Mutagens ?

[F4TES]

According to the game manual, to use mutagens you enter meditation, choose 'character', then find an ability with a mutagen slot to apply one. I've tried that but can't find any slots on any abilities! I have selected character abilities on all four branches, and have level 2 abilities only in quite early branch nodes. Will I find mutagen slots only on the higher node points and at level 2 on those points?

[Grimminski]

It's usually the slots at the very end of a tree, and I think they have to be fully upgraded.

[F4TES]

Thanx nwpt. So I won't see any mutagen slots until I've got level 2 on those points?

[ultraglorious]

The abilities that can be mutated have a little circle on them. If you're playing with FCR2 installed, then there are only two skills in Alchemy that can be mutated.

[F4TES]

Sorry ultra, will I see the little circles only once they're activated? At level 1 or 2 ? I can't work out what FCR2 is, so I guess I haven't got it installed, tho it's V late and my brain's shutting down. :)

[ultraglorious]

The circles are always there, but they're 'empty' until you use a mutagen on them. FCR2 is a mod, so if you didn't install it then don't worry about it.

[Moffin Bovin]

For example, the top 2 skills on the first skill tree can have mutagens on them. they only need to be rank 1.

On the wiki the Skills listed to have mutagens seems to be correct but the images on the wiki of the skill trees showing skills with mutagens is wrong =/

http://witcher.wikia.com/wiki/Mutagen_slot_skills

[F4TES]

Thanx guys! That link's a real help Mofine, and I take your advice about the image being wrong. I figure to get the mutagen amplification first, so it will be a little while before I can access my first mutagen applicable nodes, but I chose an upgrade that means I generate mutagens when doing alchemy, so I've got loads to use when I get there. That's gonna be a whole 'nuther feild of study no doubt! :)

[ultraglorious]

About the mutagen amplification, it's not really that important. You're better off using those skill points in places that actually interest you and holding out for the better mutagens late game. Unless, of course, you're going for the Alchemy tree; but if you haven't played the game before I wouldn't recommend it.

[F4TES]

Thanx ultra. Sounds like good advice! This is my first run thru W2. I've also only recently switched from predominantly FPS type games to RPG's, which I find are complex beasts with lots of decisions needed! I quite fancy getting the Heliotrope power, so I guess I ought to concentrate on the Magic tree for that, but if I follow your advice literally, I will end up with a mixture of all 3 trees which may not be a strong strategy. Which is why I thought getting the mutagen amplifier might compensate for missing out on any of the tree special powers until too late in the game to be really useful. Tricky huh? Addendum, according to Mofine's link page, If I concentrated on the Alchemy tree I'd get more node points to add mutagens to. I wonder if they've designed it that way coz Alchemy is the core of what a Witcher is?

[ultraglorious]

Originally posted by Axelrand:

Thanx ultra. Sounds like good advice! This is my first run thru W2. I've also only recently switched from predominantly FPS type games to RPG's, which I find are complex beasts with lots of decisions needed! I quite fancy getting the Heliotrope power, so I guess I ought to concentrate on the Magic tree for that, but if I follow your advice literally, I will end up with a mixture of all 3 trees which may not be a strong strategy. Which is why I thought getting the mutagen amplifier might compensate for missing out on any of the tree special powers until too late in the game to be really useful. Tricky huh? Addendum, according to Mofine's link page, If I concentrated on the Alchemy tree I'd get more node points to add mutagens to. I wonder if they've designed it that way coz Alchemy is the core of what a Witcher is?

Witcher 2 is one of the few games I've played which demanded a second playthrough. I don't recommend trying to make your first time 'The Playthrough.'

[F4TES]

Yeah ultra, I'm with you there. I've already considered starting again, but funny thing is, when I tried to start a new game, it wouldn't let me? Maybe it's a glitch on my copy (which is a bit buggy), not sure. Anyway, I'm gonna stick with my decisions, and soldier on. One of the things that occurred to me, is how you earn experience points and thus level up. I think you get quite a lot of EP's from defeating beasties, so I thought that maybe you could just keep going to areas where there are loads of beasts to get max EP's before completing the side quest that eradicates said beasts. Eg, Endregas, Nekkers, Harpies etc. That way, if it works, you could maybe get to the mutagen parts of more trees earlier in the game?

[ultraglorious]

I suppose you could if you really wanted to, but it will be a very tedious grind. You may get more mutagen slots but you would be wasting them on weak mutagens, which don't start dropping for a while.

[F4TES]

Thanx ultra. What do you mean by 'weak' mutagens? I've already got several 'greater' mutagens, and as it takes quite a while to reach mutable nodes, expect to gain several more. Remember, I generate some. Seems like you can only use 1 mutagen per node, so I don't imagine I will need too many 'greater' mutagens to do all the available nodes. You're right about the grind tho, but I quite like the combat and it's good to try out various different potion and oil mixes and perfect my sign / combat moves. :)

[ultraglorious]

Well if you have some Greater mutagens that's okay; I prefer to wait for those than to use the weaker (lower stats) ones.

[F4TES]

Thanx ultra. All seems to be working out fine. :)