You’re fresh out of Kaer Morhen, the world is vast, and your inventory is likely filled with rusty swords and padded trousers that offer the same protection as wet paper.
As a fellow witcher who has walked this Path countless times, we are here to give you the blueprint for acquiring the Witcher 3's best equipment in the early game. This guide covers roughly Levels 1-15, making you cover White Orchard and most of Velen.
Why Witcher School Gear Beats Relics In The Witcher 3
Before we dive into specifics, let's establish the single most important principle of gearing in The Witcher 3: Witcher School Gear is almost always the best.
Relic items (the ones with a gold background) might look flashy, and you'll find plenty with impressive-looking damage numbers. The trap is that they are static. Witcher Gear, on the other hand, is craftable and upgradable. The set bonuses, specialized stats, and the ability to grow the gear with you make it unparalleled.
Pro-Tip: Don't waste your precious crowns buying expensive swords from merchants in the early game. The gear we're about to cover is either found for free or crafted for a fraction of the cost, and it's leagues better.
Best Early Sword (Level 1–2): Viper School Swords In The Witcher 3
The Viper Steel and Silver swords give you the biggest power spike in White Orchard.
- Level: 1 (Steel), 2 (Silver)
- Bonus: +15% poison chance, strong base damage
- Key Advantage: Excellent base damage for their level, and a crucial +15% bonus chance to poison. This poison DoT (Damage over Time) is incredibly effective against the tougher early-game monsters.
How to Get the Viper Swords:
- Viper School Steel Sword Diagram: Head to the Amavet Fortress ruins north of the Ransacked Village signpost. Inside a ruined watchtower, you'll find a chest containing the diagram.
- Viper School Silver Sword Diagram: This one is in the White Orchard cemetery, specifically in the crypt beneath the chapel. You'll need to blast the door open with your Aard sign. The diagram is in a chest.
Once you have the diagrams, visit the local blacksmith (Willis, the Nilfgaardian garrison quartermaster you can rescue) to craft them. They are your first essential pieces of the Witcher 3's best equipment.
Best Early Armor (Level 4): Temerian Set
If you need a bridge before Witcher gear, buy the Temerian armor set from Bram in White Orchard.
- Level: 4
- Type: Medium Armor
How to Get the Temerian Armor Set:
- You can purchase this entire set from Bram, the merchant you saved from the griffin at the very beginning of the game. He's located in the main village of White Orchard. The full set (armor, trousers, boots, gauntlets) is a bit pricey for a new player, but it’s worth every crown.
- Pro-Tip: Loot and sell everything that isn't nailed down in White Orchard. Focus on bandit camps and smugglers' caches (the "?'s" in the water) to get enough money for this set and your Viper swords.
Best Early Witcher Set (Level 11): Griffin School Gear
The first full Witcher set you can craft is the Griffin School gear, perfect for Sign-focused builds.
- Level: 11
- Type: Medium Armor
- Bonus: Huge Sign Intensity boost (Igni and Quen become devastating)
- Where to find diagrams:
- Steel Sword + Armor pieces: Dragonslayer’s Grotto, Velen
- Silver Sword: Lornruk lighthouse
Crafting this set transforms combat, letting you burn, stagger, and shield your way through Velen with ease.
Early Game Tips and Tricks in Witcher 3
To put it all together, here is your simple, step-by-step path to having the best equipment in the early game of Witcher 3:
- Levels 1-4 (White Orchard): Immediately find and craft the Viper School Steel and Silver Swords. This is your top priority.
- Level 4+ (White Orchard/Velen): Purchase the Temerian Armor Set from Bram in White Orchard. This will be your protection until Level 11.
- Levels 8-11 (Velen): Begin the "Scavenger Hunt: Griffin School Gear" quest. Gather all the diagrams.
- Level 11+ (Velen): Craft the full Griffin School Gear set. Congratulations, you are now one of the most powerful beings in Velen.
By following this blueprint, you'll spend less time worrying about your inventory and more time enjoying the incredible world and story. You'll be stronger, richer, and more prepared for the challenges that lie ahead on the Path.
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