Weapons in The Witcher 3: No Level-Up but Can Be Enhanced

Many players wonder if weapons in The Witcher 3, particularly those found at higher levels, grow in power as they progress through the game. In reality, weapons in The Witcher 3 do not level up with the player, despite the game's rich and detailed mechanics.

Do Weapons Level Up with You?

For the majority of weapons found in The Witcher 3, the answer is no. If you come across a level 10 relic sword, for example, it will remain at that level throughout the game. Its damage output does not increase as you progress or level up, meaning it may become less effective against stronger enemies. However, the game does offer alternative ways to enhance weapon effectiveness.

Enhancing Weapons in The Witcher 3

While weapons in The Witcher 3 do not level up, they can be significantly improved through various means. Craftsmen and alchemists offer the ability to upgrade weapons, enhancing their stats and adding bonuses. Runes and glyphs can be applied to weapons to provide further advantages in combat.

Another way to increase weapon effectiveness is through the game's New Game (NG) feature, which can be accessed through the Blood and Wine expansion. In NG mode, everything in the game is boosted by about 50 levels, including weapons. A level 10 sword, for instance, would effectively become a level 60 sword with stat increases.

Specific Exceptions in The Witcher 3

Despite the general rule that weapons do not level up, there are a few exceptions. In the Blood and Wine expansion, a weapon called Aerondite is one of the few that gets stronger over repeated use, even though its level and base damage do not change. Aerondite is a level 50 sword in the first playthrough, but it can become one of the few level 100 swords in NG mode.

Another exception is the weapons you find in NG mode. These weapons are effectively more powerful versions of the same weapons you might find in the main game, providing an additional incentive to play on the PC and utilize PC-specific mods that support leveling and enhancing weapons.

Conclusion

In summary, while weapons in The Witcher 3 do not level up with the player, they can be significantly enhanced through various methods. Whether it's through crafting, runes, glyphs, or NG mode, players have multiple ways to keep their chosen weapons effective throughout their adventures in the game world.