The Witcher 3 Runewright Guide: Best Enchantments for Weapons

The Ultimate Witcher 3 Runewright Guide: Forging Your Perfect Arsenal

So, you’ve vanquished countless necrophages, bested cunning bandits, and maybe even played a few rounds of Gwent in bustling taverns. Yet, something tells you your trusty Silver and Steel swords could be… more. You’ve heard whispers of a mysterious Runewright tucked away in the heart of Velen’s HoS expansion content. Perhaps you’ve even found him, only to be bewildered by the sheer number of options and the staggering cost of his services.

Fear not, Witcher! This guide is your definitive companion to mastering the art of Runewright enchantments. We're not just listing runes; we're going to build your ultimate weapon setup, tailored to your playstyle. We'll cover everything from finding the enigmatic Runewright and funding his craft to a deep dive into the most powerful and game-changing enchantments for your weapons. By the end, you'll know exactly how to transform your blades from merely great to truly legendary.

First Things First: Finding and Funding the Master Craftsman

Before we talk about the best enchantments, let's address the first hurdle. The Runewright, a man named Yoana, is located in the Upper Mill in northeastern Velen, an area added by the Hearts of Stone expansion. Your initial interaction with him is a quest called "Enchanting: Start-up Costs," and it’s a doozy. To unlock his full potential, you’ll need to invest a total of 30,000 Crowns across three tiers. Yes, you read that right. It’s a hefty sum, but the power he offers is unparalleled.

• Where to Find the Crowns: Don't despair! Loot every weapon and armor piece from your enemies, especially in Skellige. Sell them to the right merchants—armorers and blacksmiths in major cities like Novigrad and Oxenfurt offer the best prices. Completing question marks, especially the smuggler's caches in Skellige, is a fantastic way to amass wealth.
• Why It's Worth It: This investment unlocks three tiers of enchantment power. Tier 1 is good, Tier 2 is great, and Tier 3 is where the real magic happens, offering enchantments that can fundamentally alter how you play the game.

Now, with the formalities out of the way, let’s get to the exciting part: choosing the right enchantments for your weapons.

The Philosophy of Enchanting: Playstyle is King

There is no single "best" enchantment. The best weapon enchantment for your Witcher 3 playthrough is the one that perfectly complements how you fight. Are you a whirlwind of steel using the Whirl skill? A master sign-caster who sets the world ablaze? A patient alchemist who decimates foes with potent decoctions? Your answers will determine your ideal setup.

We’ll break down the top-tier enchantments into categories based on these core playstyles.

Top-Tier Weapon Enchantments for Every Witcher

For the Melee Master: The Whirlwind of Death

If your combat strategy revolves around fast attacks, the Whirl skill, and getting up close and personal, these enchantments will make you an unstoppable blender of destruction.

1. Severance (Tier 3)

   • What it does: Dramatically increases the range of your Whirl and Rend combat skills.
   • Why it's S-Tier: This is arguably the most famous and sought-after Runewright enchantment for a reason. Severance turns the Whirl skill from a dangerous close-quarters technique into a room-clearing death vortex. You can safely spin your way through groups of enemies without them being able to touch you. Paired with Rend, you can strike a foe from a surprising distance, often before they can even initiate their attack. This is the quintessential best weapon enchantment for Whirl builds and a top contender for the best steel sword enchantment for crowd control.

2. Replenishment (Tier 2)

   • What it does: Your strong attacks restore a portion of the damage dealt as health.
   • Why it's Great: While Severance is about offense, Replenishment is about sustainability. If you find yourself using strong attacks (especially with the Rend skill) and need a reliable way to stay in the fight, this is your enchantment. It turns every powerful swing into a potent self-heal, reducing your dependency on food and Swallow potions. It’s a fantastic choice for players who favor a heavy-hitting, high-sustain melee playstyle in The Witcher 3.

For the Sign Specialist: The Archmage of the Path

For those who prefer to fry, freeze, or stun their foes with the power of Signs, these enchantments will supercharge your magical arsenal.

1. Invigoration (Tier 3)

   • What it does: Damage dealt to enemies affected by Yrden, Quen, or Axii is increased by 100% for 5 seconds. This effect refreshes with each hit.
   • Why it's S-Tier: This enchantment is a massive damage multiplier. It synergizes incredibly well with a sign-focused build. Cast Yrden to slow a group, then step inside and watch your sword damage double with every strike. Since Quen is one of the most commonly used signs, you'll often have this damage bonus active after your shield pops. This is a top-tier choice for optimizing a hybrid sign-sword build, making it one of the best Witcher 3 sword enchantments for overall damage output.

