The Witcher 3 resumes Geralt's story after the events of The Witcher 2, which finds the Northern Realms under attack by a Nilfgaardian occupation force. He recieves a mysterious letter from his former lover, the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg. Geralt sets off on a quest to find Yennefer that will span continents and reunite him with his lost protege Ciri.

The Witcher 3 is an enormous game that features open-world exploration, side quests, main quests, crafting, alchemy, and Gwent, a popular card game. There are a lot of activities to do in the game and you can easily spend 100+ hours on the extra content on top of the main quests.

In your travels, Geralt will gain ability points (both by leveling up, and discovering Places of Power for the first time). You will be able to spend these ability points on Character Abilities, which can be customized and improved to customize your ideal Witcher.

First you will have to unlock a desired skill from one of the four trees: Combat, Signs, Alchemy, or General. Once you have unlocked a skill, you will then need to apply it on the diagram on the right. You will only have so many slots open to you (A total of 12 ability slots and 4 mutagen slots) which means that you will either need to be very careful about how you build Geralt, or remember to swap out skills to properly meet each challenge you face.

What Is a Place of Power?

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A Place of Power is a relic left over from the Conjunction of the Spheres, a powerful cosmic shift that opened the world to the use of magic. These runestones can be discovered all across White Orchard, Velen, Novigrad and the Skellige Isles.



When Geralt draws power from these stones, he will receive a buff that greatly increases the intensity of a specific Sign. Additionally, the first time a player discovers and draws from a place of power, they will be granted one Ability Point as a bonus. To do this, simply press and keeping holding the button (or E key on PC) until the power is activated. If a player manages to have all five Sign buffs active simultaneously, they will unlock the Power Overwhelming Achievement / Trophy.

Signs are magical glyphs which a Witcher or spell-caster may weave (or incant) to conjure a variety of effects. Some signs are used primarily in overt combat while others are used in non-combat roles. Geralt has mastered five signs to use on his travels around the world.

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Igni

The sigil of combustion. Used to ignite flammable material. This spell is essentially a standard fireball spell, doing first to third degree burns. Un-flammable enemies (like gargoyles and golems) may not remain alight as long as flammable enemies.

Sorcerers have been known to increase the potency of this sigil to call forth fire from the heavens.

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Aard

Aard is a powerful blast which staggers and pushes away opponents, doing a small amount of damage as well. When used quickly, witchers send a kinetic blast at a single enemy or a wave of kinetic energy on a group. When charged, a witcher can use aard to send kinetic waves through and over the ground entirely around them, toppling enemies in its wake.

Aard often is able to stun, but is more likely to knock over foes.

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Axii

The Axii sign is a magical ability that allows witchers to temporarily stun, when used quickly, or control, when used in duration, their enemies. Stunning an enemy allows a witcher to bring their guard down while using it as mind control has the foe let their guard down or attack their allies.

Axii is also a social sign for witcher, allowing them to influence people in conversations, but it's not always the best choice. Other people will notice when you use Axii on someone and those whom are strong willed are able to resist it, sometimes getting a witcher into more trouble than they needed. Use it well.

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Quen

When a witcher casts the Quen sign, he casts a protective field around himself that will take damage in the place of the witcher himself. This sign is highly defensive and can be used to help counter, as well as a better form of defence than guarding with a sword.

If Quen is active, the shield will fully protect Gerald from at least one strike. So, the shield can absorb the full strength of a strike that is more powerful than the shield. Because of this trait, casting Quen is invaluable when facing high damage wielding opponents. Note however, that later in the game (particularly in the expansions) enemies have the ability to strike multiple times before you can re-cast Quen.

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Yrden

Yrden is a trap sign used by witchers to ensnare monsters of both the magical kind and the human. Depending on how you use it, it can be used as an immobilising force or an area of effect spell that slows your enemies when they move through it

It is used as a stationary field on the ground.

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In the Witcher series, the study of alchemy can create powerful offensive and defensive concoctions that can bring an advantage into battles. Alchemy isn't only used by witchers, but also by a sizable amount of the world's populace. By synthesizing herbs, monster parts, and other ingredients, Geralt can bolster his combat effectiveness. Alchemy's major strength is giving the player an edge in a specific encounter by increasing a certain stat or ability to match which fighting style is needed. Players can craft potions, oils, and bombs.

General Info

In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, potions, bombs, and weapon oils are all crafted from materials players will find in their travels. Lesser, more common mutagens can also be combined to increase their strength.

