Master Of The Arena In The Witcher 3 Complete Guide
Navigating the rugged landscapes of Skellige in The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt often reveals quests that subvert traditional gaming expectations. One such mission is Master of the Arena, a secondary quest located on the remote island of Spikeroog. While most monster contracts demand brutal efficiency, this specific encounter requires a completely different tactical mindset from the player.
Discovering the Ghost of Hov
To begin this unique contract, Geralt must travel to the village of Hov situated on the northern side of Spikeroog. Upon arriving at the local combat arena, you will notice two guards arguing over the current state of their entertainment venue. Speaking with them reveals that the arena is haunted by a stubborn wraith named Ulle the Unlucky, who continuously loses every fight but refuses to leave.
The local organizers are desperate to rid the village of this supernatural nuisance so they can reopen the fighting pits. They offer a modest financial reward if the famous white-haired monster hunter can permanently lift the curse. Accepting the contract allows you to step directly into the arena and confront the tragic spirit firsthand.
Understanding the Twist in the Fight
When you confront Ulle the Unlucky inside the fighting pit, the ghost will complain about his eternal punishment before reluctantly drawing his sword. Traditional combat tactics will allow you to deplete his health bar easily, but doing so only causes him to reappear a few days later. Defeating the ghost in standard combat will completely fail to break the curse, trapping you in a frustrating loop.
The secret to completing this objective relies heavily on understanding the nature of Ulle's tragic backstory. To successfully banish the spirit, Geralt must stand completely still and allow the wraith to win the fight. You can read more about how subverting typical combat rules helps you solve similar mysteries across the continent in other regional guides. Once Ulle reduces your health bar to a critical level, the curse will instantly lift as the ghost finally experiences victory.
Collecting the Long Term Rewards
After letting Ulle win the combat encounter, a brief cutscene will trigger showing the spirit finally finding peace and fading away permanently. You can then return to the grateful arena organizers waiting outside the gates to collect your initial monetary payout. However, the benefits of completing this unusual assignment extend far beyond the immediate coin reward.
If you return to the village of Hov after a few in-game days have passed, you will find the combat arena fully operational and bustling with local spectators. The managers will express their ongoing gratitude by offering Geralt a percentage of the arena's newly generated profits. This secondary interaction provides a reliable passive income stream that proves highly useful for funding expensive grandmaster witcher gear later in your journey.