Unveiling the Legendary Griffin School Gear in The Witcher 3
The Legendary Griffin School Gear in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt represents the pinnacle of the Griffin School’s philosophy, blending sign intensity with solid protection. As medium armor, it strikes a balance between mobility and defense, making it ideally suited for Witchers who prefer a Sign-heavy combat style. This gear set isn’t simply found; it’s crafted, requiring players to first obtain and craft the regular Griffin School Gear and its subsequent upgrades (Enhanced, Superior, Mastercrafted) before finally reaching the Legendary tier in New Game Plus mode. The Legendary Griffin Gear focuses on enhancing Yrden, Quen, Igni, Aard, and Axii, significantly boosting Sign effectiveness while providing respectable damage resistance and stamina regeneration. The set comprises four armor pieces (armor, gauntlets, trousers, and boots) and two swords (steel and silver), each contributing to a potent build centered around controlling the battlefield with Signs.
Delving Deeper: The Griffin School Philosophy
The Griffin School, as reflected in its armor, emphasizes a strategic and controlled approach to combat. Unlike the brute force favored by the Bear School or the agility prioritized by the Cat School, the Griffin School teaches its Witchers to use Signs to manipulate enemies, creating openings for precise strikes. The Legendary Griffin Gear is a testament to this philosophy, empowering Geralt to become a true master of the Signs.
Key Features of the Legendary Griffin Gear
- Medium Armor: Provides a good balance between protection and stamina regeneration.
- Sign Intensity Boost: Radically increases the power of all Witcher Signs.
- Yrden Enhancement: Specifically boosts the effectiveness of the Yrden Sign, making it a formidable crowd control tool.
- Elemental Resistance: Offers solid protection against various elemental attacks.
- Set Bonuses: Provides additional bonuses when wearing multiple pieces of the set, culminating in a powerful 6-piece bonus.
Acquiring the Legendary Griffin Gear
The Legendary Griffin School Gear can only be acquired on New Game Plus. Unlike the regular and upgraded gear, it requires obtaining the diagrams for each piece and crafting them. Since it is New Game Plus, the diagrams can be found in similar locations as the standard versions, albeit at a higher level.
The Crafting Process
- Obtain the Diagrams: The diagrams for the Legendary Griffin Gear are found in New Game Plus mode in the same locations as the standard set.
- Gather Materials: The crafting requirements for the Legendary Griffin Gear are substantial, often requiring rare ingredients like Dimeritium Ingots, Monster Parts, and other high-level crafting components.
- Find a Master Craftsman: Only the most skilled blacksmiths and armorers can craft Legendary Witcher Gear. Look for craftsmen in major cities like Novigrad or on the Skellige Isles.
- Craft Each Piece: Once you have the diagrams, materials, and a skilled craftsman, you can craft each piece of the set individually.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the stat differences between Legendary Griffin Gear and Grandmaster Griffin Gear?
Legendary Griffin Gear is the New Game Plus equivalent of Mastercrafted Griffin Gear. While the base stats are increased significantly, the Grandmaster Griffin Gear (found in the Blood and Wine expansion) still reigns supreme. Grandmaster gear offers superior armor values, Sign intensity, and bonus effects.
2. Is the Legendary Griffin Set good for a hybrid build?
Yes, the Legendary Griffin Set can be effective for a hybrid build. While it heavily favors Signs, the medium armor provides decent protection for melee combat, and the stat boosts enhance overall combat capabilities. However, sets like Wolven might be more balanced for true hybrid builds.
3. Where can I find the diagrams for the Legendary Griffin armor?
The diagrams are located in the same locations as the basic Griffin Armor set, except in New Game Plus mode: Dragonslayer’s Grotto for the armor pieces and various bandit camps and ruins for the swords.
4. What level do I need to be to use Legendary Griffin armor?
The required level for Legendary Griffin armor depends on your level when you started New Game Plus. Since it’s the New Game Plus variant of the Mastercrafted set, it will likely be around level 70 or higher.
5. Does the Legendary Griffin set increase all Sign intensities equally?
While the Legendary Griffin set provides a general boost to all Sign intensities, it also includes specific bonuses related to Yrden. Its primary focus is to make Signs more effective.
6. What are the crafting materials needed for the Legendary Griffin set?
The crafting materials vary for each piece but generally include Dimeritium Ingots, Monster parts, and other rare crafting components found throughout the game world. Scavenging and completing contracts are great ways to gather these resources.
7. How does the 6-piece bonus of the Griffin set work?
The 6-Piece Set Bonus increases the size of Yrden traps by 40%. While you are within a Yrden trap, stamina regeneration is increased by 5/s, sign intensity is increased by 100%, and damage is reduced by 20%.
8. Is the Legendary Griffin set better than the Legendary Feline set?
The “better” set depends on your play style. The Legendary Griffin Set is superior for Sign-heavy builds, while the Legendary Feline Set excels in fast-paced melee combat with its emphasis on critical hit chance and damage.
9. Can I dye the Legendary Griffin armor?
Yes, the Legendary Griffin armor can be dyed in the Blood and Wine expansion, allowing you to customize its appearance to your liking.
10. How do I get the Grandmaster Griffin armor?
The Grandmaster Griffin armor diagrams are found in the Blood and Wine expansion. You must speak with Lazare Lafargue in Beauclair to begin the quest and locate the diagrams at Mont Crane Castle.
11. What makes the Griffin School unique compared to other Witcher Schools?
The Griffin School uniquely balances Sign intensity with solid armor, making it ideal for players who enjoy using Signs to control the battlefield. Other schools, like Cat and Bear, focus more on agility and brute strength, respectively. The Games Learning Society could explore how these different school philosophies create varied gameplay experiences.
12. Does the Legendary Griffin set have any specific synergy with certain skills?
Yes, the Legendary Griffin Set synergizes well with skills that enhance Sign intensity, stamina regeneration, and Yrden effectiveness. Invest in skills within the Signs skill tree to maximize the set’s potential.
13. Where is the Enhanced Griffin Steel Sword Diagram location?
The Enhanced Griffin Steel Sword Diagram is located west of Midcopse, in a bandit camp near the shores of a small peninsula. Search the structure closest to the water.
14. Can you upgrade the regular Griffin armor directly to Legendary?
No, you must first craft the standard Griffin School Gear, then upgrade it to Enhanced, Superior, Mastercrafted, and finally craft the Legendary version in New Game Plus.
15. Should I sell my Griffin armor after getting the Legendary version?
It is generally recommended to keep all your Witcher gear sets, as you may want to experiment with different builds or use them for aesthetic purposes. You can store them in Corvo Bianco once you obtain it in the Blood and Wine expansion.
By understanding the nuances of the Legendary Griffin School Gear, players can craft a formidable Witcher capable of dominating any encounter with both steel and Sign. Understanding these nuances shows how role-playing games have grown into sophisticated learning environments where players solve problems creatively. You can learn more about games and learning through the GamesLearningSociety.org.