Witchers carry two swords with the knowledge that they will be used against man and beast. Words alone aren’t always enough to dissuade everyone and everything from picking a fight with Geralt of Rivia, and so it becomes important to live up to his other name: the Butcher of Blaviken.
Combat in Witcher 3: Wild Hunt can be challenging, even on the Story and Sword! difficulty setting. Geralt has a vast array of options at his disposal, which can be daunting at first, especially during battles where the witcher is greatly outnumbered. A fight can break out spontaneously: bandits stalking a frequented road could run you down on horseback, a pack of wolves or nekkers can suddenly charge from the underbrush, or you may be caught in an ambush in a forgotten alley somewhere in Novigrad. Part of winning combat in Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is being prepared to fight at any time, against a wide variety of opponents.
You must also make good use of the tools available, hurting the enemy as much as possible while avoiding harm yourself. Geralt can fight with his swords, magic Signs, crossbow, or fists. He can augment his abilities with potions, mutagens, and decoctions. With alchemy, he can craft devastating bombs that can cripple man and monster with a variety of effects, or create sword oils that can help his blades inflict maximum harm on specific enemies. The trick is combining all of these tools effectively.
Camera Control
The first rule of combat is to know where your enemies are at all times. You can try relying on the mini-map to reveal the location of your foes during a fight, but it’s best to have the camera facing them. That way, you can see what they’re doing and react accordingly. Of course, if you’re surrounded, this can be difficult. In those cases, try to keep the camera aimed at the most prominent threats.
Lock On
While attacking with his swords or fists, Geralt automatically homes in on opponents within a certain range. You can also move him in the direction of an enemy while attacking in order to get him to change his facing. This leaves the camera free to move around as you see fit.
However, when fighting some opponents, it may be wise to lock the camera on to them. This changes Geralt’s movement so that he is still always facing them if they’re a good distance away—even while attacking, dodging, or running.
Pay special attention to the Vitality bar over the head of your targeted enemy. If you see the area around it flash red, that’s your cue to parry or dodge the enemy’s attack!
Selecting Targets
In battles with multiple opponents, you must know how to select the correct target of focus. If you’re getting punctured with arrows while fighting melee-based foes, spot the position of the sniper with your camera, then try to run them down. Some fights in large groups are best handled by picking off the weaker opponents first. Lock the camera onto them in the middle of a melee.
