The Witcher 3 Monster Guide: How to Beat Kernun the Leshen

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has a surprising variety of enemies for you to dispatch throughout your long, arduous journey. So many, that there are even beasts you will rarely lay your eyes on, hidden deep within the woods or among the many caves spotting the world. One such beast is the Leshen, and one of the deadliest of this foul race of relic beings is named Kernun.

During the Lord of the Wood Contract, Geralt will help a halfling find out just what happened to his employees. He found a perfect spot for logging, but his Dwarven woodsmen informed him that the woods were haunted. After he still forced them to work, they all wound up dead with the exception of one survivor. Speak to that survivor and he will tell you where to find his fallen friends.

Heading to the gruesome location will provide Geralt with enough clues to figure out that the beast in question isn’t a ghost or a specter, but is actually a Leshen. In order to lure out Kernun (the Leshen in question) you will have to destroy his totem hidden somewhere in the woods. Locating this totem will require using Geralt’s witcher senses to find the crows that serve as Kernun’s minions. You will have to do this a few times, since you’ll be lead on a few false trails. Don’t worry though, it’s hardly a difficult task and you should be standing in front of Kernun’s totem within a minute or two.

Once he reveals himself, it’s time to do battle. Kernun is one of the more versatile beasts in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This powerful Leshen can burst into a murder of crows in order to teleport around the field, use powerful physical attacks at close range, summon branches from the ground at long range to stun and do massive damage, and call forth wild animals to join the fight. This means you’ll have to watch your surroundings for not only Kernun’s attacks but also any stray wolves and bears, as well.

As versatile as this relic beast may be, he is definitely beatable. Like any monster you’ll come across in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Kernun has several weaknesses you can exploit. For starters, he is extremely vulnerable to Igni and other sources of burning damage. He also happens to be surprisingly slow considering his appearance. Even when vanishing into crows, you can follow them with ease and be ready to strike once he reappears. Another bonus is that pretty much all of his major attacks can be interrupted, making this a rather easy encounter, provided that you aren’t afraid to get to close.

The best strategy is to wait. Kernun will eventually stop and stick his arms in the ground to summon the large branches that will grab Geralt. When he does this, he is completely vulnerable. Move in quickly to start your relentless offense using Igni, Devil’s Puffball, and Dancing Star bombs in order to get that burning damage going. Heavy attacks with your silver blade are also a must. When he’s taken enough damage, he will disappear into the murder of crows rendering him invincible but also unable to attack. Follow and continue your onslaught now that you’ve got him on the run.

After a few rounds of attacking and chasing, Kernun will be defeated and the Dwarven woodsmen will have been avenged. For some extra assistance, add burning or bleeding damage to your silver sword by way of runestones. Not only do these traits add extra damage, they also cause Kernun to twitch, which in turn interrupts his attacks.

So there you have it, another contract completed with ease. What did you think of your encounter with the powerful Leshen? Did the vanishing into crows confuse you? Or, did you find yourself ensnared in his branch trap? Let us know in the comments. For more guides, tips, tricks, and information on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt be sure to check out our handy wiki.