The Best Signs In The Witcher 3

This article is part of a directory: The Witcher 3: Full Guide and Walkthrough

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Highlights

The Witcher 3 Signs, such as Quen, Aard, and Yrden, have unique abilities and play a crucial role in combat against monsters and enemies.
Quen, in particular, provides the best protection among all the Signs, with upgraded versions allowing Geralt to have a constant bubble shield around him for great survivability in combat.
While Yrden is effective against specters, its main use is limited to this enemy type, making it not the best Sign overall. However, it can still be useful when specters appear.

In the world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the Witchers are created by magic. Whether they like it or not, this creation comes with multiple abilities, one of these being magic. There are many different variations of magic, but the most recognizable to players are the Witcher Signs. Utilized by Geralt of Rivia throughout The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, each Sign has its own use in combat against monsters and men alike. Casters must perform a complex finger motion to create the desired effect. Considered a simple casting by the more powerful sorcerers, Signs are incredibly useful for the less adept Witchers. From the fiery Igni to the protective Quen, these Witcher 3 Signs have an important role in a Witcher's daily life.

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It's hard to wonder which Sign in The Witcher 3 is the best one of the lot. Each and every spell that Geralt can cast has unique benefits of their own, and players need to really use each Sign and witness their benefits firsthand before deciding upon which one to upgrade. All five Witcher 3 Signs can be used to great effect in combat, allowing players to slow enemies down, burn them to a crisp, knock them off their feet, make their attacks completely ineffective, or brainwash them into aiding the witcher instead of fighting him.

Updated on October 13, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: The Witcher 3 is one of the greatest video games ever made, and it helps that the next-gen update has allowed even more gamers to check out this amazing game, with this visual and gameplay upgrade doing a great job of letting players enjoy this game with various QoL and graphical improvements that make it a blast to play through in every way. One of the many ways that combat is improved with the next-gen update is by integrating Quick Casting, meaning that players don't have to cycle through an unintuitive wheel to select a spell one at a time. Now, players have access to all spells in combat without having to worry about using the wrong Sign, which completely changes the way players interact with this system.

5 Quen

Geralt using the Active Shield upgrade for Quen in The Witcher 3

Possibly overlooked by many, Quen provides the best protection out of all the Witcher Signs. The Sign is recognizable by its yellow glow and geometric backward nine symbol. In its base version, a quick application of Quen covers Geralt in a protective layer of magic. Quen can stop a single hit or more as it is upgraded.

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The best version of the Sign however is the Active Shield upgrade. This allows Geralt to have a constant bubble shield around him. While the shield is active Geralt can move and attacks against him are blocked, returning vitality to him with each hit. As the bubble takes damage it drains stamina, but its protective nature allows for great survivability in any combat situation. It's the perfect get-out-of-jail-free spell that players can rely on against bosses with unfair combos or hard-hitting attacks that can be pretty challenging to dodge.

All Quen Upgrades

Sign Ability	Level	Upgrade Description
Exploding Shield	Level 1	The Quen shield repels opponents after it breaks. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	The Quen shield repels opponents and damages them after it breaks. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 3	The Quen shield repels opponents, damages them after it breaks, and can potentially knock them down. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Active Shield	Level 1	Creates an active shield that absorbs blows and heals Geralt, using up Stamina in the process to both maintain the shield and block blows. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	The active shield now takes 50% less stamina to maintain. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 3	Maintaining the active shield drains no stamina at all. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Quen Intensity	Level 1	Quen Sign intensity increases by 5%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Quen Sign intensity increases by 10%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
	Level 3	Quen Sign intensity increases by 15%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 4	Quen Sign intensity increases by 20%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
	Level 5	Quen Sign intensity increases by 25%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Quen Discharge	Level 1	5% of the damage absorbed by Quen is reflected back to the attacker. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	10% of the damage absorbed by Quen is reflected back to the attacker. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
	Level 3	15% of the damage absorbed by Quen is reflected back to the attacker. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 4	20% of the damage absorbed by Quen is reflected back to the attacker. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
	Level 5	25% of the damage absorbed by Quen is reflected back to the attacker. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.

