The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is renowned for its expansive open world, intricate narrative, and deep role-playing elements. Central to its gameplay is the ability to customize Geralt of Rivia, the protagonist, through various builds that cater to different playstyles. A well-optimized build can transform the game’s difficulty and enhance the overall experience. This comprehensive guide explores the best builds for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, offering insights into the most effective strategies, skills, and equipment for each build type.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Builds in The Witcher 3
In The Witcher 3, builds refer to the specific allocation of skill points, gear, and playstyle choices that define how Geralt performs in combat and interacts with the game world. Builds can be tailored to emphasize various aspects of gameplay, including combat prowess, magic, alchemy, or a balanced approach.
Core Components of a Build
- Skills: Abilities and perks that Geralt can acquire through the skill tree. Skills are divided into three main categories: Combat, Signs, and Alchemy.
- Gear: Weapons and armor that enhance Geralt’s abilities and provide specific bonuses. Gear can include swords, armor sets, and accessories.
- Potions and Decoctions: Alchemical substances that provide temporary boosts, healing, and other effects during combat.
- Tactics: The strategic approach to combat and exploration based on the build’s strengths and weaknesses.
Best Builds for The Witcher 3
1. The Berserker Build
Overview: The Berserker Build focuses on maximizing Geralt’s damage output and melee combat effectiveness. This build prioritizes aggressive combat strategies, high damage, and survivability through armor and health boosts.
Skills
- Combat Skills:
- Fight While Overweight: Allows Geralt to fight effectively while carrying more weight.
- Rend: A powerful strong attack that deals significant damage and can break enemy defenses.
- Whirl: A spinning attack that hits multiple enemies, useful for crowd control.
- Crippling Strike: Increases the chance of causing bleeding and deals bonus damage to enemies affected by bleeding.
- Signs Skills:
- Quen Shield: Provides a protective shield that absorbs damage, enhancing survivability in close combat.
- Igni: The fire sign that deals area-of-effect damage, useful for inflicting burn damage and crowd control.
- Alchemy Skills:
- Acquired Tolerance: Increases the number of potions Geralt can consume, allowing for more frequent use of beneficial alchemical effects.
- Synergy: Boosts the effectiveness of all alchemical substances, enhancing the benefits of potions and decoctions.
Gear
- Armor: The Bear School Gear is ideal for the Berserker Build. It provides high armor values and bonuses to strong attacks and vitality.
- Swords: Focus on Ursine Swords or other high-damage swords with enhancements that increase attack power and critical hit chance.
Potions and Decoctions
- Potions: Thunderbolt for increased damage, Swallow for health regeneration, and Black Blood for enhanced damage against vampires.
- Decoctions: Ekimmara Decoction for increased attack power against enemies with high health, and Forktail Decoction for enhanced strength and defense.
Tactics
- Engage enemies aggressively, using strong attacks and crowd control skills to deal with groups of foes.
- Utilize Quen for defense and Igni for additional area damage.
- Maintain a balance between offense and defense by using potions and decoctions strategically.
2. The Sign Mage Build
Overview: The Sign Mage Build emphasizes the use of magical signs to control the battlefield and deal damage. This build prioritizes the effective use of signs for both offensive and defensive purposes.
Skills
- Combat Skills:
- Delusion: Allows Geralt to use Axii to manipulate enemies, making them allies or causing them to flee.
- Swordmaster: Enhances the effectiveness of Geralt’s swordplay, providing additional damage and critical hit chances.
- Signs Skills:
- Firestream: Enhances the Igni sign, allowing Geralt to unleash a continuous stream of fire.
- Yrden: Creates a magical trap that slows and damages enemies, effective for controlling the battlefield.
- Quen Upgrade: Improves the protective shield provided by Quen, offering better defense and damage absorption.
- Alchemy Skills:
- Cat: Improves night vision, useful for enhancing visibility during night battles.
- Cameran: Increases the effectiveness of potions and decoctions that enhance signs.
Gear
- Armor: Manticore School Gear is ideal for the Sign Mage Build, providing bonuses to sign intensity and stamina regeneration.
- Swords: Focus on swords that enhance sign intensity or offer additional effects, such as Doppler Blade or Kedwenny Blade.
Potions and Decoctions
- Potions: Potion of Clearance for resetting skill points, White Honey for removing negative effects, and Thunderbolt for increased sign damage.
