Updated September 11, 2026
The Blood of Dawnwalker gives you a lot of freedom before the ending, but that freedom can make the final stretch surprisingly easy to mishandle.
You don't need to finish every side quest in the game before the finale. You also don't need to panic every time another day passes.
What you do need is a final checklist.
This guide covers the most important things to finish before committing to A Deal with the Devil, including companion questlines, permanent Boyar choices, timed objectives, secret-ending opportunities, optional gear and your final manual save.
The goal is simple:
Reach the endgame with the quests, choices, rewards and ending options you actually want still available.
📋 Table of Contents
- Quick Answer: What Should You Do Before the Final Mission?
- Finish Any Active Timed Quest Objectives
- Finish Lacra's Questline If You Want Her Ending Route
- Finish Crake and the Manumit Questline
- Resolve Mert and Sara-Related Questlines
- Decide What You Want From Each Boyar
- Make a Save Before Important Permanent Choices
- Complete Home Sweet Home Before You Commit to Its Outcome
- Check Your Romance Progress
- Finish the Saint Mihai Sword if You Want the Extra Gear
- Pick Up the Arbiter Armor If It Is Part of Your Build
- Spend Your Remaining Skill Points
- Finish Optional Character and Faction Content You Care About
- Don't Assume the 30-Day Timer Means You Must Rush Everything
- Deal With the Three Boyars Before Starting the Final Sequence
- Make Your Final Endgame Save
- What You Don't Need to Finish
- Final Mission Checklist
- The Safest Way to Handle the Endgame
- FAQ
Quick Answer: What Should You Do Before the Final Mission?
If you only want the essential checklist, do these first:
- Finish any active timed objectives.
- Complete Lacra's questline if you want her ending route.
- Complete the Crake/Manumit questline if you want its ending route.
- Resolve companion or faction content whose outcome matters to you.
- Decide whether you want to kill or drain each Boyar.
- Make manual saves before permanent choices.
- Complete Home Sweet Home if you want its secret ending or unique reward.
- Finish any romance route you want to see.
- Complete the Saint Mihai sword if you want the extra legendary gear.
- Pick up the Arbiter Armor if it fits your build.
- Spend unused Skill Points.
- Finish optional content you personally care about.
- Defeat the three Boyars.
- Advance to the following day until A Deal with the Devil appears in your journal.
- Make a separate manual save before starting the final quest.
That last save is the most important one.
The practical endgame checkpoint comes after you have dealt with Ambrus, Bakir and Xanthe, reached maximum Infamy and advanced to the following day. That is when Brencis's parley leads into A Deal with the Devil.
1. Finish Any Active Timed Quest Objectives
Before worrying about the ending, check your quest journal.
If you have a quest showing a genuine time-sensitive objective, deal with it first.
This is particularly important for quests such as The Firebrand and Shadows in the Woods, where NPC survival and later quest availability can depend on completing the relevant objective in time.
The important thing is to distinguish a real deadline from an ordinary quest sitting in your journal.
Mert's deadline
If The Firebrand has reached the Go to Stoneward Post objective, you have 4 in-game days, or 64 time segments, to reach Mert.
If you fail to reach him within that window, Mert is executed and the quest moves onto a different outcome.
Sara's deadline
Shadows in the Woods has an even tighter rescue window.
Once the Rescue Sara objective becomes active, you have 2 in-game days, or 32 time segments, to save her.
If either objective is currently active, prioritize it over lower-value exploration or optional activities.
Your final check
Before moving deeper into the endgame, ask:
- Do I have a blue-clock objective?
- Is an NPC currently waiting for me?
- Does the journal explicitly give me a deadline?
- Am I about to spend several time segments on something less important?
If the answer is yes, finish that objective first.
For a broader look at genuinely time-sensitive content, see your The Blood of Dawnwalker Missable Quests Guide: Choices, Deadlines & What to Do Before You Lose Them.
2. Finish Lacra's Questline If You Want Her Ending Route
If you want the ending route involving Lacra, don't leave her questline unfinished.
Her story progresses through a substantial chain of quests and eventually leads into Midnight Reckoning.
Finishing this route before the endgame is the safest way to preserve the ending option on your current save.
You do not need to finish Lacra's quests merely because the finale is approaching.
You need to finish them because your quest progress and choices determine which ending routes are available to you.
