The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in The Witcher 3

You are Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter, searching for Ciri across a war-torn world. Pick a difficulty that suits you: Just the Story and Story and Sword favour the narrative, while Blood and Broken Bones and Death March are tougher. Read notice boards you pass, since they can start contracts and quests nearby.

Core Mechanics to Master

Signs are Geralt's magic: Igni (fire), Aard (telekinetic blast that staggers or knocks down enemies), Quen (protective shield), Axii (mind influence) and Yrden (trap that slows enemies inside it). Aard's stagger chance rises with the Aard Intensity skill. Oils on your sword help against specific monster types; check the Bestiary. Potions are drunk from your inventory or quickslots and add Toxicity; meditating for at least one hour with strong alcohol in your inventory refills potions, decoctions and bombs.

Skills

Skills are bought with points and slotted into the skill bar. Aard Intensity raises sign intensity by 5% per level (up to 25%), Shock Wave raises Aard's damage, and Far-Reaching Aard adds range. Choose skills that match how you fight: sword builds, Sign builds or alchemy builds.

Essential Tips

1. Check the Bestiary before a contract to learn the monster's weaknesses.
2. Try Gwent. Merchants sell cards and it is playable across the world.
3. The Bloody Baron storyline is the main quest “Family Matters” in Velen (suggested level 6 on Fextralife).
4. Watch Toxicity. You cannot drink a potion that would push you past your maximum, and going above 75% by default drains health.

Early Monster Contract: The Noonwraith (Devil by the Well)

The Devil by the Well contract in White Orchard is an early monster contract against a noonwraith. Per the Fextralife wiki, its weaknesses include Yrden, Moon Dust, Specter oil and Dimeritium. The noonwraith blinds you, creates mirror images that drain your life while they are close, and can turn invisible or teleport; hitting a mirror image once dispels it. She hits hard and uses lunge attacks that stagger you. Casting Yrden traps her, so she takes extra damage and slows down. The suggested approach is a three-hit combo, dodging her counterattack, casting Yrden as she approaches and repeating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I play Witcher 1 and 2 first?
A: Not required. Witcher 3 stands on its own, and the in-game journal covers the background.

Q: Is there DLC?
A: Two expansions: Hearts of Stone (13 October 2015) and Blood and Wine (31 May 2016). A third, Songs of the Past, is scheduled for 2027. A Remastered edition was released on 29 September 2026 for Windows, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2, free for existing owners.

Q: When should I start the expansions?
A: Check the recommended level shown in the quest journal for each expansion before you start.

Q: How long is a full playthrough?
A: We could not verify a reliable figure for this page.