4 Aard

Aard is a strong telekinetic blast that can stumble and knock down enemies. A light blue triangle bursting from Geralt's hand can stop an enemy in their tracks. A quick blast can stop a sword swing before it hits, or it can create a small opening in the middle of battle. Upgrading Aard further can make it extremely useful against humans and smaller monsters.

Aard is the Witcher Sign that is the best at knocking an enemy down and allowing for a quick finisher. It can get a little tricky though as Aard will extinguish any torches and hilariously throw any loose items across the room, but this is a small price to pay given the sheer entertainment factor of unleashing this attack in combat against a group of foes who get thrown to the floor in no time flat!

All Aard Upgrades

Sign Ability	Level	Upgrade Description
Far-Reaching Aard	Level 1	Aard's range is increased by 1 yard. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Aard's range is increased by 2 yards. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 3	Aard's range is increased by 3 yards. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Aard Sweep	Level 1	Aard strikes all opponents within a given radius, but knockdown chance is 21% lower. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Aard strikes all opponents within a given radius, but knockdown chance is 17% lower. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 3	Aard strikes all opponents within a given radius without any penalties to knockdown chance. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Aard Intensity	Level 1	Aard Sign intensity increases by 5%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Aard Sign intensity increases by 10%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
	Level 3	Aard Sign intensity increases by 15%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 4	Aard Sign intensity increases by 20%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
	Level 5	Aard Sign intensity increases by 25%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Shock Wave	Level 1	Aard deals 40 damage. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Aard deals 80 damage. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
	Level 3	Aard deals 120 damage. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 4	Aard deals 160 damage. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
	Level 5	Aard deals 200 damage. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.

3 Yrden

Yrden is the best Sign for any Witcher fighting a specter. Yrden features a purple glow and an hourglass symbol. Yrden is placed on the ground surrounding Geralt. Any enemy who steps inside is slowed. With future upgrades, Yrden can damage enemies and destroy projectiles as they enter. The important aspect of Yrden is the vulnerability it gives to specters.

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Attacking specters outside of Yrden yields little damage, but specters inside take more damage as they become material. While Yrden is a decent Sign, it is not the best. Its main use is against specters, an enemy type that doesn't come up all the time. When specters do arrive, a single casting of Yrden is enough to take care of most if not all of them.

All Yrden Upgrades

Sign Ability	Level	Upgrade Description
Sustained Glyphs	Level 1	Increases sign duration by 5 seconds and number of alternative Yrden cast charges by 7. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
Sustained Glyphs	Level 2	Increases sign duration by 10 seconds, number of alternative Yrden cast charges by 9, and allows the player to cast another Yrden trap of the standard variety. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Magic Trap	Level 1	Slows and damages enemies while destroying projectiles within a 10-yard radius. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Slows and damages enemies while destroying projectiles within a 12-yard radius, with the Sign's damage increasing by 25%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 3	Slows and damages enemies while destroying projectiles within a 14-yard radius, with the Sign's damage increasing by 50%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Yrden Intensity	Level 1	Yrden Sign intensity increases by 5%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Yrden Sign intensity increases by 10%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
	Level 3	Yrden Sign intensity increases by 15%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 4	Yrden Sign intensity increases by 20%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
	Level 5	Yrden Sign intensity increases by 25%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Supercharged Glyphs	Level 1	Enemies affected by Yrden lose 10 points of health per second. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Enemies affected by Yrden lose 20 points of health per second. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
	Level 3	Enemies affected by Yrden lose 30 points of health per second. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 4	Enemies affected by Yrden lose 40 points of health per second. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
	Level 5	Enemies affected by Yrden lose 50 points of health per second. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.

