The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt gives players full control of the protagonist Geralt, a man with a skill set so diverse that it can be unclear which builds are going to serve them best. Essentially players have a nearly limitless number of ways they can customize Geralt. The pure builds, as some call them, are often the best way to begin playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, as Geralt has so many bells and whistles at his disposal that its often best to master the classic builds first.
Some Witcher 3: Wild Hunt players will wish to eagerly run into battle, swinging away with one of Geralt's blades. Others may prefer to take the mystical route, opting instead to make careful use and application of Geralt's magical signs. Meanwhile others would rather master the arts of Alchemy, and master their application in combat.
Regardless, there's a build for everyone in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Pure Combat
The Pure Combat build is all about optimizing Geralt's hand-to-hand combat abilities. While Witcher players will need to make money, they'll still have to optimize their swordplay sooner or later, and how they do it will come down to play style. Some attacks, for example, are much stronger than others, while other attacks at far faster. There are also defensive skills as well as things like adrenaline points.
Muscle Memory & Strength Training: Muscle Memory is an obvious choice, as it buffs player's standard attacks. Players interested in continuing down this path should opt for Strength Training as well, as it gives a nice bonus to strong attacks.
Arrow Deflection OR Resolve: This is an either/or, as both of these skills are useful for survivability in the pure combat build. Resolve is useful for how it preserves adrenaline points, while arrow deflection protects Witcher 3: Wild Hunt players from ranged attackers.
Precise Blows & Crushing Blows: These will greatly increase damage output.
Fleet Footed & Undying: The resilience granted by Fleet Footed makes players much tougher, while Undying gives players the ability to spend adrenaline points to revive themselves upon death.
Whirl & Rend: Rend is an absolute must-have, while Whirl is for area of effect damage.
Crippling Strikes & Sunder Armour: Both of these greatly buff Geralt's sword damage, which is paramount to this build.
Pure Signs
Contrary to the Pure Combat build, the Pure Sign build focuses entirely on signs, and is all about ensuring maximum effect from each of Geralt's signs. Naturally there will still be some reliance on sword attacks, but nonetheless the mastery of signs can make Geralt adaptable to a wide range of foes.
Far Reaching Aard: Aard is focused solely on crowd control, and with this buff gets better reach, giving Witcher 3: Wild Hunt players control of the fight.
Exploding Shield OR Melt Armour: Exploding shield can help when overwhelmed by smaller enemies, while Melt Armour gives Geralt a welcome damage boost in most situations. For the defensively minded, use Exploding Shield, while the offensive players should go with Melt Armour.
Delusion OR Sustained Glyphs: Delusion is meant when players need to finish off a final enemy. It also opens up some really cool dialogue options. Meanwhile Sustained Glyphs upgrades the yrden sign.
Aard Sweep & Firestream: Aard Sweep is great for crowd control, while Firestream converts igni into a powerful direct damage sign.
Magic Trap & Active Shield: Magic trap is extremely versatile, thanks to its wide range of effects. Active Shield is also a must-have, as it protects Geralt from all directions while restoring health.
Igni Intensity & Quen Intensity: Igni is the go-to damage dealer in the Pure Signs build, so Witcher 3: Wild Hunt players must boost it as much as possible. Quen shields Geralt, and will also prove useful.
Shock Wave OR Puppet: Both of these are great against groups. Shock Wave buffs aard, while Puppet can blast enemies back.
Pyromaniac OR Supercharged Glyphs: Pyromaniac burns foes for some heavy damage, while Supercharged Glyphs does some damage as well. The choice will depend upon preference between igni and yrden.
Pure Alchemy
This build is extremely demanding, and is about optimizing Geralt's potions, bombs, and concoctions. It also requires plenty of time spent foraging for ingredients. Swordplay and signs will still be needed to succeed in this build, but alchemy can bolster all of Geralt's abilities, and gives Witcher 3: Wild Hunt players a fun experience.
Poisoned Blades & Frenzy: Poisoned Blades buffs damage from oils, while Frenzy can slow time.
Refreshment & Endure Pain: Refreshment gives Geralt an instant health restoration, while Endure Pain increases survivability for every potion downed. In conjunction together, these two make the Pure Alchemy build very tanky.
Protective Coating & Delayed Recovery: These two are perfect for longer battles, as Protective Coating makes Geralt tougher, and Delayed Recovery makes maximum use of potions.
Fixative & Efficiency: Fixative gives higher oil charges, while Efficiency increases bomb carrying capacity.
Side Effects & Hunter Instinct: Side Effects is a bit risky, but well worth it as it grants Geralt's potions extra effects that can change a battle. Hunter Instinct utilizes Geralt's under-utilised adrenaline points to increase critical hit chance.
Killing Spree OR Adaptation: For more offensive Witcher 3: Wild Hunt players, Killing Spree is the way to go as its great against groups of foes. Adaptation is more versatile, and can increase decoction effects overall.
The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt is available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.