Need help about early on build!

[KssioAug]

I've started the game "recently" (although almost 30 hours in) and was doing very fine till the point I am right now. I'm at level 10 and am having a difficult time dealing with some enemies in level 10~12 side-quests. I feel like I'm taking too much damage even though I'm avoiding quite a bunch of attacks using the dodge button.

Not sure yet, but I feel like there are 2 culprits:

1) My chest armor is old and certainly low level. I loot everything and am doing a lot of side-quests, but I can't for the love of god find a more decent chest armor loot.

2) I'm not feeling my build. I've upgraded the 5 light physical attacks in the red tree and than started to upgrade some alchemy skills, but I'm not feeling any upgrade in combat. Am considering resetting the skills (if I find a potion) and changing the points I placed in alchemy to the signs tree.

So, that's pretty much it what I'd like to know. Which skills early on would you recommend the most? And is there some specific armor I should be looking for at this point?

[Hicky Mori]

Most definetly Quen - Exploding Shield. (even if you're not a sign lover, i think exploding shield is a must even as a combat/alchemy type)

It really depends on what alchemy skills you take. Because (imho) the best alchemy trees are oil and bombs.

Yrden alternate mode is also very helpful if you want to invest in signs because it's constant cc and damage.

I also don't know what your playstyle is like, so i can't really tell what build to recommend, only some that i consider useful. Focus is also kind of a must with any build imo. (makes adrenaline increase weapon + sign damage)

[KssioAug]

Originally posted by Shioro:

Most definetly Quen - Exploding Shield. (even if you're not a sign lover, i think exploding shield is a must even as a combat/alchemy type)

It really depends on what alchemy skills you take. Because (imho) the best alchemy trees are oil and bombs. (i think the rest of the alchemy trees are underwhelming)

Yrden alternate mode is also very helpful if you want to invest in signs because it's constant cc and damage.

I also don't know what your playstyle is like, so i can't really tell what build to recommend, only some that i consider useful. Focus is also kind of a must with any build imo. (makes adrenaline increase weapon + sign damage)

I think your tips may be very useful for me. I actually use signs a lot (constantly use shield and igni). And reading the description of these skills these may be exactly what I need.

But what is this alternate mode? I'm still not aware of it.

[mrmcox]

at lvl 10, I would get the Nilfgaard armor set from the quartermaster at crows perch.. (Its one of the free DLC items) (the vendor opposite fergus and joanna) its medium armor and has a lvl 10 requirement. It should last you a while....

Once you hit lvl 13/14 start collecting the witcher griffin armor (google for treasure map locations)
at lvl 17 collect the witcher feline armor, and at 19/20 collect witcher ursine armor.

Theres also wolven armor set, but you cant get that until later in the game. All the witcher sets have swords to go with them, and they will be better than pretty much anything else you will find, and they are also upgradeable... You get the basic versions, then enhanced, superior and mastercrafted, each with higher lvl requirements...

As for skills, thats just down to how you wanna play. Im nearly done with my death march play through, and havent put a single point in the signs skills. I use fast attacks and alchemy with 1 point in cat school techniques.

Tip: For some extra skill points, make sure you go around white orchard and get all the places of power, theres 6 i think....thats 6 free skill points.....then theres numerous places of power around velen and novigrad and skelege....

[Hicky Mori]

Originally posted by KssioAug:

But what is this alternate mode? I'm still not aware of it.

If you hold down the sign button you will use the alternate mode (if you unlocked the alternate skill)

also, there is a bug where alternate modes don't work for some people. here is a fix i recently found: http://steamcommunity.com/app/292030/discussions/0/1290691937732288322/

All alternate modes are very strong once maxed out.

i'm a sign user myself but it all comes down to personal preference (because everything in the sign tree is useful)

I want to deal damage so i took alternate mode for Yrden and Igni (because their damage scales with sign intensity)

You should go for focus, adrenaline burst and rage management if you like to use signs alot. (these 3 are general skills)

If you want to deal damage you should invest heavily into igni and yrden over all the others (you should still take exploding shield though #QuenIsLove )

If you still want to play with combat and alchemy your best bet is to invest into aard and quen because those are the most useful without intensity + it makes the most out of your combat/alchemy stuff (because of the cc and defense)

Axii is personal preference, sign intensity increases the duration. The alternate mode is ridicilously powerful if you use that on strong enemies in a group fight.

