Experience and Levelling Up

Learn how Geralt gains experience and levels up in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Invest skill points into Combat, Signs, Alchemy, and General Skills.

In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Geralt gains experience points (XP) by defeating enemies, completing quests, and progressing the story. Each level gained grants a skill point, which can be invested in four distinct skill trees: Combat, Ss, Alchemy, and General Skills, to unlock new abilities and enhance Geralt's effectiveness. The XP required for each level increases as Geralt progresses, with a level cap of 70 achievable in New Game Plus.

Gathering Experience and Levelling Up

As you venture through the war-torn Continent in The Witcher 3, Geralt will accumulate experience points (XP) through various actions. This XP is the primary driver for levelling up, a core RPG mechanic that strengthens Geralt. Upon reaching a new level, you'll be rewarded with a boost to his base attributes and, crucially, a Skill Point. These Skill Points are your currency for unlocking and upgrading abilities across Geralt's diverse skillset.

Sources of Experience (XP)

You can earn XP in The Witcher 3 through the following activities:

• Defeating Enemies: Engaging in combat and vanquishing monsters and human foes is a consistent source of XP.
• Story Progression: Advancing through the main storyline quests will yield significant XP rewards.
• Completing Secondary Quests: Many side quests offer valuable XP upon their successful conclusion.
• Witcher Contracts: These monster-hunting assignments are a reliable way to gain XP and earn coin.
• Side Tasks: Smaller objectives, such as clearing out Abandoned Settlements, also contribute to your XP total.
• Dialogue Choices: Using the Axii s during conversations or bribing individuals can sometimes grant small amounts of XP.

XP Requirements Per Level

The amount of XP needed to advance to the next level increases as Geralt gets stronger. Here's a general breakdown:

• Levels 1-10: Approximately 1,000 XP per level.
• Levels 11-20: Approximately 1,500 XP per level.
• Levels 21+: Approximately 2,000 XP per level.

The current level cap for Geralt is 70. Reaching this cap typically requires completing the game and then starting a New Game Plus playthrough, where you can continue to level up.

Skill Points and Skill Trees

Skill Points are primarily earned by levelling up. However, you can also acquire a single Skill Point each time you discover and activate a Place of Power for the first time. These mystical locations are scattered throughout the world and are well worth seeking out.

Once you have Skill Points, you can invest them within Geralt's character menu into one of four distinct Skill Trees:

• Combat Skills: Focuses on enhancing Geralt's prowess in melee and ranged combat. This tree includes abilities that increase damage, unlock new attack maneuvers, improve armor, and boost health. Investing here also passively increases Adrenaline Point gain.
• Ss: This tree is dedicated to improving Geralt's magical Ss (Aard, Axii, i, Quen, and Yrden). Abilities can increase their effectiveness, extend their duration, or add new functionalities. This tree passively boosts Stamina regeneration in combat.
• Alchemy: Enhances the potency and utility of Bombs, Potions, and Oils. You'll find skills that reduce Toxicity, increase your Toxicity tolerance, and speed up Toxicity recovery. This tree passively increases Potion Duration.
• General Skills: A smaller tree offering several useful passive bonuses. These include boosts to Health and Armor, minor health regeneration, and improvements to crossbow effectiveness and Adrenaline generation.

Mutagens

Mutagens are special items dropped by monsters that can be slotted into your gear to provide stat bonuses. They come in three tiers: Lesser Mutagens (from common enemies), Mutagens (crafted from three Lesser Mutagens), and Greater Mutagens (from more powerful foes).