Can Aerondight Be Upgraded? A Deep Dive into the Witcher 3’s Legendary Sword

Yes, Aerondight can be upgraded, but not in the traditional sense of taking it to a smith for conventional modifications. Aerondight’s upgrade path is unique and tied directly to Geralt’s actions and level. It’s a dynamic weapon that grows in power alongside the player, making it arguably the most powerful silver sword in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Understanding Aerondight’s Unique Upgrade System

Aerondight’s strength lies in its unique mechanic: each successful strike increases its damage by 10%, up to a maximum of 100%. This bonus damage is temporary, resetting when Geralt stops attacking or takes damage. However, Aerondight also possesses a permanent, level-scaling upgrade path.

Level Scaling and Permanent Damage Increase

The sword’s base damage increases as Geralt levels up. When you first acquire Aerondight, its damage will be a certain value. This maximum potential damage increases as Geralt gains levels. To permanently increase Aerondight’s damage, you need to fully charge the sword (achieve the 100% damage bonus) and then kill an enemy with that fully charged strike. This “consumes” the charge and permanently increases Aerondight’s base damage.

How to Maximize Aerondight’s Potential

The key to maximizing Aerondight’s potential is to constantly level it up. This means using it frequently and ensuring it’s always at or near its maximum damage potential for your current level. Here’s the process:

1. Obtain Aerondight: You need the Blood and Wine expansion to acquire the sword.
2. Use it Consistently: Fight monsters with Aerondight as your primary silver sword.
3. Charge the Sword: Build up the damage bonus by landing consecutive hits.
4. Kill with a Full Charge: Eliminate an enemy with a fully charged strike to permanently increase the base damage.
5. Repeat After Leveling Up: After Geralt levels up, the maximum damage potential of Aerondight increases. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to bring the sword’s damage up to its new maximum.

The Importance of Level Scaling

Many players wonder when is the “best” time to get Aerondight. The answer is: it doesn’t really matter! While getting it at a higher level means it starts with higher base damage, the leveling mechanic ensures it will always scale to Geralt’s current level. The important thing is to use it consistently and upgrade it after each level up. Waiting until level 100 to use it means a lot of leveling to catch it up.

FAQs About Upgrading Aerondight

Here are some frequently asked questions about Aerondight and its upgrade mechanics, providing further insight into this legendary weapon:

1. Can Aerondight be upgraded by a smith or runewright? No, Aerondight cannot be upgraded by traditional means. Its upgrades are tied to its unique charging mechanic and Geralt’s level. However, you can add rune slots at the Runewright in Upper Mill (Velen).

2. What is the maximum level for Aerondight? Aerondight’s maximum level scales with Geralt’s level, up to the game’s level cap (usually level 100).

3. How do I quickly level up Aerondight early in the game (NG and NG+)? Use skills like Whirl, maintain Quen for protection, and use potions like Tawny Owl to rapidly build charges. Fighting enemies stronger than you (through enemy upscaling) makes it easier to charge the sword without instantly killing them.

4. How do I permanently increase Aerondight’s damage? Permanently increase its damage by fully charging the sword (achieving the 100% damage bonus) and then killing an enemy with a fully charged strike.

5. Is Aerondight worth using? Absolutely. Aerondight is arguably the best silver sword in the game due to its unique scaling and damage potential.

6. What happens if I stop playing for a while, will I lose my Aerondight progress? No, Aerondight’s level and current damage remain as they were when you stopped playing. You simply pick up where you left off in terms of upgrading it further.

7. Can Aerondight be used on humans? While Aerondight is a silver sword and is most effective against monsters, it can be used on humans. However, steel swords are generally more effective against human opponents.

8. What’s better, Aerondight or Gesheft? The article you provided suggests Gesheft might be slightly better due to its high damage and doubled critical hit damage. However, many players still consider Aerondight superior due to its unique scaling mechanic and potential for incredibly high damage output with consistent use. It’s subjective and depends on playstyle.

9. Does enemy level scaling affect Aerondight’s leveling process? Yes! Turning on enemy level scaling in the options menu is highly recommended. It makes enemies tougher, allowing you to build up charges on Aerondight more easily without instantly killing them, thus speeding up the permanent damage increase process.

10. What Runes and Glyphs work best with Aerondight? This is very situational. But generally, the best runes to have on the weapon are Severance for range and the weapon damage/critical hit/status effect runes based on your build. For Armor, you want a combination of protection and sign intensity runes to ensure you are protected and your powers are strong.

11. How do I obtain Aerondight? You obtain Aerondight by completing the quest “There Can Be Only One” in the Blood and Wine expansion. This involves proving your chivalry to the Lady of the Lake.

12. What level should I be to use Aerondight? It doesn’t matter what level you are when you get it. The key is to start using it immediately and consistently level it up.

13. Is Aerondight a silver or steel sword? Aerondight is a silver sword, designed for fighting monsters.

14. Why is Aerondight considered so good? Because it deals high base damage and each successful consecutive hit boosts the damage by 10% for a max of 100%. Once at full charge, it has a 100% chance of dealing a critical hit.

15. Where is the best place to farm Aerondight levels? The ice fields during the final battles against the Wild Hunt provide a good opportunity to level Aerondight, especially in New Game Plus. Anywhere with lots of weaker enemies that won’t die quickly works well with level scaling on.

Aerondight is more than just a sword; it’s a reward for skilled gameplay and a testament to Geralt’s growth. Mastering its unique upgrade system is key to unlocking its full potential and making it a truly legendary weapon. The sword’s unique properties make it a fascinating case study in game mechanics and player progression. Exploring these aspects can even inform understanding of educational games and how they motivate learning. To learn more about game-based learning, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Good luck on the path!