The Lacra chain is specifically tied to the ending in which Coen faces Brencis alongside her.
Before moving on
If Lacra's ending is the one you want:
- Complete her major quest chain.
- Reach the point where her ending route is prepared.
- Keep a manual save before the endgame sequence.
3. Finish Crake and the Manumit Questline
The same principle applies to Crake and the Manumits.
The relevant chain includes:
- The Firebrand
- Shadows in the Woods
- Where Loyalty Lies
- What Hunts the Night
- What Moves the Dead
- Who Pulls the Strings
If you want Crake's ending route, don't leave this chain unfinished.
The important distinction is that this is not simply a “missable side quest” checklist item. It is an ending-preparation decision.
The Manumit chain is tied to the ending route in which Coen joins Crake for the final confrontation.
If you want this route
Finish the relevant Manumit progression before committing to the endgame.
4. Resolve Mert and Sara-Related Questlines
Two earlier questlines deserve another check before the finale.
Mert
If you want Mert to survive and continue his related content, the critical part is The Firebrand.
Once the Go to Stoneward Post objective appears, you have 4 days / 64 time segments to reach him.
If you allow the deadline to expire, Mert is killed and that outcome cannot simply be reversed later in the same playthrough without an earlier save.
Sara
Shadows in the Woods contains a genuine timed rescue objective.
If Rescue Sara is currently active, finish it before spending your remaining time elsewhere.
The important lesson is that these are actual deadlines, unlike many ordinary quests that can remain in your journal while you pursue other activities.
This is why your final cleanup should begin with active quest objectives, rather than with a random list of every side quest in the game.
5. Decide What You Want From Each Boyar
Your three major Boyar encounters contain one of the game's most important permanent gameplay decisions:
Kill or drain?
The choice affects what you receive from that character.
Broadly speaking, killing a Boyar can provide equipment rewards, while draining can provide a Vampirism ability.
You cannot simply change the decision later in the same playthrough.
Before each Boyar
Make a manual save if you are unsure.
Then decide whether your priority is:
- stronger equipment;
- additional Vampirism abilities;
- your preferred build;
- completion of a particular collection;
- a particular final-assault outcome.
Your choice here is more important than completing another low-priority side activity.
For the broader Court progression, Infamy and Boyar choices, see your The Blood of Dawnwalker Court Guide: 41 Activities, Infamy, Edicts & Best Vassal Order.
6. Make a Save Before Important Permanent Choices
Do not wait until the final quest to make your first safety save.
The best approach is to maintain separate manual saves around major permanent decisions.
For example:
- Save 1 — Boyar decision: Keep this before a kill/drain choice.
- Save 2 — Secret-ending content: Keep this before committing to an irreversible outcome in special optional content.
- Save 3 — Final endgame: Keep this once A Deal with the Devil appears.
This gives you flexibility without forcing you to replay the entire campaign.
7. Complete Home Sweet Home Before You Commit to Its Outcome
Home Sweet Home deserves special attention because it is not just another optional activity.
It can lead to the Together Forever secret ending, while escaping the dream provides the Astrologer's Ring and lets you return to the main world. The two outcomes are mutually exclusive unless you preserve a save.
If you want both outcomes
Make your save before committing to the final dream outcome.
Then you can:
- Complete the dream route for Together Forever.
- Reload your save.
- Escape the dream through the well.
- Complete the escape route and obtain the Astrologer's Ring.
That is much more efficient than replaying the campaign.
If you are using this as a completion run, this is exactly the sort of optional branch worth protecting with a manual save.
8. Check Your Romance Progress
If you have been pursuing a romance, this is the time to check whether there are any remaining relationship objectives.
Don't assume that every romance must be completed for the main ending.
Instead, ask:
Do I want to see this character's romance outcome on this playthrough?
If yes, finish the relevant relationship content before committing to the endgame.
The three romanceable characters are Anca, Lacra and Crake, but romance should be treated as an optional completion goal rather than a universal final-mission requirement.
If you are not pursuing a particular romance, you do not need to turn it into another mandatory item on your final checklist.
9. Finish the Saint Mihai Sword if You Want the Extra Gear
The Saint Mihai sword is a strong optional preparation goal, but it is not a mandatory final-mission requirement.
The Forge It Anew questline has you collect the sword pieces and restore the legendary weapon.
