All Witcher Gear Locations in The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt

How to Start Witcher Gear Scavenger Hunts in The Witcher 3

Your adventure in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt isn't complete without mastering its iconic Witcher Gear sets. These legendary armors and swords, tied to the ancient Witcher schools, offer some of the best stats and most powerful set bonuses in the game. But unlike a shiny relic you just pick up, getting them requires a full-blown scavenger hunt. Here's exactly how the system works.

Crow's Perch merchant location for Feline set maps.

The journey to any Witcher set begins with its Scavenger Hunt quests. The easiest way to start these is by purchasing maps from specific vendors across the world. Buy the map, read it in your inventory, and it will automatically begin a “Scavenger Hunt” quest, marking the location of your first diagram on your map. While you can stumble upon diagrams without the maps, trust me—buying them saves hours of aimless searching.

Once you have a diagram, you need to gather the listed materials and visit the right craftsman. Armor pieces require an Armorer, while swords need a Blacksmith. But here’s the trick most guides miss: these craftsmen have skill levels. You can’t walk up to any village smith and craft top-tier gear.

The Craftsmen You Need to Know

To upgrade your gear through its full journey, you’ll need to unlock three master artisans:

• Yoanna is the Master Armorer at Crow’s Perch in Velen. To unlock her services, you must complete the level 24 secondary quest “Master Armorers.”
• Hattori is the Master Blacksmith on Glory Lane in Novigrad. You gain access to him by finishing the level 24 quest “Of Swords and Dumplings.”
• Lazare Lafargue is the Grandmaster Smith in the Hauteville district of Toussaint (Blood and Wine DLC). He is the only one who can craft the final, Level 40 Grandmaster tier gear.

How Upgrading Works

Witcher Gear isn’t a one-and-done find. The four main schools—Griffin, Cat, Bear, and Wolf—follow a five-step upgrade path:

1. Basic
2. Enhanced
3. Superior
4. Mastercrafted
5. Grandmaster

Each new tier requires you to first find its diagrams, then craft it using the previous tier’s gear piece as a material. That Enhanced silver sword you love? You’ll hand it over to be consumed when crafting the Superior version. This means you should never sell or dismantle your current Witcher gear—you’ll need it to climb the ladder.

This system might seem daunting, but it’s a rewarding journey that tailors Geralt’s power to your playstyle. Whether you’re a sign-slinging mage or a whirlwind of steel, there’s a Witcher School set waiting for you. Let’s find it.

How to Find Viper School Gear in White Orchard

Before you even set foot in Velen, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offers a chance to snag a powerful early-game upgrade—the sleek, black Viper School swords. Unlike the multi-tiered gear sets you’ll hunt later, these two diagrams are tucked away in White Orchard, waiting to give your starter gear a significant edge.

Griffin School gear map locations.

Your first target is the Serpentine Silver Sword Diagram. Head to the White Orchard Cemetery, located just north of the village. In the basement of the small chapel, you’ll find a corpse guarded by a Wraith. Defeat the specter and loot the body to claim the diagram.

For the matching steel blade, you’ll need the Serpentine Steel Sword Diagram. Make your way to a Ruined Watchtower west of the Ransacked Village, near Woesong Bridge. The tower is occupied by a small bandit camp. Clear out the enemies and search the chest inside the ruin to find the second diagram.

With both diagrams in hand, visit any blacksmith—the one in White Orchard village will do just fine—to craft the swords. They require level 6 to equip and offer a solid stat boost over your initial weapons, perfect for tackling the Griffin contract or venturing into Velen. Trust me, grabbing these before you leave the starting area is one of the smartest moves a new Witcher can make.

How to Find Basic Griffin School Gear in The Witcher 3

Ready to move beyond the starting Viper gear? In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the Griffin School Gear is your first chance to collect a complete, powerful medium armor set, and it's all waiting for you in the war-torn region of Velen.