Once he crafts an alchemical substance or compound, Geralt holds a limited supply of each on-hand which can be replenished during meditation provided strong alcohol (or another requisite material) is present in his inventory. The default alcohol used for the replenishment of potions in meditation is alcohest; if this is unavailable, another type of alcohol would be used. The limit of on-hand supply can be increased by finding higher-level formulae (e.g. enhanced or superior versions), or by selecting the relevant character upgrades in the alchemy branch.

All alchemical creations are based on formulas that are discovered via scrolls, word of mouth, and a myriad other means. Recipes can often be found in treasure chests, bought from alchemists, or obtained from certain books. Note that merchants will only sell recipes that you don't yet possess, and are therefore a good way to fill in the blanks in your alchemical knowledge. To successfully execute these recipes, Geralt must utilize items and compounds foraged, bought or otherwise crafted and be of the requisite level.

Note, unlike crafting equipment (and related materials), alchemy can be done by Geralt himself at any time without having to be at a corresponding craftsman.

The Witcher 3 boasts one of the most intricate combat mechanics in the genre, and as part of the Next-Gen Update, CD Projekt Red has added a much-needed quality-of-life change to the sign system. Whether you're brand new to the game or are returning for the update, odds are you'll benefit significantly from utilizing the Quick Sign Casting option.

Here's what you need to do to enable Quick Sign Casting:

• Pause the game and navigate to the Options tab
  
• From there, click on the Gameplay tab, and under Quick Sign Casting, switch it from Standard Casting to Quick Casting

Once you've enabled Quick Sign Casting, you can cast all 5 of Geralt's signs using their designated buttons:

• Aard - 3 (Keyboard) or R2/RT + X/A (Consoles)
  
• Yrden - 4 or R2/RT + △/Y
  
• Igni - 5 or R2/RT + L2/LT
  
• Quen - 6 or R2/RT + ○/B
  
• Axii - 7 or R2/RT + □/X

The primary benefit of enabling Quick Sign Casting is to eliminate the need to use the Quick Access Menu when casting signs in the middle of combat. Though players on the mouse and keyboard can utilize their scroll wheel to switch between the signs quickly, players on the controller previously needed to change their signs by opening the radial menu.



Not only is using the radial menu while fighting difficult, but it also breaks the immersion of playing as a Witcher—a massive part of the excitement of slaying these monsters is utilizing the different signs needed to defeat them easily.

While Quick Sign Casting might be a familiar feature for some PC players due to the availability of combat mods before the Next-Gen Update, the now permanent feature is a welcome addition. Quick Sign Casting allows PC players to play the game similarly to classic RPG titles, where your skills and abilities are bound to the designated buttons on the keyboard.

During your adventures, Geralt is able to obtain Gear Upgrades that boosts your abilities and signs. Only certain armor and weapons can be upgraded, as noted by empty slots. Once applied, the upgrade can either be removed - destroying the upgrade, and making room for a new upgrade, or the item can be dismantled, and the upgrade returned.

Upgrades

In your travels, Geralt will gain ability points (both by leveling up, and discovering Places of Power for the first time). You will be able to spend these ability points on Character Abilities, which can be customized and improved to customize your ideal Witcher.

There are also several types of Gear Upgrades that can be either bought from merchants, or found in special chests that will let you upgrade and modify your skill set. These can be applied to any gear with a socket, and can also be removed.

As you traverse the wide open lands of the Northern Kingdoms, Geralt will also be able to find or purchase upgrades for his horse, Roach. These Horse Upgrades can change the amount you can carry, let your horse run faster, and more.



Finally, after defeating some of the more fearsome monsters of the land, you will be able to carry the Monster Trophies of creatures you have slain for a Witcher Contract. Equipping one to your saddle will grant Geralt different passive enhancements that can work well alongside particular abilities.

Weapons can be found all over the land, from the bodies of slain foes, inside containers, and sold from certain merchants (though only a Blacksmith can help Geralt forge a weapon if he has the right materials).

Weapons often vary in damage depending on their level, and precise damage and potential bonuses are often random, as is the chance for a weapon to have a slot for Gear Upgrades.

The list below contains information on all weapon types, their base damage, potential bonuses, and crafting requirements (Base Weapon Damage is taken from crafting when applicable)

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt includes several types of Armor that Geralt can customize to his liking. Armor includes the Chest, Gloves, Trousers, and Boots. Armor can often be found in containers around the land, looted off enemies, or purchased from Armorers and sometimes Blacksmiths (though only Armorers can help Geralt craft armor if he has the right Crafting materials.

