Controls & UI — The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Guide

Explore detailed controls, combat techniques, magical signs, and alchemy in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Master Geralt's abilities for effective gameplay.

This guide covers the essential controls and user interface elements for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, helping you master Geralt's abilities in combat and exploration.

Melee Combat

• Geralt uses a Silver Sword for monsters and a Steel Sword for humanoids.
• Fast/Heavy Attacks: Light attacks are faster but weaker; heavy attacks are slower but stronger. Heavy attacks are best used on stunned or unaware enemies.
• Combat Skill Tree Enhancements: Fast Attack and Heavy Attack tabs allow for increased critical strike chance, bleeding effects, and damage.
• Special Abilities:
  • Whirl: A spinning area-of-effect attack.
  • Rend: An armor-piercing overhead slash dealing massive damage.

Ranged Combat

• Geralt has a crossbow for ranged attacks. Time slows slightly when aiming.
• Ammo Types: Different bolts can be crafted with various effects and damage bonuses.
• Combat Skill Tree Enhancements: The Marksmanship tab can enhance slow-motion aiming, critical hit damage, and enemy ability disabling.

Finisher Attacks

• A button prompt appears when an enemy is weakened, triggering a stylish execution.
• Automatic finishers are enabled by default but can be toggled off in the menu. Recommended to disable on higher difficulties.

Avoiding Attacks

• Blocking: Nullifies most standard melee attacks. Less effective against poison, fire, or magical damage.
• Staggering: Timing a block just before an enemy attack deflects it and stuns the enemy, leaving them open for a counterattack. Only works against melee attacks.
• Dodging: A quick side/back step to evade attacks while maintaining close proximity. Useful for unblockable attacks and creating counterattack opportunities.
• Rolling: Moves Geralt further away from the enemy. Less useful against humanoids but effective against large bosses with area-of-effect attacks.
• Combat Skill Tree Enhancements: The Defence tab offers additional defensive abilities.
• Deflect Arrows: Timing a block just before an arrow or bolt hits deflects it.

Magical Signs

• Signs consume Geralt's Stamina Bar (circular bar below health).
• All five Signs are available from the start. Upgrades are available in the Sign Skill Tree.
• AARD: A force push that can knock down or stagger enemies. Can also destroy weak walls outside of combat.
• AXII: Temporarily stuns human/monster/beast enemies. Can be used in conversations to influence outcomes or calm animals.
• IGNI: A fire wave that damages enemies and can set them on fire, causing damage over time and stunning them. Can be used out of combat to light torches.
• QUEN: Creates a protective magical barrier that drastically improves defense. Drains Stamina while active.
• YRDEN: Creates a magical trap on the ground that slows enemies and pulls ethereal creatures into a physical form.

Alchemy, Potions, Oils and Bombs

• Recipes can be bought, found, or received as quest rewards.
• Once crafted, Geralt remembers the recipe and automatically replenishes items upon meditating if you have sufficient alcohol.
• Bombs: Equippable like grenades with various effects.
• Potions: Offer buffs and advantages. Increase Geralt's Toxicity Bar, which can cause health loss if filled too much.
• Oils: Temporarily enhance weapons, often for specific enemy types.
• Decoctions: Special potions providing bonus attributes against specific enemy types. Often found near new enemy encounters.
• Alchemy Reagents: Some reagents, like Mutagens, can be crafted for enhancing abilities.

Advanced Combat Tips

• Environmental Attacks: Utilize the environment with signs. Use AARD to push enemies off ledges or destroy beehives with IGNI.