Finding the best equipment in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt often turns into a full-fledged adventure that requires as much attention as the main plot. Among all the available schools of magic, it is Griffin School stands out for its unique balance between spell power and defense, making it an ideal choice for players who prefer a hybrid fighting style. Geralt, dressed in this armor, becomes a real threat to monsters, combining powerful sword strikes and destructive omens.
Unlike other schools, whose drawings are scattered chaotically across the continent, the search for Griffin equipment has its own clear logic and structure, tied to a quest line. You will embark on a dangerous journey through the ruins of Kaer Morhen and the outskirts of Velen to collect all the components to create a legendary set. Understanding where exactly to look drawings of the Griffin school, will save you dozens of hours of wandering around the map and will allow you to quickly start destroying monsters in an updated appearance.
This article will become your navigator in the world of witcher crafting, providing accurate coordinates and proven strategies for completing it. We'll break down the locations for basic, advanced, and master level equipment so you don't miss anything. Prepare your witcher senses, serious work lies ahead to find rare circuits.
Features of the Griffin School equipment
Choosing the right set of armor and weapons determines Geralt's effectiveness in battle, and the Griffin School holds a special place among its competitors here. The main feature of this school is the bonuses to signs, which makes it the only option for those who build a build around magic. Bonuses significantly increase the power of signs, the speed of their casting and stamina regeneration after casting spells.
Visually, Griffin's armor is recognizable by its characteristic combination of leather elements and metal plates, painted in white and red tones. This is not just a beautiful picture, but also a reflection of the philosophy of the school: the mobility of a warrior magician, ready at any moment to move from reading scrolls to the active phase of battle. The lightness of the armor allows you to maintain high movement speed, which is critical for dodging boss attacks.
⚠️ Attention: Wearing a full set of three or more items provides additional passive bonuses that add up. Do not ignore collecting all the parts, even if visually you like them from different schools, since the loss of a bonus greatly reduces the effectiveness of the build.
To create items, you will need not only blueprints, but also specific materials, which often drop from certain monsters or are bought from high-level blacksmiths. Particularly difficult to obtain enchanted skin and rare ores required for the highest levels of improvement. It is recommended to prepare reserves of money and resources in advance so as not to interrupt the crafting process halfway.
Start of the search: quest “Gryphon School Equipment: Part 1”
Your journey to owning a powerful arsenal begins with completing a special quest that can be found in Velen. The starting point is a location called Dragon Castle, located northeast of Oxenfurt. It is here, among the ruined walls and overgrown courtyards, that the first clue to the location of the rest of the equipment is hidden.
Arriving at the place, you will find that the entrance to the building we are interested in is locked, and dangerous opponents are roaming around. You have to break through the security and find a note that will start a chain of events. Inside the building, on one of the upper floors, lies the body of a fallen witcher, with whom the desired map with notes is located.
After examining the map, new markers will appear in your journal indicating where the base level blueprints are stored. These are swords, armor, pants and gloves, which will become the foundation for future improvements. It is important not to miss any of the marked points, as returning again may take a long time.
☑️ Preparing to search for drawings
It is worth noting that some locations may be protected by magical barriers or require the use of certain Geralt skills. For example, to access some chests you will need Aardto clear the rubble, or Igni to burn obstacles. Make sure your signs are at least basic leveled before starting your expedition.
Basic Level Drawing Locations
After receiving the map from the Dragon Castle, four main points on the map will open in front of you, where schemes for creating a starter kit are hidden. The first location is in a cave west of the village Sawmill. The entrance to the cave is hidden behind dense thickets, but inside you will find a chest with a drawing of a silver sword.
The second important element - armor - is located in the ruins south of White Garden, not far from where you started the game. You can get there on horseback, but be careful: the area is infested with wolves and bandits. The chest is hidden in the dungeon, access to which opens after eliminating all threats on the surface.
To find the remaining parts - pants and gloves - you will have to go to more remote corners of Velen. One of the locations is on an island in the middle of a large lake, which can only be reached by boat or horseback riding along the bottom in shallow water. The second point is hidden in an abandoned chapel full of ghosts, which requires extreme caution and the use of oil against ghostly flesh.
| Item | Location | Danger | Required sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver sword | Cave at the Sawmill | Wolves, Bears | No |
| Armor | Ruins south of the White Garden | Bandits | Aard (for rubble) |
| Pants | Island on the lake | Drowners | No |
| Gloves | Abandoned Chapel | Ghosts | Igni/Moonlight |
Once you have collected all four blueprints, you can turn to any worthy blacksmith to create items. However, remember that basic level crafting does not require unique materials, making this stage the easiest in the entire process.
