The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is not only celebrated for its immersive storytelling and vast open world but also for its diverse array of achievements. For many players, earning achievements adds an extra layer of challenge and satisfaction to the game. This comprehensive guide delves into the achievements available in The Witcher 3, providing strategies, tips, and detailed walkthroughs to help you unlock them all.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Achievements
Achievements in The Witcher 3 are awards given for accomplishing specific tasks, milestones, or challenges within the game. They range from story-related accomplishments to more intricate feats, such as mastering combat techniques or exploring every corner of the world. The achievements are categorized into various types, including main quests, side quests, exploration, and combat.
Categories of Achievements
- Main Quest Achievements: Earned by progressing through the main storyline.
- Side Quest Achievements: Obtained by completing various side quests and secondary activities.
- Combat Achievements: Related to combat skills, defeating enemies, and mastering techniques.
- Exploration Achievements: Awarded for exploring the game world, discovering locations, and finding hidden items.
- Miscellaneous Achievements: Include a variety of tasks that don’t fit into the other categories but are still important for completing the game.
Main Quest Achievements
1. “The Beginning of the End”
Description: Complete the prologue and escape from White Orchard.
Strategy: This achievement is automatically earned by completing the early stages of the game. Follow the main questline in White Orchard, which introduces you to the game mechanics and sets up the primary storyline. Ensure you complete the necessary objectives, such as meeting key characters and completing initial tasks.
2. “The King is Dead, Long Live the King”
Description: Complete the quest “The Kingslayer.”
Strategy: This achievement is tied to the main quest “The Kingslayer,” which is crucial to the central plot. To earn this achievement, progress through the main storyline until you reach this quest. Follow the quest objectives and make key decisions that affect the outcome. Completing this quest is essential for advancing the story and unlocking subsequent achievements.
3. “An Eye for an Eye”
Description: Complete the quest “The Last Wish.”
Strategy: “The Last Wish” is a significant quest that involves important story elements. To unlock this achievement, complete the questline associated with the main story. Pay attention to the quest’s objectives, and follow the storyline to its conclusion. Make decisions that align with your desired outcome, as this quest can have different endings.
Side Quest Achievements
1. “Masterful Hunter”
Description: Complete all monster contracts.
Strategy: Monster contracts are side quests that involve hunting specific monsters. To earn this achievement, you must complete every monster contract available in the game. Check your quest log for active contracts and ensure you fulfill all requirements. Contracts often require gathering specific items or defeating powerful creatures.
2. “A Game of Cat and Wolf”
Description: Win all the Gwent cards in the game.
Strategy: Gwent is a popular card game within The Witcher 3. To unlock this achievement, you need to collect all the Gwent cards available. This involves playing against various NPCs, winning matches, and completing specific quests related to Gwent. Keep track of the cards you have and the ones you need to acquire.
3. “The Bestiary”
Description: Complete all bestiary entries.
Strategy: The bestiary is a comprehensive encyclopedia of monsters and creatures encountered in the game. To unlock this achievement, you need to complete all entries in the bestiary by defeating the creatures and gathering information. Pay attention to the creatures you encounter and ensure you defeat them to update the bestiary.
Combat Achievements
1. “Death March!”
Description: Complete the game on the Death March difficulty.
Strategy: Death March is the highest difficulty setting in The Witcher 3. To earn this achievement, you must complete the game on this challenging difficulty. Prepare for tougher combat encounters, use effective strategies, and make the most of your skills and equipment. This difficulty setting requires a strong understanding of the game’s mechanics and careful planning.
2. “The Good, the Bad, and the Bogly”
Description: Defeat all types of enemies in the game.
Strategy: To unlock this achievement, you must defeat every type of enemy encountered in the game. This includes both common and rare enemies, as well as boss creatures. Explore all areas of the game, participate in various quests, and engage in combat to ensure you encounter and defeat all enemy types.
3. “The Witcher’s Silver”
Description: Craft all the Witcher gear in the game.
