The Wild Hunt serves as the main protagonist group throughout The Witcher 3. However, while their presence is always felt during the story, they don't actually appear too often. Their lack of screen time helps build up their mystique, and it also means you don't get a lot of practice fighting them early in the game.
As a result, when you face the creatures more often in the later stage of the story, you will be inexperienced against these sorts of foes. Therefore, you're more prone to making mistakes. The first step to avoid that is knowing what these common blunders are.
Updated February 9, 2022 By Ben Jessey: In The Witcher lore, the members of The Wild Hunt are among the deadliest creatures around. Few mortals can survive a battle with the villainous group. Even Vesemir can't survive their might.
They aren't quite as unbeatable in gameplay, but they're still pretty tough. So, the last thing you want to do when battling them is make a mistake. Unfortunately, the game doesn't always make clear what missteps you should avoid. That's why we put together this list to give you a heads-up. Yet, looking back at the piece, we felt it could be improved. Thus, we've tidied it up and added some other mistakes you should avoid.
10 Using The Wrong Oil
During the toughest fights in The Witcher 3, you often want to slather your blade in an oil of some sort to increase its damage. Pretty much every creature you face is weak to one type of oil, and that information can usually be found in the bestiary.
Yet, only The Wild Hunt hounds make it into the said bestiary, not the rest of the members. Thankfully, the game makes things simple by making each of them weak to Elementa Oil. So, don't put any other substance on your blade before fighting with The Wild Hunt.
9 Keep Letho Alive Until The Battle Of Kaer Morhen
For the Battle of Kaer Morhen, you can recruit all sorts of allies. However, most of the people by your side are superficial additions that don't impact the fight. Letho is different, though, as he goes out into the field with you to help fend off the invaders. So, it's worth keeping him alive until that point.
Firstly, you need to have him survive the second game or simulate a save where he's still alive. Then you must complete his side quest in The Witcher 3 and convince him to come to Kaer Morhen at the end of it. If you don't, the fights outside Kaer Morhen will be a little harder.
8 Using Your Blade Against Spiky Hounds
The hounds are the most prevalent Wild Hunt enemies in the game. Therefore, it's important to know about their spikes. During the battle, these creatures grow sharp icicles out of their body, which can hurt you when you strike.
To avoid that situation, you want to be burning them with Igni to melt their spikes or stop them from appearing in the first place. Once they're less prickly, you're free to slice them with your blade.
7 Not Convincing Keira Metz To Come To Kaer Morhen
At one point, during the Battle of Kaer Morhen, Lambert's life is in danger. It's up to you to save him in time, or else he dies permanently. Or at least that is the case if Keira Metz isn't around. If you do her entire questline and keep her alive, then you get the chance to bring her to the Witcher Keep.
If she's there during the skirmish, she always saves Lambert no matter what. As a result, you have one less thing to worry about, and the grizzly Witcher remains among the living no matter what.
6 Using Aard
Signs are a very useful part of a Witcher's arsenal. Aard, in particular, is usually an effective power, except against The Wild Hunt. While you might find times to use it against these beasts, it's not usually worth it. All using Aard tends to do in these sorts of battles is drain your stamina.
Igni, Yrden, and Quen are the signs you want to be using while battling The Wild Hunt. You can also use Axii to slow some hounds down with Axii, but that's not often worth it either.
5 Ignoring The Minions
A few of The Wild Hunt's main members don't want to fight Geralt one-on-one, so they summon minions of some sort. During these moments, you may be tempted to continue your attack on the biggest threat, but that wouldn't be a wise move.
Even though the hounds are small, they still do some damage. And if you're not paying attention, they can quickly swarm you. Therefore, you should take them out as quickly as possible before directing your focus back to the main enemy. This is especially true against Nithral during the Wandering In The Dark quest, as taking out his allies forces him to stop healing.
4 Not Doing The Berengar's Blade Quest Before Isle Of The Mists
Doing the Isle Of The Mists quest puts you on a direct path to The Battle Of Kaer Morhen. Yet, before the war against The Wild Hunt starts, you should do the Berengar's Blade quest, which requires talking to Vesemir. You can't do this later because it's impossible to save Vesemir at the end of the conflict with Eredin and his troops.
It's worth doing, too, as you get a bonus interaction with the experienced Witcher. Plus, you find the schematics to a good Silver Sword, that depending on your current gear, could be good to use against The Wild Hunt.
3 Doing Isle Of The Mists Before Geralt Meets The Countess
Your inability to save Vesemir doesn't just impact Geralt and his crew. There's also a woman called Countess Mignole from the Hearts Of Stone DLC. You meet her while at the Borsodi auction house. She and Vesemir used to be lovers, so she is naturally hurt when she hears about his passing.
However, if you do this part of the expansion before the Battle of Kaer Morhen, Vesemir will still be among the living. Not only will the Countess be happier, but it gives you a chance to ask the grizzled Witcher about her.
2 Using Bombs On The Portals Outside Kaer Morhen
At the start of the Battle Of Kaer Morhen, you spend some time in the forests. Your objective is to destroy the portals that The Wild Hunt riders are pouring through. You have two ways to break them. You can either use bombs to blow them up or destroy them using Yrden.
The latter is by far the better option because you may need those bombs for the fierce battle that's about to start. Plus, you don't need to aim or anything - you can just go up to the portal and unleash the Yrden.
1 Using Gear That's Not Good Enough
This is a mistake to avoid in general, but it's especially true for the battles against The Wild Hunt because they're some of the toughest. Before engaging one of the Hunt generals in a boss fight, you want to make sure you have the best silver sword available.
You don't want to be trying to take down Imlerith with a basic blade. You want something like a Witcher sword or the Tlareg in your hands. Good armor is also essential, as these enemies tend to pack a punch.