Witcher 3 Remastered Tips for Beginners and Returning Players

Updated on September 30, 2026 - Added content improvements available in The Witcher 3: Remastered.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered launched on September 29, 2026, as a free upgrade for existing owners on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and, for the first time natively, Nintendo Switch 2. Both story expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, now come included at no extra cost, and the free content from the 2022 next-gen patch, like the Netflix Witcher Series gear, is still in the game.

The Remastered version reshapes Geralt's skill tree, polishes combat and Roach's handling, and adds a gear transmog system called Reforge. Whether you're starting your first hunt on the Path or loading an old save, these Witcher 3 tips will help you survive the Continent.

What's New in Witcher 3 Remastered for Returning Players

Your old save files work in the Remastered update, and your quest progress picks up exactly where you left it. However, a few changes will hit you the moment you load in, so check these before your next monster contract.

• Your skill points are reset. The old skill system has been replaced with a skill tree where every skill has three ranks, and new skills unlock through prerequisite skills instead of a points-per-branch threshold. All earned points return to your pool, so treat it as a free respec.
  • Some skills were renamed and rebalanced, so read each description again before rebuilding your favorite build.
• Your settings are reset too. Graphics, controls, and interface options go back to default, so run through the menus before heading out.
• Combat feels different. Many regular monsters now attack, counter, and move differently, and Geralt has new finishers plus a dynamic combat camera. Take on a few easy fights to relearn your dodge and parry timing before tackling a tough boss.
• Achievements and trophies carry over, since the Remastered version shares the same list as the original release.

Best Tips for Witcher 3

• Loot everything, but never in front of guards, since they treat it as theft.
  • Crafting and Alchemy are core systems, and both depend on the materials you gather along the way.
  • In the Remastered version, you can pick up loot while riding Roach, which makes herb gathering much faster.
  • Turn on grouped looting in Settings > Gameplay so nearby containers and bodies share a single loot window. The loot window also shows item tooltips now, letting you check an item before taking it.
• Upgrade Roach as soon as you can afford it. The Quartermaster at Crow's Perch in Velen sells the full Nilfgaardian horse set early in the game.
  • Saddlebags raise Geralt's maximum inventory weight. The Nilfgaardian Saddlebags add 70.
  • Saddles raise Roach's stamina, which controls how long she can gallop.
  • Blinders raise Roach's fear threshold, so she's less likely to panic and throw you near monsters.
  • If Roach's steering feels too twitchy or sluggish, adjust the new Horse control input sensitivity slider in Settings, Controls.
• Watch your toxicity. Every potion and decoction you drink raises your toxicity level. The White Honey potion resets your toxicity and clears active potion effects, so keep one on hand.
• Exchange Orens and Florens for Crowns. You'll pick up these foreign currencies early, but merchants won't take them. Visit Vivaldi's Bank in Novigrad to convert them into Crowns.
• Crafting is the best way to keep Geralt's gear competitive.
  • Blacksmiths craft swords, and Armorers craft armor.
  • Witcher School Gear sets are among the strongest equipment in the game. Complete their Scavenger Hunt quests to find the diagrams and upgrade each set.
  • Dismantle junk items instead of selling them. The components feed right back into Crafting and Alchemy.
• Use Reforge to change your look. The Remastered update lets you swap your gear's appearance without touching its stats, so you can keep endgame numbers while wearing a set you like more.
  • Only the two master craftsmen offer Reforge: Yoana, the master armorer at Crow's Perch, and Hattori, the master swordsmith in Novigrad. You'll need to finish their side quests first.
  • Every piece of gear or crafting diagram you add to your inventory unlocks its appearance for Reforge, and any Blood and Wine dyes carry over.
• Alchemy lets you brew Bombs, Oils, Potions, and Decoctions.
  • Bombs are thrown at enemies to deal damage and apply status effects.
  • Oils coat your sword and add bonus damage against a specific monster type.
  • Potions grant temporary buffs, and some, like Swallow, restore Vitality.
  • Meditating refills your potions, bombs, and oils as long as you carry Alcohest or Dwarven Spirit.
• Check the Bestiary before any big fight. Each entry lists the monster's weaknesses, including the right oil, bomb, and Sign, which can turn a brutal battle into a quick contract.
• Heal by drinking Swallow, eating food and drinks, or meditating on the lower difficulty settings.
  • Meditation now plays as a timelapse of the world around Geralt instead of switching to a menu screen.
  • The Gourmet skill makes food and drinks regenerate Vitality for much longer. The Remastered update rebalanced skill values, so check its current description in the new skill tree.
• Know when to run. You can now disengage from a fight quickly. Hold Dodge (Alt, Circle, or B) to drop your target lock, then press Sprint (Left Shift, X, or A) to escape.

Related: How to increase your carrying capacity in Witcher 3

Best Settings to Change in Witcher 3 Remastered/

Several of the best quality-of-life features in the Remastered version are optional, and a couple are off by default. These are worth a look before you start exploring.

• Grouped loot window (Settings, Gameplay): Combines nearby loot into one window.
• Loot feed (Settings, Gameplay): Shows recently collected items on the left side of the screen. Turn it off if you prefer a clean HUD.
• Minimap filters (Settings, Video, Interface): Hide herbs, boats, and corpses to reduce minimap clutter.
• Bard's Ballad preset (Settings, Accessibility): A new option for a more relaxed playthrough. It includes toggles like boosted Vitality regeneration, unlimited item durability, ignoring item weight, and toggling Witcher Senses instead of holding the button. You can enable it at the start of a new game on Just the Story difficulty or at any time mid-playthrough.

Quest tracking also got easier. On the world map, untracked quests now have their own marker, and you can select one to start tracking it right away.

Signs explained in Witcher 3

Signs are simple spells that only Witchers can cast. Geralt has five Signs, and each one is useful both in combat and while exploring. The Remastered update gives every Sign new visual effects and adds Sign finishers, but they work the same way they always have:

• Aard: A telekinetic blast that knocks enemies back and can knock them down. Outside of combat, it puts out fires and smashes through weakened walls and floors.
• Igni: A burst of fire that damages enemies and can set them ablaze. It also detonates pockets of flammable gas, and you can use it outside of combat to light torches, braziers, and campfires.
• Yrden: A magic circle on the ground that slows any enemy inside it. It's your best tool against specters like Wraiths, since it forces them into physical form.
• Quen: A protective shield around Geralt that absorbs incoming damage until it breaks.
• Axii: A hex that leaves an enemy briefly dazed and open to attack. In conversations, it can also sway NPCs toward the outcome you want.

Witcher 3 Remastered FAQ

Want to read more about The Witcher 3? If so, check out What does 'Simulate Witcher 2 save data' mean in Witcher 3? on Pro Game Guides.

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