Quick Links
With the impending release of the next-gen update, the smoldering debate over which equipment is best in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will likely soon be rekindled. While nearly every item in video games has groups of supporters or detractors voicing their positions, there is little doubt that Witcher Gear will always be near the top of any 'best armor' list.
Bear School Gear is one of four sets of Witcher Gear found in the base version of The Witcher 3. These highly coveted collections of weapons and armor - each representing the Witcher school they are named after - can be found scattered throughout the world Geralt of Rivia inhabits. By activating the associated Scavenger Hunt quests, Geralt can set out to clothe himself in the height of Ursine fashion!
How To Begin Scavenger Hunt: Bear School Gear
Before Geralt of Rivia can set off on his quest to collect every School of the Bear diagram, first, he must initiate the proper Scavenger Hunt quest. This can be done in one of two ways:
- Purchase the maps from various merchants
- Go directly to one of the diagram locations and collect it.
Purchasing the maps is the fastest way to acquire all the associated quests in one fell swoop. Each collection of Witcher Gear in the base game has four levels of quality: Basic, Enhanced, Superior, and Mastercrafted. A new tier known as Grandmaster gear was subsequently added through the Blood & Wine expansion. However, owing to the fact that it is acquired through a wholly separate series of quests, it will not be included here.
Locate And Purchase Quest Maps:
Map 1 - Basic: The document that contains the locations for "Scavenger Hunt: Bear School Gear can be purchased from the armorer in Oxenfurt.
Map 2 - Enhanced, Superior, Mastercrafted: All three of these maps are available to purchase from the armorer at Kaer Trolde, the Skelligan stronghold of Crach an Crate.
Once all the maps have been purchased Geralt can find them in the 'quest items' category on the inventory page. Reading them all will add "Scavenger Hunt: Bear School Gear" and the associated upgrade quests to the Treasure Hunt section of the Quests page.
Scavenger Hunt: Bear School Gear - Basic
Ursine Armor (Complete)
All pieces of the basic Ursine Armor set are located in Skellige, safely nestled in a chest that can be found in the throne room of the Tuirsearch Ruins. This dilapidated former stronghold sits high atop a mountain on the northern coast of An Skellig.
From the Trail to Yngvar's Fang, Geralt can make his way up the mountain until he reaches the ruins. At a certain point in the trail in will become possible to slide down a hill onto a paved path.
Follow the paved path, watching for the large gaps where it has fallen apart. Keep going until Geralt finds this door.
Upon entering the door, Geralt will notice the throne room is blocked off by a gate. It is impossible to enter from here. Instead, go left down the stairs and right at the bottom. Geralt must open the jail cells that line the path by using the lever on the wall. Watch out for wraiths! There are several wraiths in the jail cells, along with at least one that roams free.
One of the jail cells will have a massive hole in its floor for Geralt to jump through. Enter that area and proceed to turn right up a set of stairs, then left up several climbable walls when able. This will leas the witcher to the throne room. More wraiths are waiting here, along with the chest containing the Ursine Armor diagrams and several two important documents. Use the lever to the right of the gate to exit the ruins and ride off into the night.
Ursine Silver Sword:
In his inventory, Geralt should now have Chronicles of Clan Tuirsearch and Ballad of Witcher Gerd. Reading both will reveal the location of the next diagram: Fort Etnir.
The fort is home to two gargoyles and an earth elemental. While the latter is protecting a Guarded Treasure and can be avoided, the two gargoyles stand directly in Geralt's path. Once they are defeated, walk through the door frame on the right of the structure to find a skeleton on the ground. Geralt can loot two more documents and the silver sword diagram. Read "The Knight Chalimir's Letter" to discover the location of the steel sword diagram.
Ursine Steel Sword:
The final diagram of the basic set can be found at the Ruined Inn on the southern coast of Ard Skelig. The blasted out building is found at the northern end of the formerly abandoned village. Look for the building that was clearly destroyed by fire.
The diagram can be found after taking a set of stairs into the basement. Though the main structure of the building is all but completely destroyed, the basement remains intact. Look in the last room to find a brown chest with the steel sword diagram inside.
Bear School Gear Upgrades - Part 1
The first upgrade quest contains three diagrams: Enhanced Ursine Armor, Enhanced Ursine Boots, and the Enhanced Ursine Silver Sword.
Enhanced Ursine Silver Sword:
This diagram is located inside a monster den that is found southeast of Yustianna's Grotto on the big island of Ard Skellig. Coming from the west, it can be tricky to enter due to the castle that houses the monster den being nestled into the side of a mountain. The best option is to circle around and enter from the eastern side, as shown in the image.
Watch out for harpies outside the castle, and alghouls inside. The diagram is located in a chamber below the castle, turn right after entering and the opening is at the end of the hallway. Clear the den and find the chest next to a dead body on the far wall.
