Talk:The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Guide to Character Progression/@comment-67.175.245.220-20170201065602/@comment-87.95.56.82-20180514092617

Alchemy offers continues basic quen with tawny owl. Even basic tawny owl with extended duration can easily offer multiple hard battles without meditation (ex. DM lvl 10/11 handled Byways murders and phantom of the trade route but I abonded trying to kill the cyclop). On top of that refreshment quarentees a quick healing if you happen to make mistakes and take a near leathal hit. That battle tactic pretty much allows beating easily nearly all opponent up to twice the Gerald's level.

Of course monsters that require a different sign to deafeat are a bit harder but they are often weak to superior burning or poison allowing two or three Dancing stars or Puffballs (You can get them in Velan) and near risk free sword attacks kill them.

The last safety net is Devan runestones in your sword because bleeding kills high hp enemies fast.

But of course combined combat and alchemy build would be much stronger because alghemy provides largest combat advantage for early game. But a targeted pick of support skills from the alchemy tree can be very powerful combination to a later combat build. Example would be Refreshment, Hunter Instinct, Acquired Tolerance, Synergy and Killing Spree/Poisoned Blades/Protective Coating. The 6th slot reserved for the light armour ability and remaining 6 slots would be combat abilities with fast attack focus.

You can access inventory during battle if you entered the battle with wrong oil or bombs.