Getting started in The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is a moment that is full of excitement and anticipation. The game is full of hundreds of intriguing characters, dozens of impactful choices, and a compelling world to explore. But with all there is to look forward to, there are plenty of warnings that the game never gives.

See, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a great game but there is a reason so many players tend to go through it multiple times before ever reaching the conclusion. And speaking of conclusions, that can be pretty nasty itself. Here are some tips and tricks for making the first playthrough as smooth as possible.

Defense, Then Offense

Part of the joy of The Witcher 3 is that gamers can decide how they want to fight. A perfectly made build is tailored to personal preference but still quite functional. That being said, there are some general guidelines that are wise to follow.

Being able to beat The Toad Prince or other vicious bosses requires some defensive capabilities. Geralt doesn’t have to take every defensive point, but starting with Active Shield, Undying, and/or Survival Instinct will enable players to focus on pure offense afterward.

Max Out Axii

Several of the game’s most important decisions hinge on dialogue choices, that’s hardly a surprise. but what might be a surprise is that some of these options are completely cut off unless Geralt has invested enough points into his Axii skills.

Not being able to get a good ending on a mission because of a low Axii investment is frustrating. Therefore, make it a point to max out Axii as soon as possible. Its uses in combat are limited, but this is a role-playing game first and foremost.

Don’t Ignore Alchemy And Oils

Many games have crafting systems that are negligible. They provide slight bonuses for a temporary period of time and are good boosts but not worth the tediousness of learning a complicated system. The Witcher 3 is not one of those games.

The bonuses given with alchemy and oils are without parallel. The boosts are about as valuable as the unique and rare armor sets themselves. Without them, beating the game is like trying to battle with one hand tied behind Geralt’s back; it’s possible, but not smart.

Getting The Best Ending

This is not a guide that is meant to spoil anything or take away from player choice. If players enjoy seeing the random results from slight decisions unfold, then feel free to do so. But there is a consensus “best” ending in The Witcher 3 and getting it requires making some non-intuitive choices at key moments.

  • Suggest an activity to lift Ciri’s spirits Go to Velen instead of visiting the Emperor Have Ciri go alone to the Lodge of Sorceresses Let Ciri wreck the laboratory Make time for Ciri to visit the grave

These are among the most important decisions Geralt will make, even if they seem small at the moment.

Choose Between Triss and Yennefer And Stick To It

Throughout the game, Geralt has a few romance options, but there are two main ones: Yennefer and Triss. It’s tempting to try and romance both. Don’t. The Witcher 3’s ending includes an epilogue based on Geralt’s love life and the “romance both” outcome is not positive. Romancing neither is also less than ideal.

To help make a decision, turn to the game’s glossary, which contains character descriptions, or the many excellent Witcher resources online. There are many well-written character summaries and these should make the differences between Geralt’s two paramours pretty clear.

As for Geralt’s other romance options, don’t worry. They won’t affect the epilogue, so feel free to stop by a brothel or engage in intimate relations with Keira or any of the lesser-known evil NPCs without worrying about the consequences.

Don’t Sell Witcher Gear

The Witcher 3 has many different levels of gear (common, magic, master, and relic), but the best is so-called Witcher gear, which has a green background on the inventory menu. This is the rarest armor in the game and can be useful eventually even if it looks bad when initially received.

Unlike other items, Geralt can upgrade Witcher gear. Sometimes, he’ll even need to be wearing a piece of Witcher gear to craft something new. It might be extra weight, but it’s worth lugging all of the items around, just in case. Sell skins to lighten the load, but keep the Witcher gear around.

Have Multiple Save Slots

There are so many moments when players will finish a string of side quests and wish they did everything differently. Putting aside the rare gamers that enjoy the unintended negative outcomes of their questing, it’s best to save before starting these questlines and do it over again if things go south. It makes for a more wholesome playthrough.

In addition to redoing choices, there is a difficulty element to consider. Players can get stuck in situations where Geralt’s outmatched before they realize it. If the player’s saves don’t go far enough back, the only way out is restarting the entire campaign.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released on May 18, 2015, and is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.