Overview
I recently completed a playthrough of Witcher 2 with the goal to optimize my build to create the most tanky Geralt possible. If one was so inclined, this build would be very effective in an Insanity mode playthrough as once it gets going it can typically take several strikes even from endgame bosses before falling. This makes insanity a little bit more forgiving, as I hear from other players that endgame bosses typically will kill in one hit on high difficulties. I have played on Dark Mode and have put a detailed build order as well as videos showcasing the build against the hardest boss fights in the game.
Introduction
This build order is all about maximizing armor. Armor reduces the damage of each enemy strike, so if an enemy hits you for 20 damage but you have 10 armor you take 10 damage. Armor gives you increasing returns for each point you are able to achieve. If we were to continue the example above where we are facing an enemy that hits for 20 damage and we have 100 hit points:
With 0 armor we would die in 5 strikes (20 damage – 0 armor = 20 damage, 100 hp / 20 damage = 5 strikes
With 5 armor we would die in 7 strikes (20 damage – 5 armor = 15 damage, 100 hp / 15 damage = 7 strikes
With 10 armor we would die in 10 strikes (20 damage – 10 armor = 10 damage, 100 hp/ 10 damage = 10 strikes
With 15 armor we would die in 20 strikes (20 damage = 15 armor = 5 damage, 100 hp/ 5 damage = 20 strikes
As you can see there are significant returns for getting your armor up as high as possible so that will be our first priority. Once that has been pushed as high as possible we can use our endgame levels to push our HP up to further increase survivability. This is best done by the use of a White Raffard’s Decoction. With Catalyst 2 this potion will give you a 100% increase to HPs with no penalty, which can effectively make Geralt a complete Juggernaut. I was able to take several hits from the final boss with an armor of 149 and 1688 hit points.
Early Game (Prologue to Chapter 1)
Level 2: Hardiness
Level 3: Hardiness 2
Level 4: Parrying
Level 5: Fortitude
Level 6: Fortitude 2
Level 7: Arrow Redirection
Level 8: Footwork
Level 9: Schemer
Level 10: Tough Guy
Level 11: Hardy
Level 12: Precision
Level 13: Invincible
Level 14: Combat Acumen
For your first 6 level ups you will have no choice but put points into Training. Hardiness gives HP which will help out with our goals of being tanky, then we go into Parrying to unlock both Arrow Redirection and Fortitude as they both have mutagen slots. Do not use your mutagen slots now as the bonus will increase later. Fortitude 2 gives an additional point of Vigor which will help keep Quen up.
Once you hit Level 8 you can start to go into one of the three main skill trees. This build uses Swordsmanship and Alchemy trees as both trees provide many ways to increase armor. Our first priority will be to beeline Combat Acumen to unlock the adrenaline mechanic to give Geralt a special finishing blow attack that can take out multiple enemies at once. We will use the path from footwork to Tough guy as Tough guy helps our main goal of increasing armor. On the way to pick up Invincible, I choose Precision as the 10% to bleeding applies to all weapons and is a flat bonus, while the increase to critical effects is a % increase of existing effects, since this build priorities armor it doesn’t have many critical effects even late game so Precision is the best as it gives the most immediate and consistent bonus.
Boss Fights in the Early Game
Middle Game (Chapter 2)
Level 15: Invincible 2
Level 16: Combat Acumen 2
Level 17: Tough Guy 2
Level 18: Synthesis
Level 19: Specialization: Potions
Level 20: Harvester
Level 21: Specialization: Oils
Level 22: Taster
Level 23: Metathesis
Level 24: Condensation
Level 25: Mutant
Once you’ve unlocked the Adrenaline mechanic take Invincible 2, Combat Acumen 2 and Tough Guy 2 as they all increase your armor rating while also boosting Hit points and attack damage. Once you’ve gotten all the armor bonuses from the swordsmanship tree it’s time to switch the Alchemy Tree and work your way down to Mutant. With both Mutant and Combat Acumen Geralt will trigger both the special finisher attack from swordsmanship as well as the bonus from mutant simultaneously whenever he spends his Adrenaline. On the way to Mutant we want to take the path with Synthesis for the hit points and Taster, so we can upgrade it later for further damage reduction when poisoned.
Endgame (Chapter 3 and Epilogue)
Level 26: Amplification
Level 27: Amplification 2
Level 28: Taster 2
Level 29: Catalysis
Level 30: Catalysis 2
Level 31: Impregnation
Level 32: Impregnation 2
Level 33: Synthesis 2
Level 34: Hardy 2
This is where everything starts to come together and Geralt hits a pretty big power spike. Once you get to the final chapter make sure to craft the best equipment possible. If playing Dark Mode you certainly want the Kingslayer armor but if that’s out of reach just make sure to get the highest base armor possible as the talents taken previously all provide a % bonus. Taking Amplification 1 and 2 and Taster 2 will increase both damage and armor when under the effects of potions. Catalysis 2 will increase the effects of all potions while decreasing their adverse effects, making potions like Virga, Tiara and White Raffard’s Decoction very effective for this build. Impregnation will increase the effects of all mutagens so once you reach level 32 you can place all your mutagens in the skills you unlocked, prioritizing armor first and then hit points. Finally, any late game points can be used to increase Hit points so Synthesis 2 and Hardy 2 make good candidates for late game level ups as the upgrade White Raffard’s Decoction potions will effectively double these increases to Hit points.