The full route costs 14 time segments, so factor that into your remaining time if you want to take the weapon into the finale.
Should you bother?
Yes, if:
- you like the weapon's playstyle;
- you are upgrading your gear before the final fights;
- you want to complete the unique equipment content.
No, if you are already comfortable with your build and don't want to spend time collecting it.
This belongs under recommended, not mandatory.
10. Pick Up the Arbiter Armor If It Is Part of Your Build
The same principle applies to the Arbiter Armor.
The Enhanced Arbiter's Armour Set comes from A Bulwark Against Darkness after the relevant Infamy progression and quest trigger. The quest itself has no listed fail state.
If it fits your build, finish the relevant content before committing to the endgame.
But don't tell yourself:
“I cannot start the ending unless I have this armor.”
You can.
This is preparation, not a hard progression requirement.
That distinction is important because the purpose of this guide is to prevent unnecessary panic—not create more of it.
11. Spend Your Remaining Skill Points
Before entering the endgame, open your Skills menu.
If you have unused Skill Points, decide whether you want to spend them.
This is particularly useful if you have been saving points for:
- a stronger human build;
- additional Vampirism abilities;
- traversal skills;
- defensive abilities;
- a hybrid setup.
If you're unsure what to prioritize, use your The Blood of Dawnwalker Skills Guide: What to Unlock First, Time Costs & Requirements.
You don't need to spend every point just because the ending is approaching.
But there's little benefit in entering the final sequence with a pile of unused upgrades that could make the final fights easier.
For a broader look at how your human and vampire choices affect your abilities, see your The Blood of Dawnwalker Human vs Vampire Guide: Forms, Powers, Hunger & Corruption.
12. Finish Optional Character and Faction Content You Care About
This is where you should use your own priorities rather than blindly copying another long completion checklist.
Optional content worth checking includes:
- character questlines;
- faction activities;
- optional bosses;
- unique equipment;
- Court activities;
- romance content;
- special story moments.
You don't have to complete every one.
A good question to ask
“Will I be disappointed if I can't experience this on this save?”
If the answer is yes, finish it before the endgame.
If the answer is no, move on.
This keeps the 30-day system manageable.
13. Don't Assume the 30-Day Timer Means You Must Rush Everything
This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make before the ending.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is built around a 30-day/30-night campaign structure, but exploration itself does not simply advance the clock every time you walk around.
Quests, activities, travel and other actions can consume time segments.
That means you should treat time as a resource rather than a reason to panic.
What should actually make you hurry?
Prioritize:
- active timed objectives;
- NPC rescue deadlines;
- choices that affect a quest branch;
- companion routes you want;
- your preferred ending setup.
Don't rush through optional exploration simply because the calendar has moved forward.
The game's time system is designed around spending limited time segments rather than completing everything as quickly as possible.
14. Deal With the Three Boyars Before Starting the Final Sequence
The main endgame sequence opens after the three major Boyars have been dealt with:
- Ambrus
- Bakir
- Xanthe
Once all three have been dealt with, your Infamy reaches the required endgame level. Advance to the following day and the game moves into the final sequence, leading to A Deal with the Devil.
This is your warning that the final sequence is approaching.
Don't immediately rush forward
Use this moment to confirm:
- Lacra's route is complete if wanted.
- Crake/Manumit route is complete if wanted.
- Timed quests are resolved.
- Romance is where you want it.
- Boyar rewards are settled.
- Optional secret-ending content is finished.
- Skills are upgraded.
- Your final save plan is ready.
Then proceed.
15. Make Your Final Endgame Save
This is the most important item on the entire checklist.
After the three Boyars have been dealt with, advance to the following day.
When A Deal with the Devil appears in your journal, make a separate manual save.
Do not overwrite it.
The quest is the final main quest and a major branching point for the game's ending outcomes.
Why this save matters
Your final manual save should mean:
“Everything I care about is ready. Now I can choose what happens next.”
That gives you a much better starting point for experimenting with the ending routes than simply saving immediately before the final fight.
What You Don't Need to Finish
This is just as important as the checklist itself.
You do not need to complete every piece of content before the endgame.
Don't create unnecessary work for yourself by treating every item in another guide as mandatory.
You don't need to:
- defeat every optional boss;
- complete every Court activity;
- collect every piece of equipment;
- finish every ordinary side quest;
- max every skill;
- complete every romance;
- explore every location;
- collect every optional reward.
