Talk to Jeremiah inside the New Camp tavern to start his quest, then find Horatio in the rice fields at the camp entrance and choose the dialogue about getting stronger to gain a permanent +5 Strength at no cost.
Early in Gothic 1 Remake, your damage output is gated behind raw stat requirements — many of the strongest early weapons demand around 15 Strength just to equip. Rather than spending precious ore or Learning Points to reach that threshold, you can pick up a permanent +5 Strength for free by running a short dialogue chain between two NPCs in the New Camp. The whole process takes a few minutes, costs nothing, and effectively gives you the cheapest stat boost in the game.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Reward | +5 permanent Strength |
| Cost | 0 ore, 0 Learning Points |
| NPCs | Jeremiah → Horatio |
| Location | New Camp tavern → rice fields |
| Repeatable | One-time per playthrough |
Getting into the New Camp tavern
Before you can start this chain, you need to be inside the New Camp — and specifically inside its tavern. The most common early route to the camp is letting Mordrag escort you there during Thorus’s “Out of Sight” quest from the Old Camp, which safely opens up the New Camp without a fight.
Once you’ve arrived, making your way into the tavern is a separate prerequisite on its own. If you aren’t inside the tavern yet, you won’t be able to speak to Jeremiah, so sort out entry before worrying about the Strength boost.
How to get the free +5 Strength from Horatio
STEP 1/6
Enter the New Camp tavern
You must be inside the tavern before anything else, as the quest-giver Jeremiah is located there.
STEP 2/6
Talk to Jeremiah
Speak to Jeremiah and exhaust his dialogue to receive the quest to find the farmer Horatio, who looks strong enough to stand up to the rice lord.
STEP 3/6
Travel to the rice fields
Head back to the rice fields located at the entrance of the New Camp to find Horatio.
STEP 4/6
Find Horatio
Locate Horatio working in the rice fields by following the path from the camp entrance.
STEP 5/6
Choose the strength dialogue
Tell Horatio that you want to get stronger and teach the rice lord a lesson to trigger the boost.
STEP 6/6
Receive +5 Strength
Completing this conversation instantly grants a permanent +5 Strength with no ore or Learning Points required.
Video help
Common mistakes to avoid
Always talk to Jeremiah in the New Camp tavern before visiting Horatio — the free Strength dialogue will not unlock unless you get Horatio’s background story first.
Once you’ve banked your free Strength, there are a few adjacent early-game advantages worth grabbing to snowball your power. Just outside the New Camp, you can loot the Lurker’s Bite — a high-tier one-handed sword hidden in a chest inside a cave. It rivals gear that costs around 70 ore from Fisk in the Old Camp, giving you a massive damage spike for free.
Finally, take advantage of escort NPCs for easy experience. Letting characters like Mordrag or Baal Parvez kill enemies for you during their escort routes nets you full XP for their kills. Tagging along safely behind an escort can easily net you 2 to 3 free levels with almost zero combat investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to talk to Jeremiah before Horatio?
Yes, that is the recommended safe order. Community reports indicate you must get Horatio’s background from Jeremiah in the tavern first, or the special training dialogue option will not appear when you talk to Horatio in the rice fields.
Does the +5 Strength boost cost any ore or Learning Points?
No. The boost is completely free, requiring 0 ore and 0 Learning Points. It is widely considered the cheapest stat increase available in the game.
Can I get this Strength boost more than once?
No. Horatio’s training is a one-time permanent boost per playthrough. Since there is no respec system in the game, the points are permanently committed to your Strength stat.
Is there a time limit or quest deadline before Horatio’s boost disappears?
No source confirms a strict time limit or quest lockout. The boost appears to remain available as long as Horatio is working in the rice fields, though this is not fully verified and could change with future patches.
Why do I want more Strength this early — what does it unlock?
Mana powerful early-game weapons require at least 15 Strength to equip. A free +5 Strength pushes you past those stat requirements without spending ore or Learning Points, letting you wield much stronger gear right away.
