The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt: Complete Walkthrough And Guide

Hey guys! So you're diving into the vast and incredible world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? Awesome choice! This game is massive, with tons of quests, monsters, and secrets to uncover. To help you navigate this epic journey, I've put together a comprehensive walkthrough and guide. Consider this your go-to resource for conquering the Continent.

Getting Started: A Beginner's Guide to The Witcher 3

Before we dive deep into specific quests and areas, let's cover the basics. The Witcher 3 can be a bit overwhelming at first, especially if you're new to the series or RPGs in general. Don't worry, we'll break it down.

Understanding the World and Lore

The Witcher 3 is set in a rich, lore-filled world inspired by Slavic mythology. You play as Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter (a Witcher) for hire. The game's world is in turmoil, with empires clashing, monsters roaming the lands, and ancient prophecies coming to fruition. The story begins with Geralt searching for his adopted daughter, Ciri, who is being hunted by the Wild Hunt, a spectral group of riders.

Essential Tips for New Witchers

Explore Everything: The world is packed with hidden locations, quests, and treasures. Take your time to explore, and you'll be rewarded handsomely. Talk to every NPC; you never know where a quest might be hiding. Don't just stick to the main questline! Side quests often offer some of the best stories and rewards. Plus, they're a great way to level up and prepare for tougher challenges.
Master Combat: Combat in The Witcher 3 is strategic and challenging. Learn to use your signs (magic abilities), potions, and oils effectively. Learn how to dodge, parry, and use your signs effectively. Experiment with different combat styles and find what works best for you. Fast attacks are great for dealing quick damage, while strong attacks are perfect for breaking through enemy defenses. Remember, preparation is key!.
Crafting and Alchemy are Your Friends: Gather ingredients and learn to craft potions, oils, and bombs. These are crucial for taking down tough monsters. Alchemy is incredibly useful in The Witcher 3. Potions can give you temporary buffs, oils can make your weapons more effective against specific monster types, and bombs can deal massive damage. Don't underestimate the power of a well-crafted potion.
Loot Everything (but Be Mindful of Weight): Scavenge everything you can find, but be mindful of your weight limit. Sell excess gear to merchants for cash. Money is crucial for upgrading your gear and crafting supplies. Keep an eye out for valuable items you can sell to merchants. Also, don't forget to dismantle items for crafting components.
Make Choices Wisely: Your decisions have consequences in The Witcher 3. Think carefully before you act, as your choices can drastically affect the story and character outcomes. The choices you make in The Witcher 3 truly matter. They can affect quest outcomes, character relationships, and even the ending of the game. So, think carefully before you make a decision.
Use Witcher Senses: Geralt's Witcher senses are your best friend. Use them to find clues, tracks, and hidden items. They'll highlight important objects and clues in the environment, making exploration much easier. Get used to activating them frequently.
Don't Rush: The Witcher 3 is a game best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Take your time, soak in the atmosphere, and enjoy the journey. There's no need to rush through the main story. Explore the world, complete side quests, and get lost in the game's immersive atmosphere.

Understanding the User Interface

Navigating the UI is crucial. Pay attention to your health bar, stamina bar, toxicity levels, and quest log. The game's menus might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but you'll quickly get the hang of them.

The World Map: Your best friend for navigation. It shows you quest markers, points of interest, and major locations.
The Inventory: Manage your gear, potions, and crafting materials here. Keep an eye on your weight limit.
The Character Panel: Level up your skills, equip new gear, and check your stats.
The Quest Log: Keep track of your active quests and their objectives.
The Alchemy & Crafting Panels: Create potions, oils, bombs, and craft new gear.

The Main Quest Walkthrough: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now, let's get into the main questline. I'll break down the major quests and provide tips for completing them.

Prologue: Kaer Morhen

Kaer Morhen: The game starts with a tutorial sequence in Kaer Morhen, the Witcher stronghold. This section introduces you to the basics of combat, movement, and Geralt's abilities. Pay close attention to the instructions, as they lay the foundation for the rest of the game.

Act I: Finding Yennefer

Lilac and Gooseberries: Your primary goal is to find Yennefer, Geralt's sorceress lover. This quest takes you through White Orchard, a war-torn region with its own share of monsters and problems. Search for Yennefer's trail and unravel the mysteries of White Orchard.
- The Beast of White Orchard: A griffin is terrorizing the area. You'll need to hunt it down with the help of Vesemir. This is an excellent introduction to Witcher contracts and monster hunting. Prepare yourself well, gather information about the Griffin, and craft the necessary potions and oils.

