doesn't give you quest markers for individual nests. You have to actually look at the terrain.
Basically, the nests are all located in the swampy, low-lying areas of the forest. If you head south from Flotsam towards the waterfall, you’re in the right neighborhood.
- Nest 1 & 2: These are usually found very close together near the "big tree" icon on your map, just southeast of the town. Look for reddish piles of bones and dirt.
- Nest 3: Further into the swampy area, often guarded by a larger pack of nekkers.
- Nest 4: This one is the trickiest. It’s usually tucked away near the waterfall area to the south.
Use your Witcher Medallion. It’ll highlight the nests in orange/red through the foliage. When you get close to one, stay sharp. A swarm of nekkers will almost always pop out of the ground to defend their home. You can't plant the bomb while you're in "combat mode," so you have to clear the area first. Once it’s quiet, walk up to the nest and you’ll see a prompt to use the Grapeshot.
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The Reward (And Why Timing Matters)
After all four holes are plugged, head back to Louis Merse. He’s the guy in the office above the Flotsam square (near the inn). He’ll cough up 150 orens and some experience points.
If you also finish the Endrega contract, he might give you a schematic for a Witcher’s superb silver sword. It’s a massive upgrade for the early game, so don’t skip it.
One big warning: don’t wait too long. If you progress too far into the main story—specifically after the fight with Letho or during the "Kayran" finale—certain NPCs like Cedric might become unavailable. If you don't have the Grapeshot formula by then, you’re basically locked out of finishing the quest.
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Making the Most of the Nekker Contract
- Farming: Some people like to leave one nest alone for a while. Nekkers respawn frequently, and they're great for farming Nekker Hearts and Teeth, which are useful for early-game alchemy and crafting.
- Don't Stand Too Close: When you plant the bomb, Geralt does a little animation. Then the nest explodes. If you're still standing on top of it, you'll take a chunk of damage.
- Potions: If you're playing on higher difficulties like Dark or Insane, drink a "Cat" potion. The forest is dark, and nekkers love to flank you from the shadows.
The nekker contract witcher 2 is really your first test of being a "real" Witcher. It forces you to prep, research, and use the right tools for the job.
To finish this up, make sure you check your inventory for Grapeshot before you leave Flotsam. If you’ve already blown up the nests, go talk to Louis Merse immediately to secure your gold before the town's politics get messy and everyone starts trying to kill each other.
Actionable Next Steps
- Visit Einar Gausel in Flotsam to buy the monster book if you haven't killed enough nekkers yet.
- Locate Cedric in Lobinden to purchase the Grapeshot formula.
- Craft 4 Grapeshot bombs using the meditation menu.
- Clear the swamp area near the waterfall to find the final, most hidden nest.
- Hand in the quest to Louis Merse before completing the "Kayran" or "Assassins of Kings" main story beats.