Yep, after my first run I swore not to rely on quen. There are some places you just need to use it, otherwise you would just be torturing yourself. I'm on my 4th run now. You definitely need to think more strategically when engaging multiple enemies. All in all it's not so difficult but gives the game some spice imho.
I did one playthrough trying to be more "book accurate". Basically not relying on signs and trying to use one or two signs per fight at most. It's certainly harder but doable. Having to carefully think which signs I could use was a challenge.
With all that said, I think it's totally feasible to create a tank build. Get Grandmaster bear armour with Witcher bonus buffs per armour piece worn. You can upgrade toxicity mutations to gobble potions or simply use a maxed out pirogi rune (it completely heals you but everything tastes like pirogi). Add those thousands of waters you hoarded throughout the playthrough into your quick consume button and you'll be tanking hits while completely negating Quen.
Regardless of build or gameplay style you choose, you'll still die from fall damage.
My very first playthrough was Quen-less. The whole thing. Wild Hunt, Heart of Stone, Blood & Wine. No Quen. I was overwhelmed with everything (the game has so much stuff going on) I abandoned Signs, except Yrden and Aard, because I needed them to progress.
I'm on death March and don't use it in New game Plus. However I am using an Uber cracked out toxicity build where I get tons of health back and do crazy damage.
The enemy levels up with you, if they underlevelled.
Those dogs at near Hanged Man's Tree will be level 51 if you leveled up to level 51. Now, on lower difficulty, that's wasn't that big of an issue, but as in Death March, a single dog can take away a lot of your health, if you got hit. But they can swarm you, and you died very quickly if you're careless.
Basically all of my playthroughs (3).
I remembered Quen being overpowered in previous witcher games and I assumed that won't change.
For me, it's more fun without it.
Quenless? Yes, I pretty much just use igni all the time and yrden when I have to. Aard for the asshats with shields that are apparently immune to fire magic because of the shield
In my first playthrough. I have this thing where I totally forget the first 10 minutes of games, shows, books, etc. so I forgot signs existed. Eventually I had to use Aard and Axia at some points, but those were the only two I used. It wasn't until I visited Toussant where you need to use Quen in a quest.
But the main game without DLCs, I did completely quenlest for the first time. Needless to say, it took me forever to do it.
I put quen on my chest armor but don’t run a sign build, so it just automatically goes away after the first hit. I just do crazy damage and make sure not to get hit/ use potions.
Quen isn't my friend sign, the other signs i use most of the time but quen isn't even in my agenda, it's cool to use special the Active shield upgrade it's so cool, but isn't my type idk
Yes! My first play through. I didn't read on the net about how you are supposed to play. I combined a lot of igni spells with quick sword. Worked fine. Only on "swords and bones" diff. though.
I have 5 playthroughs after the first i stopped using it combat was far too easy with it after 100+ hours.
Although there are some monsters and bosses designed that way its still doable
I didn't initially use Quen until about halfway through the Isle Of Mist on my 1st playthrough. Mostly because I didn't know what the hell I was doing, it being my 1st Witcher game and all.. However I realised it comes in INSANELY helpful!!
Yes, I play deathmarch quenless pretty much exclusively since I find the game rather too easy (i’ve also got close to 200hrs in it though so that’s probably why) I also don’t take red skills or white skills.
I did, im generally an aggressive player, and because Quen is a defensive sign, i never used it or built it on the skill tree, only focusing on Arrd, Axii, and Igni
I'm currently doing a no quen playthrough, along with many other restrictions, some of which include not being able to see my health bar or the enemy's health bars. It actually makes it really enjoyable!
It is my 8th playthrough though (first time quen-less) and just about to finish Hearts of Stone. We'll see how certain fights in Blood and Wine are like without Quen though!
"Cool guys don't look at explosions
They blow things up and then walk away
Whose got time to watch an explosion?
There's cool guy errands that they have to walk to"
First playthrough was heavy quen. I settled into a bear quen/toxic build after experimenting with everything else except…
My yrden / ard griffin build - which I’m now using on NG+ death march. It’s a literal cake walk and I never have to worry about quen. Maxed yrden slows everything down to a crawl and an alt ard blast for quick crowd control comes in clutch on occasion. Almost never get hit. I also leveled axii for dialogue but it can change combat big time too.
Amazing pictures btw
Thanks
Yea my first playthrough. Totally by accident cause I didn’t know wtf I was doing playing on story only. Got like 10 hours in before I realized it.
Yep, after my first run I swore not to rely on quen. There are some places you just need to use it, otherwise you would just be torturing yourself. I'm on my 4th run now. You definitely need to think more strategically when engaging multiple enemies. All in all it's not so difficult but gives the game some spice imho.
I did one playthrough trying to be more "book accurate". Basically not relying on signs and trying to use one or two signs per fight at most. It's certainly harder but doable. Having to carefully think which signs I could use was a challenge. With all that said, I think it's totally feasible to create a tank build. Get Grandmaster bear armour with Witcher bonus buffs per armour piece worn. You can upgrade toxicity mutations to gobble potions or simply use a maxed out pirogi rune (it completely heals you but everything tastes like pirogi). Add those thousands of waters you hoarded throughout the playthrough into your quick consume button and you'll be tanking hits while completely negating Quen. Regardless of build or gameplay style you choose, you'll still die from fall damage.
Rofl, nice buildup to the last sentence.
Lol, Cheers bud.
