It’s a well known fact that everyone secretly dreams of being a Witcher – and if they say otherwise they are absolutely lying to you. Something about the open road ahead, two swords strapped to your back, and a monster to slay, has an appealing simplicity. So when we heard about The Witcher: Monster Slayer – an AR game that actually lets you be a Witcher – we were understandably excited.
That’s why we decided to create a The Witcher: Monster Slayer guide, rounding up all the exciting info we know about the game. Whether that’s how it plays, how combat works, the story, the characters, or simply what monsters you’re going to get to slice and dice during your travels. So sit back and discover all of the details we know so far on The Witcher: Monster Slayer.
If you find this guide helpful, be sure to check out some of our other relevant content, such as our list of the best mobile RPGs, or best mobile MMORPGs. Good luck on the path!
what is THE WITCHER: MONSTER SLAYER’s RELEASE DATE?
CD Projekt Red and Spokko have finally revealed that The Witcher: Monster Slayer will launch globally for Android and iOS on July 21. You can pre-register now on Google Play.
who are the npcs in MONSTER SLAYER?
In the gameplay reveal we got a look at a few different characters, including both a merchant and another Witcher from the School of the Wolf. The Witcher character is your master in the game, and actually looks a little like an older version of Lambert, but considering when the game is set, we know that’s impossible.
It looks like The Witcher: Monster Slayer has NPCs who give you quests, as well as travelling merchants you buy items from. Though, considering this is AR, it’s unlikely that NPC interaction will be a massive part of the game.
are there quests in monster slayer?
From what we’ve seen of The Witcher: Monster Slayer’s quests, there’s actually a lot to be excited about:
- Just as in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you’ll get a contract on a monster, and then will have to pick up its trail
- You do this by examining clues and bodies it’s left behind
- Once you track it down, you’ll have a good old fashioned fight to the death, using bombs, potions, signs, and your sword
what’s monster slayer’s story?
The Witcher: Monster Slayer is set a very long time before The Witcher games, during a period when Witchers are only just being created to deal with the threat of monsters after the conjunction of the spheres. It’s a period when humans are only just settling the wild lands of the north, and Witchers are the main line of defence against the monsters who prey on them.
This is how the game explains so many Witchers being active at the same time, considering they are more of a dying breed during the novels and the games.
how does combat work in monster slayer?
For those of you who’ve played Elder Scrolls: Blades, Monster Slayer’s swiping combat should be very familiar, but it also has a few twists of its own. Here’s how it works:
- A pointer descends down a bar on the right hand side of the screen, and timing your finger swipe causes an attack to be either ‘fast’ or ‘strong’
- As in Sekiro, an orange meter builds above the enemy – this is the critical meter
- Once the critical meter builds, you’ll have an opportunity to perform a powerful critical hit by attacking when the two sword symbols overlap each other
- Tapping and holding the screen also lets you block and parry enemy blows
how do bombs and signs work?
Another cool feature of Monster Slayer is that you can bring the full Witcher arsenal to bear against monsters, with bombs and signs. Here’s how they work:
- Bombs are a little like Pokéballs in Pokémon Go, and you grab them at the bottom of the screen and flick them to throw at your enemy
- You have a limited number of bombs
- If you want to perform a sign, tap the button at the bottom right of the screen, and you’ll be given a limited amount of time to draw that sign on the screen in order to cast
- Signs have a cool-down
- The key to combat in The Witcher: Monster Slayer is learning how to parry and quickly use signs, bombs, or swordplay between a monster’s strikes
what are potions and oils for?
Just as in the other Witcher games, Monster Slayer features oils, potions, and prep before you face your fearsome opponent. Before you go into a battle, you can view the monster’s vulnerabilities, and equip yourself to deal with them – whether with the right bombs, a potion, or a handy oil. We don’t know what precise potions will be in the game yet, but considering you have a health bar, it’s fair to say healing will be available to you.
can i design my character in monster slayer?
It looks like character creation is a part of The Witcher: Monster Slayer, and you’ll get to decide how your character looks, as well as giving them a name. It doesn’t seem to go beyond that, but it’s a nice touch to make the game a little more personal.
how does the skills system work?
Monster Slayer also has a skill system. Here’s how it works:
- As you complete contracts in the game, you earn skill points which you can apply wherever you choose
- There are three different skill trees: combat, alchemy, and signs
- These skills mainly increase the effectiveness of pre-existing abilities, such as a percentage increase in the damage of your quick attack, the effectiveness of oils, and signs
is there a monster slayer bestiary?
There are a whole lots of monsters in The Witcher: Monster Slayer. Here’s what we know:
- There are 78 monsters in the game
- Monsters are broken down into three categories: common, rare, and legendary.
- Considering The Witcher 3 has 80 monsters, it’s far to say we’ll see most of our favourites appearing in the game – no shortage of things to kill on the path
what’s the map in monster slayer?
The map in The Witcher: Monster Slayer seems pretty similar to most AR games. You walk around the overworld and tap on the monster that you want to fight, or the encounter you want to engage in.
There are also some handy map filters that highlight monster density, and whether those monsters are common, rare, or legendary. We don’t know exactly what Falcon does, but it’s fair to assume it increases the chances of rare monster encounter, kind of like Incense in Pokémon Go.
And that’s everything we know! If you want to stay up to date with The Witcher: Monster Slayer news, be sure to follow the game on Twitter, or check the official website. For more similar games, see our lists of the best mobile RPGs, and the best location based games on mobile!