Alpha Garkain
| Alpha Garkain | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Species | Vampires |
| Variant of | Garkain |
| DLC | Blood and Wine |
| Oil | Vampire Oil |
| Bombs |
|
| Location | Toussaint |
The Alpha Garkain is a Vampire, a stronger form of the Garkain that leads a pack. It hunts in Toussaint. It is met in Blood Simple, a level 47 main quest of the Blood and Wine expansion, so it belongs to the late game.
Lore
Garkains are lesser vampires, but they are among the most dangerous of them. Their strength is greater even than that of a Fiend. An encounter with one almost always ends in death, so few eyewitness accounts exist. Garkains do not just drink the blood of their victims. They tear them to shreds and seem to take delight in the bloody mess they leave behind. City guard reports from Lan Exeter describe three garkains that attacked that city. A witcher named Olivier of Gulet killed all three.
Garkains often gather other lesser vampires around them and lead them as a pack. The Alpha Garkain is the pack leader of its kind, a powerful garkain that rules the others.
This alpha has long, hooked claws that tear a body apart with ease. The claws leave behind a venom that stops blood from clotting. The same claws let it climb even the sheer outer wall of a building. To onlookers, that feat looks like an uncanny power. It is also an experienced predator that sets ambushes and strikes by surprise.
Behaviour
Garkains can barely run. Instead, they jump great distances and often pounce on their prey that way. In a fight they like to keep their distance. From there they try to stun a foe with a blast of mental energy that brings on confusing visions.
This alpha was one of the vampires Dettlaff summoned to Beauclair. It struck the La Compassion Orphanage outside the city walls and carried out a bloody massacre. Then it hid under a bridge not far away.
Weaknesses
Coat the silver sword with Vampire Oil and drink Black Blood before the fight. Samum and Moon Dust bombs work against the mental attacks of every garkain, so bring both.
The Alpha Garkain fights with its claws. Each hit carries venom and poisons the target for a short time. Roll to the left or right to avoid the swipes, then strike while it recovers.
When it leaps into the air, roll away at once. It lands with a slam that hits a wide area around it. It also sends out a stunning wave of mental energy. Get as far away as possible while it builds up this blast, then close in again and attack.
Contracts and Quests
| Quest | Quest Giver | Location | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Simple | - | La Compassion Orphanage, Toussaint | Garkain trophy, Magic key |
The Alpha Garkain is the target of Blood Simple, a main quest in Toussaint that follows The Night of Long Fangs. Orianna, an old vampiress, runs the La Compassion Orphanage outside the walls of Beauclair. The witcher rides there with her to win her help in finding the Unseen Elder. They find the orphanage full of bodies. Orianna makes a deal: she will help only after the witcher brings her the head of the killer.
The Witcher Senses lead from the bodies at the orphanage to a scent trail and a set of tracks. Wagon tracks then lead north to a wrecked cart. From the cart, the beast's hideout lies under a nearby bridge. A short scene plays there, and then the fight begins.
After the kill, take the Garkain Trophy. A body near the bridge carries the Letter from Orianna. Back at the orphanage, Orianna turns out to be not much better than the beast she wanted dead. The witcher lets her go for now, because saving the city matters more. The quest rewards a Magic Key. The witcher then tells the birds it is time to meet Regis.
Drops
| Name | Image |
|---|---|
| Garkain Trophy | 
|
| Lesser Mutagens | - |
| Monster Bone | - |
| Monster Brain | 
|
| Monster Claw | 
|
| Monster Ear | 
|
| Monster Eye | 
|
| Monster Hair | - |
| Monster Heart | 
|
| Monster Liver | 
|
| Monster Stomach | 
|
| Monster Tongue | 
|
| Red Armor Dye | - |
| Red Mutagen | 
|
| Vampire Blood | 
|
| Vampire Fang | 
|
| Vampire Saliva | 
|
Notes
- Reading the bestiary entry about alpha garkains during Blood Simple is an optional objective that grants extra experience.
All Monster Categories
All Vampires
| Name | Image | Variant of | Oil | Signs | Bombs | Location | DLC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alp | 
|
- | Vampire Oil | Yrden |
|
Toussaint | Blood and Wine |
| Alpha Garkain | - | Garkain | Vampire Oil | - |
|
Toussaint | Blood and Wine |
| Bruxa | 
|
- | Vampire Oil | Yrden | Moon Dust | Toussaint | Blood and Wine |
| Dettlaff van der Eretein | - | Higher Vampire | Vampire Oil | Quen | - | Toussaint | Blood and Wine |
| Ekimmara | 
|
- | Vampire Oil | Igni | Devil's Puffball |
|
Base game |
| Fleder | 
|
- | Vampire Oil | - | - | Toussaint | Blood and Wine |
| Gael | 
|
Katakan | Vampire Oil |
|
Oxenfurt | Base game | |
| Garkain | 
|
- | Vampire Oil | - |
|
Toussaint | Blood and Wine |
| Higher Vampire | 
|
- | Vampire Oil | Igni | - |
|
Base game |
| Katakan | 
|
- | Vampire Oil |
|
|
Base game | |
| Protofleder | 
|
- | Vampire Oil | - | - | Toussaint | Blood and Wine |
| Sarasti | 
|
Ekimmara | Vampire Oil | Igni | Devil's Puffball | - | Base game |
| The Bruxa of Corvo Bianco | - | Bruxa | Vampire Oil | Yrden | Moon Dust | - | Blood and Wine |
