Leveling up after level 40

[Rosaleen]

Ok, I'm level 41 and trying for the endings in the Blood and Wine DLC that have one or both sisters survive. That means: I don't have the fancy armor you get when you visit the vampire elder in the cave and I'm trying to level up like crazy because Detlaff is kicking my rear end like crazy.
Currently trying to do the knight for hire quest to level up. Do you have any other tips to level up fast enough after level 40? Thanks a bunch!

[worm_master]

There's actually a "trick" to Detlaff, it's when he do's his bat thing, when you hear the audio cue, wait about 1/2 a sec or so, an roll.. Theres plenty of vids online if u need..

[DeFox]

Its not so much the level that matters. As long as the enemy don't have a skull above them you should be able to fight them just fine. Gear wise all the grandmaster witcher gear should be fine. A better power boost than leveling is visit all the places of power so you can have as many skill points as possible and use that to make a good build together with the new mutation system from Blood and Wine. There are some really nutty alchemy builds on youtube that gives insane HP and damage. if your gear and skills are good then the rest is just learning Detlaff's attacks and timing.

[worm_master]

Originally posted by DeFox:

Its not so much the level that matters. As long as the enemy don't have a skull above them you should be able to fight them just fine. Gear wise all the grandmaster witcher gear should be fine. A better power boost than leveling is visit all the places of power so you can have as many skill points as possible and use that to make a good build together with the new mutation system from Blood and Wine. There are some really nutty alchemy builds on youtube that gives insane HP and damage. if your gear and skills are good then the rest is just learning Detlaff's attacks and timing.

Skulls dont mean much If ya good, I swat skulled mobs all the time, the trouble with skulled mobs, isn't their skulled, it's ya weapons do little damage, and if their too far above your level, neither sword runes or bombs work...... an so turns into a swing fest. This DM btw, i think I swatted 4 or more skulled mobs so far.. i'm only level 6...

[Blade]

You have to enable enemy up-scaling in the menu. To really level up fast though, starting a new game plus will help. New game plus provides more experience, combined with enemy up-scaling it's even more. For now, look at your equipment and trophies as well. Equip swords and trophies that give you an exp boost to monsters, GrandMaster Witcher swords especially will give you at least a 15% boost per sword for monsters or humans/non-humans. The trophies will give you about 5%. I'm currently level 100 but I was 47 when I started new game plus, I'm about done with the Blood and Wine DLC so leveling becomes a grind around 50 without those exp boosts or enemy up-scaling. Quen is your friend, you can take anything on in the game, no matter it's level for that juicy exp as long as you don't get hit again before you recast it. lol

[DeFox]

Originally posted by worm_master:

Originally posted by DeFox:

Its not so much the level that matters. As long as the enemy don't have a skull above them you should be able to fight them just fine. Gear wise all the grandmaster witcher gear should be fine. A better power boost than leveling is visit all the places of power so you can have as many skill points as possible and use that to make a good build together with the new mutation system from Blood and Wine. There are some really nutty alchemy builds on youtube that gives insane HP and damage. if your gear and skills are good then the rest is just learning Detlaff's attacks and timing.

Skulls dont mean much:rfg: If ya good, I swat skulled mobs all the time, the trouble with skulled mobs, isn't their skulled, it's ya weapons do little damage, and if their too far above your level, neither sword runes or bombs work...... an so turns into a swing fest. This DM btw, i think I swatted 4 or more skulled mobs so far.. i'm only level 6...

I mean its possible, there is just no point fighting them, takes a long time and you don't get much from it. I'm not sure how exactly the skull works but yes I realised there must be some kind of modifier that's making Geralt do very little damage to them. Maybe it effects any difference in level, just becomes more noticeable when the different was large enough for them to have a skull. Which obviously wouldn't be a good thing if someone is already having a hard time with a final boss. this modifier is the only thing OP can rectify by leveling.

