Wisp Treasure Hunt: Watermill Hills is a hidden side quest in The Blood of Dawnwalker. It triggers automatically when you stumble upon glowing red wisps north of Briar Sloughs. Follow them, fight a bear, and claim your reward. Simple on paper — but a few things can trip you up.
- TL;DR
- The wisps spawn just north of Briar Sloughs, west of the Sloughside Mill Shrine.
- The quest starts automatically when Coen walks close to them.
- You must defeat a Ravenous Bear before reaching the treasure.
- Opening the chest costs 1 in-game hour.
- Reward: 100 XP, 1 Skill Point, and chest loot including a Frugal Witchcraft skill manual.
What Is the Wisp Treasure Hunt: Watermill Hills Quest?
The Wisp Treasure Hunt: Watermill Hills is a hidden exploration quest in the Briar Sloughs region of The Blood of Dawnwalker. It is one of two Wisp Treasure Hunt quests in the game — the other being Wisp Treasure Hunt: South Foot. This one is found in the open world without a map or a clue. You simply walk into the right area and the quest begins on its own.
Unlike main story tasks, there is no time pressure here. But the chest does cost 1 in-game hour to open, so manage your time wisely. If you are still getting your bearings in the game, check out our Blood of Dawnwalker prologue walkthrough first, or read our full Blood of Dawnwalker review to understand how the 30-day time limit works before spending hours on side content.
Wisp Treasure Hunt Watermill Hills – Starting Location
The closest fast travel point is the Sloughside Mill Shrine in the Briar Sloughs region. You will likely have this shrine already unlocked if you previously visited the mill while completing rebel-related objectives in the area.
From the Sloughside Mill Shrine, head west and walk up the slope. The wisps are located just north of Briar Sloughs in the hills above the watermill area. They appear as bright red glowing lights, which makes them easy to spot — especially at night. If you are exploring during the day they are still visible, just slightly less dramatic.
As soon as Coen walks close enough to the wisps, the Wisp Treasure Hunt: Watermill Hills quest triggers automatically. No dialogue, no NPC — just Coen noticing the strange lights and deciding to follow them.
How to Follow the Will-o-the-Wisps
Once the quest starts, your job is simple: keep following the wisps. They will always stay nearby and wait for you if you fall behind. They move at a pace you can match on foot without rushing.
The wisps start by leading you southwest toward a cliff. Follow the path they mark and do not try to shortcut through the forest on your own — you will just lose track of them. Stay on their trail and watch for where they hover and pause.
Step 1 – Head Southwest Toward the Cliff
After the quest triggers, immediately follow the wisps as they move southwest. The terrain will take you downhill toward a rocky cliff area. Keep following and do not stray off the path.
Step 2 – Fight the Ravenous Bear
At the bottom of the southwestern path, you will hit a dead end — and a Ravenous Bear blocking the way. This is a mandatory fight. The bear will not disappear or move on its own, so you have to deal with it.
The Ravenous Bear has three large health bars. That makes it a longer fight than most standard enemies in the game. Here is how to approach it:
- Block and parry regularly — this saves your stamina better than pure dodging.
- Always dodge red attacks — these cannot be blocked. They are unblockable and will deal heavy damage if you stand still.
- Do not spam attacks — let the bear commit to a move, then punish with a clean combo.
- The bear drops 36 XP and can be looted for its meat, liver, and bones.
If you are finding the bear difficult, it is a good time to check out our guide on the best skills to level up in Blood of Dawnwalker — improving your Swordmastery perks will make this fight significantly easier.
Step 3 – Continue Following the Wisps Northwest
After the bear is dead, the wisps will still be nearby waiting for you. Follow them again. They will lead you up a hill to the northwest. The path goes upward before it shifts direction. Stay close to the wisps and do not rush ahead.
Step 4 – Go East and Find the Treasure
From the top of the hill, the wisps will guide you east and then downhill. At the end of this path you will find a cluster of dead bodies and the Watermill Hills treasure chest nearby. The scene has a grim, abandoned look to it — whoever was here before did not make it out.
