Even nearly a decade after release, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains one of the greatest RPGs ever created. But even veterans—and especially new players—often make mistakes that hold Geralt back. In this updated 2024 guide, we walk through 20 common missteps and how to avoid them, helping you get the most out of your adventure across the Continent.

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1. Staying on the Path

Sticking to marked roads might seem like a good idea—but it causes you to miss countless side encounters, hidden loot, and enemy ambushes. Venture off the beaten path to fully experience the richness of the world.

2. Ignoring the Bestiary

The bestiary is your tactical playbook. It tells you the weaknesses of every enemy, including the right signs, oils, and strategies to use. Pair it with the auto-apply oil setting in gameplay options to fully optimize.

3. Not Using All Your Tools

Geralt has signs, bombs, potions, oils, a crossbow—and most players only use a few. Don’t forget about tools like the crossbow for underwater combat or Aard for flying enemies. Learn what each tool excels at.

4. Farming Cows Without Caution

Killing cows repeatedly triggers the infamous cow monster. Do it too many times in White Orchard, and a giant beast will spawn to punish your greed. Fun, but deadly.

5. Skipping the Gourmet Skill

From the Blood and Wine DLC, Gourmet extends food-based healing from 60 seconds to 20 minutes. Even after the nerf in the next-gen update, it remains one of the best skills for resource conservation and survival.

6. Skipping Side Quests

Side quests often contain great loot, hidden storylines, and unique rewards. Some tie into future quests or unlock rare gear. Don’t rush the main story—explore and enjoy the world.

7. Delaying Witcher Gear Hunts

Start collecting Witcher gear sets (like Griffin, Cat, Bear) as early as you can. These scavenger hunt quests unlock powerful armor with unique bonuses that shape your playstyle.

8. Underestimating Enemy Groups

One-on-one fights may be easy—but large groups can overwhelm you. Early on, dodge after every hit. Play defensively, and invest in adrenaline-based stamina skills to help maintain tempo.

9. Mixing Skill Trees Inefficiently

While mixing skills is possible, focus on synergy. Matching skill colors with corresponding mutagens boosts their effect. Stick to a build theme—combat, signs, or alchemy—and branch slowly.

10. Neglecting Dismantling

Many items contain valuable components when dismantled. A gold ruby ring, for example, yields a ruby and gold nugget. Use dismantling to break down trash gear into useful crafting items.

11. Forgetting to Meditate

Meditation replenishes potions, bombs, and health (on lower difficulties). It’s an easy thing to forget—especially when you’re drained after a fight. Make it part of your post-battle habit.

12. Ignoring Enemy-Specific Combat Strategy

Dodge for monsters. Parry for humans. Axii for crowd control. Aard for horseback enemies. Don’t treat all enemies the same—learn what works and adjust.

13. Ignoring Inventory Stashes

Running out of carry weight? Use the shared stash system available in inns and towns across the world. Place items in one, retrieve from another. Essential for storing trophies, rare loot, and crafting mats.

14. Speed-Leveling Your First Playthrough

Speed-leveling can ruin the pacing of the story. Enjoy your first run organically—do main quests, explore, and let progression happen naturally. Save the grind for NG+.

15. Skipping Quen Pre-Fight

Cast Quen before entering battle. You’ll regain stamina fast and give yourself a free hit buffer. Just don’t do it in front of guards—they’ll take it as an act of aggression.

16. Selling Monster Trophies

Trophies aren’t just for decoration—they grant passive bonuses like bonus XP or crit chance. Many are unique to specific quests. Store them in your stash instead of selling them.

17. Overlooking Sign-Boosting Gear

If you’re using signs frequently, prioritize armor and items that boost sign intensity. The Griffin set, for instance, is excellent for sign builds. Don’t just look at armor rating—match it to your playstyle.

18. Leaving Loot Behind

Always loot everything you can. Even if you’re near your weight limit, you can stash it or sell it later. Every bit counts—especially early on.

19. Missing the Toussaint Knight Steel Sword

One of the best steel swords in the game, the Toussaint Knight’s Steel Sword, is found in the Blood and Wine DLC at the Arthach Palace Ruins. It’s easily missed, but totally worth grabbing.

20. Not Crafting Superior Swallow Early

Superior Swallow offers some of the best healing in the game. Prioritize crafting it as soon as you can. Later, pair it with decoctions like Ekimmara or Katakan for regeneration-based builds.

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Final Words

The Witcher 3 rewards curiosity, preparation, and experimentation. Avoiding these common mistakes can dramatically improve your playthrough and help you make the most of Geralt’s journey. Take your time, explore the world, and use every tool at your disposal.

Now that you’re prepared, dive in and take back the Path like a true Witcher. And remember: dodge for monsters, parry for men.