The Witcher 3

Best Early Game Skills and Builds

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Want to know the best early game builds and skills to invest in? We've got you covered!
Best Early Game Skills and Builds

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This is a guide to the best early game builds and skills to learn in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Read on to learn more information about the best skills and builds available for the early game.

Best Early Game Skills

Muscle Memory

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You will mostly be fighting against medium and small sized enemies that can easily be staggered even by Fast Attacks. Investing on Fast Attacks as an early build will boost your damage by a lot. Maxing out Muscle Memory to level 5 will help you maximize your damage output when using Fast Attack.

Resolve

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Each blows you land during battle generates Adrenaline Points, which increases your weapon damage. Maxing out Resolve early on in the game is a great way to buff your attacks without investing coins for a better weapon.

Exploding Shield

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Picking up Exploding Shield can be extremely useful when fighting against multiple enemies. Quen Shield will push enemies back after it breaks, giving you space to attack or step back safely.

Melt Armor

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Melt Armor permanently weakens the armor of the enemy when hit by Igni. This is extremely strong when used with Fast Attacks against strong enemies with tough armor.

Gourmet

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Gourmet will continously regenerate your health for 20 minutes even in combat after eating food. This will reduce the amount of food you consume during combat because of the passive healing.

Strong Back

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Investing early on the ability Strong Back is really helpful and convenient. This skill solves the weight limit problem that you will have early in the game when you do not have any good saddlebags yet. This also allows you to loot more items before going back to the merchant or to your stash.

Delusion

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Delusion gives you an option not to pay money during dialogues, so learing this early on can help you save money when doing quests. This is also effective and useful during combat. Upgrading Delusion will stop the target moving towards you while using the Axii Sign.

Best Early Game Builds

Fast Attacks and Crits

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This build relies on fast attacks that deal critical damage provided by Muscle Memory and Resolve from Combat Skills and Battle Frenzy from General Skills. This build also receives a passive health regeneration with the help of Gourmet.

Skills To Invest In

Tree Skill Name Points
Combat Muscle Memory 5
Combat Resolve 3
General Adrenaline Burst 1
General Battle Frenzy 1
General Gourmet 1

Offensive and Defensive Signs

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This build focuses on allowing you to use Quen and Igni without worrying about your stamina for both your offense and defense. Maxing out Exploding Shield and Melt Armor for Signs while increasing Rage Management, Survival Instinct, and Gourmet from General Skills. This build also weakens the enemy's armor, making them more vulnerable to your attacks.

Skills To Invest In

Tree Skill Name Points
Signs Melt Armor 5
Signs Exploding Shield 3
General Survival Instinct 1
General Rage Management 1
General Gourmet 1

The Witcher 3 Related Links

Beginner
See All Beginner Tips & Guides

Completing the Story
Controls and Techniques Difficulty Level Differences
Does Dialogue Matter? How to Fast Travel
Most Important Side Quests for the Story Romance Guide
List of Endings and How to Get the Best Ending What is Enemy Upscaling?
Things to Know Before Starting Witcher 3 What is New Game+?
Should You Simulate a Witcher 2 Save File? Which Version to Buy?
Fighting Like a Pro
Combat Guide and Tips Sign Tier List
Healing During Battle & Meditation Is Repairing Weapons and Armor Worth It?
What are Adrenaline Points? How to Fight on Horseback
How to Fight Underwater What is Toxicity?
What are Mutations What are Mutagens
Leveling Up & Getting Beefy
How to Level Up Fast Place of Power Locations
Best Character Builds Best Early Game Skills and Builds
Skills Ranking and Tier List Top Five Best and Most Useful Skills
How to Get Magic Acorn How to Reset Ability Points
Best Death March Build and Tips for Survival Max Level and Level Cap for Geralt
Obtaining Weapons & Armor
Best Early Game Weapons and Armor The Best Weapons, Armor and Equipment Sets
How to Upgrade Weapons and Armor Most Rewarding Side Quests and Contracts
Witcher Gear Locations Where to Find Blacksmiths and Armorers?
Which Trophy is the Best? Best Crossbow and Bolts
Managing Money & Items
Managing Your Inventory Best and Worst Items to Sell
Where to Sell Junk Where to Find Ingredients and Crafting Materials
Should You Loot Everything? How to Dismantle Items
How to Make Money Fast Can You Cook Food?
What Items to Buy From Shops -
Just for Fun
List of Hairstyles Best Looking Armor for Geralt
How to Get Paintings How to Win Horse Races

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