If you struggle with visibility in the dark while playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you’re not alone. Many quests require nighttime travel over long distances, often leaving you far from a safe place to rest. Instead of waiting hours to pass time, consider using a Nighthawk potion or a torch.
Torches provide a good way to see nearby, but they can eventually burn out and don’t give a full view of your surroundings. For the best nighttime travel experience, a Nighthawk potion is the way to go.
Nighthawk Potions
Using a Nighthawk potion is by far the best solution to enhance your night vision, similar to wearing night-vision goggles. These potions significantly improve your ability to see in the dark. Unlike a torch, which lights only a small area, Nighthawk potions can brighten up the entire dark landscape, making it seem as bright as day. After drinking one of these potions, it can feel like it’s daytime because of how clearly you can see.
Nighthawk potions are perfect for making long nighttime journeys without resorting to fast travel. However, be aware that dangers like bandits or wild animals could be lurking along the way.
Caution: NPCs will not realize that you’ve consumed a Nighthawk potion, so if you approach them without a torch, they may suspect you are up to no good. It’s best to carry a torch when getting close to guards or other characters to avoid raising any alarms.
One major thing to remember is to avoid drinking a Nighthawk potion during daylight or right before sunrise. If you do, the sunlight will appear extremely bright and might even blind you. To avoid this situation, try to wait or sleep until the day breaks.
You can create four variations of Nighthawk potions, depending on the herbs you use in preparation. These include Henry’s Nighthawk, Weak Nighthawk, Nighthawk, and Strong Nighthawk, each with different effects:
| Potion | Effect |
|---|---|
| Henry’s Nighthawk | See in the dark for 25 minutes without losing energy. |
| Weak Nighthawk | See in the dark for 10 minutes. |
| Nighthawk | See in the dark and lose energy 25% slower for 15 minutes. |
| Strong Nighthawk | See in the dark and lose energy 50% slower for 20 minutes. |
How to Obtain Nighthawk Potions
You have three main options for acquiring Nighthawk potions: brewing them, purchasing them, or possibly finding them in the world, such as in chests or deserted locations.
For a quick start, you can find a free Nighthawk potion early in the game at the Cottage Ruins by the pond, where you were ambushed initially. Inside, you will spot the potion resting on some planks on the counter.
Buying Nighthawk potions is the easiest way if you have enough Groschen. You can purchase them from Alchemists, but their stock can vary, so you might need to explore a bit.
The most rewarding method is to brew your own potions. However, you must first acquire the recipe. You can buy it from Aranka, an NPC in the Nomad Camp.
Nighthawk Potion Recipe
You won’t start with knowledge of how to brew Nighthawk potions. You’ll need to buy the recipe or remember it. Once you have the recipe in your recipe book, gather the following ingredients: Chamomile, Belladonna, and Eyebright.
To brew a Nighthawk potion, follow these steps:
- Pour water into your cauldron.
- Grind two handfuls of Eyebright using a mortar and pestle, then add it to the cauldron.
- Next, add one Belladonna to the mixture.
- Boil the brew for three turns, using a sandglass to track your time.
- Finally, grind one handful of Chamomile and mix it in.
After completing the steps, you can pour the finished potion into a phial.
Torches
While Nighthawk potions are more effective, torches still offer a means to see in the dark. They illuminate your immediate surroundings but can break easily and are noticeable to enemies. It’s still wise to carry a torch when near NPCs after sunset to avoid looking threatening.
