Which signs complement melee best?

[Rontemon]

I just got into the 2nd area velen and now I am currently spec into igni fire stream, melt armor and explode shield..

Kind of regretting my points into igni as I find myself hardly using igni at all.

I want to reset my points as soon as I can and go either:
1) Quen active shield + Aard
2) Quen active shield + Yrden
3) Quen active shield + Axii

Which sign combination is the best to go with along with a more melee focused build?

And I want to reset my points ASAP, when is the earliest I can do it?

[OneSinn]

Signs are good but only them just not enough to win the day.

[v0]

iirc only costs 1000 coin to reset build and you can do it as many times as respec potions you care buy.

[Frosty]

More melee means you need queen.
Ďepends on how you handle a mob actually.
If you disregard blocking and parry, go for active queen for health regen and alternive Aard for crowd control.
Igni work best if you can manipulate the mob to face you in 1 direction.
Axii however makes a enemy your temporary ally. When the enemy is distracted, back step a few, and then chuck a bom or two.

[tonypa]

If you go for melee build then you have too little time to swap between signs. Just stick with Quen and only change it for very specific enemy (shield guys, trolls, werevolf).

[Rontemon]

Originally posted by tonypa:

If you go for melee build then you have too little time to swap between signs. Just stick with Quen and only change it for very specific enemy (shield guys, trolls, werevolf).

What is the other sign I should get that is effective against "shield guys, trolls and werewolf" ?

[tonypa]

I meant each such enemy can require different sign, not that there is one unversally good sign against them all. Every sign beside Quen can be useful in some battles, but very rarely in every battle.

The list was just an example of enemies that could be problem if you simply whack them with the sword.

[CloudSeeker]

I think the best way to fight in Meele is to use Quen and then focus on Meele and Alchemy.

[Rontemon]

Originally posted by CloudSeeker:

I think the best way to fight in Meele is to use Quen and then focus on Meele and Alchemy.

But when you say Quen, do you mean only learn the tier1/2 ability? Active shield quen or the default quen with no attribute?

After I find out about how you can replenish potions just by medidating with alcohol... I am really considering building a melee + alchemy focused build too!

I thought alchemy you gotta like gather alot of ingredients to keep crafting them! Didn't know it can be so easily replenished with alcohol by simply medidating!

[Furiey]

There are many approaches you can take, and your approach may change as you get better at dodging (even in a many on one situation) so have to rely on Quen less. So don't be afraid to experiment and try different things to find out what you like. Of your current 3 options you will probably find Axxi to slow to cast in a mob situation and Yrden will not really do enough. Aard would be most effective to push the mob back and give you some time, but as others have said you may not have time to change signs.

You may want to complete your current game with Quen, but NG+ will allow you to experiment with many more skills without having to respec all the time - the only real reason to play NG+.

At the moment I am having great fun with Arrd (with piercing cold) to push the mobs away from me, combined with the Blizzard potion so that as soon as I kill the first I can take on the rest of the mob at high speed.

[Frosty]

I dun get what the fuss in changing signs during combat. I do it all the time. I even bind my 3,4,5,6 to signs. LOL

[Chikuwu]

idk i bind my signs on quickslot buttons so its not hard to change them in the middle of the fight.

For melee best signs? on easier difficulties pretty much anything goes. on higher difficulties using high lvl Igni lowers armor rating of enemies and Quen usually does the trick against anything at all.

[jss1138]

I don't thin there is a "best". One can play the game in many different ways.

My first play through I relied heavilly on Quen. Now on my third play through, I rarely use it at all.

One thing I would recommend is to choose a play style and stick with it. You can always choose something else with subsequent play throughs.

[PDK]

I usually just use basic Aard. You can use it to continue your beatdown fast attack combos when an enemy dodges back to reset footing or use it defensively if an enemy is rushing at you. The chance for stun into instant kill is a thing as well. If you learn to riposte and use the matador step you dont ever even need quen. Alchemy + Sword Death March approved. Like stated above learn the 3 4 5 6 7 hotkeys and use them. Use Potions and decoctions too.

[CloudSeeker]

Originally posted by Merciful:

Originally posted by CloudSeeker:

I think the best way to fight in Meele is to use Quen and then focus on Meele and Alchemy.

But when you say Quen, do you mean only learn the tier1/2 ability? Active shield quen or the default quen with no attribute?

After I find out about how you can replenish potions just by medidating with alcohol... I am really considering building a melee + alchemy focused build too!

I thought alchemy you gotta like gather alot of ingredients to keep crafting them! Didn't know it can be so easily replenished with alcohol by simply medidating!

I mean no upgrades at all. No point. You can just place Quen sign intensity on all free armor slots and then go with Euphoria and high toxicity and get 210% extra damage (without anything else) and sign intensity. With Tawny Owl you regain stamina fast anyway so if Quen breaks you get it back fast enough. Sign intensity on Quen only makes it absorb more damage anywway.

Alchemy is the most broken in this game. If you want a God build it always involves alchemy. Heck just 1 potion and skill can make you immortal.

[Caramel_Clown]

Aard with the first passive is the only sign I will ever need realistically. The rest in alchemy. You can get so high off potions and decoctions that it won't matter what you use anymore, you will be a beast anyway :D