It doesn't matter how hard Geralt tries to remain neutral in The Witcher 3. His every more significant action has an impact on the world and the people around him. And that includes not just his choice of a romantic partner with whom he could settle down (Yennefer or Triss). Geralt, although he doesn't like politics, can also influence who will be the ruler of not one, but four separate lands!

The three biggest lands in The Witcher 3 are Redania, Nilfgaard, and the Skellige Isles. Geralt's actions throughout the course of the main game will influence who will rule the lands in the end. Sometimes it will work out better, and sometimes it won't, but each ruler has a specific ending depending on what Geralt will do.

Updated November 23, 2023, by Sean Murray: Should you kill Radovid or not? Let Ciri become a witcher? Have Anna reconcile with her sister Syanna? This guide answers all these questions so you can properly direct the future of the continent and all its citizens. We've also updated this guide with improved formatting and more links to other helpful Witcher 3 topics.

Nilfgaard Ruler

At the start of The Witcher 3, Emhyr var Emreis serves as the leader of Nilfgaard. Yet. he may not be by the end.

There are two possible rulers of Nilfgaard by the conclusion of the game. Here is how you get them into that spot and what happens afterward:

Ciri

There are three possible destinies Ciri has in the game. However, only one of them sees her becoming the future Empress of Nilfgaard, replacing Emhyr on the throne.

In order to achieve this, you have to make all the right choices connected to Ciri, which are the following:

• Go snowballing with her.
• Visit Skjall's grave.
• Trash the laboratory.
• Let her speak with the sorceresses alone.
• Bring her to Emhyr, but don't accept his payment.

These actions create a close bond between Geralt and Ciri while giving the latter the confidence to defeat the White Frost.

Along with your actions regarding Ciri, you also have to do these things:

• Save the mages in Novigrad by doing all of Triss's optional quests.
• Complete the Reason Of State quest, and side with Vernon Roche over Dijkstra at the end of it.

If you don't do any of these things, Redania will win the war and Ciri will become a witcher instead. This would be a loss for the Continent, since the game hints at the fact she'll be a good ruler.

Emhyr Var Emreis

Emhyr var Emreis automatically maintains his status as Nilfgaard ruler if Ciri doesn't become Empress.

And in this position, he's capable of beating Redania in the war and ruling the entire continent. This is how to accomplish that:

• Complete Triss's questline to get the mages out of Novigrad.
• Kill Radovid by completing Reason Of State. Then protect Vernon Roche by killing Dijkstra

Doing these things allows Nilfgaard to gain control over the rest of the Continent, except for Temeria (Roche's land), which is given a semblance of sovereignty.

The war will then end and a new era of prosperity will begin. The reason for it? Emhyr will focus on the traitors in Nilfgaard instead, killing all those who oppose him.

Redania Ruler

Radovid begins the game as ruler of Redania, and he can maintain that position by the end. But there is another option, too.

Here are the two possible rulers and how they impact the war:

Dijkstra

The former Redanian spy and Novigrad criminal lord, Dijkstra, makes multiple appearances throughout the game. He helps you more than once but also needs you to help him as well.

If you do, he can become the ruler of Redania and the entire continent. Here is how you do that:

• Do all of Triss's quests to get the mages out of Novigrad.
• Complete Reason Of State to kill Radovid. And don't get in the way of Dijkstra murdering Vernon Roche, Ves, and Thaler.

If you do that, Dijkstra becomes the new ruler of Redania and wins the war.

He will rule using fear and intimidation, and people will lose their freedom — but the Continent's industry will prosper. If this sacrifice seems like a fine one for you to make, then this course of action is certainly viable.

Radovid

Radovid is a cunning ruler and excellent strategist. Unfortunately, he's also an unhinged and evil leader who hates everyone and everything to do with magic.

Yet, if you still want him as the ruler of Redania and win the war, all you have to do is this:

• Ignore Triss' quest titled Now or Never.

