The Monster of Tufo

The Monster of Tufo is an aged female shaelmaar that had been shaking the ground under the Tufo estate and taking its workers. Shaelmaars are blind relicts that live deep underground and find their prey by sensing vibration and sound. If you stay still and quiet they ignore you, but any noise or movement draws a fast charge. Their back armor is so thick that ordinary weapons barely scratch it.

The estate’s owners, Jean-Christophe and Andrée de Bourbeau, each know more than they first say, and a silver pendant near the last victim reveals a secret that changes how the contract ends.

In The Witcher 3 you take this job in Contract: The Tufo Monster, a level 48 Blood and Wine contract in the Sansretour Marsh. The notice is in Flovive, or you can talk to Jean-Christophe at Tufo directly. The cellar opens onto tunnels full of kikimore workers and their eggs, guarded by a kikimore warrior. The missing worker’s trail then leads to the Owl Eye Grottos, where you craft shaelmaar bait with fresh human blood to call the monster out. It drops a shaelmaar trophy and the sword Ami.

Combat strategy

Shaelmaars attack by curling into a ball and rolling at you with huge force, and their armored back shrugs off most damage. The classic counter is to make it crash: cast Aard or throw a bomb so it slams into a wall, then hit it while it is stunned. Samum is the bestiary’s recommended bomb. Be quick, because the Tufo monster gets back up faster than an ordinary shaelmaar.

The bait brings it out right away, so prepare oils and potions before you pour it. You may also meet giant centipedes on the way in.

Coat your silver sword with relict oil.
Use Aard to make it crash into a wall during its charge.
Samum bombs stun it and set up free hits.
Roll sideways out of the rolling charge.
Punish fast; it recovers sooner than other shaelmaars.
The second cave entrance, a short way southeast, drops you straight into the lair.