Act II: The Bloody Baron and the Crones

Nilfgaardian Connection: Follow the Nilfgaardian Emperor's lead to find Ciri. This quest will lead you to new areas and introduce you to key characters. The emperor's offer is too good to refuse, so follow the trail and see where it leads.
The Bloody Baron: Investigate the Bloody Baron's family troubles to find clues about Ciri's whereabouts. This questline is one of the most complex and morally ambiguous in the game. Prepare for tough choices and emotional moments. The Bloody Baron's story is a powerful one, filled with tragedy and difficult decisions. Your choices here will have significant consequences.
Ciri's Story: The Race: Experience Ciri's perspective in a flashback sequence. These sequences offer a break from Geralt's gameplay and provide crucial insights into Ciri's character and motivations.
The Crones of Crookback Bog: Delve into the dark and twisted world of the Crones, ancient and malevolent beings who play a significant role in Ciri's story. This questline is creepy and unsettling, but it's also essential for understanding the main plot.

Act III: Novigrad and Skellige

Novigrad: Explore the bustling city of Novigrad, a hub of intrigue, crime, and magic. This is one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the game. Novigrad is a city of endless possibilities, but it's also a dangerous place. Be careful who you trust.
Skellige: Sail to the Skellige Isles, a rugged archipelago with its own unique culture and challenges. Skellige is a breathtakingly beautiful region with its own set of customs and traditions. Explore the islands, complete quests, and uncover the secrets of this ancient land.

Act IV and V: The Isle of Mists and the Final Preparations

The Isle of Mists: Gather your allies and prepare for the final confrontation with the Wild Hunt. This quest is a turning point in the game, and it sets the stage for the final act.
Final Preparations: This is your last chance to complete side quests, craft gear, and level up before the final battle. Make sure you're ready for the challenges ahead. This quest involves gathering allies, completing specific tasks, and making crucial decisions that will impact the game's ending.

Act VI: The Battle of Kaer Morhen and the Final Quest

The Battle of Kaer Morhen: Defend Kaer Morhen against the Wild Hunt in an epic battle. This is one of the most intense and emotional sequences in the game. Prepare for a tough fight, and be ready to make difficult choices.
Final Quest: The final questline leads to one of several possible endings, depending on your choices throughout the game. Each ending offers a unique resolution to the story. Make sure your choices align with your desired outcome.

Side Quests and Witcher Contracts: Expanding Your Adventure

The Witcher 3 is brimming with side quests and Witcher contracts, many of which are just as engaging as the main story. These quests offer unique stories, characters, and rewards. They're also a great way to earn experience and improve your gear.

Types of Side Quests

Witcher Contracts: These are monster-hunting missions you can pick up from notice boards. They often involve investigating monster sightings, researching their weaknesses, and preparing for a challenging fight.
Treasure Hunts: These quests lead you to hidden treasures and powerful gear. They often involve solving riddles, exploring ruins, and battling bandits or monsters.
Character Quests: Many side quests revolve around specific characters you meet throughout the game. These quests can deepen your relationships with these characters and unlock new story paths.
Secondary Quests: These quests are tied to the main story but are not essential for completing it. They often provide additional context and insight into the game's world and characters.

Tips for Side Quests and Contracts

Read Notice Boards: Check notice boards in towns and villages for new contracts and quests.
Investigate Monster Sightings: Talk to locals and gather information about the monsters you're hunting.
Prepare for the Fight: Research monster weaknesses and craft the appropriate potions and oils.
Negotiate Your Price: Don't be afraid to haggle with your clients for a better reward.
Complete Contracts for Gear and Experience: Witcher contracts offer some of the best rewards in the game, including powerful gear and valuable experience.

Combat Guide: Mastering Geralt's Skills

Combat in The Witcher 3 is a blend of swordplay, magic, and alchemy. Mastering Geralt's abilities is crucial for survival.

Sword Fighting

Geralt wields two swords: a steel sword for humans and non-monster enemies, and a silver sword for monsters. Knowing when to use each sword is essential.