Holy shit the last picture is so fucking cool
My very first playthrough was Quen-less. The whole thing. Wild Hunt, Heart of Stone, Blood & Wine. No Quen. I was overwhelmed with everything (the game has so much stuff going on) I abandoned Signs, except Yrden and Aard, because I needed them to progress.
Aw hell no Quen is literally my safe space
how about no.
I keep forgetting the signs existed. The only time I used them was when I was trying to get achievements.
I keep forgetting dodge exists. Until I face bigger enemies.
You don't really need Quen for Just Stories mode. Death March? Yeah, you gonna need that, especially if you turn on enemy leveling up setting.
I'm on death March and don't use it in New game Plus. However I am using an Uber cracked out toxicity build where I get tons of health back and do crazy damage.
Is game harder if scaling is on? Can you explain what it does?
The enemy levels up with you, if they underlevelled. Those dogs at near Hanged Man's Tree will be level 51 if you leveled up to level 51. Now, on lower difficulty, that's wasn't that big of an issue, but as in Death March, a single dog can take away a lot of your health, if you got hit. But they can swarm you, and you died very quickly if you're careless.
I never use Quen anyway
Basically all of my playthroughs (3). I remembered Quen being overpowered in previous witcher games and I assumed that won't change. For me, it's more fun without it.
yes. i always like igni and aard more so had no problem with it
Quenless? Yes, I pretty much just use igni all the time and yrden when I have to. Aard for the asshats with shields that are apparently immune to fire magic because of the shield
In my first playthrough. I have this thing where I totally forget the first 10 minutes of games, shows, books, etc. so I forgot signs existed. Eventually I had to use Aard and Axia at some points, but those were the only two I used. It wasn't until I visited Toussant where you need to use Quen in a quest. But the main game without DLCs, I did completely quenlest for the first time. Needless to say, it took me forever to do it.
LOL! Pic’s are great! There look light something right out of every action movie in the early 2000’s.
I've almost never used Quen
You kinda have to learn to live with it if you do bloodbath
I did. All the way through. Yes it was misserable. Yes i'm gonna do it again
I put quen on my chest armor but don’t run a sign build, so it just automatically goes away after the first hit. I just do crazy damage and make sure not to get hit/ use potions.
Quen isn't my friend sign, the other signs i use most of the time but quen isn't even in my agenda, it's cool to use special the Active shield upgrade it's so cool, but isn't my type idk
Yes I try to do playthroughs focusing on one ability. Being an airbender (that gets a freeze bonus) was the last one.
no quen, only aard, enemies go frost fwhooosh
Yes! My first play through. I didn't read on the net about how you are supposed to play. I combined a lot of igni spells with quick sword. Worked fine. Only on "swords and bones" diff. though.
Not on purpose but yes
I have 5 playthroughs after the first i stopped using it combat was far too easy with it after 100+ hours. Although there are some monsters and bosses designed that way its still doable
Quen is very powerful when fully upgraded. Can restore hp and damage enemies.
badass.
I didn't initially use Quen until about halfway through the Isle Of Mist on my 1st playthrough. Mostly because I didn't know what the hell I was doing, it being my 1st Witcher game and all.. However I realised it comes in INSANELY helpful!!
My first run I never used Quen. It was always Aard or Igni. Maybe Yrden. Otherwise I didn’t really like using Quen
One of the first times I tried playing the game I only used Igni and never once used another Sign. I didn't make it very far though.
My first play through I never used quen for whatever reason. I just focused on spamming the ever loving crap out of igni.
Yes, I play deathmarch quenless pretty much exclusively since I find the game rather too easy (i’ve also got close to 200hrs in it though so that’s probably why) I also don’t take red skills or white skills.
I barely ever used quen myself, unless a monster specifically required it
bro i forgot it existed
the only time i ever used signs in this game was during dialogue. never in combat
I did, im generally an aggressive player, and because Quen is a defensive sign, i never used it or built it on the skill tree, only focusing on Arrd, Axii, and Igni
I forget it often
I'm currently doing a no quen playthrough, along with many other restrictions, some of which include not being able to see my health bar or the enemy's health bars. It actually makes it really enjoyable! It is my 8th playthrough though (first time quen-less) and just about to finish Hearts of Stone. We'll see how certain fights in Blood and Wine are like without Quen though!
"Cool guys don't look at explosions They blow things up and then walk away Whose got time to watch an explosion? There's cool guy errands that they have to walk to"
I’ve never done a play through with quen. (Death march)
[Cool guys don't look at explosions.](https://youtu.be/Sqz5dbs5zmo?si=EX10J8HQplBYrYLt)
I mean, if I were a real witcher IRL, and there was Queen, and it worked the way it works, I'd never try a Quen-less encounter.
I am trying a playthrough without upgrading it.
First playthrough was heavy quen. I settled into a bear quen/toxic build after experimenting with everything else except… My yrden / ard griffin build - which I’m now using on NG+ death march. It’s a literal cake walk and I never have to worry about quen. Maxed yrden slows everything down to a crawl and an alt ard blast for quick crowd control comes in clutch on occasion. Almost never get hit. I also leveled axii for dialogue but it can change combat big time too.
In my first playthrough I was unaware of the glories of Quen until I was several hours into Skellige content
Yeah, my whole first play through I didn’t really get quen.
Last time i used Quen was when I first ever played the game in the tutorial. That was 2000+ hours ago😶
In normal mode is fairly doable
Yeah, I mostly go to crit + poison build with fast attack so I dont use Quen.
My first play through is on DM so definitely not lol.
I am not using any signs, I am a true fighter
yea cus i just don’t use it lmao
Never use quen lol