Nesting Troubles Guide: Poison Jar Toss

Dragon’s Dogma 2 immerses players in a vast open world filled with dangerous creatures and engaging side quests. One of the earliest side missions, Nesting Troubles, tasks you with protecting the village of Melve from invasive Saurians by destroying their nests. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough, focusing on the pivotal step of throwing a jar of poison into the Saurian nest, along with preparation tips, potential pitfalls, and rewards.

Quest Overview and Starting Point

Nesting Troubles becomes available after progressing through the main story to Vernworth and returning to Melve. The village, still recovering from a dragon attack, faces threats from Saurians nesting nearby. Speak to Lennart near the central well in the ruined section of Melve to accept the quest. He explains the situation and assigns the first task: using explosive casks to scatter the creatures.

This side quest is straightforward but requires precision, especially with the single jar of poison. Completing it successfully yields experience points, gold, and a useful item, while failure alters the outcome slightly. Importantly, starting certain main quests can cancel this mission due to events in Melve, so prioritize it early.

Step 1: Locating and Using Explosive Casks

Begin by heading northwest from Melve toward the village entrance overlooking the river. Explosive casks are placed strategically along the path. Pick them up using the grab action—R2 on controllers or the equivalent key on keyboard.

• Approach the cliff edge for a clear view of the Saurian nests across the river.
• Hold the throw button (R1/RB) to aim carefully at the nests filled with eggs.
• Release to launch the cask; multiple throws may be needed to fully destroy the site.

Saurians may awaken and attack from below, but your elevated position provides a tactical advantage for ranged attacks. Clear any threats before proceeding. This step scatters the creatures and prepares the nest for the next phase.

Step 2: Reporting to Lennart

Once the nests are demolished, return to Lennart at the well. He acknowledges your progress and provides the poison jar for the follow-up task: contaminating the site to deter future nesting. This conversation advances the quest log.

Mastering the Poison Jar Throw

The core challenge—and the quest’s namesake—is throwing the jar of poison precisely into the former nest location. Only one jar exists, so accuracy is crucial.

Finding the Jar: Exit Melve via the northwest gate. The jar sits prominently near the entrance, ready to be grabbed. Carry it to the same cliff edge used for the casks.

Throwing Mechanics:

• Grab the jar with the interact/throw prompt.
• Hold the throw button to enter aiming mode; a reticle assists targeting.
• Aim at the nest’s remnants across the river—avoid the water, as dropping it there fails the objective.
• Release for the toss. Success is confirmed by an in-game effect and dialogue upon return.

Players report the throw can be finicky due to physics and camera angles. Save manually beforehand to reload if needed. An alternative method: place the jar manually in the nest area and detonate it with melee attacks, though throwing is the intended approach.

Quest Outcomes and Rewards

Success triggers Lennart’s praise outside town, granting 400 XP, 1250 Gold, and a Stoutness Extract for stamina boosts. He notes your fine arm, ensuring Saurians avoid the area.

Missing the jar leads to a partial success or failure variant, with reduced rewards and different dialogue. Regardless, the quest completes, but precision maximizes benefits.

Tips for Success and Common Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls to ensure a smooth run:

• Don’t Delay: Main quests like Brandt’s can trigger a dragon event, voiding Nesting Troubles.
• High Ground Advantage: Stay elevated to avoid Saurian ambushes.
• Practice Aim: Test throws with casks first to gauge distance.
• Pawn Support: Use pawns for distractions during combat.
• Quick Save: Before the poison throw to retry without restarting.

For visual learners, community videos demonstrate the exact throw trajectory.

Context in Dragon’s Dogma 2 World

Melve serves as an early hub, introducing mechanics like pawn systems and combat against Saurians—lizard-like foes vulnerable to blunt damage. Nesting Troubles reinforces village defense themes, tying into the broader narrative of rebuilding after the dragon’s assault.

This quest exemplifies DD2’s action-RPG depth: environmental interactions, precise physics-based actions, and multiple endings encourage replayability.

Advanced Strategies for Saurian Encounters

Beyond the quest, Saurians appear frequently. Key tactics:

• Target weak points: heads and tails for staggers.
• Vocations: Fighters grab and climb for mounted attacks; Mages use fire to exploit weaknesses.
• Group them: Lure packs to chokepoints for AoE clears.

In Nesting Troubles, post-explosion fights are ideal for leveling early-game vocations.

FAQ

Q: What if I miss the poison jar?
A: The quest has an alternate outcome with lesser rewards. Reload a save or place and detonate manually.

Q: Where exactly is the jar?
A: Just outside the northwest gate of Melve, near the path to the cliff.

Q: Can I do this quest later?
A: No—advancing main story in Melve cancels it.

Q: Rewards for success?
A: 400 XP, 1250 G, Stoutness Extract.

Q: Controls for PC?
A: Grab with E, aim/throw with RMB hold/release (customizable).

Why Nesting Troubles Matters

This quest isn’t just busywork; it teaches throwing mechanics vital for later puzzles and combats, builds reputation in Melve, and provides early resources. Mastering it sets a strong foundation for DD2’s challenges.