[ToxicMist]

Hello,i'm about to tackle Dark Mode and want some tips on the best build for the job..

[Glaroug]

As far as builds go, I have found Alchemy to be the most useful/enjoyable, but I'll be political and say its really a matter of taste. However, the if you want to go with swordsmanship or signs, there are still some skills in alchemy that will certainly improve your performance in Dark Mode.

At the start (the first 6 skills from the top), I pick the skills that boost Vigor (regen and an extra slot)rather than vitality. Useful for blocks and signs.

Don't feel like you need to pump all your points into Quen. With potions and nimble feet, normal Quen is just fine .

Likewise, eliminating 200% damage done to Geralt's back can also be left alone unless upgrading the swordsman ship tree.

With a ~small investment in Alchemy, (~4-5 skill points depending on what you want) picking up the Catalysis skill can be of great service, nearly eliminating a potions negative effects and greatly booting positive ones. This can really improve either swordsman ship (more damage, more armor, etc.) or magic (vigor regen, power, etc.), traits especially useful in dark mode when having an edge is always welcome. Virga (possible 101% resistances + ~30% armor), Gladwell (vitality regen), Lapwing (possible +~80% Vigor regen), Thunderbolt (nice damage booster), Tawny Owl, Marribor Forest (extra Vigor slot) and Wolf are some good potions to pick up.

Two skills that are always great to have regardless of build is an upgraded Aard (great for putting some space between you and eight drowners) and Riptose (excellent against all swords carrying creatures from Bruxa to Nilfgaardians ).

I hope this was helpful.

[Guy N'wah]

Alchemy builds become the most overpowering by late in the game. Playing a Swordsmanship build remains tactical and challenging throughout. But any sane build will play well in Dark mode.

One objective is to get the Adrenaline Rush skills at the top of your preferred skill tree early enough that you can get some use out of them. Crafting a yellow meteorite sword will help if you want to use them a lot.

Vitality boosts are not as valuable in Dark mode as they are in easier modes, because you can get one-hit by large monsters and bosses even if you have upgraded Vitality heavily. Taking two levels of Position to eliminate backstab damage is as valuable as a 100% Vitality upgrade.

Glaroug covered the skills you should consider taking for any build very well. I would add Position and Alchemist (increases bomb damage, by a lot), and I'm not willing to spend enough points to get Catalysis from the Alchemy tree while I'm climbing a different tree. You'll have plenty of surplus points to get this later, if you want it.

Here are my specific recommendations for skills to get early in each tree:

Magic tree: 2 levels of Igni.

Swordsmanship tree: 1 or 2 levels of Whirl.

Alchemy tree: 2 levels of both Catalysis and Impregnation.

There are many opportunities to apply mutagens in the Alchemy tree. Getting Impregnation before you apply those mutagens makes them much more valuable.

[RSIK4]

see these post ....http://en.thewitcher.com/forum/index.php?/topic/30014-thinking-of-jumping-into-dark-mode/

[dragonbird]

I think the key word from Guy's post is "Sane".

A pure Alchemy build, with no points in the other two trees, is challenging at a few points in the game on Dark Mode, in particular the set pieces in Chapter 2 where you don't get to use potions.

If you're looking for the most-challenging way of playing in DM, then go for it, but keep some saves with a couple of unassigned points so that you can put them into Swordsmanship if you get really stuck.

As Guy said, the "Sane" option involves spending some points in the other trees.

Personally, I think that the Swordsman build is the easiest on DM for most of the game. Alchemy only becomes easier late in the game.

[ToxicMist]

Thanks for all the tips

[BlavikensButcher]

ToxicMist said:

Thanks for all the tips ›››

You'll have the most luck pumping points into alchemy and then into swordsmanship.
Rush for 2/2 in Catalysis as soon as possible. Go down the left side of the alchemy tree. In Act 1, make a shitton of grapeshots and spam them. The best potion combinations in my opinion are Rook, Swallow, and Lapwing, or Rook, Swallow, and White Raffard's Decoction.

Your build only really has to be good through Act 1. Act 2 is incredibly easy compared to the first half of the game. The strongest build involves getting 2/2 impregnation, and then going through the top half of the Swordsman tree all the way to Combat Acumen. Then go down through the Alchemy tree and get Mutant. Stack a bunch of Power Mutagens.

1. Nothing
2. Vigor Regeneration
3. Vigor Regeneration
4. Parrying
5. Fortitude
6. Fortitude
7. Parrying
8. Alchemist
9. Side Effect
10. Harvester
11. Catalysis
12. Catalysis
13. Alchemist
14. Feetwork
15. Position
16. Position
17. Violence
18. Violence
19. Whirl
20. Hardy
21. Finesse
22. Invincible
23. Invincible
24. Hardy
25. Combat Acumen
26. Combat Acumen
27: Specialization: Oils
28: Impregnation
29: Impregnation
30: Taster
31: Taster
32: Metathesis
33: Metathesis
34: Condensation
35: Mutant

I use this build on Insane and in the Arena.

[Glaroug]

One last thing I wanted to mention: don't worry about the Dark Mode armor. It by no means necessary. If you like its "look", or the extra challenge of collecting all the materials required to purchase it appeals to you, grab it my friend. Just throw away any notion that you need this armor, or its swords, to be successful on this difficulty level. All you need is a sharp sword, some potions a thick mane of white hair.

[ToxicMist]

Glaroug said:

One last thing I wanted to mention: don't worry about the Dark Mode armor. It by no means necessary. If you like its "look", or the extra challenge of collecting all the materials required to purchase it appeals to you, grab it my friend. Just throw away any notion that you need this armor, or its swords, to be successful on this difficulty level. All you need is a sharp sword, some potions a thick mane of white hair.

›››

That's good news for me.I really thought the armor/swords were needed based on many comments around the web.

[BlavikensButcher]

Glaroug said:

One last thing I wanted to mention: don't worry about the Dark Mode armor. It by no means necessary. If you like its "look", or the extra challenge of collecting all the materials required to purchase it appeals to you, grab it my friend. Just throw away any notion that you need this armor, or its swords, to be successful on this difficulty level. All you need is a sharp sword, some potions a thick mane of white hair.

›››

That's um... an interesting picture.

[Guy N'wah]

Glaroug said:

One last thing I wanted to mention: don't worry about the Dark Mode armor. It by no means necessary. If you like its "look", or the extra challenge of collecting all the materials required to purchase it appeals to you, grab it my friend. Just throw away any notion that you need this armor, or its swords, to be successful on this difficulty level. All you need is a sharp sword, some potions a thick mane of white hair.

›››

"That sword is for monsters!"

You're right; the Dark Mode sets are cool but unnecessary and tedious to scavenge for. I think Oathbreaker is the best of the three, because you can get a good long run of use out of it before it becomes outmoded. But you don't need it.

[SOxWANNAxHUMP]

Ive Found that magic was the easiest for me. Incinerating enemies in one shot of igni was also very satisfying and Heliotrope is OP

[AnthonyF1227]

Alchemy with power mutagens and poison damage buffs. Add in swordsmanship for the extra damage buffs and you become unstoppable. The game becomes quite easy.

[spacehamsterZH]

I'd say it also depends on what playstyle works best for you personally. Swordsmanship with maxed out Quen and alchemist for bomb damage is pretty much the way to go for me, but I like to play the game like an action game. Your mileage may vary.

[SpectralHunt]

spacehamsterZH said:

I'd say it also depends on what playstyle works best for you personally. Swordsmanship with maxed out Quen and alchemist for bomb damage is pretty much the way to go for me, but I like to play the game like an action game. Your mileage may vary. ›››

That was pretty much my build exactly.