As a result, you're locked out of the Reason Of State quest. Thus, Radovid can't die, and if he's alive, he stays as Redania's leader and topples Nilfgaard. That gives him the opportunity to further explore his hobbies — playing chess and burning mages and non-humans alive.

He won't even have to kill Emhyr himself — the Emperor's subjects will overthrow him and murder Emhyr.

Unfortunately, he's not exactly the best ruler to keep around, especially if you have an interest in magic.

Skellige Ruler

Entering Skellige makes for a great time, as players get to see a completely different zone that is full to the brim with islands and bodies of water galore. It also serves as the stage for another political drama, as the children of Crach an Craite fight for their right to rule over Skellige.

This is where Geralt can take part in a quest that decides the future of this land, and who ends up sitting on the throne.

These are the options:

Cerys An Craite

Cerys an Craite is an intelligent and brave young woman... and one of the three potential rulers Skellige can end up with.

Cerys is more patient than her brother, and even though she might not be as physically strong as the others, she more than makes up for it with her brilliant mind. As such, she can become an excellent ruler who will lead Skellige toward prosperity.

To achieve this, do these things:

• Help Cerys complete her individual quest The Possession.
• Side with Cerys after the Berserker attack at the feast, and help her discover the true culprit.

Doing all of this ensures that the best ruler sits on the throne. She will secure Skellige's future and prove that gender doesn't matter when it comes to being a leader.

Hjalmar An Craite

Hjalmar is one of Geralt's good friends. As such, no matter if he becomes the new king of Skellige or his sister does, he will join Geralt at Kaer Morhen to fight the Wild Hunt.

However, even though he's charismatic, and his people love him, Hjalmar is also reckless and acts before he thinks. That makes him the exact opposite of his sister, and not exactly the most ideal option to sit on a throne and properly think through all his decisions.

However, if you still want him on the throne, you can do the following things:

• Help him finish his individual quest, The Lord of Undvik.
• Side with him after the Berserker attack.

Hjalmar and Geralt won't find the person responsible for the attack, but that doesn't stop Hjalmar from becoming king.

He will then organize regular raids against Nilfgaard, which will lead to the death of many of his people.

Svanrige Tuirseach

The worst option of all the three possible Skellige rulers is Svanrige. He's the son of the former king, Bran, and Birna, the woman who orchestrated the Berserker attack.

Svanrige will win if you do either of these two things:

• Refuse to help Cerys and Hjalmar with their individual quests.
• Refuse to help them solve the attack after the feast.

In this scenario, Svanrige will get the crown for himself, the attack goes unpunished, and the new ruler will then make some pretty questionable decisions as king.

He will cause a civil war against all the remaining Skellige jarls and families who could endanger his position. It pretty much serves as punishment for those of you who decide to ignore the battle for the throne that takes place in this region.

Toussaint Ruler (Blood And Wine DLC)

The Blood And Wine DLC adds a new region to the game called Toussaint - it's under the banner of Nilfgaard. And the place has its own ruler named Anna Henrietta. She is the only possible leader of Toussaint during the DLC. Yet, your actions impact whether she lives or dies.

There are two methods to keep her alive. The first is to have her sister Syanna die, which stops her from killing Anna. This is what you must do to accomplish that:

• Refrain from buying her the ribbon in the Land of a Thousand Fables.

Alternatively, you can keep Syanna alive and have her make up with her sister by doing the following:

• Choose the Syanna route in The Night of Long Fangs.
• Read all the diaries on the playroom desk.
• Get the ribbon from the vendor in the Land of a Thousand Fables.
• Exhaust all dialogue options with Syanna in Land of a Thousand Fables.
• Visit Syanna before her meeting with Anna and make the following dialogue choices: "Cause she turned her back on you...," "Ever thought to forgive her?," and "Might ask her that."
• Say that Syanna should be shown mercy.

These choices lead to Anna and Syanna making up. What happens to Toussaint afterward is unclear. But it's assumed that Anna doesn't change much as a leader and remains competent in the role.

NEXT: The Witcher 3: Complete Guide And Walkthrough