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On What Difficulty Should I Play The Witcher 3?

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The question of which difficulty to choose in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a common one, and rightly so. The game offers a range of options, each impacting your experience significantly. The most comprehensive answer, considering a variety of factors, is: Start your first playthrough on “Story and Sword” (Normal) difficulty. This offers a balanced challenge, allowing you to learn the game’s mechanics, explore its rich world, and enjoy the engrossing narrative without becoming overwhelmed. However, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all recommendation; you should adjust based on your experience with action RPGs and your preferred playstyle.

While Death March, the game’s hardest difficulty, is often lauded by some as the “best” way to play, it’s not the most accessible or enjoyable for everyone, especially first-timers. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

Story and Sword (Normal): This is the recommended starting point for most players. It provides a solid challenge without being too punishing, allows for mistakes, and gives you ample opportunity to experiment with the game’s systems, including combat, alchemy, and character development. It’s forgiving enough to let you enjoy the story and world, making it a great option for a first playthrough.
Blood and Broken Bones (Hard): This difficulty is suitable for players with some experience in action RPGs or those who want a greater challenge right from the start. It requires more strategic thinking, careful resource management, and proficiency with the combat mechanics.
Death March (Very Hard): This is the ultimate challenge, where enemies hit extremely hard and your mistakes are heavily penalized. It demands a mastery of the game’s systems, a deep understanding of potion brewing and oil crafting, and flawless execution in combat. This is ideal for hardcore players or those seeking a truly immersive, unforgiving experience.
Just the Story (Easy): This difficulty option focuses entirely on the narrative, offering minimal combat challenge. It is a great choice if you are primarily interested in the story and exploring the world of the Witcher.

Ultimately, the beauty of The Witcher 3 lies in its flexibility. You can change the difficulty at any time in the game’s options menu, so don’t feel locked into your initial choice. If you find Normal too easy or too hard, adjust it! If you’re a veteran of action RPGs, you might find Blood and Broken Bones a more engaging starting point. However, it’s important to recognize that the early game in The Witcher 3 is often the most challenging, regardless of difficulty. As you gain skills and access better gear, the game becomes more manageable.

Diving Deeper Into Difficulty Options

Choosing the right difficulty is vital to ensuring that your journey through The Witcher 3 is enjoyable and engaging. Let’s explore each option a bit more:

Starting With Story and Sword

If you’re new to the world of Geralt of Rivia, starting on Story and Sword is the safest and most enjoyable route. You will be introduced to the core mechanics gradually, you’ll have time to explore the vast open world, and you can really get immersed in the narrative without constant frustration. Many players find this difficulty to be the most rewarding overall. You’ll still need to learn the basics, such as:

Quicksaving before every fight to avoid losing progress.
Meditating to restore your health between battles.
Using oils and potions to prepare for tough encounters.
Mastering the different combat techniques, like dodging, rolling, and parrying.

Embracing the Challenge of Blood and Broken Bones

If you’re a more experienced gamer or simply like a challenge from the get go, then Blood and Broken Bones is a solid choice. Enemies will hit harder, and you will be required to engage with the full range of combat techniques and potion crafting mechanics. It really encourages proper preparation and strategic thinking. This difficulty is ideal for gamers who enjoy testing their skills and working for every victory.

The Intensity of Death March

Death March is reserved for those seeking the ultimate test. It is not for the faint of heart and should not be considered for a first playthrough unless you’re very experienced with similar games. Everything hits harder, resources are scarce, and you will be punished for the slightest mistakes. While this difficulty can be incredibly rewarding once you master the nuances of the combat system, it can be extremely frustrating for less experienced gamers. This difficulty is all about:

Mastering the combat system, knowing precisely when to parry, dodge and counter-attack.
Deeply understanding the alchemy system, meticulously preparing your potions and oils before every fight.
Resource management as it is crucial in order to survive on this difficulty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to the difficulty of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt:

Is it OK to play The Witcher 3 without playing 1 and 2? Absolutely. The Witcher 3 is designed to be accessible to newcomers. While previous games provide background context, you can enjoy the story of The Witcher 3 without playing the earlier titles. They are a series of connected anthology games.
How hard is The Witcher 3 on easy? On the “Just the Story” difficulty, the game is relatively easy, but you can still get killed if you are not careful in the early game. This difficulty is designed to let players who want to focus on the story, rather than the combat, to get through the game without too much stress.
Can you change the difficulty mid-game? Yes! The Witcher 3 allows you to change the difficulty setting at any point in the game from the options menu. Feel free to experiment to find what suits you.
Does the difficulty affect Gwent? No, the difficulty setting in the main game does not affect the difficulty of Gwent matches. Gwent always defaults to medium difficulty.
Is The Witcher 3 a complicated game for beginners? Yes, The Witcher 3 can feel overwhelming at first due to its complexity. From combat mechanics to crafting and the sheer volume of quests, it can feel daunting, but it becomes easier with time.
Is The Witcher 3 more difficult than Dark Souls? Generally, no. While The Witcher 3 can be challenging, especially on higher difficulties, it does not reach the extreme difficulty levels associated with the Dark Souls series. The Witcher 3 is more challenging than Skyrim but easier than Dark Souls.
How many times should you play The Witcher 3? The Witcher 3 is worth multiple playthroughs to see different outcomes and explore the many choices you can make. It is often recommended to play at least twice.
Is The Witcher 3 noob-friendly? While it can be overwhelming at first due to its complexity, the game is designed to be beginner-friendly, especially on lower difficulties. It’s very forgiving if you play on Story and Sword.
Is The Witcher 3 easier than The Witcher 2? Yes, most players consider The Witcher 3 to be easier than The Witcher 2. The combat system is streamlined, and enemies are generally less aggressive.
What are the best skills to upgrade first in The Witcher 3? This depends on your preferred playstyle, but some of the key skills to prioritize are your School Techniques, Sun and Stars, Refreshment, and Delusion.
How long does it take to beat The Witcher 3? On average, it takes about 51-52 hours to complete the main story, but completionists can easily spend over 170 hours.
Is The Witcher 3 stressful? While not as stressful as some “Souls-like” games, The Witcher 3 can be tense and challenging, especially during difficult quests or on higher difficulty settings.
What are some common mistakes new players make in The Witcher 3? Some mistakes include selling to the wrong merchants, attempting to romance both Triss and Yennefer, starting Gwent tournaments before building your deck, or starting the Isle of Mists quest too early.
Can you beat The Witcher 3 at level 1? Yes, it is possible to beat the game at level 1, though it’s an extremely challenging feat that will likely require a lot of patience and perfect execution.
What does Death March difficulty change? Death March increases enemy damage, reduces the player’s survivability, and makes the game significantly more ruthless, demanding careful use of all game mechanics.