Is the Forgotten Wolven Armor Good? A Witcher’s Perspective
Unequivocally, yes, the Forgotten Wolven armor is good, especially for players aiming for a balanced build that incorporates both signs and combat prowess. It provides a versatile set of bonuses that cater to a hybrid playstyle, making it a solid choice throughout a significant portion of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It’s not the absolute best in any single category, but its versatility is its strength.
Delving into the Forgotten Wolven Set
The Forgotten Wolven armor is a variant of the Wolf School Gear, obtainable during the “Scavenger Hunt: Forgotten Wolf School Gear” quest. Unlike the standard Wolven armor, which requires the Hearts of Stone DLC, the Forgotten version is accessible in the base game, although it can be a bit tricky to find. This alone makes it valuable, particularly for those who haven’t ventured into the DLCs yet.
A Balanced Approach
The key to understanding the Forgotten Wolven armor’s appeal lies in its stat distribution. It offers a well-rounded blend of:
- Adrenaline Point generation: Crucial for utilizing combat skills and abilities effectively.
- Sign Intensity: Boosts the potency of Geralt’s magic, from the protective Quen to the devastating Igni.
- Attack Power: Enhances Geralt’s melee damage output, ensuring his swords remain sharp.
- Armor: Provides crucial protection against physical damage, allowing Geralt to withstand more punishment in combat.
- Resistance: Offers protection against specific attack types.
This balanced stat allocation means you don’t have to commit entirely to a sign-focused or combat-focused build. You can weave between both, adapting to different enemy types and combat scenarios. This is a significant advantage for players who enjoy variety in their gameplay.
Early to Mid-Game Powerhouse
While the Grandmaster Wolven armor ultimately surpasses the Forgotten version in terms of raw stats, the Forgotten set becomes available much earlier in the game. This makes it a fantastic option for players transitioning from early-game armor sets and wanting a significant power boost. It’s often a great stepping stone towards the more specialized endgame gear.
Aesthetics Matter
Let’s be honest: in The Witcher 3, looking good is half the battle. The Forgotten Wolven armor maintains the iconic Wolf School aesthetic, offering a rugged and stylish appearance that fits perfectly with Geralt’s persona as a seasoned monster hunter. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, many players find its appearance to be very appealing.
Comparing it to the Competition
So, how does the Forgotten Wolven armor stack up against other armor sets? Let’s consider a few common comparisons:
- Griffin School Gear: Primarily focused on sign intensity. While powerful for magic-users, it lacks the combat prowess offered by the Forgotten Wolven armor.
- Ursine School Gear: Emphasizes heavy armor and adrenaline generation, making it ideal for tank-like builds. However, it sacrifices sign intensity, making it less versatile.
- Feline School Gear: Prioritizes fast attacks and critical hit chance. While dealing impressive damage, it offers less protection and is more reliant on skillful dodging and parrying.
- Wolven School Gear: The standard Wolven Gear focuses more heavily on sign intensity and adrenaline point gain, with a lighter emphasis on raw attack power than the Forgotten variant.
The Forgotten Wolven armor occupies a sweet spot between these extremes, providing a well-rounded experience that caters to a wide range of playstyles.
Acquiring the Forgotten Wolven Armor
Obtaining the Forgotten Wolven armor requires undertaking the “Scavenger Hunt: Forgotten Wolf School Gear” quest. The quest begins by finding a diagram, which can be a little challenging. You can find the diagrams scattered around Kaer Morhen, often guarded by monsters or hidden in ruins. This scavenger hunt adds an element of exploration and discovery to the acquisition process.
Optimizing Your Build
To truly maximize the potential of the Forgotten Wolven armor, consider these tips:
- Invest in both Combat and Sign skills: Focus on skills that enhance both your melee damage and the effectiveness of your signs.
- Use appropriate oils and potions: Apply oils to your blades to exploit enemy weaknesses and consume potions to enhance your combat abilities.
- Experiment with different Mutagens: Mutagens can significantly boost your stats. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your playstyle.