Search for drawings of the Improved version (Level 2)
Once the basic kit is assembled and manufactured, you will be faced with the task of finding blueprints for an improved version. These schemes allow you not only to increase the protection and damage characteristics, but also to add additional slots for runes. Finding these blueprints often involves completing side quests or exploring deep dungeons.
One of the key blueprints for the improved sword is in Kaer Morhen, in the same room where you originally found the map for the first quest. However, to reach it you will need to perform a series of jumps across platforms and use Aard to activate mechanisms. This test requires precision and a good sense of space.
Other parts of the improved are scattered throughout Skellige and the southern regions of Velen. For example, a blueprint for improved armor can be found in a sunken ship off the coast of Ard Skellig. To get it, you will have to dive to great depths, which quickly uses up your air supply, so the “Swallow” potion or the “Underwater Breathing” skill will be extremely useful.
Don't forget that in order to wear improved equipment, Geralt must reach a certain character level. If you find a blueprint but can't craft the item, check the requirements in the crafting menu. Often, to achieve the desired level, it is enough to complete several secondary tasks or play Gwent.
Master Equipment and Grandmaster
The pinnacle of the evolution of equipment from the Griffin School are the “Master” and “Grand Master” level drawings. Finding these patterns requires visiting specific locations added in expansions or hidden in the most dangerous corners of the base game. To work with these blueprints you will need the services of a master blacksmith such as Haato in Novigrad or Yoen in Skellige.
Master level blueprints are often found in locations associated with ancient elven ruins. You have to explore underground complexes full of traps and strong enemies. Particular attention should be paid to entries in the diary, which may contain clues about the location of caches.
To obtain the “Grand Master” version, you must complete the quest line related to the search for the missing master gunsmith. This quest will take you to completely new locations where the play style will require maximum concentration. The reward will be the ability to create armor with unique bonuses that change the mechanics of using signs.
⚠️ Attention: Grand Master level drawings cannot be found simply by exploring the map. They are issued only after completing a special quest, which becomes available after reaching level 30.
The process of upgrading to the maximum level requires a huge amount of resources, including rare stones and fabrics. It is recommended not to sell any suspicious materials encountered along the way, as they may be needed for the final upgrade.
Tips for crafting and using
Having all the drawings in hand is only half the battle. The second half lies in the proper allocation of resources and understanding how best to use the potential. Crafting a full set can drain your wallet, so plan ahead.
When crafting items, try to craft weapons first, as they provide the biggest damage boost early on. Armor can be improved gradually as Geralt's level increases and new threats appear. You shouldn't rush for a full level 3 set if you haven't reached character level 25 yet.
Using oils and potions in combination with the bonuses of the Griffin School works wonders. For example, Anti-Magical Creature Oil combined with an enhanced Igni sign allows you to instantly burn enemies vulnerable to fire. Experiment with combinations to find your perfect fighting style.
In conclusion, finding all the blueprints for the Griffin School is a fun quest within the main story that will provide you with dozens of hours of additional gameplay. Carefully explore each location, use your witcher senses and don’t be afraid to look into the darkest corners of the game world.
Where exactly is the entrance to the cave with the sword drawing?
The entrance to the cave is located west of the Sawmill marker on the Velen map. Look for a narrow passage between the rocks, overgrown with bushes. It often doesn't show up on the minimap until you get close.
Is it possible to skip the quest to find the drawings?
Yes, the quest is not required to complete the main storyline. However, without completing quests to find cards, you will not be able to create Griffin School equipment, since the drawings are not sold from merchants.
Do I need to wear basic armor to create upgraded armor?
No, it is not required to have the basic version on hand or on Geralt. It is enough just to have the appropriate drawing and the necessary materials from the blacksmith. You can immediately proceed to crafting an improved version if your character level allows.
What kind of blacksmith is needed to create Griffin School items?
For basic and upgraded versions, any good blacksmith (level 2) will do. The "Master" and "Grand Master" versions will require the services of a top-level master weaponsmith, such as Haato in Novigrad.