The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Guide
CD Projekt Red2015PC, PS5, Xbox, SwitchRPGRating: 93
The Witcher 3 is an action RPG by CD Projekt Red. Players control Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter searching for his adopted daughter Ciri, who is being pursued by the otherworldly Wild Hunt. The game features a rich story, morally complex choices, and a massive open world. Often cited as one of the greatest RPGs ever made.
🎮 Getting Started
Combat Basics
- Two swords: Steel for humans, Silver for monsters
- Signs: Magic abilities — Igni (fire), Quen (shield), Aard (push), Yrden (trap), Axii (mind control)
- Quen is your best friend: Always have Quen active — absorbs damage
- Dodge, don't roll: Dodging (alt) is faster and uses less stamina than rolling
💡 Invest in Quen first — it makes the game much easier.
⚔️ Combat Tips
- Prepare before fights: Use Witcher Sense to find monster weaknesses, drink potions, apply oils
- Read the bestiary: Each monster has specific weaknesses
- Don't button mash: Wait for openings after enemy attacks
- Use bombs: Very effective against groups and specific monster types
📖 Story Choices Matter
- Choices have consequences: Seemingly small decisions can change major story beats
- Ciri's fate: Several choices determine whether Ciri survives — be supportive, let her make her own decisions
- Romance options: Triss or Yennefer (or both = bad ending)
- Side quests are worth doing: Some of the best stories are in side content
⚠️ The Bloody Baron questline has one of the best stories in gaming. Don't skip it.
🗺️ Recommended Play Order
- White Orchard (tutorial, ~2 hours)
- Velen (main area, ~40 hours)
- Novigrad (city, ~30 hours)
- Skellige (islands, ~20 hours)
- Kaer Morhen (climax)
- Hearts of Stone DLC (after main game)
- Blood and Wine DLC (epilogue, best saved for last)
🧪 Preparation Wins Fights
- Oil your blade for the monster type before every contract; the damage bonus is larger than any sword upgrade
- Quen before the first hit, Igni on groups, Yrden on wraiths - the three signs that solve most encounters
🃏 Gwent and Gear
- Gwent is a money and card engine - buy every card from innkeepers, and play every merchant once
- Witcher gear sets scale with level; craft the Griffin set first for sign builds
- Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine add the best quests and the highest-level gear, so save them for after the main story