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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerondight | S | Any build, especially Combat and Euphoria | The legendary silver sword from Blood and Wine, it gains permanent damage every time you kill an enemy at full charge (10 hits without getting hit). |
| Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword | A | Combat Build / any melee-focused build | The best steel sword in the game, found in Blood and Wine. |
| Viper School Swords | A | Any build (early game) | Early-game witcher swords obtainable in White Orchard from a hidden diagram. |
| Iris' Blade | B | Combat Build heavy attack focus | A unique steel sword earned at the end of Hearts of Stone expansion. |
| Gesheft | B | Sign Build or crit-focused builds | A silver sword found in Toussaint with excellent critical hit stats. |
S-Tier: Aerondight
The legendary silver sword from Blood and Wine, it gains permanent damage every time you kill an enemy at full charge (10 hits without getting hit). Over time it becomes the strongest silver sword in the game with no level cap. Found during the There Can Be Only One quest in Toussaint.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Any build, especially Combat and Euphoria |
| Key Mechanic | sign casting |
| Recommended Build | Combat Build |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Aerondight: Pairs naturally with Combat Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword
The best steel sword in the game, found in Blood and Wine. Has high base damage and decent crit stats. Combined with Aerondight as your silver sword, these two cover all combat needs for the endgame.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Combat Build / any melee-focused build |
| Key Mechanic | alchemy and oils |
| Recommended Build | Sign Build |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword: Pairs naturally with Sign Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Viper School Swords
Early-game witcher swords obtainable in White Orchard from a hidden diagram. They're the best weapons available at the start and carry you through the first 10 levels. Hearts of Stone adds upgraded Viper Venomous variants.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Any build (early game) |
| Key Mechanic | bestiary research |
| Recommended Build | Alchemy Build |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Viper School Swords: Pairs naturally with Alchemy Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Iris' Blade
A unique steel sword earned at the end of Hearts of Stone expansion. Its charged strong attack mechanic deals massive damage that scales with stored charges. One of the best Hearts of Stone rewards but requires completing the tragic Iris von Everec quest.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Combat Build heavy attack focus |
| Key Mechanic | Gwent card game |
| Recommended Build | Hybrid Build |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Iris' Blade: Pairs naturally with Hybrid Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Gesheft
A silver sword found in Toussaint with excellent critical hit stats. Strong alternative to Aerondight if you prefer consistent damage over the Aerondight charge mechanic. Found in a hidden cave accessible via diving.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Sign Build or crit-focused builds |
| Key Mechanic | mutation system |
| Recommended Build | Euphoria Build |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Gesheft: Pairs naturally with Euphoria Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear White Orchard
- Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Viper School Swords → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Aerondight → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Apply the correct oil before every fight — Specter Oil for wraiths, Necrophage Oil for ghouls, etc. At higher alchemy levels, oils give 50% bonus damage, which is enormous.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
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 Combat Guide
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Boss Guide
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Maps & Locations
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Crafting Guide
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Classes & Characters
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