In the world ofThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the Witchers are created by magic. Whether they like it or not, this creation comes with multiple abilities, one of these being magic. There are manydifferent variations of magic, but the most recognizable to players are theWitcher Signs. Utilized byGeralt of RiviathroughoutThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, each Sign has its use in combat against monsters and men alike. Casters must perform a complex finger motion to create the desired effect. Considered a simple casting by the more powerful sorcerers, Signs are incredibly useful for the less adept Witchers. From the fiery Igni to the protective Quen, theseWitcher 3Signshave an important role in a Witcher’s daily life.
It’s hard to wonder which Sign inThe Witcher 3is the best one of the lot. Each and every spell that Geralt can cast has unique benefits of its own, and players need to really use each Sign and witness their benefits firsthand before deciding upon which one to upgrade. All fiveWitcher 3Signscan be used to great effect in combat, allowing players to slow enemies down, burn them to a crisp, knock them off their feet, make their attacks completely ineffective, or brainwash them into aiding the witcher instead of fighting him.
Updated on June 04, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Geralt has numerous moves in his arsenal he can whip out to beat down his foes in no time. Players are well aware of the swords he carries to take out monsters and humans, and the potions he uses give him an edge against his foes. However, one of the most effective tools in Geralt’s arsenal is his Signs, which he can use to channel the power of mages and take his opponents by surprise. These Signs aren’t all that powerful in the novels, and fans were glad to see that the effectiveness of theWitcher 3 Signswas enhanced considerably to make them more viable in combat.
5Quen
A Protection Spell
Possibly overlooked by many,Quen provides the best protection out of all theWitcher 3Signs. The Sign is recognizable by its yellow glow and geometric backward nine symbol. In its base version, a quick application of Quen covers Geralt in a protective layer of magic. Quen can stop a single hit or more as it is upgraded, making it downright necessary at high difficulties where a single hit from a tough foe can decimate Geralt’s health bar. In such instances, it’s better to play it safe and cast Quen to tank through blows while sustaining an offense that maximizes the White Wolf’s DPS.
The best version of the Sign however is the Active Shield upgrade. This allows Geralt to have a constant bubble shield around him. While the shield is active Geralt can move and attacks against him are blocked, returning vitality to him with each hit. As the bubble takes damage it drains stamina, but its protective nature allows for great survivability in any combat situation. It’s the perfect get-out-of-jail-free spell that players can rely on against bosses with unfair combos or hard-hitting attacks that can be challenging to dodge.
Exploding Shield
Level 1
The Quen shield repels opponents after it breaks. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Level 2
The Quen shield repels opponents and damages them after it breaks. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Level 3
The Quen shield repels opponents, damages them after it breaks, and can potentially knock them down. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Active Shield
Creates an active shield that absorbs blows and heals Geralt, using up Stamina in the process to both maintain the shield and block blows. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
The active shield now takes 50% less stamina to maintain. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Maintaining the active shield drains no stamina at all. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Quen Intensity
Quen Sign intensity increases by 5%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Quen Sign intensity increases by 10%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
Quen Sign intensity increases by 15%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Level 4
Quen Sign intensity increases by 20%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
Level 5
Quen Sign intensity increases by 25%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Quen Discharge
5% of the damage absorbed by Quen is reflected back to the attacker. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
10% of the damage absorbed by Quen is reflected back to the attacker. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
15% of the damage absorbed by Quen is reflected back to the attacker. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
20% of the damage absorbed by Quen is reflected back to the attacker. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
25% of the damage absorbed by Quen is reflected back to the attacker. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
4Aard
A Force Spell
Aard is a strong telekinetic blast that can stumble and knock down enemies. A light blue triangle bursting from Geralt’s hand can stop an enemy in their tracks. A quick blast can stop a sword swing before it hits, or it can create a small opening in the middle of battle. Upgrading Aard further can make it extremely useful against humans and smaller monsters. Crowd control is a must in this game, and thisWitcher 3Signdoes a great job of making things more manageable if the player is being overwhelmed by waves of enemies.
Aard is the Witcher Sign that is the best at knocking an enemy downand allowing for a quick finisher. It can get a little tricky though as Aard will extinguish any torches and hilariously throw any loose items across the room, but this is a small price to pay given the sheer entertainment factor of unleashing this attack in combat against a group of foes who get thrown to the floor in no time flat.
Far-Reaching Aard
Aard’s range is increased by 1 yard. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Aard’s range is increased by 2 yards. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Aard’s range is increased by 3 yards. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Aard Sweep
Aard strikes all opponents within a given radius, but knockdown chance is 21% lower. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Aard strikes all opponents within a given radius, but knockdown chance is 17% lower. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Aard strikes all opponents within a given radius without any penalties to knockdown chance. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Aard Intensity
Aard Sign intensity increases by 5%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Aard Sign intensity increases by 10%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
Aard Sign intensity increases by 15%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Aard Sign intensity increases by 20%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
Aard Sign intensity increases by 25%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Aard deals 40 damage. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Aard deals 80 damage. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
Aard deals 120 damage. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
3Yrden
A Hex Spell
Yrden is the best Sign for anyWitcher fighting a specter.Yrden features a purple glow and an hourglass symbol. Yrden is placed on the ground surrounding Geralt. Any enemy who steps inside is slowed. With future upgrades, Yrden can damage enemies and destroy projectiles as they enter. Players can use thisWitcher 3Signto slow down enemies and leave them vulnerable to Geralt’s attacks as long as he stays within this circle.
