Where to Find Nek in Gothic 1 Remake (The Vanished Warder Quest)

Where to find Nek in Gothic 1 Remake is one of the first things that trips players up at the Old Camp. The game gives you very little direction, and the cave where Nek ends up is easy to miss without knowing where to look. This guide covers the full Vanished Warder quest — from talking to Sly all the way to the amulet choice at the end.

• Nek is dead inside a cave southwest of the Old Camp South Gate
• The cave is guarded by three Molerats — avoid or fight them
• You get the Amulet of the Dead Guard from his body
• You can give the amulet to Sly for 250 XP and his support, or keep it for +5 Edge and +5 Blunt defense
• Giving the amulet is the better choice if you want to join the Old Camp

How to Start The Vanished Warder Quest

The quest starts with an NPC named Sly inside the Old Camp. From the main entrance, walk up the ramp and turn right. Sly is sitting on a bench just past Bloodwyn. Talk to him and he will tell you that a warder named Nek has gone missing. He asks you to find out what happened.

If you have not joined the Old Camp yet, this quest is part of the chain you need to complete for Diego. It is worth doing early. If you need help getting started in the camp, check out our beginner’s guide for Gothic 1 Remake.

Talk to Fletcher, Guy, and Snaf

After speaking with Sly, he points you toward Fletcher. Fletcher is near the arena on the left side of the Old Camp — he has a crossbow on his back, so he is easy to spot. Talking to him sends you to Guy, a miner in the same area. Guy then points you to Snaf, the cook near the large pot at the camp entrance.

Snaf is the one with useful information. He will tell you that he asked Nek to go collect Hellcap mushrooms outside the south gate. Nek never came back.

You do not have to speak to all three NPCs in order to find Nek. The cave is accessible any time. But talking to them fills in the story and also ties into Snaf’s Recipe quest, so it is worth doing.

Where to Find Nek in Gothic 1 Remake

Nek is dead. You will not find him alive. His body is inside a small cave to the southwest of the Old Camp South Gate.

Here is how to get there:

• Exit the Old Camp through the south gate
• Walk south along the path past the arena area
• Look for a large rock near a dead tree on your left
• The cave entrance is behind that rock

The cave is not far from the gate. If you already have a map, the location is just below and slightly west of the Old Camp marker. If you do not have a map yet, grab one first — it makes navigation much easier. Here is how to get a map in Gothic 1 Remake.

The Molerats Outside the Cave

Before you reach the cave entrance, you will run into three Molerats. These are hostile creatures and they hit hard for early game. You have a few options for dealing with them.

Fight Them

If your combat skills are decent, fight them one at a time. Try to pull them away from the group before engaging. Do not rush the entrance or all three will attack at once.

Use Mud as a Distraction

If you picked up Mud earlier in the Old Camp, bring him along. The Molerats will attack Mud instead of you, giving you time to run into the cave, loot Nek’s body, and get out.

Run Past Them

If you are too weak to fight, wait for the Molerats to move to one side. Then sprint through on the open side, interact with Nek’s body, hit loot all, and run back out. It is risky but doable.

What You Find on Nek’s Body

When you loot Nek’s corpse, you will find:

• Amulet of the Dead Guard — the key quest item
• 10 Ore Nuggets
• 2 Hellcap Mushrooms (Nethershrooms)

The Hellcap Mushrooms are useful if you are also working on Snaf’s recipe quest. Pick them up. The Ore Nuggets are also worth keeping. If you need more ore, check out our guide on how to get ore nuggets fast in Gothic 1 Remake.

The Amulet of the Dead Guard — Give It to Sly or Keep It?

Once you have the amulet, go back to Sly at the Old Camp. He will ask if you found anything. At this point you have two choices.

Give the Amulet to Sly

This is the better option for most players. You get 250 experience points and Sly promises to put in a good word for you with Diego. This counts toward completing the Casting Shadows quest and getting your formal admission to the Old Camp.

Keep the Amulet

The Amulet of the Dead Guard gives +5 Edge resistance and +5 Blunt resistance when worn. Those are solid early-game defensive bonuses. However, keeping it means the Vanished Warder quest stays incomplete. You also miss out on Sly’s support, which makes other Old Camp requirements harder. You will need to impress more Shadows to compensate.

Which Should You Choose?

Give the amulet. The 250 XP and Sly’s support matter more than the item’s stats at this stage of the game. You can find better gear as you progress. The quest completion helps you move forward in the main Old Camp storyline. If you want to know more about early gear choices, our guide to best early weapons in Gothic 1 Remake covers what is worth prioritising.

Does The Vanished Warder Quest Ever Bug Out?

Some players have reported that Guy or Snaf dialogue does not trigger correctly. If this happens, do not worry. The quest does not require you to speak with them to complete it. As long as you loot Nek’s body and return the amulet to Sly, the quest will finish normally.

Other Things to Do Near the Cave

While you are in the area south of the Old Camp, look around for Hellcap mushrooms growing near the path. These are ingredients for Snaf’s recipe and Torrez’s quest. Grab them while you are out here rather than making another trip.

If you are running low on scrolls for combat support, our guide on how to get more scrolls in Gothic 1 Remake is worth checking before you explore further outside the camp.

Frequently Asked Questions