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  • Getting Across The Pontar
  • Legally Crossing The Pontar
  • How To Get A Counterfeit Pass

One of the first roadblocks you face in The Witcher 3 is as administrative as it is physical. Velen, where Geralt begins his search for Ciri, and Novigrad, where he will have to travel, are separated by the Pontar. It's a wide river that can only be crossed at a handful of bridges.

Related: The Witcher 3: Hunting A Witch Main Quest Walkthrough

Thanks to the war, travel across the river is tightly controlled by the Redanians and is limited to people lucky enough to get a pass to cross the river. You've got plenty of ways to get across, both legal and otherwise, though none of them are immediately obvious.

Getting Across The Pontar

The easiest way to cross the river would be to do so at the checkpoints near the Border Post Fast Travel point, north of Hanged Man's Tree, and the Western Gate Fast Travel point, just outside Oxenfurt.

At both checkpoints, you'll have to present a Letter of safe conduct to the guards to be allowed to cross. They'll turn you away without them.

You can get creative with crossing the river. For example, you could swim across the river instead of taking a bridge. Pulling this off will let you Fast Travel across the river without getting a pass.

If everything's in order, Geralt will get to the other side without incident. Getting the passes, on the other hand, isn't so straightforward.

Legally Crossing The Pontar

If you're the law-abiding kind of witcher, you have two opportunities to get your hands on a pass. Both of them can be done early in Geralt's journey.

Getting It From The Bloody Baron

The Bloody Baron will give Geralt a pass at the end of Family Matters, if you agree to look for Tamara. It's an expansive quest that's one of the game's best. You'll need to complete a lengthy series of quests to get there, though it's relevant to Geralt's search for Ciri.

Helping The Redanian Captain

You can find a notice for the Witcher Contract, Woodland Beast, near the Border Post Fast Travel point, where one of the crossings has been set up. While there are two outcomes for the quest, you'll get a pass either way.

How To Get A Counterfeit Pass

If you're in a hurry, you can acquire a fake pass to get you across the river. While this method is faster, it'll also cost you money. You'll need to find the Shady Merchant at the Border Post. He'll offer Geralt a counterfeit pass through the quest, Fake Papers.

The price is steep, especially at the start of Geralt's journey, but can be lowered by using Axii or by completing Bitter Harvest.

The latter is a difficult quest that needs you to keep the supervisor alive for the discount. Letting Albin Hart die will lock you out of the discount.

The counterfeit papers are as good as advertised and will let you get across the river.

Next: The Witcher 3: Complete Guide And Walkthrough