Use the links below to jump to the armor type you want to learn more about.



Armor comes in three types, Light, Medium, and Heavy. Each offers it's own strengths and weaknesses, especially when combined with certain Character Abilities, as heavier armor will give you more defense, but might not offer as much bonuses to Signs as medium armor.

Armor will also have varying stats, though certain kinds will have fixed types of bonuses, but at varying percentages of defense against certain attacks.

Below is a list of armor, the materials it takes to craft, and more. (Base Armor Rating will be taken from crafting results when applicable)

Geralt can find various crafting schematics and diagrams, which can then be used to create weapons and armor (provided he has the necessary components). Once you have the diagram, you must take it to either a Blacksmith or Armorer who can then craft the desired item for you. Note that only Armorer can craft armor, and Blacksmiths can only craft weapons.

Pieces of Witcher Gear are special Crafting Diagrams that are designed specifically by and for Witchers. These green-labeled items are often upgradable, and are some of the most powerful in the game. They can be found by exploring the open world, completing side quests and purchasing maps from merchants.

There are many things to do in The Witcher 3 apart from the Main Quest. These include Side Quests, Monster Hunts, Horse Races and Gwent. These activities will often yield rewards.

These Witcher 3 walkthroughs will guide you through all of the main story missions across all the major regions and continents and include all the relevant images you'll need to track down unique treasure, locate your objectives, and tips for defeating enemies and bosses alike.

There are many quests in The Witcher 3, and the majority of those are glorious side quests. Most all side quests have a certain recommended level, and many are available only under certain conditions. Some affect other side quests in the area too. Take a look at our walkthrough guides below to navigate each location's unique quests.

Witcher Contracts, also known as Monster Hunts are side quests that Geralt can undertake throughout the game world. These monster hunts will be given out, primarily, in villages, towns, and cities. Smaller contracts will be found on notice boards outside of inns while more major contracts, also possible to find on notice boards, will be given to Geralt by NPCs.

Doing horse races is well worth your time! The saddlebags you earn will let you carry up to 160 items in your inventory, the racing saddles will give your horse more stamina, and with the blinders your horse won't get frightened by monsters so quickly. You will also earn a great deal of money for very little work (the 7th race alone gives you 700 coins and takes only 3 minutes). It's a good way to get some cash early in the game.

Gwent is a collectible card game that simulates two armies meeting on the battlefield. You will always find someone willing to play Gwent in the different towns you visit.

Players are going to explore their open-world RPGs. There are always hidden treasures, side quests just off the beaten trail, and even some secret achievements and trophies in The Witcher 3. But the danger with exploration is coming down with a sudden case of dead or, worse yet, accidentally destroying an item with a miss-click.

While the game's auto-save feature will activate at quest checkpoints and progression milestones, manual saves can do a lot to prevent progress loss. So don't be afraid to open the menu and make a save. It only takes a few moments.

Almost every town and village will have a Notice Board with various missions, contracts, and side quests the player can take on. They can do a lot to point the player in new and exciting directions, even if it's only for small stuff like helping a woman get back into her locked house. For example, some of The Witcher 3's best side quests can be discovered this way. The best part is that, by activating these quests, the player will likely stumble over their starting points after the fact, leading to a lot of organic development and world-building as the player progresses down whichever paths they desire.

Potion crafting is one of the core mechanics of The Witcher 3 and is pretty user-friendly compared to most crafting mechanics. Once Geralt has crafted a tincture or potion, it will stay in his inventory for the rest of the game, although it might run out of uses. But that can be fixed by just purchasing some alcohol and then meditating, as Geralt will use the spirits to refill his potions.

This also dovetails nicely with the easier game difficulties. Meditating in The Witcher 3 restores health and removes toxicity build-up on Easy and Normal Difficulties. It also passes the time, which is useful for quests and missions that require certain times of the day.

As everyone will notice in-game, Geralt runs around with two swords, steel, and silver. These two swords have different effects depending on whether an enemy is a 'mortal' or a 'monster,' and even a high-end weapon can be nerfed into uselessness if used on the wrong enemy. So the player should pay attention to which one they're using, especially in mixed fights. On top of that, they should not stay still.

