Signs or Magic are one of the 4 Skill Trees in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. These Signs are one of the main Combat features in the game and are introduced during the optional initial combat tutorial with Vesemir. Going straight to free training will skip all tutorials. These signs can be accessed and activated in the quick access menu. These can then be quickly casted during combat using the Cast Sign button. These Signs deplete Stamina and require stamina to be used which can also be affected at higher Sign ability levels.
Witcher 3 Casting Signs
All Signs are accessible from the quick access menu. Players can also designate a sign to activate it. There is a quick button to Cast the Sign that is activated (R2).
- Aard: Telekinetic blast
- Axii: Influences opponents' minds
- Igni: Deals fire damage
- Quen: Protective shield
- Yrden: Influences opponents' minds
How to Upgrade Sign Abilities
Each Sign has their Core Abilities unlocked. Other Branches and Points in Sign Branches are accessed from the Character Menu. Your points will be displayed on the bottom of your screen. Spend your points in order to acquire the different abilities. Each ability can then also be upgraded. From the Character Menu, you will also have a set number of slots. To activate an ability, place it into one of the empty slots. More slots become available at higher levels.
Signs Witcher 3 Combat
Witchers have mastered a simple form of combat magic. These Sings are not as powerful as the spells wielded by mages, but they can be cast very quickly- with simple, one-handed gestures - making them quite useful in the heat of battle.
Sign Abilities Witcher 3
Signs each have four upgrade tiers and abilities that will also each have 2-5 levels that may add improvements or effects to the base ability. These abilities improve the 5 Signs, which are a type of magic, that Geralt can use through out the game. There are 5 Lines to this Skill Tree. Each Line has 4 skills and each skill has several ranks, leading to a wide variety of possible builds. As of the Next-Gen Update, all skills in this tree have been changed to only go up to rank 3. You will have access to all Tier 1 Skills from the start of the game, but to be able to get put points into the Tier 2 Sign Skills you will need to spend 6 points in this branch. 12 points will unlock the Tier 3 skills and 18 points will unlock the final Tier.
Witcher 3 Sign Tutorials
- Stamina: Signs consume Stamina. If your Stamina level is too low, you can't cast them.
- Quick Access Menu: Press (L1) to open the Quick Access Menu [Playstation]
- Activate Signs: Press (X) to make a sign active. [Playstation]
- Casting Signs: Walk close to your opponent and press (Cast Sign) to cast your active Sign at them. Signs and certain other actions drain Stamina. Before you can cast a Sign again, you will need to wait for your Stamina to regenerate
All Signs Witcher 3

Aard
The Aard Sign stuns opponents or, in some cases, knocks them to the ground.
Core Ability: A directed blast of telekinetic energy that staggers opponents, leaving them open for a subsequent attack.

Igni
The Igni Sign deals fire damage and has a chance to apply a Burning effect on your opponents.
Core Ability: A directed fiery blast that damages enemies. Damage scales with Sign intensity.

Yrden
Cast the Yrden Sign to lay a Magic trap that slows anyone who enters its area of effect
Core Ability: Magic trap that slows enemies who enter its area of effect

Quen
The Quen Sign protects you against damage and certain critical effects
Core Ability: Protective shield that lasts until it has absorbed damage totaling 8% of maximum Vitality

