The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is known for telling unique and memorable stories at all levels of gameplay. Whether it's a plot-heavy main quest or an unassuming treasure hunt, The Witcher 3 manages to pack its story into every nook and cranny of the rich open world. Nowhere is this more true than in the dual silver and steel swords that every witcher wields.
Throughout the game, Geralt comes across dozens of swords to slay humans and monsters alike. It's always worth seeking out the strongest weapons in The Witcher 3 for whatever stat bonuses they provide, not to mention the sense of satisfaction that comes from completing a collection. But behind each sword also lies a rich story about the fates of previous owners, references to older entries in the series, and homages to franchises outside The Witcher universe.
Aerondight (Silver Sword)
One of the most storied weapons in The Witcher series, Aerondight is a silver sword that seems to always find its way back into Geralt's hands. The lore behind this sword contains references to Arthurian legend, medieval dragon-slaying knights, and the historic importance of chivalric virtues. Aerondight appears across all three games in The Witcher series, aiding Geralt in his journeys across The Continent.
In Chapter 4 of The Witcher, the Lady of the Lake knights Geralt and grants him the sword after completing her tasks as part of the questline "The Paths of Destiny." The Lady of the Lake also provides some background for the sword saying, "Once the blade of a great warrior, it lay in the depths for ages, awaiting your arrival." There's a not-so-subtle suggestion that Aerondight is The Witcher's version of Excalibur, and it's an apt comparison given Aerondight is widely ranked as the best silver sword in The Witcher 3.
Aerondight makes its next appearance in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, but only for a brief moment in the prologue. During the opening sequence, Geralt loses the sword in a heated fight with a dragon. While that's the last Geralt sees of Aerondight for quite a while, the fact that Geralt loses it in battle against a dragon marks another reference to the dragon-slaying exploits of the Arthurian knights.
Finally, players can obtain Aerondight for good in The Witcher 3's critically-acclaimed Blood and Wine DLC. Geralt must first prove the five chivalric virtues: valor, honor, compassion, generosity, and wisdom. After proving his worth, he is challenged to a duel by a mysterious hermit who turns out to be the Lady of the Lake in disguise. Given all that Geralt has done to prove himself worthy of the blade, Aerondight seems destined to be wielded by the White Wolf alone.
Iris (Steel Sword)
Iris is a steel sword from the Hearts of Stone DLC, and its history is bound up in the tragedy between Olgierd von Everec, his lover Iris, and Gaunter O'Dimm. The blade first belonged to Olgierd, who named it after his lover. With the sword in hand, he led ruthless raids against innocent townsfolk across Velen and Temeria - until he lost his wealth, home, status, and subsequently Iris, who was married off to a well-to-do Ofieri prince. In response Olgierd struck an underhanded deal with the mysterious Gaunter O'Dimm to reclaim his love.
Geralt's first look at the sword in action is intimidating, as the first boss fight against Olgierd is infamously difficult, leaving players wondering how they can secure the sword for themselves. It turns out the answer isn't to fight Olgierd, but to protect him. If players choose to save Olgierd's soul at the end of the main quest, Olgierd will bestow the sword upon Geralt as proof that he's leaving his old life behind.
Bloodsword (Silver Sword)
Geralt acquires the silver sword known as Bloodsword through one of the most morally dubious treasure hunts in the game. On the Isles of Skellige, Geralt encounters a nameless dead body near the destroyed village of Boxholm. Looting the body will produce a key and a letter, revealing a dying raider's last words to his six-year-old son Janne. The heart-wrenching message concludes with the location of his son's inheritance, hidden in the nearby village. The late father bids his son to stay safe, learn to protect himself, and exact vengeance against his enemies, before expressing his love in the last lines of the letter.
Naturally, Geralt proceeds to ransack the house and take the sword for himself . The Witcher series is full of morally ambiguous choices, but this treasure hunt feels less like recovering lost plunder and more like pillaging an orphan's inheritance. Granted, the village of Boxholm is already a pile of rubble by the time Geralt gets there, so presumably the son either departed long ago or died in the fight that destroyed the village. Nonetheless, the name Bloodsword seems fitting following the mission to acquire it.
Forgotten Wolven Swords (Silver and Steel Swords)
Beyond visual and performance updates, the next-gen update for The Witcher 3 added an impressive new sword based on Geralt's gear in The Witcher Netflix series. The new quest tasks Geralt with defeating a mysterious spirit responsible for the Scarlet Fog plague. As he progresses through the spirit's underground lair, Geralt comes across evidence that he's not the first witcher to tread these grounds.
Geralt was preceded by Reinald, a fellow member of the School of the Wolf who worked hundreds of years earlier. Hired by priests of the Eternal Fire to deal with the same specter, Reinald was ultimately defeated and possessed. Rather than allowing the spirit to be set free, Reinald trapped himself and spirit in the mine as his life slipped away.
There are a few branching choices presented to the player, but ultimately the quest calls for Geralt to defeat the plague spirit and free his ancient brother in arms. Players are rewarded with the plans for the Forgotten Wolf Diagrams, including the Forgotten Wolven Steel and Silver Swords. Though the blades come from the witcher Reinald in-game, players know that they truly belong to Henry Cavill - or Liam Hemsworth, starting next year.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.