Too many players in The Witcher 3 die because they tried to stay close to a monster when they really shouldn't have. This is particularly egregious with the ones who try to survive The Witcher 3's Death March difficulty but it is far from limited to them. Unless massively below the player's level, every foe will have strikes taking out large chunks of Geralt's health. Keep that in mind and learn to read telegraphs; the enemy model will tell players when they need to get out of the way.

Witchers are professionals, and professionals plan and go in with the deck stacked in their favor. As this guide has already mentioned, potion crafting is a crucial mechanic in this game. Geralt has a wide array of tools to use against his foes, from potions to bombs, to swords to oils and decoctions, all a part of The Witcher 3's Alchemy system. In addition, the game has a bestiary full of information listing enemies' strengths and weaknesses. Read it, learn it, and put 'gather necessary ingredients' high up on the to-do list.

Like any good RPG, Geralt has a wide skill tree that offers the player many different options on their journey to level 50, and it's a rewarding experience to see their effects on gameplay. Skills are unlocked with skill points -acquired by level up or from places of power, and then can be equipped into one of twelve active slots.

If the player isn't too happy with how they've invested their points, The Witcher 3 allows them to respec their skills with a Potion of Clearance. Not optimal gameplay, especially with the potion's price point, but worth the coin all the same.

As much as it's become a meme, playing Gwent, The Witcher 3's in-game card game, is a fun and reward side experience that does a lot to break up the overall gameplay loop. It's far from required, but RPGs are at their best when players don't stress over much and focus on getting immersed in the game world. It might feel out of place at times, but it parallels the enjoyment of game enthusiasts of both the past and present.

In addition, if the player has a good set of Gwent cards, they can easily make a lot of money challenging and beating other people while moving through The Witcher 3's world.

Part of the joy of The Witcher 3 is that gamers can decide how they want to fight. A perfectly made build is tailored to personal preference but still quite functional. That being said, there are some general guidelines that are wise to follow.

Being able to beat The Toad Prince or other vicious bosses requires some defensive capabilities. Geralt doesn't have to take every defensive point, but starting with Active Shield, Undying, and/or Survival Instinct will enable players to focus on pure offense afterward.

Several of the game's most important decisions hinge on dialogue choices, that's hardly a surprise. but what might be a surprise is that some of these options are completely cut off unless Geralt has invested enough points into his Axii skills.

Not being able to get a good ending on a mission because of a low Axii investment is frustrating. Therefore, make it a point to max out Axii as soon as possible. Its uses in combat are limited, but this is a role-playing game first and foremost.

Many games have crafting systems that are negligible. They provide slight bonuses for a temporary period of time and are good boosts but not worth the tediousness of learning a complicated system. The Witcher 3 is not one of those games.



The bonuses given with alchemy and oils are without parallel. The boosts are about as valuable as the unique and rare armor sets themselves. Without them, beating the game is like trying to battle with one hand tied behind Geralt's back; it's possible, but not smart.

The world in The Witcher 3 is gigantic, but you can't just gallop across the map and expect to arrive at your location in one piece. There are monsters everywhere, and many of them are out to rip you apart. Some of them will be too tough for you to handle in the beginning, because enemies don't scale to your level. This means that each and every creature that you come across will have a set level – it'll stay the same strength whether Geralt's sitting at Level 1 or Level 50 (unless you enable level scaling in the options menu — but this only brings weaker enemies up to your level).

But you shouldn't worry about running into potential challenges. Your trusty steed, Roach, can outrun most enemies at full speed, and thanks to the minimap, you should be able to see monsters as little red dots long before you actually come into contact with them. Unfortunately, you won't be able to actually tell how strong your foe is until you get close enough to see their health bar – so if you're not really sure what you're up against, always have a backup plan. Be ready to run, bring a good few healing items, and quickly cast quen (a sign which gives you a temporary protective shield).

This is not a guide that is meant to spoil anything or take away from player choice. If players enjoy seeing the random results from slight decisions unfold, then feel free to do so. But there is a consensus "best" ending in The Witcher 3 and getting it requires making some non-intuitive choices at key moments.

• Suggest an activity to lift Ciri's spirits
  
• Go to Velen instead of visiting the Emperor
  
• Have Ciri go alone to the Lodge of Sorceresses
  
• Let Ciri wreck the laboratory
  
• Make time for Ciri to visit the grave

These are among the most important decisions Geralt will make, even if they seem small at the moment.

Throughout the game, Geralt has a few romance options, but there are two main ones: Yennefer and Triss. It's tempting to try and romance both. Don't. The Witcher 3's ending includes an epilogue based on Geralt's love life and the "romance both" outcome is not positive. Romancing neither is also less than ideal.