The important aspect of Yrden is its ability to make specters vulnerable. Attacking specters outside of Yrden yields little damage, but specters inside take more damage as they become material. While Yrden is a decent Sign, it’s a very situational move. Its main use is against specters, an enemy type that doesn’t come up all the time. When specters do arrive, a single casting of Yrden is enough to take care of most if not all of them.
Sustained Glyphs
Increases sign duration by 5 seconds and number of alternative Yrden cast charges by 7. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Increases sign duration by 10 seconds, number of alternative Yrden cast charges by 9, and allows the player to cast another Yrden trap of the standard variety. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Magic Trap
Slows and damages enemies while destroying projectiles within a 10-yard radius. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Slows and damages enemies while destroying projectiles within a 12-yard radius, with the Sign’s damage increasing by 25%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Slows and damages enemies while destroying projectiles within a 14-yard radius, with the Sign’s damage increasing by 50%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Yrden Intensity
Yrden Sign intensity increases by 5%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Yrden Sign intensity increases by 10%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
Yrden Sign intensity increases by 15%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Yrden Sign intensity increases by 20%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
Yrden Sign intensity increases by 25%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Supercharged Glyphs
Enemies affected by Yrden lose 10 points of health per second. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Enemies affected by Yrden lose 20 points of health per second. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
Enemies affected by Yrden lose 30 points of health per second. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Enemies affected by Yrden lose 40 points of health per second. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
Enemies affected by Yrden lose 50 points of health per second. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
2Igni
A Pyrokinetic Spell
Probably the most recognizable Sign of the five,Igni allows Witchers to send out a spout of flame and is the best Sign for dealing damage. Great for crowd control, however, this Sign is a bit underwhelming at lower levels. The flames are nice, able to set enemies aflame, but the overall damage isn’t much against larger targets. Applying some upgrades makes Igni a lot better and turns it into one of the bestWitcher 3Signsplayers can use. Burning enemies to a crisp and watching them flail helplessly goes a long way in making the game’s combat all the more satisfying.
The Melt Armor upgrade path allows Igni to permanently decrease an enemy’s armor. A highly armored enemy such as a troll or giant can be made less threatening with a few quick applications of Igni. Their damage may still be high, but the ability to quickly break their defense is great in battle. This also applies to human enemies, turning most of them into mincemeat the moment players land a single sword hit after a cast of Igni.
Firestream
The player can cast a continuous stream of fire that damages enemies at the expense of Stamina. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Stamina cost to sustain the fire stream is reduced by 25%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Stamina cost to sustain the fire stream is reduced by 50%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Melt Armor
Igni permanently reduces enemy armor, scaling with Sign intensity up to 15%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Armor melting scales with Sign intensity up to 30%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
Armor melting scales with Sign intensity up to 45%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Armor melting scales with Sign intensity up to 60%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
Armor melting scales with Sign intensity up to 75%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Igni Intensity
Igni Sign intensity increases by 5%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Igni Sign intensity increases by 10%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
Igni Sign intensity increases by 15%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Igni Sign intensity increases by 20%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
Igni Sign intensity increases by 25%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Pyromaniac
Enemies are 20% more likely to be set aflame by Igni. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Enemies are 40% more likely to be set aflame by Igni. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
Enemies are 60% more likely to be set aflame by Igni. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Enemies are 80% more likely to be set aflame by Igni. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
Enemies are 100% more likely to be set aflame by Igni. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
1Axii
A Hypnosis Spell
Mainly a conversational Sign, Axii excels outside of combat as well. This Sign is recognized by its light green color and upside-down triangle. During combat, Axii is used to confuse a target, opening them up for an attack. Alternatively, it can be used to calmGeralt’s horse. It’s particularly useful while fighting alghouls, as the spines across their back can be nullified by using Axii on them. The combat use of this spell may seem limited, but a few upgrades are all it takes for players to brainwash enemies and turn them into sitting ducks for a fatal blow.
The best use of the AxiiWitcher 3Sign is as a way to convince NPCs to help you in some way.Upgrading Axii will increase the likelihood of theSign working properly. It can be used to lower a price while shopping, convince soldiers to leave you alone, or get information out of an unwilling witness. Axii is not only useful for letting Geralt get what he wants but it also rewards a decent amount of experience points when the Sign works.
Delusion
Enemies stop moving when the player casts Axii on them, while also increasing the effectiveness of Axii during conversations. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Increases the effectiveness of Axii in conversations even more while reducing the time required to cast this Sign. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Increases the effectiveness of Axii in conversations to its highest level while reducing the time required to cast this Sign even more. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Puppet
Turn an enemy into an ally that deals 20% more damage. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Turn an enemy into an ally that deals 40% more damage. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Turn an enemy into an ally that deals 60% more damage. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Axii Intensity
Axii Sign intensity increases by 5%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Axii Sign intensity increases by 10%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved a bit more.
Axii Sign intensity increases by 15%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Axii Sign intensity increases by 20%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved considerably.
Axii Sign intensity increases by 25%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
Domination
Lets the player use Axii on two opponents, with the Sign’s strength being penalized by 50%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is also improved.
Reduces the penalty of using Axii on two opponents to 25%. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved even more.
Removes the penalty of using Axii on two opponents. Geralt’s stamina regeneration is improved significantly.