The purpose of this final checklist is to protect the content you care about, not force you to achieve 100% completion before the story can end.
Final Mission Checklist
Before starting A Deal with the Devil, run through this list:
Must check
- ☐ No important timed objective is currently active.
- ☐ Lacra's questline is complete if you want her ending.
- ☐ Crake/Manumit progression is complete if you want that ending route.
- ☐ Mert/Sara-related objectives you care about are resolved.
- ☐ You have made the Boyar kill/drain choices you want.
- ☐ Any romance you want to complete is finished.
- ☐ Home Sweet Home is resolved if you want its secret ending/reward.
- ☐ Your preferred gear is equipped.
- ☐ Your Skill Points are spent where useful.
- ☐ Optional faction/character content you care about is finished.
- ☐ You have dealt with all three Boyars.
- ☐ You have advanced to the point where A Deal with the Devil appears in your journal.
- ☐ You have created a separate final manual save.
Strongly recommended
- ☐ Saint Mihai sword completed if you want it.
- ☐ Arbiter Armor obtained if it fits your build.
- ☐ Important optional bosses defeated if you want their rewards.
- ☐ Remaining Court activities completed if they matter to your run.
The Safest Way to Handle the Endgame
If you want the simplest possible approach, use this order:
Step 1 — Finish the branches you care about
Complete Lacra, Crake/Manumit, romance and character content that you specifically want.
Step 2 — Clear urgent objectives
Finish any active timed quests before spending more time elsewhere.
Step 3 — Prepare your character
Spend useful Skill Points and equip your preferred gear.
Step 4 — Make your permanent-choice saves
Save before any Boyar decisions or optional content with mutually exclusive outcomes.
Step 5 — Deal With the Three Boyars
Once Ambrus, Bakir and Xanthe have been dealt with, the endgame sequence begins to open.
Step 6 — Advance to the final quest
Advance to the following day and continue until A Deal with the Devil appears in your journal.
Step 7 — Make your final save
Create a separate manual save before starting A Deal with the Devil.
Step 8 — Choose your ending
Now you can proceed without worrying that you've accidentally thrown away the rest of your playthrough.
FAQ
Is there a point of no return in The Blood of Dawnwalker?
The safest practical endgame checkpoint is when A Deal with the Devil appears after you have dealt with all three Boyars and advanced to the following day. Make your separate manual save before starting that quest.
Should I finish every side quest before the final mission?
No. Finish the quests and branches you specifically want, particularly companion routes, active timed objectives and content involving permanent choices. You do not need to clear every ordinary side quest.
Should I finish Lacra's questline before the final mission?
If you want Lacra's ending route, yes. Her questline is part of the setup for that ending.
Should I finish Crake's questline before the final mission?
If you want Crake's ending route, yes. The Manumit questline is part of the setup for that ending.
How much time do I have to save Mert?
Once the Go to Stoneward Post objective becomes active in The Firebrand, you have 64 time segments, or 4 in-game days, to reach him.
How much time do I have to save Sara?
Once the relevant Rescue Sara objective becomes active in Shadows in the Woods, you have 32 time segments, or 2 in-game days, to save her.
When should I make my final save?
Make a separate manual save once A Deal with the Devil appears in your journal and before you commit to the final quest. This gives you a useful starting point for exploring different ending routes.
Do I need to get the Saint Mihai sword before the ending?
No. It is useful optional gear, but it is not required to unlock the ending. If you want the weapon for the final fights, complete its questline before committing to the endgame. The full route costs 14 time segments.
Should I complete Home Sweet Home before the final mission?
If you want the Together Forever secret ending or the alternate escape/reward route, yes. Make a save before committing because the outcomes are mutually exclusive within the same run.
Do I need to defeat every optional boss before the ending?
No. Optional bosses are completionist content rather than a universal requirement for starting the endgame.
Does the 30-day limit mean I should rush to the final mission?
No. The game is designed around time as a resource, but that does not mean every side quest is about to disappear. Prioritize genuine timed objectives and the quest branches you care about rather than rushing blindly.
What is the most important thing to do before the final mission?
Make a manual save before starting A Deal with the Devil. Before reaching that point, finish the companion routes, timed objectives and permanent choices you care about. That gives you the safest possible endgame setup.
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