There are four types of gear related to the treasure hunts in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Of them all, the Griffin School Gear is definitely the most commonly used, and thus will be our focus today. We’ll show you how to find it all, plus craft it using the appropriate armorer and blacksmith.
For starters, finding the diagrams is only part of the battle. You must also ensure that you have the materials that are required to craft it, plus check that you have leveled Geralt up enough that he can use it or wear it. All of this information is found on the diagram itself, to make sure you’re studying them before you go and get craft happy.
If it turns out that you are missing some materials, be sure to use the Dismantle option that both armorers and blacksmiths have. Go through your inventory and see what you can dismantle, rather than taking Roach out in to the wilderness to look for random resources. A good example of this is the monster eye, it is a common component needed, and can be obtained by dismantling a nekker eye. If you have a nekker eye, your diagram might tell you that a component is missing. After you dismantle it, however, it should be smooth sailing on the materials front.
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Griffin School Gear
Players will need to visit three different locations to get all of the gear if they want to complete the Griffin School set. The first two will give you the steel and silver sword, and the final one will give you all four pieces of armor. We only tell you this in case you feel like skipping one or the other.
The first place you need to visit is next to a Signpost called Hindhold. It’s to the north of Hangman’s Tree, where you popped up in Velen after completing the prologue. If you don’t see Hindhold near the north coast, fast travel to Hangman’s Tree, then ride north. When you reach a fork in the road that goes left and right, keep going north, taking an off-road journey toward a question mark. When you arrive you should find some ruins, as well as reveal the Hindhold Signpost. Work your way through the ruins, fighting off enemies you come across as you make your way up to a harpy nest. Destroy it, then go inside the door that sits next to it. In here you’ll find a chest containing the Griffin Steel Sword Diagram.
Head to the Hindhold Signpost and prepare to fast travel. Bring up your map and take note of how the Inn at the Crossroads sits between two large land masses. You’re headed to the one on the left. In fact, you are going to the far northwest tip of the one on the left, even further to the northwest than the Harpy Feeding Ground Signpost. If you don’t see this, you haven’t unlocked it yet.
Fast travel to your closest Signpost, then head to the northern part of the land mass, further north than both the Heatherton and Isolated Shack Signposts if you have those on your map. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you come across a drawbridge leading to a castle. You can’t cross that way, so jump into the water to the east of the island. You’re in the right place when you come across a Place of Power (which you should draw from). Dive under the water east of the Place of Power and the entrance of a cave should pop up on your map. Swim through that, ignoring the drowners likely pestering you as you swim.
When you surface in the cave, climb up and loot everything you see. When you eventually go through a door and back outside, look left and see the drawbridge. Lower it using the wheel, then go back to the door. Don’t go inside, but instead look for a ladder leading to a platform. Climb the ladder and loot the chest nearby to get your hands on the Griffin Silver Sword Diagram.
The last place you need to visit will require you get your Aard and Yrden Signs ready to go. Head across the now lowered drawbridge and back to the Harpy Feeding Ground Signpost. Use this to travel to either the Reardon Manor, Downwarren or The Orphans of Crookback Bog Signposts. Well, unless you already unlocked a Signpost called the Dragonslayer’s Grotto, in which case go there. If you end up at one of the others, here is how to find it.
- West and slightly south of Reardon Manor.
- West and slightly north of Downwarren.
- North and slightly west of The Orphans of Crookback Bog.
When you arrive at your destination, go inside and get ready to fight some wraiths. There are bound to be quite a few of them, but they shouldn’t pose much of a threat if you effectively use Yrden. Cut them up, and be sure to loot every room. There are good things to grab aside from the Griffin gear.
Keep working through the dark cave-like rooms until your path is blocked, using Aard to smash through. When you find yourself face-to-face with an ekimmara, switch back to Yrden and kill the beast. When it’s down, pop into your Witcher Senses and loot the room, paying special attention to the chest holding the goods you are here for. Loot the chest and you’ll receive the Griffin Armor Diagram, Griffin Trousers Diagram, Griffin Boots Diagram and the Griffin Gauntlets Diagram.
Griffin School Gear – Enhanced
The first piece of gear you’ll want is located to the east of the Crossroads Signpost. In fact, there is a road that goes east from there, and taking it will lead you to your destination – a cave entrance that will be marked on your map once you visit it. Follow the cave in the only direction you can until it hooks to the right. You’ll find the chest with the Enhanced Griffin School Silver Sword Diagram tucked in the corner.
Back out and return to the Crossroads Signpost. Fast travel from there to the Refugees Camp signpost on the west side of the landmass. From there you need to move southwest and to the part of the land that sticks out. You’ll find a bandit camp there, and when it’s clear you can loot the chest within the stone ruins to find the Enhanced Griffin School Steel Sword Diagram. Return to the Refugees Camp Signpost when you are done.