To help make a decision, turn to the game's glossary, which contains character descriptions, or the many excellent Witcher resources online. There are many well-written character summaries and these should make the differences between Geralt's two paramours pretty clear.

As for Geralt's other romance options, don't worry. They won't affect the epilogue, so feel free to stop by a brothel or engage in intimate relations with Keira or any of the lesser-known evil NPCs without worrying about the consequences.

The Witcher 3 has many different levels of gear (common, magic, master, and relic), but the best is so-called Witcher gear, which has a green background on the inventory menu. This is the rarest armor in the game and can be useful eventually even if it looks bad when initially received.

Unlike other items, Geralt can upgrade Witcher gear. Sometimes, he'll even need to be wearing a piece of Witcher gear to craft something new. It might be extra weight, but it's worth lugging all of the items around, just in case. Sell skins to lighten the load, but keep the Witcher gear around.

Roach is probably your best partner in the game, though it can get tiresome to always have to keep an eye on its stamina if you’re galloping. If you’re on a road, however, just double tap the designated button and Roach will just keep moving forward on its own - just move left or right from time to time to keep on the right track, and the rest will be automatic without the loss of stamina.

There are so many moments when players will finish a string of side quests and wish they did everything differently. Putting aside the rare gamers that enjoy the unintended negative outcomes of their questing, it's best to save before starting these questlines and do it over again if things go south. It makes for a more wholesome playthrough.

In addition to redoing choices, there is a difficulty element to consider. Players can get stuck in situations where Geralt's outmatched before they realize it. If the player's saves don't go far enough back, the only way out is restarting the entire campaign.

Throughout The Witcher 3's world, raw alchemy ingredients can be found just about everywhere. From flower petals to fruit, and monster limbs to crystal dust, you can spend hours just running around and filling your pockets with everything that you lay your eyes on. However, we'd advise against doing this for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's not very fun. Secondly, you really don't need all of those ingredients. By all means, grab a few flowers as you walk through a meadow, but a handful is enough.

Alchemy in Wild Hunt has been streamlined, in that you only need to create a potion once for it to stay in your inventory. Every time that you brew up one of Geralt's main tinctures, it'll likely start off with two or three uses, depending on the potion. Drink the formula three times, and it's all gone, but worry not – you can refill your flask quite easily. All you need to do is make sure that you have some sort of alcohol in your inventory. Then, when you meditate, you'll automatically use that alcohol to restock your potions. Nifty, eh?

Ah, good old grinding. In role-playing games of old, the grind was all but a necessity if you wanted to progress. Come up against a boss that's too tough? Best head back to the world map and slaughter hundreds of enemies in order to level up a few times. As the years have ticked on, grinding has slowly been phased out – at least when it comes to most Western RPGs. Many titles now employ systems like enemy level scaling, but without such workings in The Witcher 3, does that mean you have to grind for experience points?

The answer to that question is no. While there will be some quests and monsters that you may find too difficult at your current level, never be disheartened. Going out into the woods and killing the same pack of wolves day after day will net you a pitiful amount of experience, so you're better off just finding and completing quests that are sitting at or around your level. And, although there'll be times when it seems like all of the quests that you're stumbling across are beyond your capabilities, don't give up. There's almost always something on the map, or a quest that you've missed, that's tailored specifically to your level – you've just got to go exploring.

Surviving against deadly monsters is largely a matter of timing in The Witcher 3. Your dodge roll, which is mapped to X, is key when avoiding lunging attacks from big enemies who cover a lot of distance with a single swipe. Meanwhile, your sidestep, which is mapped to circle, is perfect for avoiding smaller blows, like the swing of a bandit's sword or the glob of muck that a water hag's just thrown your way.

Both evasive techniques are crucial in combat, and it's worth pointing out that you can sidestep frequently without much pause, but you shouldn't be jumping and rolling around for the sake of it. Move about too much, and you'll likely be caught by an attack anyway, as Geralt will already be halfway through an animation.

As with your own sword swinging attacks, it's best to evade only when you need to, or when you have to put some space between you and your enemy so that you can catch your breath. It's a bit of a cliché when martial arts masters say that excess movement is a waste, but that age-old teaching definitely applies here. Played right, Geralt is a patient but nimble fighter, always waiting for the right moment to strike.

No, Geralt isn't into meditation purely because it may be deemed the 'cool' thing to do – it's actually an integral part of a Witcher's routine. Meditation takes discipline, and our grizzled protagonist has got bundles of the stuff.