Exploring the Velen region

This set is a fantastic early upgrade, requiring only Level 11 to wear, and its bonuses to Sign Intensity make it perfect for players who love to mix swordplay with Igni and Quen. To begin the hunt, head to the village of Midcopse in central Velen and purchase the Scavenger Hunt: Griffin School Gear map from the armorer there. This will mark the three key locations on your map.

Finding the Griffin Swords

First, let's secure your new blades. For the Griffin Steel Sword Diagram, travel to the ruins of Hindhold in central Velen, north of the Hanged Man's Tree. Clear out the level 11 Endregas and climb to the top of the structure to deal with a harpy nest. The diagram is in a chest inside the ruin's left-side doorway.

Next, the Griffin Silver Sword Diagram waits at Lornruk on the coast. Fast travel to the Abandoned Tower signpost. You'll see a lighthouse with a broken bridge—a level 14 Wyvern often patrols here, so deal with it first. To get inside, swim around the base of the lighthouse to find an underwater tunnel entrance. Fight through the drowners inside, follow the cave path up, and you’ll find the chest at the top of the lighthouse.

⚠️ Watch out: That Wyvern at Lornruk can be a nasty surprise. Lure it to land with your crossbow before you dive for the tunnel to avoid a chaotic fight later.

Claiming the Armor Set

The main event is Dragonslayer's Grotto, a monster den northwest of Downwarren. This is where you’ll find the diagrams for the Griffin Armor, Gauntlets, Trousers, and Boots all in one chest. The path inside is linear but watch for poison gas (use Igni or Aard to clear it) and wraiths. Near the end, you’ll need to use Aard to break a weak wall. Behind it, you’ll face the guardian of the treasure: a level 11 Ekimmara.

This vampire can be tough. Coat your silver sword with Vampire Oil, toss a Devil's Puffball bomb to create a damaging cloud, and keep your distance, using Igni to punish its advances. Once it's down, loot the chest in the tomb to complete your diagram collection.

Crafting Your New Gear

With all six diagrams in hand, you're ready to craft. You’ll need a Journeyman Blacksmith for the swords and a Journeyman Armorer for the armor. Key materials include Meteorite Ore and Meteorite Silver Plate, which can be bought from many craftsmen or crafted from ingots.

With the full Griffin set equipped, you’ll enjoy a significant boost to your sign-casting power, turning you into a formidable spell-sword right as the challenges of Velen ramp up.

How to Find Basic Cat School Gear in Novigrad

For the agile witcher who prefers to dance around their foes rather than tank hits, the Cat School Gear is your calling. In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, this light armor set is the ultimate choice for fast-attack builds, offering bonuses to attack power, critical hits, and elemental resistance. The hunt for the basic diagrams will take you deep into the urban sprawl of Novigrad and the surrounding wilds of Velen, requiring a mix of puzzle-solving, exploration, and a tough boss fight. Trust me, the payoff—a sleek, elven-inspired armor set that lets you move like the wind—is worth every step.

Cat School gear is optimized for fast attack builds.

The Starting Point: Gathering the Maps

While you can stumble upon the diagrams, the organized path begins in Blackbough, a village in northern Velen. Here, purchase Adalbert Kermith’s First Map from the village blacksmith and Adalbert Kermith’s Second Map from a nearby merchant. This will start the "Scavenger Hunt: Cat School Gear" quest. For the full picture, you’ll also want to grab Adalbert Kermith’s Third Map from the quartermaster at Crow’s Perch in Velen, and Adalbert Kermit’s Fourth Map from the blacksmith in Lindenvale, east of Crow’s Perch. Reading these maps in your inventory will populate your quest log with clear markers, making the treasure hunt far less cryptic.

Finding the Feline Swords

Your first two targets are the blades, and they cleverly point you toward each other. Start with the Feline Silver Sword Diagram at Est Tayiar in eastern Velen. In the ruins, look for a crumbled hole in the floor. Use your Witcher Senses to spot a weakened wall and blast it open with the Aard sign. Inside, loot the remains of Professor Sigismund Gloger to find the diagram and his notes, which mention Drahim Castle.

