The Witcher 2 skills

Introduction[]

Every time Geralt gains the required experience points to level up, he gains one talent point which can be allocated through the character development screen (accessible by pressing the key or through the meditation menu).

There are a total of 51 skills, each with two levels, and some of the skills can be further enhanced or 'mutated' by applying mutagens to them. The skills are divided into four trees, of which only the Talent tree is initially available. After six talents have been allocated to skills in the Training tree, the remaining three skill trees are unlocked. The Magic, Alchemy, and Swordsmanship trees contain 15 talents, each with two levels. Since the game has a level cap of 35 (and you start at level one) you will only have a total of 34 talent points to distribute.

Every main tree contains one advanced skill which introduces a new gameplay mechanic called 'Adrenaline' that governs its use. The skills and their Adrenaline fueled counterparts in each of the talent trees are described on a separate page.

Training tree[]

Name	Level 1	Level 2	Prerequisite(s)
Vigor Regeneration	Vigor regeneration while out of combat +25%	Vigor regeneration while in combat +25%	None
Hardiness	Vitality +10	Vitality +50	None
Dagger Throwing	Unlocks the ability to throw daggers.	Damage dealt by daggers +20	None
Parrying	Unlocks the ability to parry blows from all directions.	100% Damage reduction while parrying with full Vigor (50% as of version 2.0) (Seems to be 100% again. Using the Extended Edition on Steam).	or or
Arrow Redirection	Unlocks the ability to redirect arrows.	Unlocks the ability to redirect arrows towards the shooter.
Fortitude	Vigor regeneration during combat +10%	Vigor +1

Magic tree[]

Name	Level 1	Level 2	Prerequisite(s)
Enhanced Aard Sign	Unlocks Aard Sign level II Sign range +2m	Unlocks Aard Sign level III Aard Sign affects entire areas Sign range +6m	None
Destructive Magic	Sign damage +5	Sign damage +10 Vigor +1	None
Enhanced Axii Sign	Enables level 2 Axii Sign Bewitched opponent gets +20% Vitality +20% damage done	Enables level 3 Axii Sign Bewitched opponent gets +50% Vitality +50% damage done	None
Enhanced Quen Sign	Enables level 2 Quen Sign Quen now deflects 20% damage Sign duration +20s	Enables level 3 Quen Sign Quen now deflects 50% damage Sign duration +60s	or or
Magic intensification	Sign intensity +1	Sign intensity +2 Damage reduction +5%	or
Venting	Quen now transfers the reflected damage to up to two opponents	Quen now transfers the reflected damage to up to three opponents	or
Fatal attraction	Axii sign can now bewitch two opponents at once	Axii Sign can now bewitch three opponents at once	or
Magical Vigor	Vigor +1	Vigor +2
Enhanced Igni Sign	Enables level 2 Igni Sign Igni can now incinerate enemies Sign range +3m Incineration chance 50%-60% Incineration damage 4-6 Incineration duration 8-12s	Enables level 3 Igni Sign Igni now has an area effect Sign range +6m	or
Enhanced Yrden Sign	Enables level 2 Yrden Sign Can now lay down two Yrden traps	Enables level 3 Yrden Sign Can now lay down three Yrden traps	or
Glyph Enhancement	Yrden traps are linked. Opponents cannot move through the links	The links between Yrden traps now deal 5 damage per second
Energy Flow	Critical effect chance of Signs +5%	Critical effect chance of Signs +15%
Magical Life Force	Vitality +50	All resistances +5%
Sense of Magic	Enables the use of the Heliotrope Sign Allows the generation of adrenaline through Signs	All resistances +5% Adrenaline Generation through Signs +50%	or or
Control over the Power	All resistances +20% Sign Damage +3 Adrenaline generated through Signs +10%	All resistances +30% Sign Damage +10 Adrenaline generated through Signs +60%

Alchemy tree[]

Name	Level 1	Level 2	Prerequisite(s)
Alchemist	Bomb/trap damage increase depends on item. See The Witcher 2 bombs and The Witcher 2 traps		None
Synthesis	Vitality +20	Vitality +100	None
Side Effect	Chance of creating mutagens as a byproduct of alchemy +2%	Chance of creating mutagens as a byproduct of alchemy +10%	or
Specialization: Potions	Potion duration +10%	Potion duration +40%	or
Harvester	Alchemical ingredients harvested +1	Alchemical ingredients harvested +2	or
Catalysis	Increases effects of all potions taken. Effects vary based on potion type. See Effects of Catalysis
Specialization: Oils	Oil duration +10%	Oil duration +40%
Impregnation	Increases effects of all mutagens. Effects vary based on mutagen type. See The Witcher 2 mutagens
Transmutation	Increases effects of all oils used. Effects vary based on oil type. See The Witcher 2 oils
Taster	Allows the consumption of one additional potion	Damage done while poisoned +15% Damage reduction while poisoned +10%
Condensation	Vigor regeneration while poisoned +15%	Vigor regeneration while poisoned +55%
Metathesis	Damage dealt when poisoned +5%	Damage dealt when poisoned +25%	or
Berserker	Chance of instant kill while poisoned +1%	Chance of instant kill while poisoned +3%
Mutant	Enables Berserk mode, activated with adrenaline-filled bar Allows generation of adrenaline while poisoned.	Adrenaline generated while poisoned +25%	or
Amplification	Adrenaline generated while poisoned +15% Damage done while poisoned +10% Damage taken while poisoned -5%.	Adrenaline generated while poisoned +50% Damage done while poisoned +30% Damage taken while poisoned -25%.

Swordsmanship tree[]

Name	Level 1	Level 2	Prerequisite(s)
Position	Damage taken by backstab 150%	Damage taken by backstab 100%	None
Riposte	Allows retaliation	Chance of instant kill by riposte 10%	None
Footwork	Dodge distance +100%	Dodge distance +200%	None
Violence	Sword damage +5%	Sword damage +15%	or
Whirl	Can now cause damage to multiple enemies Damage done to secondary targets 50%	Damage done to secondary targets 100%	or
Guard	Vigor required to block -25%	Vigor required to block -50%	or
Tough guy	Damage received -5%	Damage received -15%	or or
Schemer	Vigor regeneration in combat +10%	Vigor regeneration in combat +40%	or
Hardy	Vitality +25	Vitality +100	or
Precision	Chance of critical effect: Bleeding +10%	Chance of critical effect: Bleeding +20% Sword damage +5%
Sudden Death	Chance of instant kill +2%	Chance of instant kill +5%
Finesse	All critical effects chance +5%	All critical effects chance +15%
Invincible	Vitality +50 damage taken -5%	Vitality +150 damage taken -15%	or or
Combat acumen	Allows groups finisher, activation during adrenaline-filled bar Allows generation of adrenaline by sword blows	Damage + 10% Damage taken -10%
Whirlwind	Adrenaline generated by sword blows +10% All resistances +10% All critical effects chance +10%	Adrenaline generated by sword blows +30% All resistances +20% All critical effects chance +20%

Note for clarification: For skills that indicate a reduction of damage %, this is actually a percentage modifier of armor. The terminology is confusing. So with 100 armor, 20% DR, and a 300 damage blow, total damage received would be 300-(100*1.20)=300-120=180. Damage reduction modifiers do stack (10%, then 15% total to 25%).

The only exception to this is the Parry description, where the % affects actual damage. With a level 2 Parry, a 300 damage blow would only land 150 points before armor reduction. Also note that parrying means blocking in the Witcher.

Notes[]

With Footwork at level 2, dodge rolling becomes the fastest method of moving, being slightly faster than running.