Tesham Mutna

Tesham Mutna is the showdown with Dettlaff at the ancient vampire ruins of Tesham Mutna. Whether it ends in a fight, and whether Syanna survives, depends on the choices you made earlier in Blood and Wine.

How to start Tesham Mutna

You arrive here after What Lies Unseen or Beyond Hill and Dale…. The suggested level is 49 and the quest gives 1,000 XP.

What happens at the ruins

You saw the Unseen Elder: Dettlaff arrives and you have to fight him.
You brought Syanna, and she has her ribbon: Dettlaff tries to kill her, but the ribbon teleports her to safety. Enraged, he attacks you.
You brought Syanna, without the ribbon: Dettlaff kills her. You can fight him or let him go.

If Syanna lives, the story continues in Pomp and Strange Circumstance. If she dies, Anna Henrietta has Geralt thrown in prison, which leads to Burlap is the New Stripe. Defeating Dettlaff counts as proof of valor for There Can Be Only One.

How to beat Dettlaff

While Regis keeps him busy, you get time to prepare. Your alchemy items are refilled and you can change skills. The fight has three stages:

Stage 1, humanoid: the same form you fought in Blood Run. Short dodges behind him followed by fast attacks work well, much like against Olgierd.
Stage 2, flying: roll away from his dashes, and get as far away as you can when he gathers bats, because that wave ignores Quen. Hit him when he lands, or knock him down with Aard, Igni or a crossbow bolt as he dives.
Stage 3, inside his body: destroy three pulsing hearts on the walls while fending off blood clones. The clones hit very hard. Blizzard helps a lot here.

Tips

Save before the fight. There are no automatic saves between the stages, so dying means starting over from stage 1.
Earlier decoctions and toxicity stay in effect. Use White Honey if you want a clean start.
Bombs that only cause a status effect, like Northern Wind, don’t work on him. Grapeshot and Dancing Star do. Axii doesn’t work, and Yrden is of little use.
Blade oils have no effect on Dettlaff. Griffin or Arachas decoctions are better choices for extra protection.
Keep Quen up at all times, and bring White Raffard’s Decoction.

Walkthrough

Arrive at the Tesham Mutna ruins.
If Syanna is with you, what happens depends on whether she has her ribbon.
Optional: prepare for the fight while Regis holds Dettlaff off. Save your game.
Help Regis fight Dettlaff through all three stages.
Finish Dettlaff off (1,000 XP), or let him go if Syanna died.

Quest Consequences & Choices

If Syanna survives, the story continues in Pomp and Strange Circumstance. If she dies, Anna Henrietta has Geralt imprisoned in Burlap is the New Stripe. Defeating Dettlaff counts as proof of valor for There Can Be Only One.