The Caretaker

The Caretaker is the eyeless, hulking guardian of the von Everec Estate in the Hearts of Stone expansion. It is a unique relict, a being from another realm bound by magic to serve the house, tend its grounds and protect Iris von Everec. Its weapon is a gravedigger’s spade, and every hit it lands makes it stronger.

One of the memories Geralt restores during the quest shows Olgierd, grown cold toward his wife, leaving her the Caretaker for protection along with a strange black cat and dog.

You fight it in Scenes From a Marriage, the third task Olgierd gives Geralt. A frightened thief sends you to look for his missing partner. Following the drag marks into the back garden leads you to the body and to the Caretaker. Once it is dead, the cat and dog speak to Geralt and you take the back door key from the corpse. You can also pick up The Caretaker’s spade, a weapon that restores health based on the damage it deals.

Combat strategy

Every hit the Caretaker lands heals it, so this fight is about not getting hit. Its swings are slow and easy to read, and the charge can be dodged with a single sidestep. Watch for the two area attacks marked on the ground. Move out of the circle, then punish it while its spade is stuck in the earth. That is when it’s most exposed. It also summons dark spirits that it absorbs to heal, so kill them before they reach it.

Use relict oil. Most signs are poor here: Aard only staggers it, and it ignores Yrden, Igni and Axii.
Quen is your best sign, since a hit that lands on the shield doesn’t heal it.
Northern Wind freezes it while you deal with the spirits.
Dodge instead of rolling so you can counter faster.
Expect it to heal back up at least once or twice; save some consumables.