Being an effective witcher is all about being prepared. Knowledge is the deadliest weapon against threats that cannot be felled by normal means. Enhancing one's ability with potions of various kinds can give one an edge in battle, as can utilizing bombs, oils, and other deadly tools. Even consuming food can save a witcher's life when things go awry on a hunt.

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Though, not all items are worth the time to create or use. Some are resource-intensive and lackluster in effect, making them only barely useful. This shrinks their window of opportunity considerably compared even with humble meals.

10 Worst: Cake

A slice of chocolate cake
Peacock's TOS includes a recipe for cake.

It may look and taste delicious in real life, but in video games, it is hardly worth the effort in most cases. Especially for witchers who hate portals. In the Blood and Wine expansion, there is a section where Geralt must traverse many of the detestable doorways. He ends up being rewarded, among other things, with actual cake. This cake is a consumable item, just like other food, but does not regenerate health over time. Instead, it gives a flat and immediate heal of 100 hit points. Quicker than any other food in the game, but far less potent in actual healing value. This also is a reference to the meme spawned from the Portal games.

9 Best: Baked Potato

This scrumptious treat can be bought or stolen from inns all over the Northern Realms. In The Witcher 3 food can be classified into a few categories for how much they heal. Most end up giving Geralt 50 hit points per second for a total of 500 regained after the effects of the food have run its course. But some, like this delicious tuber, regenerate 80 units of health per second for a total of 800, making them vastly superior.

8 Worst: Samum

This bomb may look impressive in usage but its effects are rather dull compared to other throwable explosives. It blinds foes for a short time but doesn't stop them from being dangerous. It is effective on human foes, at least. Though, don't try it on certain creatures of the night, as they do not rely on sight for attacking.

7 Best: Dimeritium Bomb

Dimeritium Bomb from the Gwent Card Game

This bomb doesn't do damage, but actually prevents foes from doing damage to Geralt. This explosive renders enemies unable to use magical abilities for a time.

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It also prevents witchers from using their signs, but when dealing with a beast now fangless from magical impotency, a silver blade is usually a swifter solution.

6 Worst: Bear Pheremones

Bears are fierce enemies to come across, even for the most seasoned witcher. For those afraid of these furry mountains, Bear Pheremones can make them less hostile to passing travelers. Most of the time. But the loot that can be gained from defeating these huge beasts is very valuable in regards to crafting. Bear Fat is used for numerous enhanced weapon coatings and the pelts can be dismantled into Hardened Leather for armor crafting or sold for a pretty penny.

5 Best: Cat

Not the furry and adorable feline, but the potion named after them. This drink can be quaffed to give one sight in complete darkness. With 3 uses per vial and a total duration of 3 minutes, a few of these can go a long way while exploring crypts and caverns. One never knows what is lurking behind those dark and dank boulders and stalagmites, therefore being able to see threats coming from further away can be a life-saver.

4  Worst: Insectoid Oil

The majority of oils that can be applied to one's weapons are generally useful against the specified foes, but there are simply better ways of dealing with some enemies than swordplay.

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Disgusting insectoid enemies such as the spider-like Arachas are quite susceptible to fire, therefore blasting away at one with Igni can be a quicker and easier method than hacking away at this well-armored foe with one's sword.

3 Best: Hanged Man's Venom

In later parts of The Witcher 3, Geralt can come upon camps filled with an obnoxious amount of human and non-human enemies. Clearing them out is one task, but dealing with the variety of attacks launched one's way can be taxing. In order to remove each threat quickly, it is recommended to use Hanged's Man's Venom on one's steel blade to fell foes with bonus damage on every hit. Fleshy, less armored combatants like brigands and thieves won't last long against such a tactic. Sadly, the same can't be said for many supernatural foes.

2 Worst: Chort Mutagen

These mutagens harvested from the powerful relict monsters are hardly worth the effort to acquire. Chorts are terrifying foes with nearly unmatched strength and speed. Going toe to toe is not an advisable approach, even for a witcher. They can be killed but through great effort and many risks. Furthermore, the mutagen from them is equally potent as those that can be gained from defeating considerably weaker foes like Foglets. Even facing down a Leshen for similar sign intensifying mutagens would be preferable than dancing with this demonic foe.

1 Best: Greater Green Mutagen

Health is the most precious commodity, for without any there would be a game over. This is why green mutagens, especially the greater ones, are more valuable than the red or blue variety. Staying alive means being able to cast more signs and strike more with swords. This makes survivability the best weapon for a slayer of the most tenacious and terrible monsters.

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