In the treacherous world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, your sword is your lifeline. From silver blades that slice through monsters to steel swords that cleave human foes, choosing the right weapon can make or break your adventure. This guide ranks the game’s most formidable blades, detailing where to find them, their unique effects, and the builds they excel in.
Top 13 Swords Ranked by Power & Utility
| Rank | Sword Name | Type | How to Obtain | Key Effects | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aerondight | Silver | Blood and Wine DLC: Complete the quest “There Can Be Only One”. | – Damage scales with Geralt’s level. – Fully charged strikes guarantee critical hits. | Infinite scaling, critical builds. |
| 2 | Toussaint Knight’s Steel Sword | Steel | Blood and Wine DLC: Craft Grandmaster version via diagrams in Beauclair. | – High armour penetration. – Exceptional critical chance and damage. | Raw damage, hybrid builds. |
| 3 | Iris | Steel | Hearts of Stone DLC: Reward for completing Olgierd’s storyline. | – Shockwave attack after five consecutive hits. – Sacrifices health for power. | Burst damage, high-risk playstyles. |
| 4 | Viper Venomous Swords | Both | Hearts of Stone DLC: Found during “Open Sesame!” heist. | – High poison chance. – Balanced stats for early-game dominance. | Poison builds, Death March. |
| 5 | Manticore Swords | Both | Blood and Wine DLC: Craft Grandmaster version in southern Toussaint. | – Boosts alchemy damage. – Synergises with toxicity builds. | Alchemy-focused Geralt. |
| 6 | Grandmaster Wolven Swords | Both | Crafted via diagrams in Kaer Morhen (Base Game). | – Boosts adrenaline and Sign intensity. | Hybrid combat/Sign builds. |
| 7 | Grandmaster Ursine Swords | Both | Crafted via diagrams in Skellige. | – Enhances heavy attacks and defence. – High adrenaline gain. | Tank builds, heavy armour. |
| 8 | Grandmaster Feline Swords | Both | Crafted via diagrams in Novigrad. | – Massive critical chance and bleed chance. | Fast attack, light armour. |
| 9 | Grandmaster Griffin Swords | Both | Crafted via diagrams in Velen. | – Boosts Sign intensity and stamina regeneration. | Mage (Sign-focused) builds. |
| 10 | Belhaven Blade | Steel | Loot from bandit camp near Blackbough (Velen). | – Highest base critical damage in the game. | Critical hit builds. |
| 11 | Tor Zireael | Silver | Blood and Wine DLC: Reward for completing “The Warble of a Smitten Knight”. | – Grants Haste (increased movement speed). | Mobility-focused combat. |
| 12 | Hen Gaidth & Tesham Mutna | Both | Blood and Wine DLC: Loot from Unseen Elder’s lair. | – Life leech on hits. – Vampiric aesthetics. | Thematic vampire builds. |
| 13 | Gesheft | Silver | Crafted via random diagram drops (Skellige). | – High raw damage, no unique effects. | Early-game power. |
Detailed Breakdown: Top Swords & Build Synergy
1. Aerondight (Silver)
- Where to Find: Earned by proving valour in the “There Can Be Only One” quest (Blood and Wine).
- Why It’s #1: Its infinite scaling ensures it never becomes obsolete. Perfect for NG+ runs.
2. Toussaint Knight’s Steel Sword (Steel)
- Where to Find: Diagrams in Beauclair Palace gardens (Blood and Wine).
- Build Synergy: Pair with the Levity enchantment for light-armour benefits.
3. Iris (Steel)
- Where to Find: Reward for sparing Olgierd in Hearts of Stone.
- Pro Tip: Use the Quen Sign to mitigate health loss from charged attacks.
Final Verdict: Best Swords by Playstyle
| Playstyle | Top Choice | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Power | Aerondight + Toussaint Knight’s | Manticore Swords |
| Critical Hits | Belhaven Blade | Grandmaster Feline |
| Sign Builds | Grandmaster Griffin | Wolven Swords |
| Alchemy Builds | Manticore Swords | Viper Venomous |
| Heavy Combat | Grandmaster Ursine | Hen Gaidth (for vampiric flair) |
Where to Hunt for Legendary Blades
- Toussaint (Blood and Wine): Aerondight, Toussaint Knight’s, and Manticore diagrams.
- Velen/Novigrad: Grandmaster Feline and Griffin diagrams.
- Skellige: Grandmaster Ursine and Wolven diagrams.
Final Tip: Pair swords with matching Witcher gear sets (e.g., Feline swords with Feline armour) for bonus stats. Whether you’re slaying griffins in Velen or vampires in Toussaint, these blades will ensure Geralt remains the ultimate monster hunter.
