Quick Answer

To upgrade weapons in The Witcher 3 Remastered, you'll need to find diagrams, gather crafting materials, and visit an armorer or blacksmith. The process is the same on Nintendo Switch 2, and it applies to both steel and silver swords as well as armor.

Why Upgrading Matters

Upgrading your gear in The Witcher 3 Remastered is essential for surviving tougher enemies and regions. Better weapons deal more damage, and enhanced armor reduces incoming damage, making combat more forgiving.

There are two main ways to improve your equipment: crafting new items from diagrams and enhancing existing items with runes and upgrades. Both require specific materials and access to the right craftsmen.

Crafting vs. Upgrading

Crafting lets you create new weapons and armor from diagrams you find or buy. Upgrading, on the other hand, improves an existing item's stats, such as adding rune slots or increasing armor rating.

You'll need to visit different NPCs: blacksmiths handle weapons, while armorers handle armor. Each has their own inventory and services, so find the right one for the item you want to upgrade.

Step-by-Step Upgrade Process

  1. Find Diagrams: Search the world or buy diagrams from merchants. Diagrams are required to craft new weapons or armor. Check your inventory's 'Crafting' tab to see what you can make. Common mistake: overlooking diagrams in treasure chests. Always loot every chest and explore question marks on the map.
  2. Gather Materials: Collect materials like leather, ingots, and monster parts. You can find them by dismantling junk items at a craftsman, or by looting and harvesting. Each diagram lists the required materials. Checkpoint: Before visiting a craftsman, ensure you have all required materials to avoid multiple trips.
  3. Visit the Right Craftsman: Go to a blacksmith for swords and an armorer for armor. Interact with them and select the 'Craft' or 'Upgrade' option. Choose the item you want to create or enhance. Common mistake: confusing blacksmiths and armorers. Each specializes in one type, so match your needs.
  4. Add Runes and Upgrades: Once you have an item with empty rune slots, you can insert runes and glyphs to add effects like bonus damage or elemental resistance. These are found or crafted separately. Checkpoint: Runes are one-time use, so plan your build before inserting them.
  5. Enhance Armor: For armor, you can apply upgrades that increase its armor rating or add special properties. Visit an armorer and select 'Enhance' to improve your gear. Common mistake: ignoring the 'Enhance' option and only crafting new items. Upgrading can be cheaper than crafting new gear.

Game Spotlight

  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered is available for Nintendo Switch 2 at the Nintendo Store. If you're playing on Switch 2, you can enjoy the full upgrade system on the go, with all the crafting and enhancement mechanics intact.

    The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered

    The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered