In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, gearing up early can make a huge difference, and nothing beats grabbing powerful starter weapons right out of White Orchard. This guide shows you how to get the Serpentine Steel Sword and Silver Sword, both part of the Viper School Gear set. These weapons offer strong early-game combat bonuses and can be acquired within minutes of starting the game.

Why These Swords Matter

The Serpentine Silver Sword is an essential monster-slaying tool. It gives you a +20% bonus damage against monsters and adds a poison effect, increasing your effectiveness dramatically during monster contracts and encounters. On top of that, it provides a 10% increase to Aard sign intensity, which is perfect if you lean into sign-based combat.

The Serpentine Steel Sword, on the other hand, boosts your poisoning chance by 15% and gives you a 5% XP bonus from killing enemies. This makes it a top-tier early leveling tool. Whether you’re hunting deserters or dealing with local threats, it’ll speed up your progression significantly in the first ten levels.

Finding the Silver Sword: Viper’s Grave

Start your journey in the first village of White Orchard: Woesong Bridge. From here, head directly north across the river to the old graveyard. This is where the Serpentine Silver Sword lies hidden. But be warned: the graveyard is haunted by a Wraith.

Wraiths can be tricky for new players, so approach carefully. Use a dodge-and-strike tactic and avoid its rapid three-strike combo when it growls. The Yrden sign is particularly effective at weakening Wraiths and making them vulnerable to physical attacks. Once the Wraith is nearly defeated, it may vanish momentarily—stay alert.

Before entering the crypt, use your Aard sign to blast open the door. Inside, finish off the lingering Wraith and search the floor near the skeleton of a fallen Witcher named Kolgrim. Among the bones, you’ll find the crafting recipe for the Serpentine Silver Sword, along with other valuables. Be sure to grab the nearby Place of Power for an extra skill point—it’s right next to the graveyard and easy to miss.

Finding the Steel Sword: The Ransacked Village

With the Silver Sword secured, return to Woesong Bridge and head east to the ransacked village. From there, follow the road west until you spot a bridge. Before crossing, look under the bridge for a hidden treasure chest with leveled loot—one of the many secret caches scattered across White Orchard. If you’re interested in a deeper dive into these hidden stashes, let us know—we’ve got more guides like this in the works.

Now cross the bridge and enter the forest on the right. You’ll soon see some broken stonework and ruins—use it to climb the ledge and reach the plateau. Be cautious, as a bandit camp awaits you at the top.

This group includes archers and a deadly two-handed axe wielder. Take out the archer first, and keep your distance or dodge roll to avoid the heavy-hitter’s brutal swings. Once the camp is cleared, search the ruins to find the chest containing the Serpentine Steel Sword diagram.

You’ll also uncover a tragic note detailing how Kolgrim, the Witcher from the Viper School, was falsely accused of kidnapping. He ultimately died in the crypt where you found his remains. Loot the area thoroughly—the bandits have been hoarding stolen goods from local traders, and you’ll need some of those materials to craft your new blades.

Crafting the Viper Swords

To turn these diagrams into actual weapons, head to the Nilfgaardian garrison to the north of White Orchard. Any blacksmith can technically forge them for you, but the quartermaster at the garrison is conveniently located for this purpose.

Once you arrive, go around to the back of the camp and speak to the quartermaster. Choose the crafting option, and you’ll find both the silver and steel Viper swords listed under weapons. They’re cheap to make and well worth the small investment.

How Long These Weapons Last

The Serpentine Silver Sword is strong enough to carry you through to level 8, at which point you’ll find better options—such as another unique silver sword that doesn’t even require crafting. Details for that are available in follow-up guides.

These early swords are more than just solid gear—they’re part of Geralt’s lore and offer great bonuses without the need to spec into specific skills. Grab them early and dominate your time in White Orchard.

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Until next time, good luck on the Path—and may your swords stay sharp.