Unleash the Serpent’s Fury: A Guide to Acquiring the Legendary Viper Swords in The Witcher 3
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The Viper School gear is highly sought after in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for its potent abilities and distinctive look. The Viper School swords, specifically the Viper Venomous Silver Sword and Viper Venomous Steel Sword, are essential for any Witcher looking to maximize their damage output. Obtaining these swords requires navigating specific quests within the Hearts of Stone expansion and making key decisions along the way. The Viper Venomous Silver Sword is found during the quest Whatsoever a Man Soweth, while the Viper Venomous Steel Sword diagram is acquired during the Open Sesame! quest. Mastering the steps for obtaining these swords can significantly boost your capabilities in the game.
Securing the Viper Venomous Silver Sword
The Viper Venomous Silver Sword is a fully crafted weapon, meaning you don’t need a diagram to create it. Instead, you find it ready to use during the main quest, Whatsoever a Man Soweth, which is the final main quest of the Hearts of Stone expansion.
To successfully acquire this powerful blade:
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Begin the Hearts of Stone Expansion: Ensure you have started and progressed far enough into the Hearts of Stone expansion to reach the final main quest, Whatsoever a Man Soweth. This quest becomes available after completing other primary quests in the expansion.
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Choose to Help Olgierd: During the quest, you’ll face a pivotal decision—whether to help Olgierd von Everec or side with Gaunter O’Dimm (also known as the Man of Glass). To get the Viper Venomous Silver Sword, you must choose to help Olgierd.
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Enter the Mirror Realm: Helping Olgierd leads you into Gaunter O’Dimm’s surreal Mirror Realm. This realm is filled with illusions and puzzles you must solve to free Olgierd from his contract.
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Solve the Riddle: Progress through the realm by solving the required riddles and overcoming obstacles. The path is usually straightforward, but pay attention to the environment for clues.
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Locate the Sword: While navigating the Mirror Realm, you will encounter the Viper Venomous Silver Sword. It is typically found sticking out of a stone, very visibly and hard to miss, as you progress through the main path of this area. Simply approach the sword and interact with it to add it to your inventory.
Obtaining the Viper Venomous Steel Sword
Unlike the Viper Venomous Silver Sword, you cannot find the Viper Venomous Steel Sword outright. Instead, you must acquire the diagram for it and craft the weapon yourself. The diagram is located during the Open Sesame! quest within the Hearts of Stone expansion.
Follow these steps to secure the diagram:
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Start the Open Sesame! Quest: Ensure you’ve reached the Open Sesame! quest within the Hearts of Stone expansion. This quest involves participating in a heist to steal from the Borsodi Auction House.
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Infiltrate the Vault: During the quest, you will eventually infiltrate the vault. This involves navigating through traps and security measures.
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Find the Chest Near Maximilian Borsodi’s House: Inside the vault, search for a chest near a recreation of Maximilian Borsodi’s house. The chest is relatively easy to spot, as it is part of the main path through the vault.
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Loot the Diagram: Open the chest and loot the diagram for the Viper Venomous Steel Sword.
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Craft the Sword: Once you have the diagram, visit a capable swordsmith. You will need the necessary materials and coin to commission the crafting of the Viper Venomous Steel Sword. These materials can usually be gathered through exploration and looting in the game.
A Word on Viper Armor
While focused on swords, it’s worth mentioning that the Viper School gear also includes armor. Unlike the swords, the Viper Armor is primarily cosmetic and available at the Gem Store (if we are talking about Guild Wars 2 – which also has a viper set!). In Witcher 3, Viper armor is often referred to as Viper School armor, and is a distinct set of armor available through specific quests and merchants within the Hearts of Stone expansion. This set can enhance your overall defensive capabilities and offers a distinctive appearance reminiscent of Geralt’s iconic Kaer Morhen armor.
FAQs: Viper Swords and Armor in The Witcher 3
1. What level are the Viper Venomous Swords?
The Viper Venomous Swords (both silver and steel) are designed for higher-level players, specifically around level 40. The regular Viper swords are level 6. Therefore, you should ideally acquire them once you are within a suitable level range to maximize their effectiveness.
