Cannot kill the griffin...

[Selaphane]

I just got this game yesterday, but I like a challenge so I started the game on the second hardest difficulty, blood and bones I think? Anyway, this is getting ridiculous, I've done every single side quest in the first area before advancing to the main storyline, I'm only level 2 (why?) and I literally cannot get even CLOSE to killing this ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ griffin.

I've died at least 20 times now, and the most damage I've done so far is MAYBE a third of its health, but yet I die in 2-3 hits, every single time, from HUGE hitbox attacks that are sometimes unpredictable and will hit you sometimes even if you dodge out of the way. How the ♥♥♥♥ do I kill this stupidly designed boss? Dark Souls wasn't even this hard...

[Duncan]

Roll, quen -> win every fight.

[dnrob7]

Yes, it's a mother4ucker. I'm pretty good at this game. I can walk through it all on Death March without spending more than 10 skill points or using any fancy armor but I too got my ass handed to me way too many times by that Griffin at the beginning.. That thing was a pain.
Keep at it tho.. Youll get it.

[DemonicVeLo]

shoot it down with a crossbow then hit it 1 time with a sword,
repeat this until the griffin is dead.

[MrFrengLitch]

Always have Quen on you if it's not up, then you can use your other signs. Use Aard to stun it a brief moment and use your crossbow to crash the griffin on the ground when it's flying. Keep an eye on your HP so you can see if you need to heal or not. Use the thunder potion to double your damage. Also, use the "purple" potion in your inventory to regen your stamina faster.

And most important, be patient. Don't try to rush the monster. It will kill you first otherwise.

[Exarch_Alpha]

A pity the game doesn´t allow counter attacks on some beasts and overall heavy attacks are a waste. Witcher 2 did that better. Here, investing in light attacks is too much of a no-brainer.

On the bright side, once griffin is dead most other enemies will become a tad predictable, specially humans. It´s all about not being dog-piled.

[Gohenko]

Make sure you have the best possible gear you can have at that point. Also, research swallow and tawny owl potions, I find them quite helpful in most battles.

As far as actual tactics go, just dodge the griffin's attacks and land a few hits every time you see an opening. When it starts flying, just shoot it down with your crossbow and you'll have time for a few hits before it recovers. Sign-wise, try to have quen on at all times and use igni every now and then.

[bukkie661]

Did you visit all the points of power? Checked all bountyboards? Loot everything? You should be level 3 going on 4 when you face the Griffin. You also should have some OP gear for the level you're at, especially hinting at the mausoleum (sepulture, tomb) at the graveyard for some good stuff.
You can also buy Diagrams for your level and have good stuff crafted. Gold is not an issue here, as each flower you pick is worth one gold. (Seriously, Geralt is effectively a billionare. Al he has to do is pick flowers.)
Also, make good use of Tomira the herbalist. Ask for her life-story and craft a swallow for the dying girl in her hut. She'll shower you with helpful potions twice.
Remember the flower to gold trick to afford manuscripts that might be helpful.

Buy a lot of water and have it in a quickslot. It has the longest HOT and there's no such thing as a cooldown-timer on it. Once you start taking damage, start drinking water and refresh each time it runs out; that way you'll continuously heal without upping your toxity. Don't hit the water-button rapidly, as extra taps just refresh the counter and you lose out on healing then. Just refresh each time the timer runs out.

[Nihilio]

Explore the map some more, you are way underleveled and underequiped. Use the crossbow to bring it down, then hit with sword, use quen to avoid some damage or aard to trip him down once more.
May be a tough fight if this is your first witcher game, so maybe you should start at normal difficulty until you get the basics down (then switch to Blood and Broken Bones then to Death March towards the end)

[Exarch_Alpha]

Depends on what he wants, if the focus is story, nothing wrong playing on normal the entire playthrough. Through it will quickly become easy once he has up to date equipment and don´t fight enemies 3-4 levels or above. I´m level 17 and smashing light attack is really a no-brainer. Yes I did a combat focused build, but even then.

[bukkie661]

Originally posted by Papanak:

When in air drop it with crossbow > 2-3 heavy hits as it stands up.
When on the ground use Aard > 1-2 heavy hits while it is stunned.
Then run/roll/dodge away until Aard is up again or until it takes to the sky.

Don't use Quen.It is an "get out of jail card" that doesn't punish bad play.

Repeat.

Bad play? Quen is a tool, there to use it. You're not some awesome pro-gamer if you gimp yourself. W3's combat is bland and casual, even without Quen. Stop making it out to be something awesome that you ruin with using signs.
Deciding on signs at least offers the illusion of depth to the dodgerolling... I mean, combat.

[Aloe]

I remember using igni also and bombs. I got it in a few times on deathmarch. For me wasn;t the most frustrating fight.

[Xector]

The griffon at the beginning is one of the hardest fights. Especially for a first playthrough. The game gets way easier as you level up.

You've got to keep that quen active. Use an igni when you shoot down the griffon and he's stunned. Never attack it head-on. Never attack it unless it's stunned or you have just dodged.

The worst attack is the pounce but he telegraphs it pretty hard. When it rears up get back and prepare to roll out of the way.

These boss fights are all about learning the pattern and knowing when to strike.

[pike]

Originally posted by Duncan:

Roll, quen -> win every fight.

and follow with the yrden , yrden breaks every bad guy/beast and monster in the game

[Colen Bardbarian]

Originally posted by Selaphane:

I just got this game yesterday, but I like a challenge so I started the game on the second hardest difficulty, blood and bones I think? Anyway, this is getting ridiculous, I've done every single side quest in the first area before advancing to the main storyline, I'm only level 2 (why?) and I literally cannot get even CLOSE to killing this ♥♥♥♥ing griffin.

I've died at least 20 times now, and the most damage I've done so far is MAYBE a third of its health, but yet I die in 2-3 hits, every single time, from HUGE hitbox attacks that are sometimes unpredictable and will hit you sometimes even if you dodge out of the way. How the ♥♥♥♥ do I kill this stupidly designed boss? Dark Souls wasn't even this hard...

Have you read it's weakness in the beastairy and used the things on it like it says? Can't remember the name of the bombs.

[Grad]

Quen is good. It saves your life and lets you go a bit spastic spamming sword without much of a worry. Just keep it active and when it's down back off.