5 Best Steel Swords in The Witcher 3

It's no secret that The Continent isn't exactly the safe haven bards typically write home about. If anything, it's quite the opposite; it's a monster-infested hellhole, and one that can also rustle up quite a few issues for the common bard, bandit, or trader. Even witchers, wouldn't you believe, have a hard time staying afloat in a world that's predominantly ruled by vicious beasts and devilishly cruel entities. But that's The Witcher 3, in a nutshell, and we're all for it.

The good news is, Geralt of Rivia ain't no stranger to deadly battles and unforgivingly bitter close-quarters combat. Without a quality arsenal with well-forged steel swords to accompany him, though, it'd be another story altogether, and one that players would no doubt want to discard for the sake of saving the second-hand embarrassment. Question is, which steel swords are best suited for Geralt, and how do you, the player, go about obtaining them? Here's everything you need to know.

5. Daystar

For those who prefer to travel along the route that involves Igni-based attacks, then you'll no doubt benefit from having the Daystar in your inventory. Why? Well, because, when equipped, the Daystar can inflict upwards of +8% additional fire damage, and can also cause +8% chance of burning those who come within spitting distance. To add, it can also put out anywhere from 339 to 415 base damage, making it one of the most powerful steel swords in all of The Witcher 3.

To get your paws on the Daystar weapon, you will need to travel southeast of Velen, at which point you will come across a fiend patrolling a cordoned off cave named Abaya. Another way of getting the relic is by defeating various foes around The Continent, as the sword is, unfortunately, random loot with a relatively low drop rate. Your best bet, then, is to scout out Abaya and bring the old water hag to justice.

4. Tor Lara

If you're the type of witcher who'd much rather tank an opponent without worrying about onboarding any excess amounts of damage, then hey, Tor Lara will no doubt serve you well. Its biggest perk, of course, comes attached to its +140 vitality attribute, which also just happens to be accompanied by a staggering 414 base damage, making it an ideal bit of gear for hunting not only humans, but almost any other non-human enemies on the board.

Tor Lara can be obtained by traveling out to Faroe Island, in Skellige, and completing the various Witcher Diagram treasure hunts. Note that this steel sword, in particular, can be relatively tough to unearth, and therefore will require plenty of patience and a well stocked inventory. Pull it off, though, and it'll be well worth your time and effort.

3. Gwestog

As it stands, one of the best weapons in The Witcher 3 is a steel sword known only as Gwestog, a limb-cutting saw-like blade that can dismember enemies on impact and inflict copious amounts of damage. It's incredibly sturdy, somewhat stylish, and perfectly capable of delivering fatal blows to both humans and non-humans alike, which makes it a perfect secondary tool that any witcher, regardless of skill, should at least consider carrying around.

The only real downside to acquiring the Gwestog blade is its high asking price. For starters, you're going to need to be level 43 or higher to equip it. Then, you're also going to need to battle your way through Kaer Helen, a vampire-infested fortress that houses far more threats than the vast majority of secondary ruins around The Continent. So, if you are planning on obtaining the blade, then you had best prepare for a fight before embarking on the quest.

2. Hjalmer's Steel Sword

If you've been slumping through the side quests dotted around Skellige and have managed to pick up “King's Gambit,” then you'll be pleased to know that completing a specific objective during said quest will net you Hjalmer's Steel Sword, which is hands down one the best steel swords in the entire game. And the best part is, you don't need a diagram to acquire it, nor any rarities to craft it. Instead, all you will need to do is best a Vildkaarl in a fistfight during the Kaer Trolde festivities.

So, what is it that makes Hjalmer's Steel Sword pop? Well, for starters, it packs a punch that can deal upwards of 898 base damage, and can also up the ante with a +200% critical hit output. And what's more, it also grants its wielder additional XP for defeating both humans and monsters, which not only makes it one of the most combat-ready blades in The Witcher 3—but one of the most useful when it comes to obtaining XP to build Geralt's stocky skill trees.

1. Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword

Since the Blood & Wine expansion came knocking, no other steel sword in the world has come close to surpassing the sheer excellence of Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword. Like many legendary weapons in The Witcher 3, the power reflects on the attributes, in which the aforementioned blade carves up a solid +300 armor-piercing damage, as well as +100% critical damage, +30% Quen sign intensity, +15% chance to inflict burn damage, and a +20% chance to deal a critical attack, thereby making it one of the best all-in-one weapons in the entire game.

Unfortunately, going about getting your hands on the relic doesn't come without its fair share of fetch quests and resource scavenging. To get your mitts on Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword, you're going to need to unearth the following ingredients, with which you will mesh together to craft the relic at any available blacksmith store.

• Toussaint Knight's Steel Sword’s Blueprint
• 3x Leather Straps,
• 2x Dark Steel Ingots
• 1x Ruby
• 1x Amber
• 2x Monster Saliva

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there any steel swords you'd recommend for newcomers? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.