That’s your next stop. Head to Drahim Castle, the ruined structure south of Novigrad’s Glory Gate. Smash the wooden door with Aard, descend the ladders to the lowest basement level, and open the chest to claim the Feline Steel Sword Diagram and Prince Adrien’s journal. This journal, in turn, will hint at the Flying Stag shipwreck.

Securing the Feline Crossbow

The clue from Drahim Castle leads you to the Flying Stag Shipwreck, southwest of Novigrad. You can sail a boat from the city’s harbor or from the small docks northwest of Ursten. Board the wreck and make your way to the partially submerged lower deck. On the left side, you’ll find a chest containing the Feline Crossbow Diagram and some Mage’s notes, which finally reveal the location of the main prize: the tunnels beneath Temple Isle.

The Main Event: Armor in the Temple Isle Tunnels

This is where the real challenge begins. The entrance to the Temple Isle tunnels is hidden on the western cliff face of the island. Navigate to the lowest row of houses on the western edge, find a rocky ledge you can drop from onto a grassy path, and follow it to an opening. Inside, Witcher Senses will reveal an illusionary wall—you’ll need the Eye of Nehaleni (obtained during the main quest "Wandering in the Dark") to dispel it.

Beyond the illusion, you’ll face a guardian golem. Defeat it, but don’t rush through the locked door behind it just yet. Take the tunnel branching to the right, climb some ledges, and you’ll find a chamber with a statue puzzle. The solution is to flip all the levers so that each statue faces inward. Solving it opens a trapdoor to a water-filled chamber. Deal with the drowners, dive down, and loot the key from the bottom.

Return to the main area, unlock the door, and prepare to face Mad Kiyan, a deranged Cat School witcher. This is a tough fight—he’s fast, hits hard, and can heal himself. Use Quen liberally, dodge often, and whittle him down. Upon his defeat, loot his body to obtain all four armor piece diagrams: the Feline Armor, Trousers, Boots, and Gauntlets.

⚠️ Be prepared: This fight is no joke. Come stocked with Swallow and Thunderbolt potions, and make sure your silver sword is in top shape. If you’ve struggled here, you’re not alone—Mad Kiyan is a notorious skill check.

Crafting Your New Gear

With all six basic diagrams in hand (Level 17 required), visit a Journeyman Armorer for the armor pieces and a Journeyman Blacksmith for the swords and crossbow. The materials are generally straightforward: look for Meteorite Ore, Leather Straps, and various monster parts like Monster Eye and Monster Blood. Once crafted, you’ll be equipped with a complete set that dramatically enhances your speed and offensive power.

You now have the foundation of the legendary Cat School build. This agile armor set will serve you perfectly as you venture deeper into the war-torn lands of The Witcher 3, ready to strike fast and vanish into the shadows.

How to Find Basic Bear School Gear in Skellige

The frigid, windswept isles of Skellige hold more than just clan feuds and ancient sagas—they guard the secrets of the legendary Bear School Gear. In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, this heavy armor set is the ultimate prize for tank builds, turning Geralt into an unstoppable force. But to claim it, you’ll need to brave some of the most treacherous ruins in the archipelago.

Kaer Trolde Harbor map location for Bear School diagrams

Your hunt for the basic Ursine diagrams begins once you’ve reached Skellige and can freely explore. While you can buy the treasure map from a merchant in Kaer Trolde, you can also head straight to the locations. This is a level 20+ endeavor, so come prepared for a fight.

Finding the Ursine Armor & Weapons

The four diagrams for the armor set are all found within Castle Tuirseach on the island of Ard Skellig. Head to the castle’s main courtyard and look for a set of stairs leading down to a barred door. Use your Witcher Senses to spot a lever on the wall—pulling it opens the gate to the basement cells. Inside, you’ll face a handful of wraiths. Defeat them and loot the large chest in the central chamber to find the diagrams for the Ursine Armor, Ursine Boots, Ursine Gauntlets, and Ursine Trousers.