2. Entanglement (Tier 3)

   • What it does: The effects of the glyphwords in your Yrden trap are also applied to the glyphwords in your active Quen shield.
   • Why it's Ingenious: This is a niche but incredibly powerful enchantment for a pure Yrden "Turret" build. If you use the Alternate Mode Yrden (which creates a turret that shoots at enemies), placing a single Yrden trap will also cause your Quen shield to periodically fire magic bolts at nearby foes. This essentially gives you two auto-turrets for the price of one, allowing you to control the battlefield like never before. It’s the definitive enchantment for a specialized Yrden trapping build.

For the Alchemical Assassin: The Potion-Fueled Predator

This playstyle relies on decoctions, bombs, and potions to gain the upper hand. The right enchantment can elevate this methodical approach to new heights.

1. Rejuvenation (Tier 3)

   • What it does: Each Adrenaline Point increases Sign intensity by 15%.
   • Why it's Powerful: While it boosts signs, this enchantment is a cornerstone of the "Euphoria" mutation build, which is the pinnacle of alchemical gameplay. The Euphoria mutation converts your toxicity into a damage bonus. By using decoctions to maintain high toxicity and Rejuvenation to boost your sign intensity from Adrenaline, you become a god-like figure dealing immense sword damage and casting incredibly powerful signs. It’s the key component in creating the most overpowered alchemy build in The Witcher 3.

2. Preservation (Tier 2)

   • What it does: The duration of potions is no longer affected by Toxicity, and their effects are increased by 50% if your Toxicity is above zero.
   • Why it's Solid: This is a more straightforward alchemy booster. It frees you from the worry of potion duration, allowing you to maintain crucial buffs like Thunderbolt or Maribor Forest for much longer. The 50% effect bonus is a nice cherry on top, making your potions significantly more potent. It’s a great entry-level enchantment for players starting to experiment with alchemy-focused character builds.

The Ultimate Utility & Defense Picks

Sometimes, you need an enchantment that offers a unique tactical advantage or pure survivability.

1. Levity (Tier 3)

   • What it does: The equipped armor is treated as Light Armor, regardless of its actual type.
   • Why it's a Game-Changer: This enchantment is typically used on armor, not weapons, but its impact is so significant it must be mentioned. By making heavy armor like the legendary Ursine set count as light armor, you can benefit from the Cat School Techniques skill, which gives a massive critical hit chance and damage bonus when wearing all light armor. This allows for incredibly powerful hybrid builds, such as a tanky character who hits with the speed and ferocity of a light-armor wearer. It’s a cornerstone of many end-game Witcher 3 gear optimization strategies.

2. Deflection (Tier 2)

   • What it does: Allows your Quen shield to deflect arrows.
   • Why it's Situational but Great: If you’re tired of being peppered with arrows by bandit archers, this enchantment is a lifesaver. It completely neutralizes ranged threats as long as your Quen is active, allowing you to focus on the melee combatants in front of you. It’s the perfect best sword rune for survivability against human enemies.

Putting It All Together: Our Recommended Loadouts

Let’s translate this knowledge into practical builds.

• The Death's Dance Build (Melee Focus):

  • Steel Sword: Severance. Clear out human mobs with a devastatingly long-range Whirl.
  • Silver Sword: Severance or Invigoration. Use Severance for groups of monsters like Drowners or Necrophages. Use Invigoration for tougher single targets by combining it with Quen.

• The Archmage Build (Sign Focus):

  • Steel & Silver Swords: Invigoration. Doubling your sword damage after using a sign is the core of this hybrid build. It turns your sword into a powerful follow-up tool.

• The Euphoria Build (Alchemy Focus):

  • Steel & Silver Swords: Rejuvenation. This is non-negotiable for maximizing the potential of the Euphoria mutation. The sign intensity boost is just the bonus; the real goal is the massive sword damage from Euphoria itself.

Final Words from a Seasoned Witcher

The Runewright’s services are an end-game luxury, but they offer some of the most rewarding customization in The Witcher 3. Don't be afraid to experiment. Save your game before you commit to an enchantment, try it out, and see how it feels. The world of The Witcher is brutal, but with the right enchantments on your blades, you can ensure that you are the most dangerous thing in it.

Now go forth, invest those hard-earned Crowns, and forge an arsenal worthy of a Legend. Good luck on the Path