The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is CD Projekt Red's acclaimed open-world RPG where you play as Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster slayer searching for his adopted daughter Ciri. The game received a complete visual overhaul with the Next-Gen Update adding ray tracing, improved textures, and new content. With two massive expansions — Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine — the complete package offers 200+ hours of storytelling that's widely considered among the best in gaming.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Orchard | Level 1-3 | Viper School Swords, 6 Places of Power, Griffin Trophy, first Gwent cards | Sign Build |
| 2 | Velen | Level 3-15 | Bloody Baron quest rewards, Witcher gear diagrams, multiple contract trophies | Sign Build |
| 3 | Novigrad | Level 10-20 | Triss romance questline, best vendors, Hattori the swordsmith, Gwent tournament cards | Combat Build |
| 4 | Skellige | Level 15-25 | Yennefer romance questline, Skellige deck Gwent cards, Cat School gear diagrams, Hjalmar quests | Combat Build |
| 5 | Toussaint | Level 35-50 | Grandmaster witcher gear sets, Aerondight, Corvo Bianco upgrades, Mutation system, Euphoria | Combat Build |
White Orchard — Starting Area
The tutorial region where you learn combat, alchemy, signs, and Witcher Sense. Contains your first contracts, the Griffin boss fight, and several hidden diagrams. Thoroughly explore before leaving — the Viper swords and several Places of Power give valuable early boosts.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 1-3 |
| Key Rewards | Viper School Swords, 6 Places of Power, Griffin Trophy, first Gwent cards |
| Recommended Build | Sign Build |
| Key Equipment | Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of sign casting — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Velen.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Velen — Early Game
A war-ravaged swampland called No Man's Land, forming the largest region in the base game. Contains the Bloody Baron questline (widely considered the game's best), multiple witcher contracts, and the Crookback Bog with the Crones. Expect dark, mature storytelling.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 3-15 |
| Key Rewards | Bloody Baron quest rewards, Witcher gear diagrams, multiple contract trophies |
| Recommended Build | Sign Build |
| Key Equipment | Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering alchemy and oils — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Novigrad.
Novigrad — Mid Game
The massive Free City with hundreds of NPCs, shops, and quest opportunities. Contains Triss's questline, the Dandelion rescue arc, and the best merchants for selling loot. The Gwent tournament and several important card players are here.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 10-20 |
| Key Rewards | Triss romance questline, best vendors, Hattori the swordsmith, Gwent tournament cards |
| Recommended Build | Combat Build |
| Key Equipment | Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Aerondight becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master bestiary research for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Skellige — Late Game
A Viking-inspired archipelago with its own culture, monsters, and questlines. Features the succession quest for the throne of Skellige, multiple dragon-type contracts, and underwater treasure. Sailing between islands is the main traversal method.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 15-25 |
| Key Rewards | Yennefer romance questline, Skellige deck Gwent cards, Cat School gear diagrams, Hjalmar quests |
| Recommended Build | Combat Build |
| Key Equipment | Aerondight |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Aerondight should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- mutation system mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Toussaint.
Toussaint — Endgame
The Blood and Wine expansion's fairy-tale French region, the most beautiful area in the game. Contains the grandmaster witcher gear quests, the mutation system, and Corvo Bianco vineyard (Geralt's home). The main quest involves a vampire serial killer and offers incredible storytelling.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 35-50 |
| Key Rewards | Grandmaster witcher gear sets, Aerondight, Corvo Bianco upgrades, Mutation system, Euphoria |
| Recommended Build | Combat Build |
| Key Equipment | Aerondight |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Euphoria Build for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — White Orchard → Velen → Novigrad → Skellige → Toussaint. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Guides
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Overview
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Best Builds
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Tier List
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Walkthrough
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Beginner's Guide
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Tips & Tricks
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Weapons Guide
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Combat Guide
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Boss Guide
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Crafting Guide
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Maps & Locations — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Maps & Locations — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Maps & Locations — rpg game with similar mechanics
