Best Weapons For Beginners In The Witcher 3

Summary

• Some weapons are better than others in The Witcher 3, so it’s good to know what to look out for before discarding.
• The Moonblade and Harvall offer great early-game options with various perks and abilities for different playstyles.
• From the Ursine Silver Sword to the Viper Steel Sword, each weapon provides unique benefits based on enemy type and playstyle.

Throughout The Witcher 3, Geralt finds plenty of different weapons. Some of which are far more useful than others. Veteran players have a clear arsenal that serves them well. For those new to the game, however, it’s always helpful to have some hints on what you should use.

With all the different schools and errant swords you will find on your journey, most will likely end up being materials for a bigger and better weapon. This is why it’s always good to know what to look out for before you go throwing away several of the best assets in the game.

Updated by on March 20, 2025 by Britt Poteet: This list has been updated to include an additional weapon for beginners as well as detailed stats for each item to help you make the best start in The Witcher 3.

13

Barber-Surgeon Sword

The Barber-Surgeon Sword is a steel weapon you can use as a beginner player, requiring a level 10. This relic weapon is guarded and Al-Ghoul will put up a fight south-east of Fyke Isle, so expect a skirmish to acquire it.

You can also stumble upon the weapon as random loot in caves throughout Velen and Skellige, so there’s a chance you’ll just get lucky.

12

Moonblade

Several relic swords serve as good early game weapons, and that includes the Moonblade. The blade improves your chances of landing a critical hit as well as the damage those types of strikes do. Plus, it increases your Yrden sign intensity and gives you a chance to freeze your enemies. On top of all that, it deals plenty of damage, especially for a low-leveled weapon.

You can find it in Velen if you head directly south from the Hanged Man’s Tree and dive into the river. The game marks it as a Spoils of War location.

11

Harvall

If you like to set your enemies on fire, then Harvall is the right steel sword for you. It improves your Igni sign intensity and gives you the chance to cause burning. The weapon’s impressive base damage and multiple runestone slots are a few of its other positives.

To find the sword, you need to head to Velen. More specifically, you must travel around the center of the region between Devil’s Pit and Lurth. The spot is marked on the map as a Hidden Treasure. When you get there, you have to dive underwater and get past some monsters to reach the blade.

10

Serpentine Silver Sword

Only obtained through crafting, the Silver Serpentine Sword diagram is collected through a side quest. You will have to chase a level seven wraith through a crypt in the White Orchard graveyard before stumbling upon a corpse with the illustration on it.

The sword comes with many useful perks that will serve you throughout the entire early game. A chance to poison the enemy combined with the powerful pushback of Aard; it’s hard to find a more useful blade from the start.

9

Bloodsword

The Bloodsword is for those that have already hit level 15 and are looking for an upgrade to their silver sword collection. A relic item that will both up the ante with damage and effects.

While some may not be as frequent, the dismemberment option along with bleeding and a damage bonus puts this ahead of the beginner swords. You will have to travel to the mercenary camp by Oxenfurt to retrieve the relic.

8

Feline Silver Sword

Those who favor a lighter touch will appreciate the gear ‘cat school’ has to offer. Focusing on fast attacks and a lot of movement, Feline Silver Sword and its abilities only enhance this way of battle.

Giving you a 12 percent boost in the Aard sign allows you to keep the enemy at a distance while they dart in for the next flurry. The lightest of the witcher gear swords, it may take many strikes to fell powerful foes, but the bleed damage will help even the score.

7

Novigrad Longsword

Old reliable. The Novigrad Longsword is one of the most plentiful swords in the game. Strapped on the waist of many soldiers, it certainly doesn’t come off as a sword you should keep. Being such a low-level sword doesn’t mean it’s useless, especially when you’re not exactly spoiled for options.

It’s a good sword when you are just getting your sea legs, especially with all the returns you get from dismantling or selling the piece. Out of the gates, this is the best bet, unless you’ve already picked a playstyle and begin to work on that.

6

Viper Steel Sword

The difference between the silver and steel is the enemy they deal damage to. You will need the steel sword to combat non-monster enemies, which include dogs, wolves, bears, and humans. This is why the damage count lowers while other perks pop up.

A big XP bonus when you slay enemies means the Serpentine Steel Sword can help you move through the ranks quickly, plus there’s the chance you’ll poison your foe. To begin the Serpentine Steel Sword quest, go to the bandit camp beside the Ransacked Village.

5

Griffin Silver Sword

Though it has some of the least popular gear in the game, the Griffin school has a lot to offer in the way of sign play. It requires a more complicated ingredient set than most of the introductory swords, but if signs factor heavily in your approach to gameplay, this is the sword to have.

Giving you a five percent bump in sign intensity comes in handy, but it’s the 20 percent bump in bonus experience that you get from killing monsters that’s the real score.

4

Tir Tochair Blade

One of the most interesting blades around, head for the aquatic side of the realm if you want to lay hands on this sword. In a cave at the Whispering Hillock lies Tir Tochair, a blade that draws more blood than most.

In fact, the chance of bleeding increases by 35 percent, making one swing a permanent nuisance for most foes. It also raises the damage done by critical hits 50 percent, and the likelihood that they’ll occur by five.

3

Ursine Silver Sword

Make your way to Fort Etniron to wield some of the bear school’s gear. Bear School weapons are heavy in raw damage and come with a lot of great perks.

Bonus experience, adrenaline, and dismemberment possibility all come packaged with the Ursine Silver Sword, providing plenty of opportunities to win beyond your initial skill level.

2

Devine

Once you have made your way through the harpy feeding ground, a lootable chest lies to the north. Inside is the Devine relic blade, a weapon that grants some nice perks, especially for only being a level six sword.

It boosts up the armor-piercing ability, making Geralt the favorite in a battle between armors. Sign strength increases and the chance to stun is also improved with this sword. The key to the sword is its 190 damage though, a lofty number for something available so soon.

1

Tor Lara

Tor Lara comes with some of the most useful perks in the early game, even increasing the vitality of Geralt when wielding it. Though it may look fragile next to a few of the thicker swords in the game, Tor Lara pulls through with boosts to utility signs.

Upping the Aard pushback sign and Quen’s protective field, Tor Lara can deal out heavy damage on its own. Giving you a two percent chance at an instant kill every time players swing, it’s one to be clamoring for when Geralt hits level 13.