Strategy: Witcher gear is a special set of armor and weapons that provide significant bonuses. To earn this achievement, you need to craft every piece of Witcher gear available. This requires gathering specific materials and completing crafting quests. Refer to the crafting recipes and ensure you collect the necessary components to craft each item.
Exploration Achievements
1. “Explorer”
Description: Discover all the locations in the game.
Strategy: The world of The Witcher 3 is vast and filled with hidden locations. To earn this achievement, you must explore every region and discover all marked locations on the map. Use fast travel points, explore new areas, and complete exploration-related quests to uncover all locations.
2. “Treasure Hunter”
Description: Find all the hidden treasures in the game.
Strategy: Hidden treasures are scattered throughout the game world and often require solving puzzles or completing specific tasks to access. To unlock this achievement, follow treasure hunt quests, search for hidden chests, and explore areas off the beaten path. Use maps and guides to locate all treasure spots.
3. “The Path of the Wolf”
Description: Find and complete all the hidden Wolf School Gear diagrams.
Strategy: Wolf School Gear is a set of high-quality armor and weapons associated with the Wolf School. To earn this achievement, you need to find and complete all the hidden diagrams for this gear. Follow clues, complete related quests, and explore specific locations to uncover all the diagrams.
Miscellaneous Achievements
1. “The Bounty Hunter”
Description: Capture all the bandit leaders.
Strategy: Bandit leaders are powerful enemies found in various locations. To earn this achievement, you need to defeat and capture every bandit leader in the game. Pay attention to bandit camps and strongholds, and engage in combat to capture these leaders.
2. “A Family Matter”
Description: Complete the quest “Family Matters” and make a significant decision.
Strategy: “Family Matters” is a side quest involving complex choices. To unlock this achievement, complete the questline and make key decisions that impact the outcome. The choices you make during this quest can influence the story and affect the achievement.
3. “The Last Wish”
Description: Make a wish and see it come true.
Strategy: This achievement is tied to a specific quest or event in the game that involves making a wish. To unlock this achievement, complete the related quest or encounter and ensure you make a wish that leads to a notable outcome.
Strategies for Earning Achievements
1. Plan Your Approach
Set Goals: Determine which achievements you want to prioritize based on your playstyle and preferences. Set specific goals for each achievement and plan your approach accordingly.
Use Guides and Maps: Refer to guides and maps to help you locate hidden items, treasure spots, and quest objectives. This will streamline your progress and ensure you don’t miss important details.
2. Complete Quests and Tasks Efficiently
Focus on Objectives: Pay close attention to quest objectives and requirements for each achievement. Complete tasks efficiently to avoid unnecessary backtracking and ensure you meet all criteria.
Monitor Progress: Regularly check your progress toward achieving specific goals. Use the in-game journal and achievement tracker to stay informed about your accomplishments and remaining tasks.
3. Utilize Game Mechanics
Explore Thoroughly: Take advantage of the game’s exploration mechanics to uncover hidden locations, treasure, and enemies. Thorough exploration is key to earning many achievements.
Master Combat: Improve your combat skills and strategies to tackle difficult challenges and enemies. Mastering combat mechanics will help you unlock achievements related to defeating foes and completing difficult quests.
4. Seek Help When Needed
Consult Forums and Communities: If you encounter difficulties with specific achievements, consult online forums and communities for tips and strategies. Other players’ experiences and advice can provide valuable insights.
Watch Tutorials: Watch video tutorials and walkthroughs to see how other players have achieved their goals. Visual guides can help you understand complex tasks and provide step-by-step instructions.
Conclusion
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offers a vast array of achievements that add depth and replayability to the game. By following the strategies and tips outlined in this guide, you can efficiently work toward unlocking all achievements and fully experiencing the game’s content.
From completing main quests and side activities to mastering combat and exploration, achievements provide additional goals and challenges for players. Whether you’re aiming to finish the main storyline, collect every item, or conquer the toughest difficulty settings, this guide will help you navigate the complex world of The Witcher 3 and achieve your objectives.
With dedication and strategic planning, you can earn all the achievements in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and enjoy a comprehensive and rewarding gaming experience. Explore every corner of the game, master its mechanics, and uncover all the secrets it has to offer.