Been following your builds and videos with a lot of interest, really good stuff, cheers. Now that you have tested both builds -- the fast and strong attack versions -- which do you prefer for day-to-day play? My personal opinion is the fast attack build, just because I find it easier to deal with lots of mobs, and it seems the strong attack version (which
I admit does a LOT more critical hit damage) is more suited to super strong, lone enemies, which I feel the fast attack build can still handle, given a little more time. I've never had an issue dealing with a single, strong enemy, but more so groups of strong enemies. On an NG+ level cap, I'd say just take both of course, strong and fast attack skills.
I've played with both of these builds for multiple hours and I think I like the fast attack one a bit more as well. I was always a proud felinefag. I never used Ursine and/or played with Rend before the expansion, but I wouldn't say that
strong attack builds are weaker (just a bit slower) in groups of enemies, as long as you use your WHOLE repertoire.
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The build that I'm currently trying is more sign oriented version of the last one (Igni + Rend). Igni damage and stamina regeneration are much higher and you can use one or two additional signs. You can even drop the Igni Intensity since
25% doesn't increase your damage output a lot and go for any different combination. Three Aard, Yrden, Quen or Axii abilities combined with just regular Igni. But so far I liked Igni Intensity together with two Yrden abilities, still testing it.
You sacrifice Synergy and use 3 sign abilities with one blue mutagen and 7 offense abilities with three red mutagens.
Strong attack abilities could be swapped for fast attack ones, depends on your prefered play style. Both work just fine.
Ofieri Saber with Replenishment upgrade
Sarrim with Replenishment upgrade
Mastercrafted Griffin Armor, Gauntlets and Boots with +50% Igni
Mastercrafted Wolven Trousers with +20% Igni
Petri's Philter, Thunderbolt, Water Hag & Tawny Owl = around 3000 DPS,
50 stamina regen and +180% Sign Intensity
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What I prefer in my day-to-day play and what I also used in my second playthrough of the expansion was a pretty funny and somewhat successful experiment. It's a combination of fast attacks, Aard and Igni - the build was focusing on both 100% Stagger and 100% Burning. You can do SO much shit with it. I fell in love with the diversity and just kept using it.
Ofieri Saber with Replenishment upgrade
Sarrim with Replenishment upgrade
Mastercrafted Feline with Levity upgrade
Assassin's Gauntlets with +10% Igni (in storms Nilfgaardian Guardsman's Gauntlets with+20% Igni)
Relic New Moon Trousers with +20% Igni
Relic New Moon Boots with +10% Aard
> AoE knockdown against groups of humans and monsters
> Firestream because Geralt doesn't like undercooked meat
> 25% Sign Intensity on Aard or Igni and
adjust the glyphs
Instead of Crushing Blows you can be using something else, such as Deadly Precision. I like to add some strong attacks here and there when fighting bigger enemies (with the Igni buff on your sword your strong attacks hurt like a motherfucker even with a fast attack build) and the critical bonuses are too nice to pass on. Getting adrenaline points is easy thanks to Razor Focus and Maribor Forest. Tip top kek fun = knocking a guy down with Aard while you have an adrenaline point, so that your sword gets the Aard buff, then attacking another guy which knocks him down, then you just finish them both off. The Witcher 3 combat can SOMETIMES surprisingly be more diverse than its romance. You could also use Yrden or Axii.
From decoctions, I was using Water Hag and/or Katakan almost all the time. You can also use Ekhidna or Ekimmara.
Potions as usual, Thunderbolt, Tawny Owl, Maribor Forest and White Raffard's - 240 Toxicity gives you many options.
You can do various combinations and your damage is decent in every situation. Regular Igni AoE damage in combination with Grapeshot can kill a group of annoying little dogshits within 5 seconds. Whirl empowered with Igni is always pleasant. Or you could just knock everything down. Another shiny moment of
autism was baiting like 10 monsters into chasing me, freezing them with Northern Wind, then burning everything with Igni and finishing off with a glorious meatspin... Fireworks!
If you want different swords, you could use Petri's Philter. I created a small PDF with more explanation (zoom in).
Should you still find yourself in trouble, don't forget that you could use Superior Blizzard and all the oils and other bombs. When you get tired of Replenishment or don't want to use it, there's always Invigoration. You could also be the bored one and use Severance and/or Preservation... Bleeding, poisoning and burning effects are nice (or combine all three of them).