Every creature Geralt can hunt in The Witcher 3, plus its Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions, is sorted into a combat class, and each class shares an oil. Coat the right sword with the matching oil, keep the correct sign ready, and pack the bombs or potions listed below before you engage. This is the complete rundown, class by class, of what damages every monster fastest.
Quick answer: Silver swords hit most monsters while beasts take steel; apply the class oil (Necrophage, Cursed, Draconid, Elementa, Hybrid, Insectoid, Ogroid, Relict, Specter, Vampire, or Beast) and use the sign, bomb, or potion listed in each table below.
How monster classes and oils work
The game files place every creature into a class, and each class has one oil built for it. Beasts are the exception that dies to steel swords and Beast Oil, while nearly every other class needs a silver sword paired with the matching oil. Signs, bombs, and potions listed for a monster stack extra damage or control on top of that base setup.
Bestiary entries fill in as you encounter creatures or read certain books, and each entry records vulnerabilities and immunities. Tip: Read a new entry the moment you meet a monster type so you can swap to the correct oil before the next fight.
Beasts
Beasts are the grounded animals of the Continent, and they are the one class that takes steel swords instead of silver. Beast Oil raises your damage against all of them.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Bears | Steel Swords, Beast Oil, Quen |
| Big Bad Wolf | Steel Swords, Beast Oil |
| Dogs | Steel Swords, Beast Oil |
| Panthers | Steel Swords, Beast Oil |
| The Beast of Beauclair | Silver Swords |
| Three Little Pigs | Silver Swords, Beast Oil, Igni, Yrden |
| Wild Boars | Steel Swords, Beast Oil, Igni, Yrden |
| Wolves | Steel Swords, Beast Oil |
Cursed Ones
Cursed Ones cover werewolves and other transformed foes. Cursed Oil is the class oil, and regeneration-heavy enemies like werewolves are best handled with Moon Dust to suppress their healing.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Archespores | Silver Swords, Cursed Oil, Aard, Igni |
| Berserkers | Silver Swords, Cursed Oil, Devil’s Puffball, Quen, Igni |
| Botchlings | Silver Swords, Cursed Oil, Axii |
| The Toad Prince | Silver Swords, Cursed Oil, Northern Wind, Golden Oriole, Yrden |
| Ulfhedinn | Silver Swords, Cursed Oil, Moon Dust, Devil’s Puffball, Igni |
| Werewolves | Silver Swords, Cursed Oil, Moon Dust, Devil’s Puffball, Igni |
Draconids
Draconids are the scaled and winged threats. Draconid Oil, Aard to knock flyers down, and Grapeshot Bombs form the core kit, with Golden Oriole covering poison spitters.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Basilisks | Silver Swords, Draconid Oil, Aard, Grapeshot, Golden Oriole |
| Cockatrices | Silver Swords, Draconid Oil, Aard, Grapeshot |
| Forktails | Silver Swords, Draconid Oil, Aard, Grapeshot, Golden Oriole |
| Royal Wyvern | Silver Swords, Draconid Oil, Aard, Grapeshot, Golden Oriole |
| Shrieker | Silver Swords, Draconid Oil, Aard, Grapeshot |
| Silver Basilisk | Silver Swords, Draconid Oil, Aard, Igni, Golden Oriole |
| Slyzard Matriarchs | Silver Swords, Draconid Oil, Aard, Grapeshot, Quen |
| Slyzards | Silver Swords, Draconid Oil, Aard, Grapeshot, Quen |
| The Dragon of Fyresdal | Silver Swords, Draconid Oil, Aard, Grapeshot, Golden Oriole |
| Wyverns | Silver Swords, Draconid Oil, Aard, Grapeshot, Golden Oriole |
Elementa
Elementa includes elementals, golems, and djinns. Elementa Oil is the class oil, and Dimeritium Bombs strip their magical defenses for most of the group. Pixies are the odd one out, taking only the oil.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Djinns | Silver Swords, Elementa Oil, Dimeritium |