- Upgrade your armor: As you level up, craft the enhanced, superior, and mastercrafted versions of the Forgotten Wolven armor to keep its stats competitive.
Ultimately, the “best” armor is subjective and depends on your preferred playstyle. However, the Forgotten Wolven armor offers a compelling blend of offense and defense, making it a worthy contender for any Witcher’s consideration. Exploring the dynamics of video games like The Witcher 3, and how players learn and adapt to these systems, is a field of interest explored by organizations like the Games Learning Society. You can learn more about their research at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the Forgotten Wolven Armor:
1. Where do I find the Forgotten Wolven Armor diagrams?
The diagrams are scattered throughout Kaer Morhen. Specific locations include the watchtower, the signal tower ruin, and the abandoned mine. Consult a detailed guide or walkthrough for precise locations.
2. Is the Forgotten Wolven Armor better than the standard Wolven Armor?
It depends on your playstyle. The Forgotten Wolven armor offers a more balanced distribution of stats, with a stronger focus on attack power compared to the standard version, which leans more towards sign intensity.
3. What level do I need to be to use the Forgotten Wolven Armor?
The base level requirement for the Forgotten Wolven Armor is typically around level 14. However, you will need to be a higher level to use the enhanced, superior and mastercrafted versions.
4. Can I craft the Forgotten Wolven Armor without the Hearts of Stone DLC?
Yes! This is one of its main advantages. The standard Wolven armor requires the Hearts of Stone DLC for its Grandmaster version, but the Forgotten set is fully obtainable in the base game.
5. What materials do I need to craft the Forgotten Wolven Armor?
The crafting materials vary depending on the specific piece and its upgrade level. Common materials include leather scraps, monster parts, silver ingots, and dimeritium plates.
6. Is the Forgotten Wolven Armor good for a sign build?
While not specifically optimized for signs like the Griffin armor, the Forgotten Wolven armor provides a decent boost to sign intensity, making it viable for a hybrid build that incorporates signs effectively.
7. Is the Forgotten Wolven Armor good for a combat build?
Yes, it’s very good for a combat build. The set bonus provides a significant boost to attack power and adrenaline generation, enhancing your melee combat capabilities.
8. How does the Forgotten Wolven Armor compare to the Ursine Armor?
The Ursine Armor is much heavier and focuses more on defense and adrenaline generation, making it ideal for a tank build. The Forgotten Wolven armor is more balanced and offers a mix of offense and defense.
9. How does the Forgotten Wolven Armor compare to the Feline Armor?
The Feline Armor prioritizes fast attacks and critical hit chance, making it ideal for a glass cannon build. The Forgotten Wolven armor offers more protection and a more balanced approach.
10. What is the set bonus for the Forgotten Wolven Armor?
The set bonuses for the Forgotten Wolven Armor vary depending on the number of pieces equipped. Equipping multiple pieces grants benefits like increased attack power, sign intensity, and adrenaline gain.
11. Can I dye the Forgotten Wolven Armor?
Yes! You can dye the Forgotten Wolven Armor using dyes purchased from merchants or crafted using alchemy.
12. What is the best way to upgrade the Forgotten Wolven Armor?
Gather the necessary crafting materials and visit a skilled armorer. Hattori in Novigrad or the armorer in Crow’s Perch are excellent choices.
13. Is it worth searching for the Forgotten Wolven Armor diagrams early in the game?
Yes, absolutely! Acquiring the Forgotten Wolven armor early in the game provides a significant power boost and allows you to tackle more challenging quests and enemies.
14. Does the Forgotten Wolven Armor scale with level?
No, the base stats of the armor do not scale with your level. However, you can craft enhanced, superior, and mastercrafted versions of the armor, which have higher stats and require a higher level to use.
15. Where can I sell the diagrams once I have crafted the armor?
Selling diagrams isn’t generally recommended as the gold received is minimal. It is better to keep the diagrams just in case you want to craft the armor again on another playthrough.