2 Igni

Geralt setting an enemy on fire with Igni in The Witcher 3

Probably the most recognizable Sign of the five, Igni allows Witchers to send out a spout of flame and is the best Sign for dealing damage. Great for crowd control, however, this Sign is a bit underwhelming at lower levels. The flames are nice, able to set enemies aflame, but the overall damage isn't much against larger targets. Applying some upgrades makes Igni a lot better.

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The Melt Armor upgrade path allows Igni to permanently decrease an enemy's armor. A highly armored enemy such as a troll or giant can be made less threatening with a few quick applications of Igni. Their damage may still be high, but the ability to quickly break their defense is great in battle. This also applies to human enemies.

All Igni Upgrades

Sign Ability	Level	Upgrade Description
Firestream	Level 1	The player can cast a continuous stream of fire that damages enemies at the expense of Stamina. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Stamina cost to sustain the fire stream is reduced by 25%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 3	Stamina cost to sustain the fire stream is reduced by 50%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Melt Armor	Level 1	Igni permanently reduces enemy armor, scaling with Sign intensity up to 15%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Armor melting scales with Sign intensity up to 30%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
	Level 3	Armor melting scales with Sign intensity up to 45%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 4	Armor melting scales with Sign intensity up to 60%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
	Level 5	Armor melting scales with Sign intensity up to 75%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Igni Intensity	Level 1	Igni Sign intensity increases by 5%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Igni Sign intensity increases by 10%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
	Level 3	Igni Sign intensity increases by 15%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 4	Igni Sign intensity increases by 20%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
	Level 5	Igni Sign intensity increases by 25%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Pyromaniac	Level 1	Enemies are 20% more likely to be set aflame by Igni. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Enemies are 40% more likely to be set aflame by Igni. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
	Level 3	Enemies are 60% more likely to be set aflame by Igni. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 4	Enemies are 80% more likely to be set aflame by Igni. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
	Level 5	Enemies are 100% more likely to be set aflame by Igni. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.

1 Axii

Geralt using Axii during a conversation in The Witcher 3

Mainly a conversational Sign, Axii excels outside of combat as well. This Sign is recognized by its light green color and upside-down triangle. During combat, Axii is used to confuse a target, opening them up for an attack. Alternatively, it can be used to calm Geralt's horse. It's particularly useful while fighting alghouls, as the spines across their back can be nullified by using Axii on them.

The best use of the Axii Witcher Sign is as a way to convince NPCs to help you in some way. Upgrading Axii will increase the likelihood of the Sign working properly. It can be used to lower a price while shopping, convince soldiers to leave you alone, or get information out of an unwilling witness. Axii is not only useful for letting Geralt get what he wants but it also rewards a decent amount of experience points when the Sign works.

All Axii Upgrades

Sign Ability	Level	Upgrade Description
Delusion	Level 1	Enemies stop moving when the player casts Axii on them, while also increasing the effectiveness of Axii during conversations. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Increases the effectiveness of Axii in conversations even more while reducing the time required to cast this Sign. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 3	Increases the effectiveness of Axii in conversations to its highest level while reducing the time required to cast this Sign even more. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Puppet	Level 1	Turn an enemy into an ally that deals 20% more damage. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Turn an enemy into an ally that deals 40% more damage. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 3	Turn an enemy into an ally that deals 60% more damage. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Axii Intensity	Level 1	Axii Sign intensity increases by 5%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Axii Sign intensity increases by 10%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
	Level 3	Axii Sign intensity increases by 15%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 4	Axii Sign intensity increases by 20%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
	Level 5	Axii Sign intensity increases by 25%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Domination	Level 1	Lets the player use Axii on two opponents, with the Sign's strength being penalized by 50%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is also improved.
	Level 2	Reduces the penalty of using Axii on two opponents to 25%. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved even more.
	Level 3	Removes the penalty of using Axii on two opponents. Geralt's stamina regeneration is improved significantly.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Platform(s): PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Switch , PC
Released: May 19, 2015
Developer(s): CD Projekt Red
Genre(s): RPG , Action , Adventure