The swords and crossbow are scattered across other points of interest. For the Ursine Steel Sword Diagram, travel to the Ruined Inn on the southern coast of Ard Skellig. Clear out the bandits outside, then head into the ruined building’s basement. The diagram waits in a chest among the rubble.

The Ursine Silver Sword Diagram is guarded by a tougher foe. You’ll find it at Fort Etnir, located on a small island north of the main Ard Skellig landmass. The fort is guarded by Gargoyles. Eliminate them and search the highest tower to find the chest containing the diagram.

Finally, sail to the small island northeast of Ard Skellig to find the Old Watchtower. Climb to the top balcony of this ruined structure to locate a chest holding the Ursine Crossbow Diagram.

With all seven basic diagrams in hand, you can visit a Journeyman Armorer (like Yoana in Crow’s Perch, once her quest is complete) to craft the armor and boots, and a Journeyman Blacksmith for the swords and crossbow. This level 20 heavy armor set is your foundation—with its massive damage resistance and bonuses to strong attacks and adrenaline, you’re ready to face the northern seas as a true Skellige tank.

How to Find Basic Wolf School Gear in Kaer Morhen

Kaer Morhen holds more than just memories—it’s the home of Geralt’s own school and the hiding place for the versatile Wolf School Gear. In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, this medium armor set is a fantastic jack-of-all-trades option, boosting both your swordplay and sign intensity. The hunt for the basic diagrams takes you right into the heart of the witchers’ old keep, and here’s exactly how to find them.

Finding the Basic Wolf Gear Diagrams

Your first stop is the Old Signal Tower in Kaer Morhen. Head southwest from the main keep’s fast travel point until you find the ruined tower entrance. Inside, climb the ladder to the second level and loot the chest on the right to find notes that start the quest. Use your Witcher Senses to spot two blue power crystals in the room. Place each one in the sockets on the opposite wall, then use the Aard sign twice to activate a magical portal. Step through to find yourself in a small cave where you’ll need to defeat two Level 23 Wraiths guarding a chest. Loot it to claim the diagrams for the Wolf Armor, Boots, Gauntlets, and Trousers.

Next, ride west from the keep to the Bastion ruins. In the northwestern section of the rubble, use your Witcher Senses to spot a sparkling red glow—this marks the chest containing the Wolf Steel Sword diagram.

Finally, head north to the Ruined Watchtower. As you approach the entrance, a Level 23 Wraith will spawn. Defeat it, then search the spot where it appeared. You’ll find a corpse to loot, which yields the Wolf Silver Sword diagram.

What You Need to Craft It

With all six diagrams in hand, you can craft the full set. You’ll need to visit a Journeyman-level armorer for the armor pieces and a Journeyman blacksmith for the swords. The materials are fairly standard for early-game witcher gear, often requiring Leather Scraps, Iron Ingots, and various monster parts you’ve likely already collected.

The basic Wolf School Gear requires Level 14 to wear and offers a great balance of offense and defense, perfect for players who like to mix sword attacks with signs. Once crafted, you’re well on your way to mastering the Wolf School’s versatile playstyle.

How to Find Forgotten Wolven Gear in The Witcher 3

Looking for a set that blends Geralt’s classic look with some serious combat versatility? In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the Forgotten Wolven Gear is your answer. Added with the next-gen update, this Netflix-inspired medium armor set offers a fantastic all-around option for any build, and it’s surprisingly straightforward to unlock—if you know where to look.

Unlike other Witcher sets scattered across multiple scavenger hunts, the entire Forgotten Wolven Gear set is obtained through a single quest. Head to Velen and make your way to the Devil's Pit, the notorious bandit camp in the southeast. Here, you’ll find a notice for the quest “In the Eternal Fire's Shadow.”

Accepting this quest sets you on a path to aid a desperate man named Ivan, who is being haunted. Completing the quest’s objectives and defeating the spectral threat rewards you with the diagrams for the entire set: the Forgotten Wolven Armor, Gauntlets, Trousers, Boots, Steel Sword, and Silver Sword. Trust me, this is one of the most efficient ways to get a full Witcher gear set in the game.