Fast Attacks: Quick strikes that deal moderate damage.
Strong Attacks: Slower, more powerful strikes that can break through enemy defenses.
Dodging and Rolling: Use these to avoid enemy attacks. Dodging is a quick sidestep, while rolling is a longer-range evasion.
Parrying: Block enemy attacks with your sword. Parrying requires precise timing but can leave enemies vulnerable to counterattacks.
Counterattacks: After a successful parry, you can launch a counterattack to deal significant damage.

Witcher Signs (Magic)

Geralt can use five magical signs, each with its own unique effects:

Aard: A telekinetic blast that can knock down enemies or break through barriers.
Igni: A fiery blast that can set enemies on fire.
Yrden: A magical trap that slows down enemies and makes them vulnerable to attacks.
Quen: A protective shield that absorbs damage.
Axii: A mind-control sign that can charm enemies or persuade NPCs.

Alchemy and Potions

Potions provide temporary buffs and can be crucial for surviving tough encounters.

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Swallow: Regenerates health over time.
Thunderbolt: Increases attack power.
Tawny Owl: Increases stamina regeneration.
Black Blood: Damages enemies that attack you.
Cat: Allows you to see in the dark.

Oils and Bombs

Oils can be applied to your swords to make them more effective against specific monster types. Bombs can deal massive damage or provide tactical advantages.

Oils: Apply oils to your sword before a fight to deal extra damage to specific monster types. There are oils for beasts, draconids, necrophages, and more.
Bombs: Bombs are powerful explosives that can deal damage, stun enemies, or create other effects. Some useful bombs include Grapeshot (deals damage), Northern Wind (freezes enemies), and Devil's Puffball (creates a poisonous cloud).

Character Development: Leveling Up Geralt

As you level up, you'll earn ability points that you can use to unlock new skills and improve Geralt's combat prowess.

Skill Trees

There are four main skill trees in The Witcher 3:

Combat: Enhances Geralt's sword fighting abilities.
Signs: Improves the effectiveness of Geralt's magical signs.
Alchemy: Boosts the effects of potions, oils, and bombs.
General: Provides passive bonuses to Geralt's stats.

Best Skills to Invest In

Combat: Muscle Memory, Fast Attack, Strength Training
Signs: Igni Intensity, Aard Sweep, Quen Discharge
Alchemy: Heightened Tolerance, Tissue Transmutation, Synergy
General: Sun and Stars, Cat School Techniques

Exploring the World: Regions and Locations

The Witcher 3 features a vast and diverse world, with each region offering its own unique challenges and rewards.

White Orchard

The starting area of the game. White Orchard is a small region with its own share of secrets and dangers. Use this area to get familiar with the game mechanics and explore its hidden corners.

Velen

A war-torn region with swamps, forests, and the ominous Crookback Bog. Velen is a dangerous place, filled with monsters and bandits. It's also home to some of the game's most memorable quests and characters.

Novigrad

A bustling city with a dark underbelly. Novigrad is a hub of intrigue, crime, and magic. It's one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the game.

Skellige Isles

A rugged archipelago with a unique Viking-inspired culture. Skellige is a breathtakingly beautiful region with its own set of customs and traditions. Explore the islands, complete quests, and uncover the secrets of this ancient land.

Tips and Tricks for Advanced Players

Once you've mastered the basics, here are some advanced tips to help you become a true Witcher:

Master the Parry: Parrying is crucial for defeating tough enemies. Learn the timing and use it to your advantage.
Use Oils and Potions Strategically: Don't just use them randomly. Prepare for each fight by applying the appropriate oil and drinking the necessary potions.
Exploit Enemy Weaknesses: Each monster has its own weaknesses. Research them and exploit them to deal extra damage.
Use the Environment: The environment can be your ally. Use Aard to knock enemies off ledges, or Igni to set flammable objects on fire.
Upgrade Your Gear: Keep your gear up to date by crafting new items and finding Witcher gear diagrams.
Explore Question Marks on the Map: These markers often lead to hidden treasures, quests, and encounters.
Play on Death March Difficulty: If you're looking for a challenge, try playing on the Death March difficulty. It will test your skills and make the game even more rewarding.

Conclusion: Your Witcher Journey Awaits

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a masterpiece of storytelling, world-building, and gameplay. I hope this walkthrough and guide has helped you on your journey. Remember to explore, experiment, and most importantly, have fun! The Continent is waiting for you, so grab your silver sword, brew some potions, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure. Happy witching, guys!