Even though it was released more than five years ago, The Witcher 3 continues to retain a very active player base. The game has hundreds of hours worth of content that players can experience, from side quests to contracts to even rare items they can acquire to aid them on 'the path'. Though the game allows players to experiment with their play styles, a trusty sword is always useful when bombs, potions, and signs run out.
The Black Unicorn Relic Sword is counted among the strongest Steel Swords in The Witcher 3. It is encountered mid-game and is geared towards higher leveled players.
Updated on October 5, 2021 by Talha Bin Rizwan: The Black Unicorn relic sword is considered among the strongest steel weapons in The Witcher 3. Not only does the sword have substantial damage, but it also boosts the Aard sign and has a chance to cause bleeding. The sword also comes with 3 slots allowing players to add runestones that further enhance these bonuses. There are multiple ways of acquiring the Black Unicorn relic steel sword, however, players need to be at least 46 to be able to use the weapon. The sword will serve the players well and will carry them all the way through the game’s ending, and even the DLCs.
Where To Get The Sword
Players can find the diagram for the Black Unicorn sword after they reach Kaer Morhen in the main game. Once players can free-roam around the area, they must go to the fast travel signpost and head south until they reach a signal tower. Players must climb the ladder all the way to the top where there will be a few chests waiting. The diagram for the sword will be in one of the chests. In case it is not there, the chests must not be looted and players must leave the area and come back later.
Alternate Location
The diagram for the Black Unicorn sword can also be found at the Arnskrone Castle Ruins if players have the Hearts of Stone DLC installed. To get to it, players need to head East of the Vegelbud Residence, past the Vikk Watchtower. There will be a Leshen and some high-level Wraiths at the location that needs to be dispatched first.
Players will then need to enter the main ruins and down the tower where some more Wraiths will spawn. Once dealt with, players will enter the room in front of the stairs they came from. There will be a chest towards the far left wall that has the diagram for the sword.
How To Defeat The Leshen
Leshens are ancient and powerful forest spirits with a deer skull for a head and tree-like limbs. They are formidable enemies who can call crows and wolves for help. Leshens have many powerful attacks that have a long-range, and they can enter a 'smoke form' once they take too much damage. Players will need to dodge or roll out of the way of incoming attacks as Leshen's attack cannot be blocked. Moreover, many attacks will break the shield provided by the Quen sign. Players will need to use fast attacks as the Leshen is vulnerable to them. Once it enters its smoke form, players can use a Moon Dust bomb to reveal it and then use either the Igni sign or a fire-based bomb such as Dragon's Dream. While the Leshen is on fire, it will not be able to defend itself.
How To Defeat Wraiths
Wraiths are spirits that have unfinished business and are unable to pass onto the next life in Witcher lore. They typically appear in small groups and have relatively fast melee attacks. They can also teleport short distances and turn incorporeal rendering all sword attacks against them ineffective. To defeat them, players will need to use the Yrden sign. Once caught inside its effective radius, the Wraiths will turn corporeal allowing the players to attack them with their silver swords. The Moon Dust bomb is also effective in this regard. Players can use Specter Oil to boost their attacks, but Wraiths can be defeated with little difficulty without the oil as well.
How To Get The Crafted Sword
A guaranteed way to acquire an already crafted version of the Black Unicorn relic steel sword is by completing the Contract: Lord of the Woods as a lootable treasure from the monster’s corpse. To acquire the contract, players can pick it from either the Cunny of the Goose's notice board or Farcorners'. Once done, they must go to the Cunny of the Goose inn and meet Brean Hotsch, who will be sitting close to the Innkeeper. He’ll tell of an attack on his men at a lumberjack camp with only one survivor making it out alive.
Geralt can talk to the witness who’ll reveal that he heard a wolf’s howling in the area and when he went to assist, he only found a horrific scene. The game then directs players to go to the Logger’s Hut where they can follow the wagon’s tracks until they reach the scene of the massacre. Geralt will learn that a Leshen attacked the woodcutters, as he examines the clues. He will then need to destroy its totem to bring it out and deal with it. Once the Leshen shows up, players will face a difficult fight against the monster. Dimeritium bombs, the Igni sign, and Relict Oil can be used to give Geralt an advantage over the monster.
Once the Leshen is dead, all Geralt has to do is loot the corpse to acquire the Black Unicorn relic steel sword.
Materials Required
Players can find most of the materials required to craft the Black Unicorn with relative ease. However, some may require a bit more effort. The sword needs:
- 1 x Leather Scraps
- 2 x Dimeritium Ingots
- 2 x Ruby Dust
- 2 x Sapphire Dust
- 1 x Monster Saliva.
The Leather Scraps are quite easy to obtain as either random loot from encounters and containers or simply bought from a vendor. Players can either buy the Dimeritium Ingots from a Blacksmith or Armorer or they can craft an ingot from 2 x Dimeritium. Monster Saliva is obtained from various monster parts, the easiest being Drowner Tongues which players can get by slaying a few Drowners. For the Ruby and Sapphire Dust, players can craft them from Rubies and Sapphires. Otherwise, both can be bought from the Quartermaster at the Nilfgaardian Garrison.
Smith Location
To forge the Black Unicorn sword, players need access to a Master level Blacksmith. Players can find one in Novigrad by the name of Eibhear Hattori. To gain access to his services, players will need to complete a side quest for him. The side quest will take the players a few hours to complete at most.
However, there is a waiting period of a few in-game days which players can skip by meditating or simply playing the game and completing other quests. Once completed, players will get the "Blade From The Bits" relic steel sword and can forge the sword for themselves.
Secondary Smith Location
If players have the Blood and Wine DLC installed, they can gain access to the services of a Grandmaster Blacksmith and Armorer. They need to get to Toussaint first and find Lazare Lafargue at his workshop in Hauteville. Players can get the Black Unicorn sword forged simply by talking to Lazare Lafargue and selecting the appropriate dialogue option. Moreover, players can also get Lazare Lafargue to forge Grandmaster Witcher gear by completing the "Master Master Master Master!" side quest, which they can get by again selecting the appropriate dialogue option.
Leveling Up
The Black Unicorn is a level 46 sword and players need to be at least at the required level to forge and use the sword. The sword is generally meant to be used late game, but for players who are short on patience, there are ways they can level up faster.
Complete Side Quests
Players will need to complete as much side content as they can; such as taking on side quests and witcher contracts or participating in Gwent tournaments, etc.
Use Witcher Swords And Trophies
To help them on their goal, they can equip Witcher swords that add bonus experience from killing enemies. Certain Relic swords will also provide a bonus to experience gained. Players can also equip trophies on Roach that add an experience bonus. Completing encounters such as drawing at a Place of Power or liberating an area also contribute to gaining experience points. Once the players have enough experience points and have leveled up, they can forge the Black Unicorn sword.