The Aard Sign 💨

Aard is a telekinetic blast of energy that pushes the enemy back and throws them off balance. Sometimes, it throws the enemy prone, allowing you to execute them in one strike. It can also break wooden furniture, destroy cracked walls and extinguish fires.

I found Aard to be my most used and valuable skill in the game. It brings down flying enemies like harpies and is effective in downing enemies on horseback. It shines when you’re surrounded by large groups of bandits or creatures where you can use Aard to create openings. There’s also the aspect of using the shove to throw people off cliffs; you don’t get the loot, but it’s amusing. As you upgrade this Sign, its effectiveness increases from simple shoves to incapacitation for small durations.

° Far-Reaching Aard: One of the most effective upgrades for Aard it increases the range of Aard by one yard. It has three level-ups.

° Aard Sweep: It is the Alternate mode of Aard, allowing Aard to affect enemies in a radius but reducing the knockdown chances. It has three levels; at level 1, the knockdown chances are 21% lowered. At level 2, the chances of knocking the enemy down are 17% dropped. At level 3, the knockdown chance is no longer reduced.

° Aard Intensity: A fundamental yet significant upgrade that increases the intensity of Aard by five percent.

° Aard Shockwave: It adds damage 40 points of damage to Aard and an additional 40 for each level possessed.
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The Igni Sign 🔥

The Igni Sign allows Geralt to throw a pyro kinetic burst toward his enemies. The simplicity of the offensive Sign will enable it to be one of the most used ones. It can not only damage your foes but also has a chance to initiate a fire on them, causing them to burn. Apart from being used offensively, you can also use the embers of Igni to start torches and light up candles and campfires. One of the most valuable ways to utilize Igni is during small animal hunts; quickly go up to them and use Igni to succeed.

In many caves, dungeons, and swamps, the gasses seeping out from the services or the ground are pretty potent and harmful to Geralt. Extended exposure to these gasses can result in death. Igni can be used to throw embers into the gases to cause an explosion through their reaction.

° Melt Armor: In the first tier, the damage done by this Sign also affects the enemy’s armor. It has a total of five levels and works along with Sign Intensity. The damage to the enemy and armor scales up to 15%, with an additional 15% per level up.

° Fire Stream: It is the Alternate Mode of Igni and shoots a constant stream of embers onto his enemy. The stamina cost is reduced by 25% at level two, and at level 3, it is reduced by 50%.

° Igni Intensity: Increases the Igni sign intensity by 5% per level. It has a total of five levels.

° Pyromaniac: It Increases the chances of applying burn to enemies by 20% per level. It has a total of five levels.
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The Yrden Sign ✡️

A simple magical sign used by Witchers to set up traps on the ground. Once an enemy steps into the affected area, they are damaged, slowed, and afflicted with status ailments. Its abilities, when upgraded, work well with specific builds. It is instrumental against large enemies like cyclops. The most critical and compelling use case of the Yrden Sign would be against Noonwraiths and Nightwraiths.

If upgraded correctly with its alternate mode, the Yrden sign can become a powerhouse but requires significant grinding and a setup. You would require The Entanglement Glyphword from the Rune wright, and you need to obtain the Grandmaster Griffin Armor obtained later in the game. This armor increases the effectiveness of the Yrden Sign, and dawning it allows for a perfect trap setter build. You can slow down large groups, damage them through the circle, and even the Wraiths are auto targeted by the charges of Yrden.

° Sustained Glyphs: It increases the sign duration by five seconds per level. It has a total of 2 levels. At level 1, the Yrden has two alternate mode charges and one standard trap charge. At level 2, the alternate mode charges change to 4, and standard trap charges become 2.

° Magical Trap: The alternate mode of Yrden has three levels. It damages and slows down enemies within a ten-yard radius, adding two yards for each class. The damage is increased by 25% at level two, and at level three, it is increased by 50%.

° Yrden Intensity: It increases the effectiveness of the Sign by 5% per level. It has a total of five levels.

° Supercharged Glyphs: It has a total of 5 levels. The enemies inside the radius of effect for Yrden lose ten health points per second.
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The Quen Sign 🟡

The go-to line of defense for all Witchers is the Quen sign. It covers the Witcher in an elemental shield proving to be the barrier between life and death. The Sign usually only works for one hit, then wears off, but it works really well if you have stamina and cast it in quick succession. The intensity and life of this armor can be increased by leveling it up.

It can usually sustain powerful attacks from even the highest level of enemies. This includes the “??” levels. Quen can take at least one hit from these foes without affecting Geralt’s own strength. The Quen sign doesn’t force Geralt to stagger even if he takes a hit; instead, the shield breaks, and the combo continues.

° Exploding Shield: It has three levels; at level 1, it pushes the opponent back when it breaks. At level 2, it pushes the opponent back and causes damage. At level 3, it pushes the opponent back, causes damage, and creates a chance for a knockdown.

° Active Shield: It is the Alternate Sign mode of Quen. It has three levels and creates an active shield that drains stamina for its maintenance. The damage taken restores vitality. At level 2, stamina usage is reduced by 50%. At level 3, the shield no longer drains stamina.

° Quen Intensity: It increases the sign intensity of Quen by 5% per level. It has a total of five levels

° Quen Discharge: Reflects 5% of the damage taken back to the inflictor and adds 5% damage for each level. It has a total of 5 levels.
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The Axii Sign ♻️

It is the magical Sign which influences humans and creatures alike. It muddles the mind and can be used in combat to either incapacitate the enemy for a while or to turn certain enemies against each other. It can be amusing to use, but the Sign shines during dialogue and confrontations. By using the Axii sign in conversation, you can attain more dialogue options, get your way and even change the course of certain events.

° Delusion: Target stops while Geralt casts Axii. This move impacts dialogues according to the affected’s level and mental fortitude. It has a total of 3 levels.

° Puppet: It is the alternate mode of Axii. You can use it to turn enemies against one another. The damage done is increased by 20% per level and has a total of 5 levels.

° Axii Intensity: It increases the intensity of Axii by 5% per level and has a total of 5 levels.

° Domination: It allows two opponents to be impacted by Axii, but the effect is lowered by 50%. At level 2, the result is reduced