[*]You can change the difficulty settings anytime – even during combat.
[*]Loot everything. You’ll need even the most useless-seeming stuff for alchemy and crafting.
[*]Don’t sell your starting armor. There is a way to turn them into better versions via crafting system. (thanks Emnel)
[*]Using the witcher senses will show you everything you can pick up in the vicinity.
[*]You can craft armor at the blacksmith/armorer. The level of mastery he possesses will define which armors he can craft.
[*]Weapons can be upgraded with runes, while armor is improved with glyphs. If you decide you want to take a rune/glyph out of your gear, you’ll have to choose which one to save – the item or the upgrade material.
[*]Alcohol is important – you can use it to recharge potions after you’ve used them.
[*]When you drink a lot of potions, keep an eye of your Toxicity. If the bar is full, you’ll start losing health.
[*]Make sure you always have a monster trophy equipped. They provide valuable bonuses at no cost.
[*]You can eat food to heal yourself. It's not as powerful as the potions, but it’s free and there’s lots of it.
[*]Some monsters only come out during the day, some during night time.
[*]When you pass near a point of interest, it will be marked on your map.
[*]Don't ignore quests or leave them for later – tackling the main story might trigger their disappearance.
[*]Visiting notice boards in towns will reveal nearby points of interest.
[*]Some objects can be destroyed with the Aard sign.
[*]Memorize the controls. The game will constantly remind you of them, but that won't do you any good in a tight spot.
[*]Instead of playing poker dice, you can play Gwent, a card game about war.
[*]If you get caught while breaking the law, the guards will attack you, and they’re not ones to mess with. They’ll beat you up and take half of your money.
[*]Meditating will heal your wounds and replenish your potions, but it can’t be done in a bind. Meditating on the highest difficulty won't fill up your health bar though. Only foods and potions (thanks PayDrum)
[*]You can't rebind movement keys in the game, however you can rebind the keys yourself in The Witcher 3 file input. (thanks Lindun)


Story Tips


[*]Listen to the dialogue carefully.


[*]Be mindful that your choices will often have consequences beyond the questyou're doing.


[*]If it sounds important, write it down – the previous game had quests that required you to perform rituals step-by-step from memory.


[*]Using the Axii sign on people will yield results, but it won’t make you any friends.


[*]Yellow dialogue options are the one that will advance the conversation – they can be mutually exclusive. Gray ones are just there for gathering information. Those colored in dark gray are the ones you’ve already chosen.


[*]There is sometimes a timer ticking down, rushing you to make a choice. Try to keep calm during these moments.


[*]Not everything is what it seems. Get used to the idea that people will lie to you.


[*]Romance is a big part of the game. Having sex with one character may change the way another treats you.


Combat Tips


[*]Even if you don’t want to invest skill points into signs, use them whenever you can. A little fire damage is better than no fire damage.


[*]You'll do more damage while on a horse, but you need to keep an eye on its fear level.


[*]Oils and bombs are great, even if you aren’t upgrading your alchemy skills.


[*]Check opponents’ weaknesses in the bestiary. No matter what approach you choose, there will be at least one you can use.


[*]Try not to get surrounded or flanked.


[*]Keep moving all the time.


[*]Remember to dodge, but don’t be timid – the game rewards aggressive play with adrenaline, which increases damage.


[*]Watch the durability of your gear. Worn down armor provides little protection, and dull blades don’t cut very well.


[*]The crossbow can be used to ground flying enemies, but also to pick ground enemies from a distance. It has a much lower damage output than the swords, but it’s safer. You can also craft a variety of bolts for it – exploding, bleeding, tracking, knock-down.


[*]Use the environment whenever possible – the gasses in the swamp are highly flammable, for instance.


[*]holding down attack on horseback while looking at an enemy you're attacking will make the camera in slow motion, allowing you to hit your target easier (thanks koodeta)


[*]You can Axii your horse to reduce its fear level (thanks fromplsnerf)


[*]Best Skills To Invest at start


How To Make Money


[*]Doing secondary quests is a good way to get cash.


[*]Witcher contracts usually have a reward tied to them.


[*]Selling items you don’t use won’t make you a millionaire, but it adds up over time.


[*]Diving and sailing is a great way to discover Smuggler’s Caches, which contain treasures that can be sold, or money.


[*]Guarded treasures come with monsters attached. They’re worth the effort, though. The special items found inside can be sold for decent amounts of money.


[*]There are multiple currencies in The Witcher 3, but merchants only accept Crowns. You’ll have to trade the Orens and Florins you collect at Vivaldi’s Bank in Novigrad – it’s the building with the coin hanging above the door. -


Character Development Tips


[*]Visit as many places of power as you can – each of them will give you one ability point.


[*]Try not to invest only in one skill group – diversity is good, more abilities means more tools at your disposal. You can also test your build with Skill Calculator


[*]One the other hand, one group will have to be your main group – there are only so many skill points to invest.


[*]Always try to pair mutagens with active skills, grouping them by color.


[*]Switch mutagens and active skills depending on the situation.


[*]General skills have greater benefits, but do not scale with mutagens.


[*]If you have a small number of active slots, it’s better to upgrade a skill you’re already using than to unlock a new one.


[*]If you see a merchant selling a Potion of Clearance, buy it. It’s uses to reallocate misspent skill points.


Travel Advice


[*]You can fast-travel to any signpost you’ve already visited, but the scenic route holds surprises and treasures.


[*]Do not pinch pennies on horse equipment – you need a fast and reliable mount.


[*]Mermaids and other sea creatures can damage and sink your boat.


[*]If you make the horse gallop, it will follow the road automatically.


[*]You can mark quests in your journal, and the game will show you a quest marker and the quickest way to get there.