In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the quest titled Gangs of Novigrad presents players with a tactical dilemma during Geralt's search for Dandelion and Junior. Initiated by speaking with Cleaver (Francis Bedlam's rival, Carlo Varese), this optional side quest runs parallel to the main story quest, Get Junior. Navigating the underworld of Novigrad requires choosing whether to rely on Cleaver's brutal henchmen or proceed with a quiet, investigative approach on your own.
How to Trigger and Progress Gangs of Novigrad
To begin the quest, visit Cleaver at his hideout in Novigrad after meeting with the criminal kingpins. Cleaver offers his dwarven warriors to raid Whoreson Junior's arena and casino locations by force. Following daily gaming news and RPG walkthrough guides can help players structure their quest logs effectively to prevent accidentally failing side objectives.
You can choose to join Cleaver's dwarves outside both the casino and the arena to launch frontal assaults against Junior's thugs. Meeting the dwarves near these locations triggers direct, violent encounters that clear out guards quickly. Alternatively, approaching these areas without the dwarves allows Geralt to use stealth, diplomacy, or Gwent matches to gain access.
Evaluating the Outcomes and Consequences
Teaming up with Cleaver's dwarves makes combat significantly easier because they draw enemy aggression away from Geralt. However, choosing the aggressive route immediately turns everyone inside the casino or arena hostile, cutting off peaceful dialogue paths and side games. Successfully raiding both locations alongside Cleaver's men earns Geralt extra gold directly from the crime lord.
If you prefer stealth or investigative gameplay, tackling Get Junior without calling Cleaver's men preserves a more narrative-rich path. Choosing this solo route will fail the Gangs of Novigrad quest in your quest journal once Get Junior progresses. Players looking for full quest completion often choose to assault at least one location with the dwarves to resolve both quest objectives.
Best Approach for Quest Completion and Rewards
The optimal method to satisfy both quests involves using stealth or Gwent at one location while bringing Cleaver's men to the second. For instance, playing Gwent inside the casino lets you gather information before triggering combat naturally. Afterwards, joining the dwarves at the arena clears the remaining objective, allowing you to collect your reward from Cleaver without prematurely locking out narrative content.
Ultimately, your decision comes down to balancing playstyles, rewards, and quest log preferences. Accepting Cleaver's assistance provides financial compensation and quick action, whereas going solo unlocks richer dialogue opportunities across Novigrad's criminal network.