- Decoctions: Wyvern Decoction for improved sign intensity and stamina regeneration.
Tactics
- Use signs to control and damage enemies from a distance, utilizing Igni for area-of-effect damage and Yrden for crowd control.
- Maintain distance from enemies, using Quen for protection and Axii to manipulate or neutralize threats.
- Leverage potions and decoctions to enhance sign effectiveness and stamina regeneration.
3. The Alchemist Build
Overview: The Alchemist Build focuses on maximizing the effectiveness of potions, decoctions, and alchemical substances. This build emphasizes preparation and strategy through alchemy.
Skills
- Combat Skills:
- Acquired Tolerance: Increases the number of potions Geralt can consume.
- Arrow Deflection: Allows Geralt to deflect arrows with his sword, useful for dealing with ranged attackers.
- Signs Skills:
- Elder Blood: Enhances the effectiveness of signs by increasing their intensity.
- Quen: Provides additional protection and damage absorption.
- Alchemy Skills:
- Alchemy Mastery: Increases the effectiveness of all potions and decoctions.
- Synergy: Boosts the benefits of alchemical substances, providing greater enhancements and effects.
- Heightened Tolerance: Allows Geralt to consume more potions without negative effects.
Gear
- Armor: Cat School Gear is ideal for the Alchemist Build, offering bonuses to alchemy and improved potion effects.
- Swords: Focus on swords that enhance alchemical effects or provide additional bonuses, such as Riptide or Zerrikanian Saber.
Potions and Decoctions
- Potions: Swallow for health regeneration, Thunderbolt for increased damage, and Cat for improved night vision.
- Decoctions: Ekimmara Decoction for increased attack power, Forktail Decoction for enhanced strength, and Basilisk Decoction for increased stamina regeneration.
Tactics
- Utilize potions and decoctions strategically to enhance combat effectiveness and survivability.
- Prepare for battles by consuming alchemical substances before engaging enemies.
- Leverage Geralt’s increased potion capacity and effectiveness to maintain an advantage in combat.
4. The Hybrid Build
Overview: The Hybrid Build balances combat, signs, and alchemy, offering versatility and adaptability in various situations. This build is ideal for players who want a balanced approach to gameplay.
Skills
- Combat Skills:
- Whirl: A spinning attack that deals damage to multiple enemies.
- Crippling Strike: Increases the chance of causing bleeding and dealing additional damage.
- Signs Skills:
- Igni: Deals fire damage and provides area-of-effect attacks.
- Yrden: Creates a magical trap that slows and damages enemies.
- Alchemy Skills:
- Acquired Tolerance: Increases potion capacity and effectiveness.
- Synergy: Boosts the benefits of alchemical substances.
Gear
- Armor: Wolf School Gear provides a balance of defense and bonuses to combat, signs, and alchemy.
- Swords: Use a mix of swords that enhance combat and sign effectiveness, such as Gwynbleidd or Tameria Blade.
Potions and Decoctions
- Potions: Swallow for health regeneration, Thunderbolt for increased damage, and White Honey for removing negative effects.
- Decoctions: Wyvern Decoction for enhanced sign intensity, Ekimmara Decoction for increased attack power, and Forktail Decoction for improved strength.
Tactics
- Adapt to different combat scenarios by utilizing a mix of combat skills, signs, and alchemical effects.
- Prepare for battles with a balanced approach, using potions and decoctions to enhance various aspects of Geralt’s abilities.
- Employ a versatile strategy that allows for both offensive and defensive maneuvers.
Optimizing Your Build
To maximize the effectiveness of any build, consider the following tips:
1. Skill Allocation
Maximize Skill Points: Invest skill points into key abilities that align with your chosen build. Prioritize skills that complement your primary combat style, whether it’s melee, magic, or alchemy. For example, in a Berserker Build, focus on strong attack skills and combat bonuses, while in a Sign Mage Build, invest heavily in sign enhancements.
Synergize Skills: Choose skills that work well together. For instance, combining Quen upgrades with damage-boosting skills can create a strong defensive and offensive synergy. Similarly, an Alchemist Build should integrate skills that enhance potion effectiveness with those that increase stamina and tolerance.
Specialize Wisely: Avoid spreading skill points too thin. Specializing in a few key areas will provide greater overall benefits compared to a broad but shallow skillset. For example, a Hybrid Build should find a balance between combat, signs, and alchemy without neglecting any of these core areas.
