Optimal build and fighting style?

[Exarch_Alpha]

So my question is mostly about how to beat tough higher level enemies ASAP.

I´m getting the hang of combat but I get spanked when trying to fight enemies 6 levels higher or more, or swarmed by lower level ones. So

1- Is it worth it to bother killing higher level stuff? How high? 10 levels higher is possible, or too annoying to bother?
2- Which signs to use more? Yes I know it´s enemy dependant, but with the above in mind
3- Put skill points in what? Light or heavy blows? Which signs to focus and why?
4- Any point in using light armor?
5- Roll, parry, or both?

Suppose I´m fighting a forktail that is 8 levels higher. Optimal strategy?

[ShootNik]

1.If u are on highest difficulty dont even try.
2.Quen,Igni,Aard
3.All usefull in fight.
4.Yeah,if you like to avoid(Alt) enemy's strikes.
5.It depends on which enemy you fight.For big enemys i use roll,parry if u can.

[Exarch_Alpha]

But some blows by some enemies won´t ever be properly parried right? For example bears. The game doesn´t tell, but are you more mobile and recover stamina faster in light armor?

[GarnetFire17]

The build you want is going to depend on the level YOU are. If you are trying to beat something at a low level say level 12 or below this would be my strategy: I'd invest most if not all my skill points in the red branch. Fast and and strong damage strong Critical damage for one of them (strong woul be better in case you want to challenge tougher guys like golems." Then I would make sure I have weapons with high Critical Damage bonus (bleeding and burn on it woul help as well). They when I am ready to fight it I would make sure I have the right oil on my sword and I would use thunderbolt and either (swallow or tawny owl) in my quick slots. Quen right before the fight. Then go ahead and use a thunderbolt right away. Try not to get hit. Use Quen, Yrden, Thunderbolt, Swallow/Tawny Owl as needed. You should be able to do a lot of damage.

Later in the game, around level 23 or so when you have a bunch of decoctions and potions. You will be ready for a potion of clearance and you can invest in the green branch a good bit. Decoctions like Archgriffin and Ekhinda are very OP. Ekhinda decoction and Whirl ability makes you constantly reheal fully every time and you can add Waterhag decoction to that for a big damage bonus.

I'm Level 26 and right now I have a balanced build, have 1 green, 1 red, and 1 blue branch. For investing in the green branch I have higher bonuses, I have more vitality, and more toxicity capacity. My built is centered around power strikes using Ehikinda Decoction + Archgriffin Decoction + Thunderbolt + bonus critical damage. The damage is massive and I can kill pretty easily enimies 15-20 level higher. Every time I cast as sign, I heal myself, Everytime I do a power attack I heal myself. Every time I connect with the power attack I diminish the enemy's HP by 10%+ normal and critical damage on top of it. Between battles every time I jump I heal myself right back up to full. With superior griffin armor my sign intensity is still high.

Here are some pics of my build: http://postimg.org/image/hnozrut3x/..........http://postimg.org/image/3jy6myrid/

[mrmcox]

I use light armour, (cat school) and the cat school techniques skill. and a good mix of combat / alchemy skills. It does insane amounts of damage, and you can really boost up your max vitality.... Its the best build I've tried on the death march difficulty..

[katzenkrimis]

Originally posted by Exarch_Alpha:

I get spanked when trying to fight enemies 6 levels higher or more, or swarmed by lower level ones.

Yrden, in combo with Yrden Alternate and the game will feel as if it were made for juveniles.

Which...it was.

Add to that, the crafted exploding bolts for your crossbow, bombs, potions and oils and you got yourself a bouncy castle.

[GarnetFire17]

Other things to keep in mind:
Roll is good for getting far away fast, getting to an opponent quickly for an attack, and getting behind and enemy. However you don't rengenerate stamina when rolling. Dodging is usually better because you do regenerate stamina but it does not cover as much ground. Parry is good when you are swarmed by weak enemies. Fast attacks are weaker and don't work well on some enemies, but they are faster and you regenerate stamina while attacking and it gives you more chance to inflict an ablity of your weapon. Strong attacks are more powerful, but they are slow, and you don't regenerate stamina while attacking. However, strong attack is more effective against some enemies like elementals and bears and if you have high critical damage bonuses and get a critical hit the damage will can be massive even if you only get one hit in at a time.

[Exarch_Alpha]

Originally posted by QuasiM0j0:

I use light armour, (cat school) and the cat school techniques skill. and a good mix of combat / alchemy skills. It does insane amounts of damage, and you can really boost up your max vitality.... Its the best build I've tried on the death march difficulty..

Yes looking the bonuses and they look rather good.

However I also noticed that Yrden can be nasty to big beasties like golems (I finished the quest with the sorceress), so ultimatedly I´m not sure. Also you guys are talking late game builds - I´m talking early game.

So... suggestions for killing a level 14 Forktail as level 7 Geralt?

[Potato_Salad]

Igni tree maxed + Griffin armour = GG

Or use the alchemy tree focused on bombs, the one that gives extra explosions = GG, especially with dancing stars lol

[MrFrengLitch]

Alright so let's say you want to kill a forktail.

Get Firestream from the Igni skill tree, max it. And then spam it. watch it burn. GG it's dead.

[GarnetFire17]

Originally posted by Sonder:

Alright so let's say you want to kill a forktail.

Get Firestream from the Igni skill tree, max it. And then spam it. watch it burn. GG it's dead.

That should do it. Also might want to try a Wraith decoction with that and have honeycomb/ or wolf's liver and milk in your quick slots to heal. Of course, visit the grindstone and armor table. Use dracnoid oil. honestly level 14 forktail at level 7 should not be too much of a challenge even in death march if you have skill. The key is too get good at the game, learn the forktail's patterns etlc.

[MatsuoBasho]

The best fightstyle is the oen that relies on every Witcher specialities.

- Drink some potions/decotion before the fight and apply the correct oil

- Rolling/dodging is your friend against monster and counter attcking is vital against humans

- Use Signs, honestly I tend to use a lot Yrden and Quen against monsters, Axii against humans

- When it's about big monsters/bosses, the first thing you should do is not to attack but take some time to learn the enemy strategy, they tend to have a fixed pattern.

- When using the sword, fast attack is usually the less risky choice as strong attacks are really slow..use them only when you're sure the enemy cannot attack you (i.e. immobilized, stunned, completely exposed).

- Don't forget to use potions during the fight, especially those that enhance your damage output!

other than that, have fun in the process! :D

[Exarch_Alpha]

Thanks for the tips guys, is the wiki complete and up-to-date? As a more general question which monsters have attacks that can be parried and counterattacked?

Agree with Yrden being underrated, I´m also looking at using Stun runestones, should be deadly with a fast attack based build.

[MatsuoBasho]

Originally posted by Exarch_Alpha:

Thanks for the tips guys, is the wiki complete and up-to-date? As a more general question which monsters have attacks that can be parried and counterattacked?

Agree with Yrden being underrated, I´m also looking at using Stun runestones, should be deadly with a fast attack based build.

A good series of guides can be found here:
http://www.gosunoob.com/witcher-3/guides-walkthroughs/

[dnrob7]

Damage over time.. And that's it.


Here's the gear and weapons you need:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=493149918


Here's a lvl 35 Arch Griffin
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=493149671


There's what's left of it.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=493149809


Here are all the skills you should ever need:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=484643285

[Exarch_Alpha]

Well from the diverse answers I guess almost everything is viable, as long as you focus on it. Which is awesome.

For my first game I played safe and chose more combat focused build, in 2nd one I´ll go more sign and alchemy as suggested.

One thing almost no one talked about is the crossbow, is it worthless then?