Gwent’s popularity inThe Witcher 3is something that borders on the absurd. Geralt can challenge almost anyone he meets to the card game, from merchants to nobles alike. In some areas, you can find the upper crust of society playing each other at lavish balls. In others, you find commoners playing at taverns.

Related:The Witcher 3: Novigrad, Closed City Side Quest Walkthrough

All this goes to show that Gwent is not to be underestimated, both in popularity and in how much money one can make in the game. Geralt’s old friend, Zoltan, aims to take full advantage of the latter to pay off his debts in a lengthy side quest.

A Dwarf In Debt

Zoltan’s monetary troubles are not brought up until Dandelion is freed in the questA Poet Under Pressure.Once the bard is back where he belongs, you may find Zoltan arguing with a pair of menoutside the Rosemary and Thyme.

You can step in to break up the confrontation and ask Zoltan what the trouble is about. He explains that he hadaccumulated some debtand has hatched up a scheme to pay it back;selling rare Gwent cards.

Zoltan Chivay, sits in front of a large plate of fish, looking bemused and out of place amidst the well-furnished house.

You will have tooffer to help Zoltanto start the quest. His scheme revolves aroundgetting three rare and expensive cards.Acquiring them will be less a matter of Gwent skill as much as it does Geralt’s usual talents.

Entering Zed’s House

Zoltan asks you to start with Zed, a card dealer who is supposed to provide him with the cards. Geralt will find the door locked and figure out that Zed might be in danger. You will need tofind another way into Zed’s house.

You can find this route byturning aroundandclimbing the ladder opposite the stairs to the house.It will lead to a second ladder that brings you to scaffolding adjacent to Zed’s house and within jumping distance.Hop over the gapto reach the house.

Geralt looks up at a ladder with a man sitting next to it in Novigrad. It is necessary for the quest A Dangerous Game.

Once inside,head to the entrancewhere you will find Zed’s body and the bandits that killed him. You will have tokill the pairand loot the body for the first card,Isengrim Faoiltiarna.

Isengrim Faoiltiarnais a Scoia’tael Close Combat Hero card thatadds +1 damage to all cards in the same row.

A screenshot of Geralt, wearing ornate red-and-gold armor, looking at a path between houses in Novigrad.

With the contact dead, Geralt focuses his attention onfinding Zed’s ledgerto figure out where the other two cards have gone. Use yourWitcher Sensesto find clues leading to achest beneath the staircase.Use Aard to break the planks, letting you access a chest andfind the ledger within.

With the ledger in hand,return to Zoltan, who will provide you with the next two contacts. You cantake this pair in any order.

A screenshot of Geralt looking at a chest containing quest-essential items under a staircase in Zed’s house in Novigrad.

Ravaging Ravik

One of your targets is Ravik, a drunk and a cheat that happens to have theJohn Natalis Gwent card.Zoltan tells you tosearch the Golden Sturgeonfor the man. You will find him on the lower floor, playing for his life.

Earl, a thug that had been threatening Zoltan,makes an offer. Geralt canplay Gwent for Ravik’s life.If yourefuse or lose the match,Earl will kill Ravik.

Geralt shoots a bearded man with a bowl cut a bemused look as the man hangs his head in shame.

You willget the card regardless of which choice you go with.Ravik does not need to be alive.

Ravik will give you the card afterhaving to be convincedor afterbeing looted for it.

Geralt and Zoltan speak, both crossing their arms, outside a well-decorated townhouse in Novigrad. A painter in blue clothes and a red cap is in the background.

TheJohn Natalis Gwent cardis aNorthern Realms Close Combat Hero card.It does not have any special abilities beyond theimmunity to special cards or abilities.

Conning Caesar

Caesar Bilzen, the person with theFringilla Vigo card,is someone that Zoltan will help you with. Geralt willvisit Bilzen’s house with Zoltanon the pretense of catching up on old fishing days. When the dwarf is sufficiently inebriated, Geralt willsearch his house for the card.

This plan is simple enough. After arriving,play along with the conversationuntil Zoltan suggests that it is time for Geralt tofetch a second bottle.This is your chance to execute the plan.

A screenshot of Geralt’s Witcher Senses highlighting an innocuous knife used in a hidden mechanism.

Take the stairs up to the second floor. Use your Witcher Senses tofind a knife atop a dresserin the middle of the room. Interacting with it willopen a drawer containing a triangular key.

Use this key onthe bookshelf diagonally oppositethe dresser.

The bookshelf will open, granting you access to thethird floor.This room is filled with Caesars' treasures. The Fringilla Vigo card is on apedestal on the edge of the room.

TheFringilla Vigo Gwent cardis the least impressive card earned in this quest. It is aRanged Combat cardthat does not come with any special effects.

A screenshot of Geralt’s Witcher Senses highlighting a hidden mechanism inside a bookshelf.

Once you have it, you mayreturn to Zoltanto make your escape. A pair of Cleaver’s men will appear, ready to teach Bilzen a lesson. You will have to choose betweensaving the accountantorleaving him to his fate.This choice will not have a further effect on this quest.

This room isfilled with rare treasures.You caninteract with the artifactsto find valuable loot that can be sold for a tidy profit.

A screenshot of Geralt finding the rare Fingrilla Vigo Gwent card on a pedestal inside a luxurious house in Novigrad.

Look out for theJade Figurinein a cupboard opposite the stairs. It will start theSoldier Statuette quest.

Selling The Cards

With all three cards in hand, it will be time to help Zoltan pay off his debt. Meet with him once more tomeet the buyer.This part of the quest goes as well as one would expect. The pair arrive just in time to see the buyer killed by Duke. He tries to escape, buying time by surrounding you with enemies.

Zoltan tells Geralt to go on ahead andchase Dukebefore he gets away. The dwarf will handle the smaller enemies.

A man dressed in a dark jerkin and matching cap makes a snide remark to Zoltan at night in The Witcher 3.

There isn’t a time limit, despite this segment being framed as a chase. You canhelp Zoltan with the enemies firstbefore going after Duke.

You will have to follow Dukethrough the toweron the opposite side of the courtyard, climbing up a series of ladders to reach the top floor.Take a rightafter seeing the wounded guardsman andchase Duke until he reaches another tower.

Take the stairs down,and follow him into the sewers. Duke willlock a door,forcing you to detour. There will beseveral drowners along the way.You will find him badly injured on the ground at the very end. Here, you canchoose to spare him or finish him off.

Geralt will take the stolen money and return it to Zoltan. With his situation far more prosperous than he had initially planned, he offers Geralt two choices for compensation.

Keep The Money

You can take the recovered money as your reward, earning yourself150 crownsin the process.

Keep The Cards

If Gwent is more your thing, you can take the cards instead. Zoltan will use the money to pay off his debt.

You willhave the chance to get the cards backin the main questThe Great Escape.It won’t be for a long time, but you will not failCollect ‘Em Allby choosing the money.

Next:The Witcher 3: Complete Guide And Walkthrough