Thanks to CD Projekt Red's The Witcher series, players can take on the role of the Witcher Geralt of Rivia and embark on his many adventures. Moreover, Geralt's adventures in The Witcher 3 bring him toe-to-toe with some of the most formidable opponents in his career. Interestingly, The Witcher's unique take on the Vampire mythos forces Geralt to rethink his combat tactics. Thankfully, players will enjoy their Vampire skirmishes with the game's fast-paced gameplay.
Moreover, some Higher Vampires have unique forms and enhanced abilities that push both Geralt and players to their utmost capacity. Unfortunately, one such enemy, Dettlaff van der Eretein or the Beast of Beauclair, serves as one of the most powerful bosses in The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine DLC. As such, how should Geralt face him? What strategies work against him?
10 Prepare Moments Before
Unlike other boss fights that start once players enter the dungeon, the battle with Dettlaff only begins once Geralt enters the main arena. In fact, it's only after the cutscene with Regis and Dettlaff fighting that Geralt will face the Beast of Beauclair. As such, players have a small window where they can save and equip items they need to fight the Vampire.
As with other Vampires, Geralt needs to prioritize his sustained damage against Dettlaff. In this case, Geralt needs a stockpile of Black Blood, Vampire Oil, and healing items.
9 A Battle In Three Parts
Dettlaff appears much stronger compared to other Higher Vampires and other Vampire types. As with other video game bosses, Dettlaff's battle happens across multiple stages. For instance, the first stage serves as a "teaser," where Geralt fights a beastly Dettlaff that's quite agile and mobile. However, the next two stages become much deadlier for the player.
In the second stage, Dettlaff becomes a bat creature with flight, increased mobility, and special attacks. This arguably serves as the longest and most irritating part of the battle. The third stage transports Geralt to a special stage with certain environmental gimmicks, which Geralt can finish easily if players know what to look for.
8 Prepare The Essentials
As mentioned, players who want to fight Dettlaff carefully will spend a bit of time getting used to his attack rotations. As such, players should prepare essential items before fighting him. Ideally, Geralt should equip Vampire Oil to allow his swords to have increased attacks against bosses like Dettlaff.
Likewise, Geralt should have Black Blood potions to ensure that when Dettlaff does connect an attack, he also gets damaged back. Despite the minimal impact these items may have on Dettlaff as a whole, Geralt needs all the support he can get. Lastly, Geralt should have a Food item on his quick shot. That way, the inventory will immediately cycle through Food items once Geralt runs out of this initial item, making room for easy heals.
7 First Stage: Survey The Battlefield
Players perform two fatal mistakes during this first stage against Dettlaff. Firstly, players most likely rush in and enjoy the fight, regularly consuming potions and items. Secondly, they try to finish off Dettlaff as soon as possible, forgetting about the potential of a prolonged battle. The first mistake easily becomes fatal, as Geralt will need all his healing items when Dettlaff transforms. Meanwhile, the second mistake prevents Geralt from studying the arena carefully.
Remember, Dettlaff only transforms once Geralt removes about a quarter of his health. As such, it's advised for players to take the time surveying the arena potential dodging options. The more familiar a player becomes with the arena, the better they'll be able to time their dodges.
6 Second Stage: Flying And Blood
Dettlaff's transformation signals the second stage of the boss fight. Aside from increased mobility, Transformed Dettlaff acquires some new attacks. Geralt can easily dodge Dettlaff's glide attack, as the creature will send a signal for the assault. With the right counter, Geralt can send Dettlaff to the ground, open for combos.
Moreover, Dettlaff can also summon pillars of blood around the arena. Geralt shouldn't walk on any of these, as they stun him and leave him vulnerable against Detlaff's other attacks. Geralt shouldn't worry if Dettlaff stays afloat. His rotation always brings him back to the ground, which allows Geralt to punish him for a few attacks before Dettlaff unleashes an AOE.
5 Second Stage: Swarms And Irritation
Transformed Dettlaff's next ability becomes the source of every The Witcher 3 player's irritation. Dettlaff can summon a swarm of bats towards Geralt if, when hit, can easily one-hit kill the Witcher. Moreover, Quen doesn't seem to protect Geralt against it, and they seem to act too fast for dodging.
Thankfully, Dettlaff sits down for a short time before summoning the bats, giving players time to send Geralt to the edge of the map. This moment is where the map study comes in. As the bat swarm always flies towards Geralt, players should precisely make a lateral (left/right) jump just before they hit him. If successful, Geralt will be able to dodge them and punish Dettlaff.
4 Use The Right Signs
Players might think that Signs become ineffective against Dettlaff. However, this factor isn't necessarily the case. In fact, Geralt can use his Signs to defend himself against Dettlaff, or even counter him, if used properly. For instance, maxed-out Quen can actually defend Geralt from Dettlaff's attacks thanks to its magical shielding. Moreover, Geralt should keep Quen activated at all times.
Meanwhile, Geralt can also force Transformed Dettlaff back to the ground with a timed Aard attack. If used in an opening, an Aard blast will push Dettlaff back on the ground, open for Geralt's combos.
3 Work On Dodging, Timing
Thanks to the bat swarm and the blood pillars, the Detlaff boss fight becomes a death cage if Geralt can't navigate it properly. However, the right dodges can actually make Geralt nigh-invincible against Dettlaff's bat swarm. If possible, players should max out Fleet Footed, as its Level 5 variant gives 100-percent damage reduction to hits while dodging.
And even if Geralt doesn't have dodging maxed out, he can still dodge much of Dettlaff's attacks with the right timing. For the bat swarm, Geralt shouldn't dodge the swarm itself. Rather, when they come for him, Geralt should dodge perpendicular to Dettlaff's direction (his left/right), which, if done just as the bats hit, will hit Geralt for minimal to no damage.
2 Third Stage: A Puzzle Interlude
Dettlaff initiates the third stage of the fight once Geralt depletes him to around 25-percent of his total health. Once Geralt destroys the Vampire's wings, he gets transported to what seems to be a giant organism. Geralt will fight Dettlaff inside this environment, with grey organs and veins around them.
However, Geralt shouldn't focus on Dettlaff, but instead on the grey organs on the edges of the arena. Geralt should dodge Dettlaff's attacks while making quick work of the organs. Players might notice that destroying each of these organs will deplete a huge chunk of Dettlaff's health. At a certain point, Dettlaff' will have a sliver of health left for Geralt to deliver the finishing blow. In-game, at least, as defeating Dettlaff triggers a new cutscene and opens a new quest.
1 There Is A Way Out
Players who want to opt-out of the fight with Dettlaff actually have an option to do so within the game. Interestingly, the Blood and Wine DLC comes with three different endings, two of which force Geralt to fight Dettlaff. The first option needs players to complete the "What Lies Unseen" quest, which finishes with Geralt visiting the Unseen Elder. With his help, Dettlaff gets summoned to Tesham Mutna ruins, where Geralt fights him. The second option requires players to finish "Beyond Hill and Dale," with Geralt acquiring the magic ribbon from the flint girl in the fairyland. When Dettlaff gets summoned to the ruins, he attempts to kill Syanna but fails to do so. Again, Geralt fights him.
Lastly, Geralt can opt to complete "Beyond Hill and Dale" without getting the magic ribbon. This caveat results in Syanna dying and players are given the choice to fight Dettlaff or not. If they choose the latter, they don't need to fight Dettlaff.