The Witcher 3: 10 things we wish we'd known on our first playthrough
Signs, oils, meditation and the side quests you shouldn't leave for later. A spoiler-free guide for your first steps on the Continent.
The Witcher 3 doesn’t explain much. It drops you into White Orchard with a sword, a horse and a question mark, and expects you to figure out the rest. Its first hours can feel overwhelming: menus full of ingredients, a combat system that punishes button-mashing, a map covered in icons and a story that doesn’t wait for you.
These are the tips we’d give any friend starting out. They’re spoiler-free — no story details, just systems, habits and advice that will make your first journey across the Continent smoother and more enjoyable.
1. Quen is your best friend
Geralt has five Signs, simple spells cast with a button:
- Aard: a telekinetic blast that staggers or knocks down enemies.
- Igni: a burst of fire that damages and can set enemies alight.
- Yrden: a magic trap that slows enemies and is essential against spectres.
- Quen: a shield that absorbs damage.
- Axii: a mind trick that can stun enemies or influence conversations.
Of the five, Quen is the one that will save you most often early on. It absorbs a hit — sometimes more, depending on your upgrades — giving you room to make mistakes. Cast it before every fight and recast it whenever it breaks. Many experienced players keep it up almost constantly.
As you progress, experiment with the others: Igni is devastating against groups, Yrden is vital against certain monsters, and Axii can open new dialogue options.
2. Read the bestiary
Every monster has weaknesses: a specific oil, Sign, bomb or potion. The bestiary, found in your glossary, tells you what works against each creature once you’ve encountered or read about it.
Before a contract, open the bestiary entry, apply the right oil to your silver sword and prepare the right Sign or bomb. On higher difficulties, it’s the difference between a clean fight and a dozen reloads. On lower difficulties, it still makes fights quicker and more satisfying.
Reading books found in the world can also unlock bestiary entries, so pick them up.
3. Meditation refills your potions
Once you’ve crafted a potion, oil or bomb, you don’t need to craft it again. Meditating refills them, as long as you carry strong alcohol such as Dwarven Spirit or Alcohest. Each time you meditate, one bottle is used to refill your alchemy items.
Keep a few bottles in your inventory at all times. Buy them from merchants or craft them, and never sell them. It’s one of the most useful mechanics in the game, and many players don’t discover it until much later.
Meditation also lets you pass time, which is useful for quests that only happen at certain hours and for restoring health on lower difficulties.
4. Don’t leave side quests for later
Quests have a recommended level. If you complete a quest far below your current level, you’ll get very little experience for it. Many players save side quests “for later”, only to find that they’ve become worthless in terms of experience.
Do side quests and contracts as you find them. They’re often better written than the main story anyway, and they’ll keep your level in line with the main quests. The game’s best moments are frequently hidden in side content.
5. Some quests can be missed
The story moves on, and certain quests close once you pass key moments. Characters leave, situations change and opportunities disappear.
As a rule of thumb: if a quest seems to involve a character or place you’re about to leave behind, finish it first. When the game warns you that you’re about to reach a point of no return, take it seriously — go back and tie up loose ends.
6. Use your witcher senses everywhere
Holding the witcher senses button highlights clues, loot and interactive objects in red. In investigations, it’s mandatory: you’ll follow tracks, examine bodies and find hidden objects.
Outside investigations, it’s the easiest way to find what you’d otherwise miss: herbs, hidden chests, doors and paths. Get into the habit of tapping it whenever you enter a new area.
7. Hunt for witcher gear
The best armour and weapons in the game are often witcher school gear, crafted from diagrams hidden around the world. Each school suits a different playstyle:
- Griffin: Signs and magic.
- Cat: light armour and fast attacks.
- Bear: heavy armour and tankiness.
- Wolf: a balanced, medium-armour set suited to most builds.
- Manticore: alchemy-focused, available in the Blood and Wine expansion.
Each set has several tiers, which you upgrade by finding new diagrams as you level up. Hunting for them takes you to interesting locations and gives you a sense of progression. Look for scavenger hunt quests in your journal.
8. Not every merchant pays the same
Prices vary by merchant and region. Some general tips:
- Sell to specialists: armourers buy armour, blacksmiths buy weapons, herbalists buy herbs.
- Merchants run out of money: their funds replenish over time, so spread your sales around.
- Break down junk: unless you need money, dismantling unwanted items gives you crafting components.
- Don’t sell everything: some components are rare and useful for crafting witcher gear.
- Repair kits: keep some for your gear, or use armourers and blacksmiths to repair it.
Money can be tight early on, but it becomes much easier later. Avoid spending all your coin on items you’ll replace quickly.
9. Play Gwent early
Gwent is the in-world card game, and it’s a whole side activity of its own. Many players dismiss it at first and later fall in love with it.
Some of the best cards come from winning against specific characters or completing Gwent quests. Start collecting early, in Velen and Novigrad, and it will be much easier later. Buy cards from merchants and innkeepers whenever you can.
Gwent is optional, but it’s one of the most popular parts of the game — popular enough that it later got its own standalone release.
10. Pick a difficulty you’ll enjoy
The game offers four difficulty levels:
- Just the Story: for players who want to focus on narrative.
- Story and Sword: a balanced experience.
- Blood and Broken Bones!: a real challenge, requiring preparation.
- Death March!: the hardest, where preparation, oils and potions are essential.
On Death March!, the game becomes a demanding action RPG where every fight requires thought. On lower difficulties, you can focus on the story and exploration. Neither is the “right” way, and you can change difficulty at any time from the options.
Bonus tips
- Use your horse: call Roach with a whistle and use the canter and gallop to travel quickly. Fast travel points are signposts on the map.
- Don’t fight everything: some enemies are far above your level. If something kills you in two hits, come back later.
- Upgrade your skills sensibly: focus on one or two skill trees rather than spreading points thinly. Mutagens boost skills of matching colours.
- Read and listen: notes, letters and conversations add enormous depth to the world.
- Take breaks: it’s a huge game. Enjoy it at your own pace.
Final thoughts
The Witcher 3 rewards curiosity and preparation. The more you learn about its systems, the more it opens up — and the more you notice the care that went into its world and its stories.
Once you’ve settled in, check out our essential mods for a second playthrough, and if you want the bigger picture, read our trilogy retrospective.
