A Sword for the Memory

Guide Geralt in The Witcher 2's 'A Sword for the Memory.' Collect swords, battle the Queen Endrega, and make crucial choices affecting your path.

"A Sword for the Memory" involves collecting Kaedweni swords and making a crucial decision regarding Iorveth's sword. This quest is significant for determining your story path, as handing Iorveth his sword during the ambush with Roche and Letho locks you into Iorveth's path. Failing to do so automatically places you on Roche's path.

To begin exploring the Flotsam forests, ensure you have at least 5 Grapeshot Bombs and a crafted or bought Silver Sword. In the Flotsam Forest, take a left into the trees from the main path. Ignore the side path to the Altar of Veyopatis and enter an opening. Two Endrega Cocoons are immediately to your left and right, with a third further left between the first Cocoon and an upturned wagon. Save your game before engaging the Queen Endrega. Drink Potions and apply Oils to your Silver Sword.

Pry open and destroy each Cocoon to summon the Queen Endrega. This enemy is challenging, especially on Hard Difficulty. Use a Sword Oil like Falka’s Blood or Insectoid Oil. Attack the Queen from behind, stunning her. If she blocks, retreat to bait her charge attack, then get behind her again. Repeat until she is defeated.

For the first memory, follow your Kingslayer companion and avoid Harpies. In the cave, be vigilant for difficult-to-see traps; stepping on one fails the memory, but retries are unlimited.

Collecting Kaedweni swords at the end of Act II can earn you 30 Orens each. Resolving the "Troll trouble" quest by helping the troll provides money, a strong steel sword (found in a hut southeast of the troll), and the schematic for the Hunter Armor, which is useful in Act I and against Letho. This is ideal for an "Insane" run.

Another method for combat is killing Nekkers before the Vergen catacombs entrance in Act II with Whirl 2 and a silver sword with 22+ damage. If you have the Combat Acumen Perk in the Swordsmanship skill tree, you can build adrenaline for one-hit kills. A good steel sword like the Forgotten Vran Sword (from Dethmold's safe on Roche's path or the tower in "The Secret of Loc Muinne" on Iorveth's path) and the Vran armor (from the "Mystic River" questline) make combat easier.