Axii
You can use the Axii Sign to temporarily disorient your opponents.
Core Ability: Charms an opponent's mind, temporarily eliminating him from combat.
Witcher 3 Sign Abilities
Aard Sign Abilities Witcher 3
Aard Sweep
Level 1:
- Aard strikes all opponents in a certain radius. Knock-down chance is 21% lower.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Aard strikes all opponents in a certain radius. Knock-down chance is 17% lower.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
Aard Intensity
Level 1:
- Increases Aard Sign intensity by 5%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Increases Aard Sign intensity by 10%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Increases Aard Sign intensity by 15%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Level 4:
- Increases Aard Sign intensity by 20%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2/s
Level 5:
- Increases Aard Sign intensity by 25%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5/s
Shock Wave
Level 1:
- Aard now deals 40 damage.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Increases the damage dealt by Aard to 80.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Increases the damage dealt by Aard to 120.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Level 4:
- Increases the damage dealt by Aard to 160.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2/s
Level 5:
- Increases the damage dealt by Aard to 200.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5/s
Igni Sign Abilities Witcher 3
Firestream
Level 1:
- Emits a continuous stream of fire that damages enemies.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Emits a continuous stream of fire that damages enemies.
- Stamina cost is reduced by 25%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Emits a continuous stream of fire that damages enemies.
- Stamina cost is reduced by 50%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Igni Intensity
Level 1:
- Increases Igni Sign intensity by 5%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Increases Igni Sign intensity by 10%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Increases Igni Sign intensity by 15%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Level 4:
- Increases Igni Sign intensity by 20%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2/s
Level 5:
- Increases Igni Sign intensity by 25%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5/s
Pyromaniac
Level 1:
- Increases the chance to apply Burning by 20%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Increases the chance to apply Burning by 40%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Increases the chance to apply Burning by 60%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Level 4:
- Increases the chance to apply Burning by 80%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2/s
Level 5:
- Increases the chance to apply Burning by 100%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5/s
Melt Armor
Level 1:
- Damage dealt by Igni also permanently weakens enemy Armor. Effect scales with Sign intensity up to maximum of 15%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Damage dealt by Igni also permanently weakens enemy Armor. Effect scales with Sign intensity up to maximum of 30%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Damage dealt by Igni also permanently weakens enemy Armor. Effect scales with Sign intensity up to maximum of 45%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Level 4:
- Damage dealt by Igni also permanently weakens enemy Armor. Effect scales with Sign intensity up to maximum of 60%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2/s
Level 5:
- Damage dealt by Igni also permanently weakens enemy Armor. Effect scales with Sign intensity up to maximum of 75%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5/s
Yrden Sign Abilities Witcher 3
Sustained Glyphs
Level 1:
- Increases Sign duration by 5 seconds. Number of alternative mode charges: 7. Number of standard mode traps: 1.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Increases Sign duration by 10 seconds. Number of alternative mode charges: 9. Number of standard mode traps: 2.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Magic Trap
Level 1:
- Damages and slows enemies within a 10-yard radius. Destroys projectiles passing through this area.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Damages and slows enemies within a 12-yard radius. Destroys projectiles passing through this area. Damage increased by 25%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Damages and slows enemies within a 14-yard radius. Destroys projectiles passing through this area. Damage increased by 50%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Yrden Intensity
Level 1:
- Increases Yrden Sign intensity by 5%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Increases Yrden Sign intensity by 10%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Increases Yrden Sign intensity by 15%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Level 4:
- Increases Yrden Sign intensity by 20%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2/s
Level 5:
- Increases Yrden Sign intensity by 25%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5/s
Supercharged Glyphs
Level 1:
- Enemies under the influence of Yrden lose 10 point(s) of Vitality or Essence per second.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Enemies under the influence of Yrden lose 20 point(s) of Vitality or Essence per second.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Enemies under the influence of Yrden lose 30 point(s) of Vitality or Essence per second.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Level 4:
- Enemies under the influence of Yrden lose 40 point(s) of Vitality or Essence per second.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2/s
Level 5:
- Enemies under the influence of Yrden lose 50 point(s) of Vitality or Essence per second.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5/s
Quen Sign Abilities Witcher 3
Exploding Shield
Level 1:
- Quen shield pushes opponents back when it breaks.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Quen shield pushes opponents back and deals damage when it breaks.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Quen shield pushes opponents back and deals damage when it breaks, with a chance for knock-down.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Active Shield
Level 1:
- Creates an active shield. Maintaining it and blocking attacks drains Stamina. Damage absorbed by the shield restores player Vitality.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Maintaining an active shield now drains 50% less Stamina. Stamina drain for blocked attacks unchanged. Damage absorbed by the shield restores player Vitality.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Maintaining an active shield no longer drains Stamina. Stamina drain for blocked attacks unchanged. Damage absorbed by the shield restores player Vitality.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Quen Intensity
Level 1:
- Increases Quen Sign intensity by 5%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Increases Quen Sign intensity by 10%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Increases Quen Sign intensity by 15%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Level 4:
- Increases Quen Sign intensity by 20%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2/s
Level 5:
- Increases Quen Sign intensity by 25%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5/s
Quen Discharge
Level 1:
- Reflects 5% absorbed damage back to the attacker.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Reflects 10% absorbed damage back to the attacker.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Reflects 15% absorbed damage back to the attacker.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Level 4:
- Reflects 20% absorbed damage back to the attacker.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2/s
Level 5:
- Reflects 25% absorbed damage back to the attacker.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5/s
Axii Sign Abilities Witcher 3
Delusion
Level 1:
- Target does not move towards Geralt while he is casting Axii. Also increases the effectiveness of Axii in dialogues.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Target does not move towards Geralt while he is casting Axii. Increases the effectiveness of Axii in dialogues. Reduces Axii casting time.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Target does not move towards Geralt while he is casting Axii. Increases the effectiveness of Axii in dialogues. Reduces Axii casting time.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Puppet
Level 1:
- Targeted enemy briefly becomes an ally and deals 20% more damage.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Targeted enemy briefly becomes an ally and deals 40% more damage.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Targeted enemy briefly becomes an ally and deals 60% more damage.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Axii Intensity
Level 1:
- Increases Axii Sign intensity by 5%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Increases Axii Sign intensity by 10%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Increases Axii Sign intensity by 15%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
Level 4:
- Increases Axii Sign intensity by 20%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2/s
Level 5:
- Increases Axii Sign intensity by 25%.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5/s
Domination
Level 1:
- Two opponents can be influenced by Axii at the same time. The effect is 50% weaker.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5/s
Level 2:
- Two opponents can be influenced by Axii at the same time. The effect is 25% weaker.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1/s
Level 3:
- Two opponents can be influenced by Axii at the same time.
- Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5/s
- Anonymous
I find igni is 9ne of the best, lighting ***** on fire never gets old. AardD is cool too though.
are all the tutorial signs available from the start of the game or are you supposed to earn them as you play? I wanted to use a certain sign against the noonwraith on the well mission but I can only use one sign. no way to select any others on xbox one
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