The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Guide (Steam) Essentials How to Build a Witcher
Character Attributes
We’ve covered how you can customize Geralt through talents and skills in exhaustive detail, but there’s another, entirely separate way you can make your Geralt more distinct. As you progress through the game and complete tasks, the things you do can unlock certain character attributes for Geralt. Each attribute usually has a name evocative of what you did to unlock it and grants you a new stat bonus or other ability. Some attributes are basically just novelties, while others are so useful that it’s almost not worth playing the game without them.
A complete list of the game’s character attributes and how you unlock them is included here. As you read over it, note that some attributes are mutually exclusive. Attributes you pick up by doing things while allied with Roche, for example, can’t be acquired if you decide to ally with Iorveth instead. Some attributes are easily obtained by sticking to the main story quests, while others require you to go on side quests. A handful of attributes, some among the most powerful, require you to take very specific actions at specific times.
| Attribute Name | Effect | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomy Lesson | Damage to humans +10% | Examine the fresh corpse in the Dwarven Catacombs as part of the side quest With Flickering Heart. |
| Arcane Knowledge | Sign intensity +0.5 | Complete the side quest The Gargoyle Contract. |
| Assassin | Damage +25% when attacking opponents from behind | Find the assassin who resembles but is legally distinct from Altair during the Prologue. |
| Axii Sign Hex | Makes Axii more effective when used in conversations | Select and successfully use a dialogue option that requires use of the Axii sign in any conversation. |
| Batter | Chance to instant kill with redirected arrows +20% | Buy both levels of the skill Arrow Redirection and redirect approximately 10 arrows back at your enemies. |
| Battle Seasoned | Vigor regeneration in combat +5% | Finish the main story quest Vergen Besieged. |
| Birdman | Damage to harpies +10% | Complete the side quest The Harpy Contract. |
| Child of the Night | Vitality regeneration at night +2 | Sneak through the Kaedweni Camp undetected during the main story quest Where Is Triss Merigold?. |
| Conjuror | Sign damage +3 | Successfully use Axii Sign Hex on an NPC during a conversation. |
| Cover | Damage reduction +10% | Escape the Scoia'tael with Triss and Roche at the beginning of Chapter 1. |
| David | Damage to large monsters +10% | Kill two golems in Chapter 2. Note that this is only possible if you side with Roche. |
| Executioner | Chance to instant kill +1% | Slay Aryan La Valette, Adam Pangratt, and Henselt of Kaedwen. Note that this is only possible if you side with Roche. |
| Exorcist | Damage to wraiths +10% | Finish the main story quest The Blood Curse. |
| Experienced | Bonus of +10% to all XP earned | Knock down 10 training dummies. |
| Haggling | 20% off at all merchants | Use the Axii sign hex to convince the merchant to double your fee during the side quest The Kayran: A Matter of Price. Complete the main story quest The Kayran, then return to the merchant to collect your fee. |
| Half-Pirouette | Resistance to all critical effects +10% | Defeat Letho during the main story quest The Assassins of Kings in Chapter 1. |
| Intimidate | Makes intimidation more effective when used in conversations | Select and successfully use a dialogue option that requires intimidation in any conversation. |
| Parry | 10% chance of performing an automatic riposte after blocking a blow | Successfully use Riposte at least 10 times. |
| Persuasion | Makes persuasion more effective when used in conversations | Select and successfully use a dialogue option that requires persuasion in any conversation. |
| Precision | Chance to inflict critical effects +5% | Successfully shoot Count Etcheverry with the ballista during the Prologue. |
| Pyromaniac | Bonus of +20% to current chance of inflicting incineration | Set yourself on fire without dying at least 15 times. |
| Resistance to Magic | Damage reduction from magic attacks +20% | Reject Triss in the elven baths and blow down the false wall with Aard to escape in Where Is Triss Merigold?. |
| Sapper | Chance of avoiding damage from traps and bombs +50% | Interrupt Geralt at least five times while he is in the process of arming or disarming a trap. |
| Strong Back | Geralt's maximum load +50 | Spare Aryan La Valette and then help him escape from La Valette Castle during the Prologue. |
| Strong Stomach | Resistance to poison +10% | Complete The Kayran: Ostmurk and drink a Mongoose potion before slaying the kayran. |
| Swordsman | Damage when using a sword +4 | Successfully defend Henselt from the kingslayers during the main quest The Assassins of Kings in Chapter 2. |
| Thrower | Damage dealt by daggers +5 | Defeat Ves in the knife-throwing competition during the side quest Hung Over. |
| Toxic Blood | Chance opponents that damage Geralt will be poisoned +30% | Survive having the poison critical effect inflicted on you at least 15 times. |