[worm_master]

Originally posted by DeFox:

Originally posted by worm_master:

Skulls dont mean much If ya good, I swat skulled mobs all the time, the trouble with skulled mobs, isn't their skulled, it's ya weapons do little damage, and if their too far above your level, neither sword runes or bombs work...... an so turns into a swing fest. This DM btw, i think I swatted 4 or more skulled mobs so far.. i'm only level 6...

I mean its possible, there is just no point fighting them, takes a long time and you don't get much from it. I'm not sure how exactly the skull works but yes I realised there must be some kind of modifier that's making Geralt do very little damage to them. Maybe it effects any difference in level, just becomes more noticeable when the different was large enough for them to have a skull. Which obviously wouldn't be a good thing if someone is already having a hard time with a final boss. this modifier is the only thing OP can rectify by leveling.

Lol except FAT treasure, an i mean FAT My current silver sword is.... Maugrim, I won it in a hidden treasure from a skulled mob do's 140 Base damage +7 to quen an yrden, an only requires LVL 3..... fat treasure, not to mention the armour that comes with it

[Rosaleen]

Ok, thanks for the replies. I still haven't got grandmaster witcher gear - I tended to put those quests off. I did manage to gather up a decent amount of it, but that was right before I beat Detlaff with my full gear from the vampire elder cave and now I can't find a save AFTER getting the gear and BEFORE going into the end part of the DLC, so I'll trod again after them. Get some XP in the process as well.

[Gomer]

I kicked bloodsucker's arse I few hours ago, but took me more almost two hours I think. Really I'm not feeling in the mood of repeating it... ouch that second phase. My advice: Run away from the bats makes it much easier, use every tool against him. Use the small window you have to hit him wisely, better with one or two strong strokes. Cover yourself like crazy. It's doable, but by far the hardest boss of the game IMO.

[Rosaleen]

Yeah, I managed to do that after my first ending - which wasn't nice at all - but I had a set of ridiculously OP armor with mask included. Not so easy without that one and going to the vampire lair to get ir ruins the other endings. Still on my mission to level up. I'm level 44 now and just completed knight for hire - which doesn't have a level recommendation but has you fight a lot of bandits that are level 48. I got 300xp out of completing the that quest and feel ripped off lol

[Alex_x86]

Did you do the mutations quest? I don't remember the the quest name but it is triggered when you first arrive into the city boy approaches you and gives you a letter from Triss/Yen. In that letter she says that you would not regret investigating that thing and the mutations are really neat especially if you heavy invested into the magic and towards the end of the game magic becomes less impactful, however if you get the most powerful magic mutation magic becomes quite strong again.

The only thing is that it requires a lot of blue (and some red) mutagens which you can craft using the berries you can grow in your house.

[Rosaleen]

I can grow berries?! I really need to spend time in Corvo Bianco...
Anyway, yes, I did that quest, but I need ability points to do those mutations. I think I'll finally take the time to map what mutations are really interesting for my gameplay and gulp down the potion of clearance. Thanks!

[Alex_x86]

Originally posted by Rosaleen:

I can grow berries?! I really need to spend time in Corvo Bianco...
Anyway, yes, I did that quest, but I need ability points to do those mutations. I think I'll finally take the time to map what mutations are really interesting for my gameplay and gulp down the potion of clearance. Thanks!

Yes, and some other herbs, however most helpful are all the components to get you mutagens. To get to highest level at least one branch you would need quite a bit of those and while it is possible that you have more than enough to get at least one branch all the way if you would need red ones you either would have to farm them in few spots (very painful and boring) or transform different colors to red or manufacture them on your own. Either way all the components for those could be gathered in Corvo Bianco, however they seems to be growing only once few missions, so getting enough berries and other herbs for mutagen production is a bit painful.

Also make sure you have found the alchemistry table in Covo Bianco since this it how you are going to get those recipe (there is a weak wall when you enter the basement, destroy the wall, table is behind it).

[Rosaleen]

Ok cool, thanks! Will try those