As long as you're not engaged in combat, or taking part in a particularly hectic quest, you can hit L1 at any time to open up the radial menu. From there, push square, and you'll be taken to the meditation menu. Here, you're able to pass the time by meditating – simply set the clock to your desired time, and watch the hours fly by. Not only does meditation let you skip to specific time, but doing it also fully restores your health on everything but the hardest difficulty settings.

This is especially handy when you're delving into a dungeon, and you know that there are more fights ahead. If you've taken a beaten already, get that meditation menu open and close your eyes for an hour – when you wake up, you'll be back to full vitality.

Once you get to Novigrad, and a few other major cities, look for a shop that has giant scissors on the front door. For a small fee, a barber will change Geralt’s hair and beard style independently, with different options available if you activated the corresponding free DLC. This is great to give Geralt a fresh look, or to trim his beard whenever it gets too long after a few in-game weeks.

The Witcher 3's got a pretty standard crafting system, but the good part is that ingredients and materials don't weigh anything. And so, if you're weighed down by crappy weapons that you've picked from the bodies of bandits, or inefficient armour that you've nabbed from a treasure chest in the heart of an ancient ruin, your first port of call should be the nearest blacksmith.

It's more than likely that the equipment that you're carrying around isn't worth much coin, so your best bet is to have it all dismantled. By taking your unwanted gear apart, you'll acquire the components that it's made up of. Dismantle a sword and you'll get a hunk of metal and a wooden haft, for example, and then you can reuse these bits and pieces when you want to forge a better weapon later down the line.

During your first few hours in Geralt's shoes, you may feel like you're getting the snot kicked out of you by just about everyone and everything. That's natural in an RPG – but Geralt's supposed to be a total badass, right? Well, the fact of the matter is that yes, Geralt is indeed a badass – it's you that's the problem.

Emerging victorious over your enemies is as much about prior knowledge as it is raw skill. The first time you fight a griffin, you're probably going to have trouble, but that battle is a learning experience. You now know its attack patterns, what magic works best, and when it leaves itself wide open to your strikes, and the next time that you come across one of the winged buggers, you'll be ready.

It's times like these where it's a good idea to consult your bestiary. Found under the glossary tab on the touch pad menu, the bestiary shows the weaknesses of any monster that you've previously slain or have prior knowledge of. You may feel somewhat weak and vulnerable in the beginning, but you will get better – trust us on this one.

Speaking of combat, Geralt can also perform a parry that can be hit or miss depending on the enemy, but it’s still worth your attention. During fights, the white wolf can block incoming attacks with his swords. Depending on the timing, he can trigger a parry and deny all damage. The trick is when to do it...

If you're having trouble with the timing of a good parry, a good tip is that as you’re holding down the block button, wait until an enemy’s name turns red - indicating they're about attack - and then lift your finger and press it again quickly right before the strike lands. Even if you miss you should still get a block.

Just remember not everything can be parried, and the skill is best used on enemies at a similar or lower height to Geralt.

Weight is a crucial part of The Witcher 3, and getting over encumbered with resources and gear can be a pain. Luckily, Roach can give a helping hoof with saddlebags to lighten the load. They aren’t easy to find, but they’re worth the investment to increase your inventory limit early on - look for a quest concerning horse races near to Crow’s Perch, in which you’ll obtain one as reward.

Who would have thought it – a game that's packed full of smart and deadly monsters is actually pretty tough at times. Boss enemies can be a real pain in the neck without proper preparation, groups of smaller foes can overwhelm you if you're not careful, and over levelled beasts can topple your confidence in an instant.

If you've hit a brick wall, know that it's never worth getting frustrated. You've bought this release with your own money – and you're here to enjoy it. If you're having real trouble and the fun's slowly seeping away, head into the options menu and change the difficulty. On the easiest setting, dubbed 'just the story', you'll take much less damage from enemies while dealing out a lot more punishment. Things can still be tricky at times, and you'll still need to make use of timely dodges and magic, but if you're inexperienced with action games, or you're simply struggling to find your footing, it's a well balanced difficulty that's perfect for learning the ins-and-outs of combat.

You can switch the difficulty at any time – although doing so will null any difficulty-related Trophies – so experiment and see which setting suits you best. As we've mentioned countless times now, The Witcher 3 is a huge RPG, so it's best to get comfortable early on so that you enjoy the ride.