| Earth Elementals | Silver Swords, Elementa Oil, Dimeritium |
| Fire Elementals | Silver Swords, Elementa Oil, Dimeritium, Northern Wind |
| Gargoyles | Silver Swords, Elementa Oil, Dimeritium, Quen |
| Golems | Silver Swords, Elementa Oil, Dimeritium |
| Hounds of the Wild Hunt | Silver Swords, Elementa Oil, Dimeritium, Igni, Axii |
| Ice Elementals | Silver Swords, Elementa Oil, Dimeritium |
| Moreau’s Golem | Silver Swords, Elementa Oil, Dimeritium |
| Pixies | Elementa Oil |
| The Apiarian Phantom | Silver Swords, Elementa Oil, Dimeritium, Igni, Axii |
| Therazane | Silver Swords, Elementa Oil, Dimeritium |
Hybrids
Hybrids are part-beast, part-something-else flyers and predators. Hybrid Oil plus Aard to ground them and Grapeshot Bombs cover the whole class.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Erynias | Silver Swords, Hybrid Oil, Grapeshot, Aard |
| Griffins | Silver Swords, Hybrid Oil, Grapeshot, Aard |
| Harpies | Silver Swords, Hybrid Oil, Grapeshot |
| Melusine | Silver Swords, Hybrid Oil, Grapeshot, Aard, Igni |
| Opinicus | Silver Swords, Hybrid Oil, Grapeshot, Aard |
| Salma | Silver Swords, Hybrid Oil, Quen |
| Sirens | Silver Swords, Hybrid Oil, Grapeshot, Aard, Igni |
Insectoids
Insectoids are the spiders, endregas, and centipedes. Insectoid Oil raises damage, and Golden Oriole neutralizes the poison many of them apply.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Arachasae | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, Golden Oriole |
| Arachnomorph | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, Aard, Axii |
| Armored Arachasae | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, Golden Oriole |
| Endrega Drones | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, Golden Oriole |
| Endrega Warriors | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, Golden Oriole |
| Giant Centipedes | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, Yrden |
| Harrisi | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, Golden Oriole |
| Kikimore Warrior | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, White Honey, Igni |
| Kikimore Workers | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, White Honey, Igni |
| Pale Widows | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, Yrden |
| Venomous Arachasae | Silver Swords, Insectoid Oil, Golden Oriole |
Necrophages
Necrophages scavenge corpses and swarm in packs, making them the class you meet first. Necrophage Oil is the standard, and Igni thins groups quickly since most of them are aggressive rushers.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Abaya | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil |
| Alghouls | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil, Axii |
| Drowners | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil, Igni |
| Foglets | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil, Moon Dust, Quen |
| Ghouls | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil |
| Grave Hags | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil, Black Blood, Quen, Yrden |
| Ignis Fatuus | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil, Moon Dust, Quen |
| Mourntart | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil, Quen, Yrden |
| Rotfiends | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil |
| Scurvers | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil |
| Spotted Wights | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil, Igni, Yrden |
| Water Hags | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil, Northern Wind, Quen, Igni |
| Wights | Silver Swords, Necrophage Oil, Axii |
Rotfiends explode when they die or get close, so finish them from range or step back the instant one drops low.
