best swords in velen witcher 3

The windswept plains and murky swamps of Velen, the war-ravaged heart of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, are a land of hardship and hidden danger. For a witcher navigating its perils, a reliable blade is not just a tool but a lifeline. While the journey may eventually lead to master-crafted sets from Novigrad or the treasures of Toussaint, Velen itself holds a surprising array of exceptional swords for those who know where to look. This guide explores the finest steel and silver blades attainable within the confines of Velen, weapons that will see Geralt through the Bloody Baron's woes, the horrors of Crookback Bog, and the ancient evils lurking in its forgotten places.

Table of Contents

The Nature of Velen's Blades
Top Tier Steel Swords of Velen
Top Tier Silver Swords of Velen
The Art of Acquisition: Quests and Exploration
Strategic Considerations for the Velen Witcher

The Nature of Velen's Blades

Velen is not a land of glittering armouries. Its best weapons are often found, not bought. They are relics of past battles, rewards for solving grim local problems, or treasures guarded by formidable monsters. The swords here typically lack the sheer statistical superiority of late-game diagrams, but they possess unique advantages and appear at a critical point in Geralt's journey. They bridge the gap between the early-game gear and the legendary witcher sets, offering substantial power spikes through clever exploration and completed contracts. Understanding this is key; the best swords in Velen are earned through grit and knowledge.

Top Tier Steel Swords of Velen

For dispatching human and non-human foes vulnerable to steel, two blades stand out. The first is the Serpentine Steel Sword, one of the two starting weapons for owners of the "Hearts of Stone" expansion. While its base form is modest, its true potential is unlocked in Velen. The diagrams for its upgraded versions, the Venomous Viper Steel Sword, are found in the crypt beneath the White Orchard cemetery, accessible after a certain level. This sword offers a superb balance of damage, a critical hit chance bonus, and a substantial poison chance, making it devastating against humans and beasts alike throughout the mid-game.

The second premier steel option is the Temerian Steel Sword, purchased from the merchant Bram in White Orchard, provided he is saved during the "Missing in Action" quest. This sword is notable for its excellent early-to-mid game damage output and valuable bonus percentages to experience from humans and non-humans. It represents a significant and accessible upgrade that smooths the difficulty curve of Velen's hostile landscape.

Top Tier Silver Swords of Velen

When facing the myriad specters, necrophages, and relics haunting Velen, a powerful silver sword is indispensable. The undisputed champion found within this region is the Moonblade. This unique silver sword is a reward from the quest "Ghosts of the Past," given by the druid Morvran Voorhis at the Nilfgaardian Army Camp in central Velen. The Moonblade boasts impressive base damage and a game-changing special effect: a guaranteed critical hit on enemies under the effects of the Axii Sign. This synergy allows for tactical, high-damage strikes against tough monstrous foes, a unique advantage no other Velen-acquired sword provides.

A strong alternative, especially for those who favour sign intensity, is the Silver Sword of the Void. This blade is found in a hidden, monster-guarded treasure location on the southern edge of Velen, near the border with Novigrad. It offers competitive damage paired with a significant boost to Sign Intensity, allowing Geralt to complement his swordplay with more potent magical attacks—a versatile choice for a hybrid combat style.

The Art of Acquisition: Quests and Exploration

Securing these weapons defines the Velen experience. The Serpentine swords require delving into a perilous crypt, solving a simple environmental puzzle, and defeating a powerful wraith. The Temerian blade hinges on a seemingly minor side quest that alters a merchant's stock. The Moonblade is tied to a secondary quest easily missed if one avoids the Nilfgaardian camp. The Silver Sword of the Void demands thorough exploration off the beaten path. This pattern emphasizes that Velen's greatest rewards are not handed out freely; they are compensation for confronting the land's darkness. Each acquisition feels earned, a tangible improvement born from Geralt's work as a witcher. Checking notice boards, exhausting dialogue with key characters like the Bloody Baron or merchants, and investigating every question mark on the Velen map are essential practices for the discerning blade-seeker.

Strategic Considerations for the Velen Witcher

Choosing between these blades depends on playstyle and progression. The Temerian steel sword and Moonblade silver sword form a potent, readily accessible pair for a balanced approach. For a focus on critical hits and poison, the Venomous Viper steel sword is unparalleled. The Silver Sword of the Void caters to a sign-focused build. It is also crucial to manage resources; while these swords are excellent, investing in their repair and occasional upgrades is more cost-effective in Velen than purchasing expensive, inferior weapons from blacksmiths. Furthermore, these Velen treasures are not final. They are designed to be powerful stepping stones that will eventually be replaced by grandmaster witcher gear or Toussaint relics. However, during the tens of hours spent in Velen and Novigrad, they provide the stability and power needed to survive. They are the best swords in Velen not merely for their statistics, but for their timely availability and the stories of hardship and triumph embedded in their acquisition.

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