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Official open-world artwork used for The Witcher 3 first-hours guide

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Wiki guide · Remastered

The Witcher 3 first 10 hours: a clean start

Finish the prologue, sweep White Orchard for Places of Power and Viper diagrams, then enter Velen on the main story route before widening into side contracts.

Reviewed by The Witcher 3 Wiki editorial team8 min readUpdated 2026-09-30Version Remastered

01 / Prerequisites

Prepare before leaving

  • ✓Start a new game or import a save you are willing to re-spec.
  • ✓Install the current Remastered build.
  • ✓Keep a manual save before leaving White Orchard.

02 / Route

Follow the path in order

  1. 01

    Finish the prologue

    Complete the Vizima introduction and reach White Orchard. Do not spend crafting materials on temporary weapons before the region opens.

  2. 02

    Sweep White Orchard

    Visit Places of Power, clear abandoned sites, answer the notice board and recover the Viper sword diagrams. This is the cheapest early power spike in the game.

  3. 03

    Rebuild for Remastered

    Remastered resets skill points in upgraded saves and uses prerequisite-based skills. Pick one early direction instead of scattering points across every tree.

  4. 04

    Prepare for the griffin

    Craft basic healing items, equip your crossbow and keep Quen available. Track the griffin with Witcher Senses, then punish it on the ground.

  5. 05

    Enter Velen on the main route

    Follow the main quest to Crow's Perch. Let the Baron route establish the region before wandering into contracts that heavily outrank you.

03 / Common mistakes

Avoid the expensive reset

Do not sell every crafting material before checking the Viper diagrams and early armor requirements.

Do not copy a pre-Remastered skill build verbatim. The skill tree and prerequisite paths changed.

Do not leave White Orchard before checking the village smith, merchant and all reachable Places of Power.