The Witcher 3 contains many areas that are inaccessible by any means other than swimming or sailing. Swimming can't be advised in more treacherous waters, so scan the shorelines for an available boat and ready those sealegs.
The perils of voyages across the Continent are naught to be taken lightly, lest one finds themselves on a sinking ship far out at sea. To ensure a safe passage and avoid falling prey to the multitude of terrors lurking beneath the surface, read up on this compilation of all things boating before setting sail.
Updated August 15, 2021, By Kim Dailey: The seas remain as treacherous as ever, and the popularity of the Witcher 3 is equally unwavering. With this in mind, we've updated this guide to make sure your sea voyages go as smoothly as possible.
Nautical Navigation - Boat Controls In The Witcher 3
Boats are simple enough to board; just walk right onto them. If Geralt finds himself already in the water, he may swim up to the side of the boat and heave himself aboard with the same controls you use to jump.
To take control of the boat, proceed to the helm and press the appropriate button when prompted. Below are the boat controls across the various platforms.
|
Action |
PC |
X-Box/ Nintendo Switch |
PS4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Take Helm |
E |
A |
X |
|
Leave Helm |
E |
B |
O |
|
Steering |
A,W,D |
Left joystick |
Left joystick |
|
Stop/ Reverse |
S |
X (X-Box), Y (Switch) |
Square |
|
Acceleration |
Left Shift |
A |
X |
For an extra speed boost, double-tap the control while accelerating -- similar to making Roach sprint.
Fast Travel By Boat In The Witcher 3
Boats also provide another form of fast travel, aside from the usual signposts. However, as one might expect with a water-bound vessel, it can only travel by water-accessible routes.
To use this nautical fast travel, open the World Map while sitting at the helm of a boat. Any shore marked with an anchor is a plausible destination.
Sailing Requires Constant Vigilance
As you may expect, manning a boat is all but smooth sailing in The Witcher 3. Aside from navigating the vessel safely, Geralt will also need to contend with the number of natural threats he will face at sea.
Similar to equipped gear, damage to the boat Geralt is currently sailing will appear on the left side of the screen with a diagram of the boat divided into quadrants and any damage suffered to each section depicted in varying shades of orange and red.
Avoid Shallow Waters & Debris
Boats can sustain damage and may even sink after enough wear and tear, which can be inflicted on the vessel in a number of ways. Perhaps the most apparent threats are running aground on rocks, logs, and other submerged debris.
This also means you should be wary of sailing in shallow waters or docking the boat along a shore. If you are too hasty about making shore, Geralt will damage the boat as if he ran afoul of a rocky reef and the vessel may not be fit to set sail again.
Look Out For Hostile Threats
Seafaring monsters can quickly do a number on boats as well, meaning Geralt can never let his guard down, even when at the helm. The most common threats he'll have to face will be Drowners, and Sirens in more treacherous waters.
To avoid getting shipwrecked by these sea monsters, Geralt will have to do some multitasking, and the only way to defend the boat while at the helm is with the crossbow. Geralt can fire a crossbow while at the helm by using the middle mouse button or the "R/RB/R1" button on controllers.
Because of Geralt's limited tactics while sailing he will have little choice but to approach all hostile threats the same way. Still, we can give you a couple of general pointers.
- Do not try to aim the crossbow. The crossbow's auto-aim is far more efficient, not to mention accurate than manually aiming.
- By relying on auto-aim, Geralt will save precious time and spare crucial deterioration to the boat.
- You will need to guide Geralt's focus in the general direction of the threat, so it's helpful to know where a sudden assault may come from.
- As with any other enemies, aquatic hostiles will appear as red bleeps on the mini-map but while Drowners can only attack from the waters below, Sirens are at home in both the sea and skies.
With attacks plausible from all sides you'll need to rely on the audio cues the game gives you. Naturally, you'll hear a voracious splash when either Drowners or Sirens assail from the water and aggressively begin ripping at the sides of the dinghy.
This is the greatest threat to the boat's soundness as these assaults directly target the vessel rather than Geralt. When you hear the piercing cry of a Siren, it is usually a tell-tale sign of an aerial attack, so turn Geralt's attention to the skies in preparation to swiftly fire off a few bolts.
Voyages across the Continent are far from a five-star cruise. None the less they are necessary throughout Geralt's travels. To avoid going the way of Ciri's mother, Pavetta, witchers' should hold fast to this nautical knowledge and brace themselves for stormy seas.
Sources: Witcher Fandom, gosunoob