Fast travel to the Western Gate of Oxenfurt and then take the bridge that leads you out of the city. When you reach land, turn north and head forward until you reach the coast. Swim across the water until you see the White Eagle Fort Signpost (if you already see it skip the previous steps and fast travel directly there). You will find a Rock Troll (he’s friendly) there, and behind him is a chest with the Enhanced Griffin School Armor Diagram. Loot it and head for the nearest Signpost.
Fast travel to the Byways Signpost and take the road that moves southeast. You’ll want to follow this all the way until the solid lands turns to more of a swamp. When you have to turn either left or right, go right and head south. You’re looking for a cave that is blocked by some rubble. Use Aard to clear the way and then loot the cave, including the chest that contained the Enhanced Griffin School Gauntlets Diagram.
Fast travel to the Inn at the Crossroads Signpost and call for Roach. Ride northwest along the road, then take your trusty horse off-road as you make your way to the far northwest side of the land mass. You will eventually come to a building that was made of bricks and is now in ruins. Search it to find the chest that contains the Enhanced Griffin School Boots Diagram. Loot and it and ride back to the Inn at the Crossroads.
Fast travel to either the Crow’s Perch Signpost or the Burned Ruins Signpost that is very near and to the northwest of that. You’re looking for a burned out building (at the Burned Ruins Signpost), and hidden within it is a chest (behind some fallen debris) with the Enhanced Griffin School Trousers Diagram.
Griffin School Gear – Superior
You’ll need to hit three locations in order to get all the Superior gear in this set. All of those locations are within the Skellige Isles, either on An Skellig or Ard Skellig. Be prepared to do some riding if you haven’t unlocked many of the Signposts. Also, you can purchase maps of the area from a merchant that will show you many of these Signposts automatically.
The four pieces of armor are on Ard Skellig, and the closest Signpost is called Giants Toes. If you have that, head there and go north until you are on the northeast tip of the island. If you don’t have that Signpost, you could go northeast from Yustianna’s Grotto. When you arrive at the bandit camp, kill everyone that occupies it and then search the shore for a wrecked boat. You’ll find the Superior Griffin School Armor Diagram, the Superior Griffin School Gauntlets Diagram, the Superior Griffin School Boots Diagram, and the Superior Griffin School Trousers Diagram. Snatch them up and head back to the Giant Toes Signpost.
Fast travel to An Skellig, landing at either the Urialla Harbor or Trail to Yngvar’s Fang Signposts. The former is the preferred spot. From there you must travel along the roads as the wind to the northwest. Take them past a village and continue north along the road until you reach a shrine. Kill whatever stands in your way and claim the Superior Griffin School Steel Sword Diagram. Return to one of the Signposts when you are done.
Fast travel back to Ard Skellig, heading for the Elverum Lighthouse Signpost if that’s an option. If it’s not, try Kaer Muire, traveling south to the coast, then southeast along the coast. You will eventually come to a cave near the tip of the island. Kill the bears (and loot them for materials) that own the cave, then use your Witcher Senses to find the Superior Griffin School Silver Sword Diagram. After that, go to the nearest Signpost and get ready to move on to the Mastercrafted gear.
Make sure you have the best weapons and armor in The Witcher 3!
Griffin School Gear – Mastercrafted
All four bits of the Mastercrafted armor are found in the same location, Ard Skellig of the Skellige Isles. If you have the Redgill Signpost showing, fast travel to that and then take the road that leads northeast along the coast. This will lead you to a fort, and inside will be some stairs that lead to a second level. You might also have to deal with a Cyclops, but you should be able to avoid it. Use your Witcher Senses to find the Mastercrafted Griffin School Armor Diagram, the Mastercrafted Griffin School Gauntlets Diagram, the Mastercrafted Griffin School Boots Diagram, and the Mastercrafted Griffin School Trousers Diagram. Get them all and be on your way.
You’re headed to the Boxholm Signpost, which is near a river that sits at western base of a mountain. If you don’t have that Signpost, head north along the river from Fyresdal, or go southeast from Fayrlund. You’re looking for some stone ruins, and on the eastern side of those ruins will be the chest that contains the Mastercrafted Griffin School Steel Sword Diagram. When you have it, head to the nearest Signpost to continue forward.
The nearest Signpost from the last bit of gear should be Boxholm, and from there your destination lies to the southwest, on the western base of a mountain, next to a lake. If you can, fast travel to the Fornhala Signpost and head east, moving around the lake in a clockwise fashion until you’re at the base of the mountain. Look for a stone tower that has seen better days, sitting next to a tree that is likely older than said tower and in worse shape. Go through the door and into the tower, using your Witcher Senses to find the Mastercrafted Griffin School Silver Sword Diagram, which will complete the entire Griffin School Gear set with all its variations.