[KssioAug]

Originally posted by mrmcox:

at lvl 10, I would get the Nilfgaard armor set from the quartermaster at crows perch.. (Its one of the free DLC items) (the vendor opposite fergus and joanna) its medium armor and has a lvl 10 requirement. It should last you a while....

Once you hit lvl 13/14 start collecting the witcher griffin armor (google for treasure map locations)
at lvl 17 collect the witcher feline armor, and at 19/20 collect witcher ursine armor.

Theres also wolven armor set, but you cant get that until later in the game. All the witcher sets have swords to go with them, and they will be better than pretty much anything else you will find, and they are also upgradeable... You get the basic versions, then enhanced, superior and mastercrafted, each with higher lvl requirements...

That's great to hear. Will definitely look for this Nilfgaard set! I totally need a new armor.

Originally posted by Shioro:

Originally posted by KssioAug:

But what is this alternate mode? I'm still not aware of it.

If you hold down the sign button you will use the alternate mode if you unlocked the alternate skill

Thank you again! And how do I unlock it though?

I think I'll change to Sign build and look for the Nilfgaard set.

[Hicky Mori]

Originally posted by KssioAug:

Thank you again! And how do I unlock it though?

By investing skillpoints into the alternate skill

[KssioAug]

Originally posted by Shioro:

Originally posted by KssioAug:

Thank you again! And how do I unlock it though?

By investing skillpoints into the alternate skill

Aaah, ok! I just saw in the Sign tree that in the 3rd tier you can unlock it. Okay, that's nice! Thanks!! =)

[Hicky Mori]

Originally posted by KssioAug:

Aaah, ok! I just saw in the Sign tree that in the 3rd tier you can unlock it. Okay, that's nice! Thanks!! =)

That's the damage focused sign build i'm using. Igni + Yrden for damage and Quen alternate + Tier 4 against ranged units or heavy hitters (and i honestly think this is the best T4)

SIGNS[www.rpg-gaming.com]

EDIT: forgot to mention an important skill. Griffin School Techniques is really good aswell.

[KssioAug]

Originally posted by Shioro:

Originally posted by KssioAug:

Aaah, ok! I just saw in the Sign tree that in the 3rd tier you can unlock it. Okay, that's nice! Thanks!! =)

That's the damage focused sign build i'm using. Igni + Yrden for damage and Quen alternate + Tier 4 against ranged units or heavy hitters (and i honestly think this is the best T4)

SIGNS[www.rpg-gaming.com]

Thanks for sharing it!!! That website may come in hand to help me as well.

[Hicky Mori]

i only included the sign tree because there are 3 spots left and it's kind of hard to choose. It can be anything really but if it's a sign build i'd go for the 3 general skills i mentioned earlier. (Rage Management, Focus, Adrenaline Burst)

If you don't care about those 3 i'd honestly go for alternate axii, quen intensity and shockwave as you have alot of endurance regen anyway. (that would actually also be better for damage because you can put in another blue mutagen. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ i might reroll haha )

[v0]

you can go long way too with fast att bleed with lt armor and normal quen (and bit of aard for shield bearers and wolves) if you like timing and reflexes even if it's not quickest way to win fights.

[celbrion]

another tip: don't rush the battles. you are a witcher yet a mortal man. using strafe and jump properly solve lots of problems. try not to take damage first, try giving damage second. for human opponents, parrying is very important also. you become a "sword dancer" with this kind of approach. it is both useful and enjoyable.

[KssioAug]

I've been using Signs now and things are WAAY better and more fun. Am specially focused on Yarden and Quen, followed by Axii (Puppet); but I think now I'll start to upgrade Igni.

I'm finally feeling effective again! And while collecting some stuff through the map I was able to collect a better chest gear too.

[Hicky Mori]

Yrden alternate mode is so much fun haha

[KssioAug]

Originally posted by Shioro:

Yrden alternate mode is so much fun haha :claugh:

Yup! Was even able to beat a level 19 wich with it at level 12 while wondering around.