How to Open the Watermill Hills Treasure Chest
When you reach the treasure chest, interact with it to open it. Be aware that opening this chest costs 1 in-game hour. In The Blood of Dawnwalker, time is a precious resource. Every hour spent doing something is an hour not spent saving your family.
A good habit here is to save your game before opening the chest. This lets you check the contents, decide if they are worth the hour, and reload if you want the time back. The game allows this kind of save-scumming without penalizing you for it.
Understanding how to use your time well is a big part of Blood of Dawnwalker. For more on managing ability unlocks and progression, see our guide on how to get ability slots in Blood of Dawnwalker.
Wisp Treasure Hunt Watermill Hills – Rewards
Completing this quest gives you two types of rewards: a flat XP and skill point bonus for finishing the hunt, plus whatever is inside the treasure chest itself.
Quest Completion Rewards
- 100 XP
- 1 Skill Point
Chest Contents
The chest contains a selection of items. One notable reward is the Frugal Witchcraft skill manual, which can be obtained from the Will-o-the-Wisps activity west of the Sloughside Mill Shrine. This makes the quest especially worth doing if you are building a Witchcraft-focused playstyle.
The exact loot inside the chest can vary slightly, but expect a mix of crafting materials, Denarius coins, and equipment pieces in addition to the manual. The skill point alone is solid enough to justify the detour — especially early in the game when every point counts.
If you want to know how to make the most of skill points and upgrades, our guide on best skills to level up in Blood of Dawnwalker walks you through the priority picks for each build type.
Is the Wisp Treasure Hunt Watermill Hills Worth Doing?
Yes — especially if you pass through Briar Sloughs anyway. The wisps are hard to miss once you are in the area, and the quest triggers on its own. You do not need to go out of your way to start it.
The bear fight is the only real challenge, and it is manageable with basic block-and-parry technique. The 100 XP, 1 Skill Point, and the Frugal Witchcraft manual make this a solid side activity with a decent payoff. The only real cost is the 1 hour to open the chest — which is worth it in most cases.
If you want to compare it with other exploration quests in the same region, Briar Sloughs also contains several Ambrus Court activities, which are worth completing to weaken the vampire lord Brencis. Check out our article on the Under Watchful Eyes quest walkthrough for another Briar Sloughs activity worth doing nearby.
Tips for the Wisp Treasure Hunt Watermill Hills Quest
- Visit at night if possible — the red wisps are much easier to spot in the dark. During the day they are still visible, but at night you will not miss them.
- Come prepared for the bear — it has three health bars. If your combat skills are still low, upgrade Swordmastery first.
- Save before opening the chest — 1 hour is not a huge cost, but if the loot does not appeal to you, you can reload and skip the hour.
- Do not wander off — the wisps wait for you but only in a small area. If you go too far off the path you may lose track of them.
- Loot the bear — the meat and bones can be useful for crafting and selling. Do not leave them behind.
Managing your silver income is also worth thinking about as you do side quests. Our Blood of Dawnwalker silver selling guide covers how to turn loot into cash efficiently — useful once you start stacking materials from quests like this one.
Where to Find the Game
The Blood of Dawnwalker is available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It was developed by Rebel Wolves and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, and released on September 3, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the wisps spawn for the Watermill Hills quest?
The wisps appear just north of Briar Sloughs, west of the Sloughside Mill Shrine. Head west from the shrine and climb the slope. The bright red wisps will be floating in the area. Walk close to them and the quest triggers automatically.
Do you have to fight the bear in the Wisp Treasure Hunt Watermill Hills quest?
Yes. The Ravenous Bear is a mandatory encounter before you can reach the treasure. It has three health bars and cannot be skipped or avoided. Use directional blocks to conserve stamina and dodge all red glowing attacks since those cannot be blocked.
How long does it take to open the Watermill Hills treasure chest?
Opening the treasure chest costs 1 in-game hour in The Blood of Dawnwalker. Since time works like a resource in this game, save before opening if you want to check the contents before committing that hour.
What do you get for completing Wisp Treasure Hunt Watermill Hills?
You earn 100 XP and 1 Skill Point for completing the quest. The treasure chest also contains items including the Frugal Witchcraft skill manual, which is useful for Witchcraft-focused builds. Bear loot from the Ravenous Bear includes meat, liver, and bones.
