In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, players face numerous moral dilemmas, and one of the most significant involves whether to help Sigismund Dijkstra assassinate King Radovid. This choice is part of a branching questline that has long-term consequences on the game’s political landscape. Helping Dijkstra kill Radovid is not a simple decision it reflects Geralt’s stance on tyranny, war, and the greater good. The quest is full of tension, subtle manipulation, and conflicting loyalties. Understanding how to navigate this storyline is essential for players seeking specific endings or who want to shape the Northern Realms in a particular way.
How the Assassination Questline Begins
Meeting Dijkstra Again
Sigismund Dijkstra, the former head of Redania’s secret service, reappears in Novigrad after being presumed dead. Now a crime lord, he still holds strong political ambitions. As Geralt investigates the tangled web of power players in the region, Dijkstra reaches out with a bold proposition: help him eliminate King Radovid V.
This questline is not immediately accessible. It begins to take shape after progressing through several key story missions, especially those related to the main plotline in Novigrad and the A Deadly Plot side quest. The choices Geralt makes here significantly affect the outcome of the Northern Realms’ leadership and peace prospects after the war.
Unlocking the Assassination Plot
- Complete the main story quests in Novigrad.
- Finish the side quest A Deadly Plot, which introduces key conspirators.
- Ensure Radovid remains in power by progressing the story to a certain point without rejecting the plot.
Once all conditions are met, Geralt is pulled deeper into the conspiracy. He meets with conspirators including Dijkstra, Philippa Eilhart, and others who have their own reasons for wanting Radovid dead.
Why Kill Radovid?
Radovid V is portrayed as a brilliant but ruthless monarch. While he stands firm against Nilfgaard, his reign is marked by religious persecution, mass executions, and an obsession with eradicating mages and non-humans. His authoritarian rule creates chaos across the Northern Realms.
Helping Dijkstra kill Radovid is often viewed as choosing the lesser evil. Although Dijkstra has his own ambitions, a world without Radovid can mean peace and the end of fanaticism. Still, this choice is morally ambiguous and depends heavily on the player’s view of what’s best for the realm.
Consequences of Radovid’s Rule
- Continued persecution of mages and sorceresses
- Endless war with Nilfgaard, preventing peace
- Increased suffering for civilians under his harsh policies
Removing him from power opens the door for new leadership, though it’s not guaranteed that peace or justice will follow. Dijkstra’s intentions are pragmatic but self-serving, and he may not be a better ruler in the long run.
Planning the Assassination
Gathering the Allies
The plot to kill Radovid requires teamwork. Philippa Eilhart and other former members of the Lodge of Sorceresses support the plan. Their involvement is crucial due to their magical knowledge and influence.
The player must navigate difficult conversations and make decisions about whom to trust. Philippa, in particular, is a polarizing figure. While she helps the cause, her personal agenda always lingers in the background. Nonetheless, she plays a major role in setting up the final encounter with Radovid.
The Final Meeting
The plan to lure Radovid involves deceit and bait. Geralt pretends to offer him Philippa, a long-time enemy, in exchange for safety or favor. This ploy sets the stage for the king’s arrival at the docks, where the ambush is planned.
During this moment, the player must maintain composure and stick to the script. Radovid, suspicious and sharp-witted, doesn’t fall easily into traps. Eventually, a confrontation occurs, and Radovid is assassinated after a dramatic sequence of events, ending one of the most controversial reigns in the Northern Kingdoms.
Betrayal and Aftermath
Dijkstra’s True Nature
Once Radovid is dead, Dijkstra wastes no time asserting control. His plan is to establish a strong Redanian state, with himself as the power behind the throne. However, his ambition quickly turns ruthless. He sees other conspirators, including Vernon Roche and Ves, as liabilities and seeks to eliminate them.
This moment forces the player into a critical decision. Stand by Dijkstra and let him kill Roche, or side with Roche and Philippa to stop Dijkstra. Most players who value loyalty to Roche and want to preserve their friendships will choose to stop Dijkstra, resulting in his death.
Player Choices and Their Impact
- If Geralt lets Dijkstra kill Roche, Dijkstra becomes Redania’s ruler, and the war ends in favor of the North.
- If Geralt defends Roche, Dijkstra dies, and Redania’s fate becomes uncertain, though Nilfgaard likely prevails.
- The broader impact affects which ending the player sees, especially in relation to Ciri’s future.
How This Quest Affects Endings
The political landscape resulting from this assassination affects the game’s final act. If Radovid lives, war continues and the North remains fractured. If he dies and Dijkstra rules, the North stands strong, but at the cost of personal relationships. If both Radovid and Dijkstra die, the future is unpredictable and can swing in Nilfgaard’s favor.
In addition, Ciri’s fate is tied to the political outcome. A stable Northern Kingdom may help her become Empress. A chaotic or war-torn realm may push her to become a witcher. These outcomes are determined by a combination of political and personal choices made throughout the game.
Is Helping Dijkstra Worth It?
This is one of the most debated choices in The Witcher 3. On one hand, Radovid’s death ends persecution and might usher in peace. On the other, Dijkstra is no hero, and empowering him comes with moral compromise. Players must decide whether the ends justify the means or if keeping friends like Roche alive matters more than national stability.
Ultimately, there’s no perfect choice. The Witcher series is known for its shades of gray, and this quest embodies that perfectly. Geralt doesn’t get to walk away clean every action has a price. The quest to help Dijkstra kill Radovid leaves lasting impressions on the game’s world and reinforces the core theme that in a broken world, even heroes must make difficult choices.
Helping Dijkstra kill Radovid is a complex and emotionally charged storyline in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It blends politics, deception, loyalty, and consequence into a single questline that has far-reaching effects on the game’s ending and world state. Whether players choose to side with Dijkstra or turn against him in the end, this mission reflects the deep narrative power that has made The Witcher 3 one of the most celebrated RPGs of all time. Your decision shapes not only the fate of the Northern Realms but also the legacy Geralt leaves behind.