Witcher 3 Bear School Gear Locations Complete Guide
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt provides players with numerous avenues for character customization, but none are quite as impactful as tracking down Witcher school gear. Among these legendary archetypes, the Ursine or Bear School gear stands out as the premier option for players seeking a defensive, heavy-armor playstyle. Finding the various diagrams scattered across the harsh landscapes of Skellige requires dedication, patience, and a willingness to explore dangerous ruins.
Tracking Down the Basic Diagrams in Skellige
To begin your treasure hunt, you will need to head toward the windswept islands of the Skellige archipelago, where the remnants of the Bear School reside. The initial set of basic diagrams is hidden within the ruined fortification of Clan Tuirseach castle, situated on the northern end of An Skellig. Players must navigate crumbling walkways and defeat a swarm of wraiths trapped inside the dungeon cells to secure the diagrams.
Once the castle wraiths are defeated, exploring the inner chambers reveals a lever that opens the cell doors, granting access to a hidden chest. This container holds the blueprints for the standard armor pieces, which provide substantial protection against physical attacks. To round out the basic set, players will also need to locate the steel and silver sword diagrams, which are guarded by sirens and drowner variations in separate coastal caves nearby.
Upgrading to Enhanced and Superior Tiers
As Geralt of Rivia faces increasingly difficult adversaries, upgrading your equipment becomes a critical factor for survival on higher difficulty levels. The enhanced diagrams demand that you visit multiple remote islands throughout the archipelago, checking abandoned guard posts and monster nests. For instance, the enhanced boots diagram requires searching a cavern filled with trolls on the main island of Ard Skellig.
Stepping up to the superior tier requires returning to the mainland regions of Velen and Novigrad, searching hidden ruins that house much stronger foes. The superior steel sword blueprint is tucked away inside a cave overrun by necrophages just south of the Orphans of Crookback Bog. Securing these armor pieces ensures your defense scales appropriately against the massive giants and monsters encountered late in the campaign.
Reaching Mastercrafted and Grandmaster Status
The pinnacle of the Bear School philosophy is achieved when players unlock the mastercrafted and grandmaster versions of the Ursine armor set. The mastercrafted diagrams are hidden deep within the treacherous corners of Velen, specifically inside a secluded cavern near the ruined tower of Cyclops. Players must enlist the help of a master armor smith to craft these final base-game items, turning Geralt into an immovable force on the battlefield.
For players who possess the Blood and Wine expansion pack, the ultimate journey concludes in the sun-drenched region of Toussaint, where grandmaster blueprints can be discovered. The grandmaster set introduces unique bonus perks when multiple pieces are equipped simultaneously, enhancing the effectiveness of your protective Quen signs. Tracking down these final diagrams rewards dedicated completionists with unmatched defense and a striking visual aesthetic that embodies the resilient spirit of the Bear School.