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[]
Icon | 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[]
Icon | 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 |
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[]
Icon | 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[]
Icon | 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.
See also[]
- Character development
- Character attributes for other abilities Geralt can acquire.