Enhanced Ursine Armor:
Something to keep in mind here; if Geralt has met the bounty hunter Djenge Frett in Blandare, going deep into the cave that contains this diagram will automatically initiate "The Sad Tale of the Grossbart Brothers." If Geralt has not yet come across Frett, he will still encounter the brothers in the cave. It's likely Geralt will have to kill the three Grossbart siblings to retrieve the diagram, leaving him free to find Frett at a later time.
The whole ordeal can be found at the Grotto on the southern coast of Ard Skellig.
Once Geralt has dealt with the situation, the chest containing the diagram can be found in the middle of the camp.
Enhanced Ursine Boots:
This diagram is located in the infamous "farting trolls" cave. It is located slightly inland from the western coast of Ard Skellig, near an Axii Place of Power.
The cave is not marked on the map - the entrance is just below the Place of Power.
Standing at the pot the trolls used to cook, look straight into the cave using Geralt's witcher senses. The chest containing the diagram will be highlighted. It sits right next to an old busted up boat.
Bear School Gear Upgrades - Part 2
The second quest in the series contains three diagrams: Enhanced Ursine Gauntlets, Enhanced Ursine Trousers, and the Enhanced Ursine Steel Sword.
Enhanced Ursine Gauntlets:
This diagram is located in a small tower at what appears to be an old outpost. It can be found east of the village of Rogne on the main island of Ard Skellig.
The outpost takes the form of a gateway blocking the road. Walk up the hill and enter the tower.
The diagram can be found in the only room Geralt can enter.
Enhanced Ursine Trousers:
The trouser diagram is located on a small island off the northern coast of Undvik.
The chest can be found in a small cave that has massive icicles hanging in front of it. Use the quest marker to guide Geralt to the exact spot.
Enhanced Ursine Steel Sword
This sword diagram can be found on a pirate Island that sits in the channel between Ard Skelig and Spikeroog.
The island is heavily fortified and crawling with pirates. This location provides Geralt with a good opportunity to use the arrow deflection skill, as there are several crossbow-wielding enemies on the island. From the main courtyard, look for the stairs in the image.
The chest is found in the small chamber at the top of the stairs.
Bear School Gear Upgrades - Part 3
The third upgrade quest contains three diagrams: Superior Ursine Silver Sword, Superior Ursine Steel Sword, and Superior Ursine Armor (Complete).
Superior Ursine Silver Sword:
For this diagram, Geralt must return to the nasty swamp around Crookback Bog.
The cave in which the diagram can be found is not marked on the map.
The chest is found by turning left in the first chamber. It sits against the wall next to a small bag and a dead body. If Geralt has not completed the "Contract: Swamp Thing" Witcher Contract, he will likely have to fight Ignis Fatuus in this cave. He is an ancient foglet that is the subject of the aforementioned Witcher Contract. The Eye of Nehaleni is required to enter the cave at this point.
Superior Ursine Steel Sword:
The steel sword diagram is located at the Ruined Tower, northeast of The Orphans of Crookback Bog. An Earth Elemental sometimes spawns here, though it depends on how far Geralt is in the main story. It can be a difficult fight if he is not properly leveled.
The chest containing the diagram sits on one of the ruined floor pieces.
Superior Ursine Armor (Complete):
The full set of armor diagrams can be found in a monster den slightly northwest of the Hanged Man's Tree fast travel point.
Head inside the cave and stick to the left side of the wall. A small chamber with several crates will appear. The chest is directly in the middle.
Bear School Gear Upgrades - Part 4
The final upgrade quest contains all the Mastercrafted Ursine gear.
Mastercrafted Ursine Steel Sword:
The Mastercrafted Steel Sword diagram can be found in a cave just past the Pellers hut in the village of Blackbough.
Geralt must go fairly deep into the cave. He will locate the chest sitting behind a large rock pillar. There are several ferns that partially obscures it from view, so be sure to use Geralt's witcher senses.
Mastercrafted Ursine Silver Sword:
The quest marker takes Geralt to an abandoned camp near the road to bald mountain.
The chest itself is located on a small island near a monster nest. After clearing the nest, the chest can be found stuck into a hole in the ground.
Mastercrafted Ursine Armor (Complete):
The final set is located at the Destroyed Bastion, found at the very southern edge of Velen. A cyclops guards the front entrance and a wyvern spawns just north of this location near a guarded treasure, though it should not attack if Geralt stays close to the Bastion.
Look for the symbol that indicates a grindstone on the minimap. The chest with the diagrams sits directly next to it.
Remember! All diagrams must be taken to the appropriate armorer or blacksmith to be crafted! To craft the higher end gear, make sure to complete "Of Swords and Dumplings" in Velen and "Master Armorers," which can be initiated at the armorer station in Crow's Perch. Completing these tasks will give Geralt access to the Master tier armorer and blacksmith. The Grandmaster forge in Toussaint is also a viable option, if Geralt has progressed that far.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available now for PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC. The next-gen update for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S will be available on December 14th.