Character Progression — The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Guide

Learn character progression for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Invest skill points in Combat, Signs, Alchemy, and General Skills to enhance Geralt's abilities.

Character progression in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt involves earning experience points (XP) to level up Geralt, which grants Skill Points. These points are then invested in four distinct skill trees: Combat, Ss, Alchemy, and General Skills, to unlock and enhance Geralt's abilities, making him a more formidable monster slayer.

As you journey through the vast world of The Witcher 3, Geralt will gain experience points (XP) through various activities. Completing quests, both main and secondary, along with Witcher Contracts, is the primary source of XP. Engaging in smaller tasks like clearing Abandoned Settlements, successfully using the Axii s during conversations, or even bribing individuals can also contribute to your XP gain. Each level gained rewards you with a valuable Skill Point, essential for customizing Geralt's capabilities.

The XP required for each level increases as Geralt progresses. From levels 1 to 10, you'll need 1,000 XP per level. This requirement rises to 1,500 XP per level for levels 11 through 20, and from level 21 onwards, each level demands 2,000 XP. The current level cap for Geralt is 70, which is achievable only after completing the game and starting a New Game Plus playthrough.

Skill Points and Skill Trees

Skill Points are primarily earned by leveling up Geralt. However, a single Skill Point can also be obtained by discovering and activating a Place of Power for the first time. Keep an eye out for these mystical locations scattered throughout the world, as they offer a significant boost to your character development.

These Skill Points are then strategically invested in one of four Skill Trees, each offering a unique set of enhancements:

• Combat Skills: This tree focuses on improving Geralt's prowess in melee and ranged combat. Abilities here can unlock new attack maneuvers, increase damage output, bolster Geralt's resilience with enhanced armor and health, and passively boost Adrenaline Point generation.
• Ss: Investing in the Ss tree amplifies the effectiveness of Geralt's magical abilities. You can enhance the power, duration, or unlock new functionalities for the five core Ss: Aard, Axii, i, Quen, and Yrden. This tree also provides a passive bonus to Stamina regeneration in combat.
• Alchemy: This tree is dedicated to mastering the art of potions, bombs, and oils. It allows you to brew more potent concoctions, reduce their Toxicity, increase your overall Toxicity tolerance, and speed up Toxicity recovery. Abilities here also offer a passive bonus to Potion Duration.
• General Skills: The General Skills tree is smaller than the others but offers a diverse range of useful perks. These include boosts to Health and Armor, a minor health regeneration ability, and enhancements to crossbow effectiveness and Adrenaline generation.

Mutagens

Mutagens are special items dropped by defeated monsters, offering significant passive bonuses. They come in three tiers:

• Lesser Mutagens: Dropped by common monster types.
• Mutagens: Can be crafted by combining three Lesser Mutagens of the same type.
• Greater Mutagens: Obtained from more powerful and unique creatures, often found during Witcher Contracts.

Mutagens can be slotted into Geralt's character menu to provide passive stat boosts. They also serve as the core ingredient for crafting powerful Decoctions. The color of the Mutagen corresponds to specific gameplay attributes, and their effectiveness increases with the Mutagen's level.