The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is full of epic main quests, great side stories, and long rides through bad weather. But contracts are where Geralt really earns his keep. No destiny, no politics, just coin, prep, and monsters that would prefer you dead.
Difficulty in contracts is a strange thing. Level requirements lie. Terrain matters. Preparation helps, but sometimes the game just decides you are about to have a bad afternoon. This ranking assumes a standard playthrough on Blood and Broken Bones or Death March, without New Game Plus cheese.
Contracts are ranked from easiest to hardest, factoring in monster mechanics, environment, prep demands, and how often players mutter something regretful under their breath.
Tier 1: Barely a Warm Up
These contracts exist to teach you the basics. If you die here, something has gone very wrong.
Devil by the Well
The White Orchard noonwraith is slow, predictable, and basically a training dummy for Yrden. The game is holding your hand, and that is fine.
Shrieker
The first proper beast hunt. Bomb the nest, chase the thing, stab it. Straightforward, clean, and oddly polite for a monster encounter.
Jenny o’ the Woods
Another noonwraith, slightly moodier than the well version. Still simple, still Yrden, still manageable.
Tier 2: Easy, But Pay Attention
These contracts punish carelessness rather than ignorance.
The Merry Widow
An arachas with annoying poison, but nothing a bit of movement and patience cannot solve.
Contract: Missing Son
Foglets are slippery, but the fight stays controlled. A reminder that oils and signs exist for a reason.
Contract: Swamp Thing
Fog, drowners, and a leshen-lite experience. More atmosphere than danger.
Tier 3: Respect the Monster
Now the game expects preparation. Not perfect prep, but at least an attempt.
Contract: The Beast of Honorton
A tricky twist and a moral decision, plus a fight that punishes sloppy positioning.
Contract: The Oxenfurt Drunk
Katakan fights are fast, aggressive, and mildly stressful if you panic. Use oils or suffer.
Contract: The White Lady
Another wraith, but now you are juggling space, adds, and timing rather than coasting.
Tier 4: This Could Go Wrong Quickly
Mistakes here are punished hard, especially on higher difficulties.
Contract: Woodland Beast
Leshen encounters are never easy. Totems, wolves, teleporting, and zero patience for mistakes.
Contract: Here Comes the Groom
Relicts hit hard and do not care about your feelings. This fight demands rhythm and spacing.
Contract: Dragon
Technically not a dragon, but still a brutal fight with awkward terrain and high damage.
Tier 5: Proper Witcher Work
These contracts feel like the job Geralt complains about. Long hunts, rough fights, and no shortcuts.
Contract: The Apiarian Phantom
A wraith that punishes poor positioning and sloppy sign usage. Surprisingly punishing.
Contract: Doors Slamming Shut
Poltergeist nonsense escalates fast. Crowd control and patience are mandatory.
Contract: Deadly Delights
Succubi are fast, deceptive, and hit harder than expected. Overconfidence kills you here.
Tier 6: Actively Unpleasant
The game stops being polite at this point.
Contract: The Lord of the Wood
A leshen fight dialled up to eleven. Totems everywhere, adds constantly, and almost no breathing room.
Contract: The Phantom of Eldberg
A cursed island, endless fog, and a boss fight that stacks pressure relentlessly.
Contract: Skellige’s Most Wanted
A marathon disguised as a contract. Multiple monsters, limited rest, and rising tension throughout.
Tier 7: Why Did I Accept This?
These contracts feel unfair in the way only Witcher combat sometimes does.
Contract: The Creature from Oxenfurt Forest
Leshen plus terrain plus aggressive pacing equals a fight that can spiral instantly.
Contract: Missing Miners
Claustrophobic caves, high damage enemies, and limited mobility. Panic is your real enemy.
Tier 8: Absolute Nightmares
These are the contracts people remember. Not fondly.
Contract: The Beast of Toussaint
High level, aggressive, and brutally punishing if you misjudge timing even once.
Contract: The Tufo Monster
A true test of preparation. Strong attacks, deceptive speed, and little forgiveness.
Contract: The Most Difficult Witcher Contract
The Caretaker from Hearts of Stone. This fight breaks the usual rules. Healing mechanics, relentless pressure, and a boss that feels designed to humble overconfident players. Even prepared builds can crumble here.
Seven Swords Takeaway
Witcher contracts are where the game strips away heroics and leaves you with skill, prep, and stubbornness. Some are breezy monster hunts. Others feel like personal insults wrapped in folklore.
That balance is why they work. You are never just checking a box. You are gambling time, coin, and pride against something that has been killing villagers long before you arrived.
If you ever beat one first try and think, that was easy, the game is already lining up the next contract to prove you wrong.