2. Gear Optimization
Choose Appropriate Gear: Select armor and weapons that enhance the strengths of your build. For example, if you’re focusing on a Sign Mage Build, prioritize gear that boosts sign intensity and stamina regeneration. Conversely, a Berserker Build should prioritize high-damage and heavy armor gear.
Upgrade Gear: Regularly upgrade your gear to maintain effectiveness throughout the game. Use crafting materials to enhance your weapons and armor, and look for opportunities to improve their stats. Upgrading can significantly boost your combat efficiency and survivability.
Use Enhancements: Apply runes and glyphs to your gear to provide additional benefits. For instance, adding runes that increase critical hit chance or damage can enhance a combat-focused build, while glyphs that boost sign intensity can benefit a Sign Mage Build.
3. Potion and Decoction Management
Prepare for Battles: Before engaging in challenging encounters, use potions and decoctions to give yourself an edge. For example, drinking Thunderbolt for increased damage and Swallow for health regeneration can turn the tide in tough fights.
Mix and Match: Experiment with different combinations of potions and decoctions to find the most effective setup for your build. Each potion and decoction has unique effects that can complement your strategy.
Stay Stocked: Always have a supply of essential potions and decoctions on hand. Running out of critical alchemical substances can leave you vulnerable in key moments.
4. Tactical Approaches
Adapt to Enemies: Tailor your tactics based on the enemies you face. Use signs like Yrden to control and slow down powerful foes, or Igni for dealing with groups. In combat-heavy builds, use strong attacks and crowd control to handle multiple enemies efficiently.
Leverage Environmental Factors: Take advantage of environmental elements during combat. Use terrain to your advantage, such as luring enemies into traps or using high ground for strategic positioning.
Monitor and Adjust: Regularly assess your build’s effectiveness and adjust your strategy as needed. If you find certain areas challenging, consider tweaking your skill points, gear, or alchemical preparations to better suit the situation.
Popular Builds in The Witcher 3 Community
1. The Vampire Hunter Build
Overview: This build is designed to excel in combat against vampires and other supernatural creatures. It emphasizes the use of specific gear, skills, and tactics tailored to dealing with these foes.
Skills:
- Aard: Enhanced for better crowd control and knockback effects.
- Quen: Upgraded to provide additional protection against vampire attacks.
Gear:
- Vampire Gear: Includes armor and weapons with bonuses specifically against vampires.
- Silver Sword: Enhanced with runes that increase damage to vampires.
Potions and Decoctions:
- Black Blood: Increases damage against vampires.
- Cat: Improves visibility during nighttime battles.
Tactics:
- Use Quen for protection against vampire attacks.
- Employ Aard and Igni for crowd control and dealing damage to vampire enemies.
2. The Witcher Build
Overview: This build focuses on replicating Geralt’s own abilities and style, using a combination of combat, signs, and alchemy that mirrors his in-game abilities.
Skills:
- Whirl: For effective melee attacks.
- Igni: For fire damage and area control.
Gear:
- Wolf School Gear: Represents Geralt’s default armor set with balanced bonuses.
- Witcher Swords: Standard swords used by Geralt.
Potions and Decoctions:
- Swallow: For health regeneration.
- Thunderbolt: For increased damage output.
Tactics:
- Balance combat skills with sign usage.
- Use potions to enhance performance in various combat scenarios.
Conclusion
Creating the best build in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt involves a thoughtful combination of skills, gear, potions, and tactics that align with your preferred playstyle. Whether you choose to focus on melee combat, magical signs, alchemy, or a balanced hybrid approach, each build offers unique advantages and challenges.
The Berserker Build provides immense damage and survivability through aggressive combat and heavy armor, ideal for players who enjoy close-quarters combat. The Sign Mage Build leverages magical signs for control and damage, perfect for those who prefer a more strategic and versatile approach. The Alchemist Build emphasizes the use of potions and decoctions, allowing players to enhance their abilities and adapt to various combat situations. The Hybrid Build offers a well-rounded experience by combining elements of combat, signs, and alchemy.
By carefully selecting and optimizing your build, you can tailor your gameplay experience in The Witcher 3 to suit your preferences and tackle the game’s challenges with confidence. Experiment with different combinations, stay updated with the latest strategies, and enjoy the rich and immersive world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.