2. Can I craft the Viper Venomous Silver Sword?
No, the Viper Venomous Silver Sword cannot be crafted. You acquire the actual sword during the Whatsoever a Man Soweth quest within the Mirror Realm by simply picking it up.
3. Is the Viper School gear part of the base game or an expansion?
The Viper School gear, including the Viper Venomous Swords, is exclusively available as part of the Hearts of Stone expansion. You need to own and play this expansion to access these items.
4. Where can I find a swordsmith to craft the Viper Venomous Steel Sword?
You can find skilled swordsmiths in major cities and towns. Novigrad and Beauclair (in the Blood and Wine expansion) are known to have master-level swordsmiths who can craft high-quality weapons like the Viper Venomous Steel Sword. Additionally, the Nilfgaardian Garrison mentioned above has a blacksmith who can craft the Viper Steel Sword.
5. What materials do I need to craft the Viper Venomous Steel Sword?
The specific materials needed for crafting can vary. Generally, you will need ingots (steel, dimeritium), leather scraps, and potentially some rare components. Review the crafting diagram after obtaining it to see the precise requirements.
6. Is the Viper Venomous Silver Sword worth getting early in the game?
The Viper Silver Sword is a good early-game weapon; however, the Venomous Viper Silver Sword cannot be acquired early in the game. The higher level requirement means it’s more effective in the mid-to-late game. The standard Viper Silver Sword obtained early on is still valuable due to its decent damage output and poisoning chance.
7. What happens if I side with Gaunter O’Dimm instead of helping Olgierd?
If you side with Gaunter O’Dimm during the Whatsoever a Man Soweth quest, you will not be able to acquire the Viper Venomous Silver Sword, as this requires entering the Mirror Realm to help Olgierd.
8. Can I get the Viper Venomous Swords in New Game Plus (NG+)?
Yes, you can acquire the Viper Venomous Swords in New Game Plus. Their level will scale up to match your increased level, making them viable even in a second playthrough. The Legendary Viper Gear set will be level 93 on NG+.
9. What are the best stats on the Viper Venomous Swords?
The Viper Venomous Swords have high base damage, an increased critical hit chance, a bonus to poisoning, and an additional percentage bonus to experience points.
10. Is Viper armor light, medium, or heavy?
The Viper armor can be considered a medium armor set, providing a balance between protection and mobility. However, note that in Guild Wars 2, the Viper’s armor is a medium armor skin set. In the Witcher 3 the armor is not referred to as “Viper Armor” but rather “Viper School Armor”, which is distinct in that game.
11. How does the Viper Venomous Sword compare to other legendary swords in The Witcher 3?
While the Viper Venomous Swords are powerful, they might not be the absolute best swords in the game, especially when compared to end-game weapons like Aerondight. However, their availability in the Hearts of Stone expansion and unique attributes make them excellent choices for that part of the game. Aerondight is generally considered one of the most OP swords in the game, increasing in damage with each hit.
12. What is the significance of the Viper School in The Witcher universe?
The Viper School is one of the lesser-known Witcher schools, but its members are often associated with poisoning and assassination. Letho of Gulet, a prominent antagonist in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, is a notable member of the Viper School.
13. Are there any other unique items or rewards I can obtain during the Hearts of Stone expansion?
Yes, the Hearts of Stone expansion is filled with unique items, quests, and rewards. This includes runewords, glyphs, new armor sets, and engaging side stories that enhance the overall Witcher 3 experience.
14. What are Runewords, and how do they enhance weapons and armor?
Runewords are enhancements that can be applied to weapons and armor to grant additional effects. They are acquired during the Hearts of Stone expansion, particularly through the Runewright. They can significantly alter gameplay by adding effects such as increased damage, chance to ignite enemies, or improved armor protection.
15. Where can I learn more about the educational aspects of gaming and game-based learning?
To delve deeper into the world of game-based learning, explore resources like the Games Learning Society. This organization focuses on the intersection of games and education, exploring how games can be used to enhance learning outcomes across various fields. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.
Mastering the acquisition of the Viper Venomous Swords can significantly enhance your playthrough of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. By following the steps outlined above and keeping the FAQs in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to wield these deadly blades and overcome the challenges that lie ahead. Good luck on the path, Witcher!