As a medium armor set, the Forgotten Wolven Gear provides excellent balanced stats, boosting Sign Intensity, Attack Power, Adrenaline Point Gain, and Critical Hit Chance. Its true strength lies in its set bonuses, which become available once you upgrade the pieces to higher tiers. Wearing three pieces increases potion duration, while the full six-piece Grandmaster bonus causes Aard to deal additional damage to enemies already affected by Yrden—a deadly and satisfying combo for sign-focused builds.

With the diagrams in hand, you can craft the basic set at any suitable armorer and blacksmith. Remember, like all Witcher gear in The Witcher 3, you’ll need to find the Enhanced, Superior, Mastercrafted, and Grandmaster upgrade diagrams in the world to improve it further, with the final tier requiring a trip to Lazare Lafargue in Toussaint’s Hauteville district.

Securing the Forgotten Wolven Gear gives you a stylish, powerful, and incredibly versatile armor set perfect for almost any playstyle. It’s a worthy addition to any Witcher’s arsenal and a must-have for fans of the Netflix series.

How to Find Manticore School Gear in Toussaint

The sun-drenched vineyards of Toussaint hide a prize for alchemists: the Manticore School Gear, a Grandmaster-tier set from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s Blood and Wine DLC. This unique medium armor set is a powerhouse for potion and bomb builds, and unlike other schools, there’s no scavenger hunt for lower tiers—you’re hunting for the complete, top-tier diagrams right from the start. Here’s how to find every piece scattered across the duchy.

To begin, head to The Gran’place in Beauclair and check the noticeboard for the Grandmaster Armorer contract. This leads you to Lazare Lafargue, the grandmaster armorer and blacksmith in the Hauteville district, who gives you the quest “Master Master Master Master!” and the clues you need. You can find the six diagrams in any order, but here’s the most efficient route.

First, grab the Manticore Armor Diagram. Travel to the Trastamara Hunting Cottage in central Toussaint, then head directly north to find a cave entrance. Inside, at the back, you’ll find notes pinned to the wall. Examine the one on the right titled “Marten’s Prayer” to claim the chest armor schematic.

Next, secure the matching legwear. The Manticore Boots and Trousers Diagrams are found together in the Temple of Lebioda in the northwest corner of the region. At the rear of the temple, use your Aard sign to blast through a breakable stone wall. Inside, you’ll face the Great Beggar’s Ghost—the Yrden sign is your friend here. After the fight, head up the stairs and use your Witcher Senses to spot a small chest in the corner containing both diagrams.

For the Manticore Gauntlets Diagram, travel northeast of Basane Farm to the Lake of Cleansing. Dive to the bottom and use your Witcher Senses to spot a container nestled among the reeds and rocks—the gauntlet plans are inside.

Now for the swords, which are tucked away in trickier spots. The Manticore Silver Sword Diagram is hidden in a cave on the western coast of the lake that separates Beauclair Gardens and the Ducal Palace. This cave is filled with hallucinogenic gas. You’ll need to defeat two Bruxae at the entrance, then navigate a path where you must pick up and distribute coins to beggars. Further in, defeat some Kikimores, then climb some rocks and use Aard to clear a blocked passage. You’ll find the diagram in a chest at the makeshift altar at the end of this surreal path.

Finally, track down the Manticore Steel Sword Diagram in the Bastoy Prison ruins, northwest of Beauclair. Approach from the south, enter the ruins, and climb to the top of the ruined tower. At the summit, use your Witcher Senses to find a loose brick in the wall. Interact with it, and the steel sword schematic is yours.

With all diagrams in hand, return to Lazare Lafargue in Hauteville to craft the set. You’ll need rare materials like Cured Draconid Leather, Dimeritium Plate, and various monster parts, but the payoff is worth it. The Manticore set’s grandmaster bonuses are tailor-made for alchemy: wearing three pieces makes your bombs benefit from critical hit stats, and wearing all six gives you an extra charge for every potion, bomb, and decoction. Your toxic tolerance has never been higher.

