Steel, Silver, and Signs — The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt The Complete Edition eGuide

While Ciri practices on a dummy, you’re able to test your mettle (and your metal) against Vesemir. Follow the on-screen instructions, and concentrate on learning as much as you can during this tutorial, since these fundamentals of combat are key to the unforgiving world outside the walls of this keep.

Objectives:

Draw your sword. Aim at Vesemir and mark him as your target.
Perform a series of fast attacks (3).
Perform a series of strong attacks (3).
Perform a series of dodges (3).
Roll out of the way of Vesemir’s blow (2).
Perform a series of parries (3).
Perform a series of counterattacks (3).

Swordplay Fundamentals

At the conclusion of this duel, you should know how to:

Draw and sheathe your steel sword (though you automatically draw your preferred weapon when enemies are near. Remember that your steel sword is for fighting human or “natural” enemies (like wolves), while your silver sword—which isn’t used during these fights—sinks into the flesh of monsters.
Execute Fast and Strong Strikes (the former hits quickly but lightly, while the latter inflicts more damage but is more easily blocked).
Perform Dodges (these are key to avoiding incoming attacks; quickly dodge as soon as you see an enemy’s attack start, and you avoid it, and follow it up with violent retribution!).
Parry and Counterattack (also known as blocking and riposte; a slightly more advanced method of remaining locked in combat with a foe you want to focus on killing, parrying them to start a defensive posture whenever you wish—though you obviously can’t attack during this time—and then executing a counterattack as soon after your blocked sword is struck as possible. The counterattack is incredibly useful as it pushes a foe back, and usually off-balance).

Objectives:

Cast the Quen Sign.
Cast the Igni Sign.
Cast the Aard Sign.
Cast the Axii Sign.
Cast the Yrden Sign.

Vesemir’s training continues with the activation of your five different Witcher Signs. This magic is critical to augmenting your already-impressive sword skills.

Sign-casting Fundamentals

Pay close attention so you know the basics of your five magical skills. Learn the following:

Cast Quen (which defends you against damage and certain critical effects, and should be cast before you enter combat).
Cast Igni (which deals fire damage and has a chance to apply an incineration effect on your opponents and is a great way to dish out extra damage, clip the wings of airborne opponents, and set fire to flammable objects such as exploding barrels. Expect to use this Sign often).
Cast Aard (which stuns opponents or, in some cases, knocks them to the ground and is another highly-useful ability, especially when you want to clear an area of multiple foes, or want to destroy weak walls or certain blockages of debris).
Cast Axii (which temporarily disorients your opponents, allowing you to focus on battering one foe at a time if multiple enemies are engaging you, or weakening a single enemy you’re facing).
Cast Yrden (which lays a magic trap that slows anyone walking over it, a perfect accouterment to your dexterous swordplay, and a great defensive way to quickly heal yourself, change signs, or otherwise tone down a ferocious battle you may find yourself in).

Objectives:

Throw a bomb.
Stand in the highlighted spot.
Throw a bomb at the training post.
Sheathe your sword.

End: A Fevered Dream

Vesemir’s training concludes with a spot of projectile-wrangling. Produce a Moon Dust bomb and learn to aim it both at near and far ranges. Follow the on-screen advice, and then finish your training by sheathing your sword. Afterwards, your mind becomes addled, as if in a fevered dream, and the second part of this quest (Lilac and Gooseberries) begins.

ITEM: Moon Dust (2)