Welcome to the world of The Witcher 3, an expansive and immersive experience that’s captivated countless players—but can feel overwhelming at first. Many new players, just like myself when I first began, struggle to find their footing in this complex world. In fact, when I first picked it up, I didn’t enjoy it at all. It was confusing, the systems were deep, and there was too much happening at once. But with a bit of guidance, everything began to click—and that’s what this guide is here to provide. If you’re new to The Witcher 3, this guide will help you transition into the game smoothly, so you can fully appreciate everything it has to offer.

Understanding Exploration

Let’s start with the core of your experience: exploration. The world of The Witcher 3 is massive, sprawling with stories, dangers, and secrets. Unlike many other open-world games, where venturing off the path too soon may not be punished, this game has clear progression zones. The three main regions you’ll encounter are Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige.

As a beginner, your journey starts in Velen. And that’s where you should stay. Novigrad is more suited for mid-game content, and Skellige is best tackled in the later stages of your adventure. Wandering into higher-level zones early on will quickly get you killed by powerful monsters that outclass you.

When you enter a new town, your first stop should be the yellow notice boards on your map. These contain all available quests and contracts in the area. Grabbing these early lets you knock out missions at the right level, earning you XP, rewards, and a better understanding of the game’s mechanics. My advice? Tackle as many side quests and contracts as possible before diving into the main story. They offer a much gentler curve into combat and systems, all while giving you the levels needed to handle story missions without grinding.

A quick tip for getting around efficiently—make use of green signposts. These allow you to fast travel between known locations. Also, when riding your horse Roach along main roads, hold the gallop button to trigger auto-run. Roach will stick to the path and won’t burn stamina, letting you cover ground quickly and without interruptions.

Mastering Combat Basics

Combat can seem like a tangled mess at first, but The Witcher 3 actually keeps it fairly straightforward once you understand the flow. You’re equipped with two swords: steel for humans and animals, silver for monsters. If you’re barely scratching an enemy, you’re likely using the wrong blade.

You’ve got two types of attacks—light and heavy. Light attacks should be your go-to in nearly every situation. They’re faster, safer, and can often outperform heavy attacks, especially when you land critical hits. Heavy attacks are slow and leave you vulnerable, so keep them for when you’re absolutely certain they’ll connect.

Defensively, you can block, parry, roll, or dodge. For humans, parrying and countering works well. For monsters, not so much. Dodge becomes your best friend here—fast, responsive, and perfect for repositioning and counterattacks. Rolling is situational—use it to escape large groups, avoid projectiles, or close gaps quickly, but otherwise rely on quick dodges to maintain control of the fight.

Making Use of Signs

Magic—or “signs”—adds another layer to combat. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to grasp. Quen is your MVP—it creates a shield that absorbs one hit, and it’s incredibly useful for staying alive. Cast it before battle to give yourself a safety net.

Then there’s Igni, your fire spell, which deals damage over time and can set enemies ablaze. Aard delivers a concussive wave that knocks enemies back or stuns them. Axii, a mind control spell, is great both in combat and conversation. It lets you temporarily stun enemies or manipulate NPCs for easier resolutions. Finally, Yrden creates a magical trap that slows specters and wraiths—crucial for dealing with fast or ethereal enemies.

But knowing what to use and when comes from understanding your enemies. That’s where the Bestiary comes in.

The Bestiary and Alchemy

You’ll find your Bestiary in the same menu as your map and inventory. It contains detailed information about every monster you’ve encountered, including where they dwell and what their weaknesses are. Read it. Consult it before monster contracts. It tells you which oils to apply, which bombs to use, and which signs are most effective.

Speaking of oils and potions—alchemy can look intimidating, but it’s really not. You gather ingredients from plants, loot, or merchants. Use them to craft potions that regenerate health or increase stamina, and oils that boost your damage against certain enemy types.

Superior Swallow is one potion I recommend above all others—it greatly boosts health regeneration. And oils, while not absolutely necessary, really help cut down fight time and increase survivability. Once you’ve crafted a potion or oil, it essentially becomes unlimited—you just need to meditate to refill it using alcohol.

Armor, Gear, and Inventory Management

Armor and weapons come in four rarities: common, master, magic, and relic—with relic being the rarest. These rarities don’t affect base damage or protection as much as they influence extra bonuses or rune/glyph slots.

There are three armor types: light, medium, and heavy. Heavy armor provides the best protection and, in my opinion, is the best overall choice. The slight movement speed penalty isn’t really an issue given the game’s pacing.

Armor can be enhanced with glyphs, and swords with runes. Glyphs boost sign effectiveness, while runes add effects like critical hits, freezing, or burning. Don’t spend your gold on them—just find them. You’ll be swapping gear often, and they’re not worth the investment early on.

Skill Progression and Mutagens

When it comes to skill points, prioritize increasing light attack damage early on—it pays off in every battle. On the magic side, Quen is a must, and Axii is invaluable not just in fights, but in dialogue choices that can save you from combat altogether.

You’ll also collect mutagens from slain monsters. Red ones enhance combat abilities, while blue ones boost magic. Slotting them into your skill grid gives you passive bonuses, so make sure to match colors and maximize your build.

Final Thoughts and Inventory Tips

Finally, always loot everything you can—just be careful around guards. They don’t like thieves and will attack on sight. As your inventory fills, sell what you don’t need to merchants for coin. If money isn’t an issue, dismantle unneeded items at blacksmiths or armorers to get crafting materials for better weapons and armor.

The Witcher 3 is a game that rewards preparation, exploration, and paying attention to the little things. Once you understand its systems, it transforms from overwhelming to deeply rewarding. I hope this guide helps you take those first few confident steps into Geralt’s journey. With patience and curiosity, you’ll soon find yourself fully immersed in one of the greatest RPGs ever made.