Witcher Gear Upgrade Tiers and Set Bonuses

You’ve hunted down the diagrams, crafted the gear, and faced the dangers—now it’s time to evolve your kit into a true masterwork. In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, your Witcher gear isn't just a one-and-done find; it’s a long-term investment that grows with you, culminating in some of the most powerful set bonuses in the game. Understanding the upgrade path and these final perks is the key to unlocking Geralt’s ultimate potential.

The Five-Tier Evolution

The four main schools—Bear (Ursine), Cat (Feline), Griffin, and Wolf—follow a strict five-tier progression. You start with the Basic set, and can upgrade it four times: Enhanced, Superior, Mastercrafted, and finally Grandmaster.

Here’s the crucial rule: each upgrade consumes the previous tier’s piece. You can't craft a Superior sword out of thin air; you need the Enhanced sword in your inventory (or equipped) to serve as a component. This makes holding onto your current gear absolutely essential—never sell or dismantle it if you plan to upgrade.

Crafting expertise matters too. You’ll need increasingly skilled artisans:

• Mastercrafted gear requires the services of a master armorer or blacksmith, like Yoanna in Crow’s Perch or Hattori in Novigrad.
• The final Grandmaster tier is exclusive to the Blood and Wine expansion and can only be crafted by Lazare Lafargue, the grandmaster smith in Hauteville, Beauclair.

Grandmaster Set Bonuses: Your Ultimate Edge

The true power of fully upgraded Witcher gear in The Witcher 3 is unlocked by wearing multiple pieces of the same Grandmaster set. Equip three pieces for a solid bonus, and wear all six for a game-changing effect that synergizes perfectly with specific playstyles.

Feline (Cat School) Set Bonus

• (3/6): Strong attacks increase Fast Attack damage for 5 seconds by 10% for each piece of the set. This rewards mixing up your attack patterns.
• (6/6): Rear attacks deal 50% more damage and stun opponents at the cost of 1 Adrenaline Point. This turns you into a deadly, positioning-aware flanker.

Griffin School Set Bonus

• (3/6): After using Stamina to cast a Sign in its standard mode, the next Sign cast within 3 seconds will be cast in standard mode without using Stamina. This enables incredible sign-spamming combos.
• (6/6): The size of Yrden traps is increased by 40%. While you are within a Yrden trap, Stamina regeneration is increased by 5/s and Sign Intensity by 100%, and damage is reduced by 20%. This creates a dominant zone-of-control playstyle.

Ursine (Bear School) Set Bonus

• (3/6): When a Quen shield shatters, there is a chance a new one will be cast at no stamina cost. The bonus increases by 5% for each piece of the set. This makes an already tanky build incredibly resilient.
• (6/6): Damage dealt by Abilities involving the Quen sign is increased by 200%. This synergizes explosively with skills like Quen Discharge.

Wolven & Forgotten Wolven Set Bonuses
The Wolf School gear focuses on bleed effects, boosting sword damage for each bleed applied. The Forgotten Wolven set, added in the next-gen update, enhances potion duration and makes Aard deal extra damage to enemies held by Yrden.

Manticore & Viper Gear
Remember, Manticore gear (from Blood and Wine) and Viper gear (from Hearts of Stone) are exceptions. They only exist at a single, powerful tier comparable to Grandmaster and do not have upgrade paths, but the Manticore set does offer its own powerful alchemy-focused bonuses.

Choosing Your Endgame Path

Your choice of Grandmaster set should lock in your entire build. Pair the Feline gear with light armor skills and fast attack talents. Match the Griffin set with a sign-intensity build. Combine the Ursine gear with heavy armor skills and strong attacks. These sets are the pinnacle of customization in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt—they don’t just make you stronger, they redefine how you fight.

With this knowledge, you’re no longer just collecting armor; you’re building a legacy. Choose your school, commit to the upgrade grind, and claim the phenomenal power that awaits at the Grandmaster tier.