Ogroids
Ogroids are the heavy hitters, from nekkers to giants and trolls. Ogroid Oil raises your damage, and Quen absorbs their crushing blows while you roll around them.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Cloud Giant | Silver Swords, Ogroid Oil, Dancing Star, Igni |
| Cyclopses | Silver Swords, Ogroid Oil, Axii, Quen |
| Golyat | Silver Swords, Ogroid Oil, Quen |
| Hagubman | Silver Swords, Ogroid Oil, Northern Wind |
| Ice Giant | Silver Swords, Ogroid Oil, Quen |
| Ice Trolls | Silver Swords, Ogroid Oil, Quen |
| Nekkers | Silver Swords, Ogroid Oil, Northern Wind |
| Rock Trolls | Silver Swords, Ogroid Oil, Quen |
| Wham-a-Wham | Silver Swords, Ogroid Oil, Quen |
Relicts
Relicts are the folklore monsters, including leshens, fiends, and chorts. Relict Oil is the class oil, and Igni or Dimeritium handles the forest spirits while heavy chargers fall to Devil’s Puffball. Godlings cannot be fought and have no listed weakness.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Chorts | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Devil’s Puffball |
| Crones | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Quen |
| Doppler | Silver Swords, Relict Oil |
| Fiends | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Devil’s Puffball, Samum |
| Godlings | n/a |
| Grottore | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Dimeritium, Igni |
| Howler | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Devil’s Puffball |
| Imp | Silver Swords, Relict Oil |
| Kernun | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Dimeritium, Igni |
| Leshens | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Dimeritium, Igni |
| Morvudd | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Dimeritium, Samum |
| Shaelmaar from the Emperor of Nilfgaard | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Aard, Samum |
| Shaelmaars | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Aard, Samum |
| Spriggans | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Dimeritium, Igni |
| Sylvans | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Dimeritium, Igni, Samum |
| The Caretaker | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Quen |
| The Monster of Tufo | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Aard, Samum |
| Wicked Witch | Silver Swords, Relict Oil |
| Woodland Spirit | Silver Swords, Relict Oil, Dimeritium, Igni |
Specters
Specters are ghosts that phase in and out of the mortal world. Specter Oil is the class oil, and Yrden is close to mandatory since it traps them in corporeal form long enough to land hits. Moon Dust keeps them visible when they try to fade.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Barghests | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Moon Dust, Yrden, Axii |
| Daphne’s Wraith | Silver Sword, Specter Oil |
| Devil by the Well | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Moon Dust, Yrden |
| Ethereal | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Blizzard |
| Hyms | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Moon Dust, Igni |
| Jenny o’ the Woods | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Yrden |
| Longlocks | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Moon Dust, Yrden |
| Nightwraiths | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Moon Dust, Yrden |
| Noonwraiths | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Moon Dust, Yrden |
| Penitent | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Moon Dust, Yrden, Quen |
| Plague Maidens | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Yrden |
| The White Lady | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Moon Dust, Yrden |
| The Wraith from the Painting | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Yrden |
| Umbra | Silver Sword, Specter Oil |
| Wraiths | Silver Sword, Specter Oil, Moon Dust, Yrden, Quen |
Vampires
Vampires are fast, hard-hitting, and often invisible between strikes. Vampire Oil raises your damage, and Black Blood punishes them when they bite you. Moon Dust and Yrden keep the phasing lesser vampires pinned down.
| Monster | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Alps | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Moon Dust, Black Blood, Yrden |
| Bruxae | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Moon Dust, Black Blood, Yrden |
| Dettlaff van der Eretein | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Black Blood, Quen |
| Ekimmaras | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Devil’s Puffball, Igni |
| Fleders | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Black Blood |
| Gael | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Moon Dust, Yrden, Devil’s Puffball, Igni |
| Garkains | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Moon Dust, Black Blood, Samum |
| Higher Vampires | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Igni |
| Katakans | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Moon Dust, Yrden, Devil’s Puffball, Igni |
| Sarasti | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Devil’s Puffball, Igni |
| The Bruxa of Corvo Bianco | Silver Swords, Vampire Oil, Moon Dust, Black Blood, Yrden |
Confirming a full bestiary
You know an entry is filled when its page in the Glossary shows the monster’s vulnerabilities and immunities instead of a locked placeholder. Encountering a creature usually adds it, and reading the right book completes entries you have not fought yet. When every class above shows no empty slots, your compendium is complete across the base game and both expansions.
