The Witcher 3 is making a comeback this year on December 14 with a free update. The Witcher 3 Remastered update will be available for everyone that owns the game upon its release. While The Witcher 3 Remastered will see an influx of old and new players, many will be returning to see what changes were made to Gwent.
It should not come as a surprise that Gwent would be trending again upon the release of The Witcher 3 Remastered. Players that missed out on Gwent initially should make the most of this opportunity and try their hand at Gwent to unravel new paths and mysteries as Geralt of Rivia.
How To Play Gwent – The Basics
- Before starting a game of Gwent, a wager must be placed.
- Once a match starts, players who win a coin toss will go first.
- Each player draws 10 cards from their constructed decks and can exchange two cards if needed.
- Each player takes turns placing cards on the field until someone passes the round or runs out of cards.
- Every card placed on the field adds strength to the overall score of one side.
- The player with the highest overall score wins.
A game of Gwent can be won if the player beats the opponent with a higher unit score. The player has to win two games out of three to become victorious. At first glance, Gwent might seem like a number game, but many strategies are involved with playing 10 cards for three rounds. Players must know when to play a card, when to pass, and when to come back strong. The opponent rewards the player with a Gwent card for every match won.
How To Play Gwent – Quick Overview Of The Mechanics
With the basics out of the way, let’s take a closer look at Gwent and its mechanics.
- The field consists of three rows on each side, representing what kind of card can be used each turn. The three rows are broken into Close Combat, Ranged, and Siege.
- Every deck in Gwent has a faction, its leader, and a unique ability.
- Gwent cards are divided into categories; unit cards are used the most.
- Some unit cards have abilities that activate when placed on the field or when triggered by conditions that are highlighted with a white icon.
- Weather cards and special cards can make or break a game. Weather effects affect the field in its entirety, while special cards are specific.
Tips For Gwent
- Play Gwent with as many NPCs as possible. This strategy will allow the player to get better at the game and rewards them with a new card every time they play.
- It is important to use the least resources to win any Gwent game. Don’t use stronger cards; hold off using them until necessary.
- Use decoys to substitute cards on the field. For instance, a decoy can be used to reclaim a strong card on the field for later.
- Keep a small deck, and focus on building one with 25-30 strong cards at best.
- Don’t hesitate to skip a round. Sometimes it is better to save resources for the next round instead of using some of the best cards in the first round.
- Focus on building Nilfgaard and Northern Realms decks, as they are superior to the Monster and Scoia’tael decks.
- Nilfgaard and Northern Realms decks are superior to Monster and Scoia’teal decks because of the spy card. Playing a spy on the opponent’s side may give them added units, but it allows the player to draw two cards.
- Before losing a round or winning one, use the decoy card to get back good cards to use in the next round.
- With two medic cards, players can use one in the second or third round. In the third round, the second medic card can be used to reclaim the previous medic card and draw another card, too. This strategy will allow the player to place three cards in the round.
- Instead of using some of the best cards in a losing round, it is best to stall. Then, use the best cards to win the remaining two rounds, which is all that matters.
- The player should use the Scorch card only when their cards do not have an attack power of six or greater. Only place Scorch to take out all of the opponent's high attack power cards in one move.
Players that plan on skipping Gwent with The Witcher 3 Remastered should reconsider. Playing Gwent adds more value to the overall experience, not to mention missing out on a spicy romance with Sasha and much more.
The Witcher 3 is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.