The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has a huge variety of weapons and armor for Geralt of Rivia to use throughout his journey. While there is genuine debate about which equipment is the best, there is little doubt that Witcher Gear should be near the top of the list. These powerful collections of weapons and armor provide unique benefits that can carry a dedicated monster slayer through even the fiercest of battles.
Griffin School Gear, named for its connection to the School of the Griffin, is likely the first complete set of Witcher Gear Geralt will come across. Known for its balanced mix of offensive and defensive attributes, this collection is a safe bet for any witcher setting out on the path in The Witcher 3.
Griffin School Gear - Map Locations
Before setting out to acquire the Griffin School gear, Geralt should first purchase the complete set of maps that reveal the diagram locations. These maps are found at various merchants throughout the continent. Reading these maps in Geralt's inventory will initiate the full "Scavenger Hunt: Griffin School Gear" quest line, which consists of four tiers: Basic, Enhanced, Superior, and Mastercrafted.
Important! Purchasing the maps is not required for the diagrams to be available. However, doing so will allow Geralt to follow mission markers to every location.
Map Locations:
Basic and Enhanced: The armorer in Midcopse, a small village in western Velen, has both maps available for purchase.
Superior: The armorer in Hierarch Square, City of Novigrad has this map. He is located directly behind the pyres.
Mastercrafted: Hattori, the Master Blacksmith of Novigrad, will have this for sale upon completion of the side mission "Of Swords and Dumplings." Visit the location to initiate the mission.
Griffin School Gear - Basic
Griffin Steel Sword:
This diagram is at an abandoned ruin called Hindhold. It sits on an island located east of the Novigrad Border Post.
Enter the ruin and head to the top. On the roof, Geralt will run into a pesky group of harpies and their nest. Clear that out and enter the wood door to locate the diagram on the body of a skeleton.
Griffin Silver Sword:
The silver sword diagram can be found at the tower near the Lornruk fast-travel marker.
When Geralt arrives it will appear as if there is no way across the raised draw bridge. If he makes his way down to the water, near the Place of Power, he will be able to find an underwater cave. This will lead him to a secret chamber beneath the tower. Once Geralt makes his way to the top, look for the grindstone symbol. There is a ladder built into the building that leads to both it and the chest containing the diagram.
The chest is surrounded by several packages and barrels.
Griffin Armor (Complete):
The complete set of basic Griffin Armor diagrams are found within Dragonslayer's Grotto. This ancient Elven ruin is found west of Reardon Manor and the village of Downwarren.
Enter the main chamber and hang on the left. Geralt will enter a corridor with vines hanging down. Make sure to use the witcher senses here to reveal a hidden destructible wall section. Use Aard to knock the wall out and enter the hallway that is revealed. The hallway is filled with plosion gas clouds, requiring Geralt to again use Aard to clear the air. The diagram can be found on an elevated section of the main chamber.
Griffin School Gear Upgrades - Part 1
The first upgrade quest includes the following diagrams: Enhanced Griffin Steel Sword, Enhanced Griffin Boots, Enhanced Griffin Trousers.
Enhanced Griffin Steel Sword:
This diagram is located in the heart of a bandit camp situated on the west coast of Velen.
In the center of the camp there are several dilapidated structures. Look for a small set of stairs on one side that leads to a chest. The diagram waits inside.
Enhanced Griffin Boots:
The diagram for the boots is located in a somewhat obscure set of ruins in the north of Velen. The nearest fast-travel marker with easy access is Inn at the Crossroads. The structure is clearly visible on the map.
Be careful when approaching the ruins as a mid-level forktail flies overhead. It may be possible to avoid combat with stealth, but it is not likely. The chest is found in a small alcove near the northwest corner.
Enhanced Griffin Trousers:
The trousers are located at the Burned Ruins, which sit just east of Crow's Perch.
The chest is easy to find with Geralt's witcher senses; look in the smoking pile of rubble.
Griffin School Gear Upgrades - Part 2
The second quest in the upgrade series consists of diagrams for: Enhanced Griffin Armor (Chest), Enhanced Griffin Gauntlets, and Enhanced Griffin Silver Sword.
Enhanced Griffin Gauntlets:
This diagram is located near the Frischlow fast-travel point in southern Velen. From the village, head south until Geralt reaches a Guarded Treasure point in a cemetery.
The area Geralt needs to access is blocked by a massive rock. Use Aard to blast it away.
The chamber contains both the treasure and the diagram, which sits in a chest to the right.
Enhanced Griffin Armor (Chest):
The enhanced chest armor is located at the White Eagle Fort, a small encampment just outside Oxenfurt. There is a Rock Troll there and the interaction must be experienced! No Spoilers!
The diagram can be found to the left when facing the Troll's...fort.
Enhanced Griffin Silver Sword:
The silver sword diagram is located just south of the Ancient Oak, in a cave. The Crossroads fast-travel point is technically closer, but Geralt might not find it until this mission.
Watch out for the Bear that guards the entrance to the cave. Once Geralt is in, the chest is found near the very back, half sunk into the ground.
Griffin School Gear Upgrades - Part 3
The third quest in the upgrade series contains the following diagrams: Superior Griffin SIlver Sword, Superior Griffin Steel Sword, and Superior Griffin Armor (Complete).
Superior Griffin Steel Sword:
These superior diagrams will take Geralt to the beautiful, rain-swept Skellige Isles! To find the silver sword diagram, travel to Yngvar's Fang on An Skellig (northeast of the main island).
Heading west, take Geralt down the mountain until he finds a small village. In the northeastern corner of the village sits a shrine guarded by three bandits.
Look behind the shrine to find the diagram.
Superior Griffin Silver Sword:
This diagram is located in a cave near the southernmost point of the main island of Ard Skellig. If Geralt has access to the Elverum Lighthouse fast-travel point, that will be the closest. Otherwise, traveling down from Holmstein's Point is likely the best bet.
The cave has at least two entrances, though the best bet is to follow the quest marker. Once inside, look for a large Elven grave, the chest is directly beyond that.
Superior Griffin Armor (Complete):
To find the complete set of armor diagrams, Geralt must simply make his way up the beach from the Giants' Toes fast-travel marker.
The entire beach is swarming with pirates and bandits, so be prepared for a fight. The chest awaits at the very end of the path, sitting between some rocks and an old boat.
Griffin School Gear Upgrades - Part 4
The final quest in the upgrade series contains all the Mastercrafted Griffin diagrams.
Mastercrafted Griffin Steel Sword:
This diagram can be found on the main island in Skellige. Go to the Boxholm fast-travel marker and look for the large crumbling building just east of it.
The diagram can be found by climbing the ledges here.
Once Geralt has climbed up, turn left and look for the chest in the pile of junk.
Mastercrafted Griffin Silver Sword:
The silver sword diagram is located across the swamp from the Fornhala fast-travel marker.
When heading east across the swamp, look out for the Lvl. 20 cockatrice. Once Geralt reaches the location, the diagram can be found inside the base of the tall structure. There is only one room, so it is hard to miss.
Mastercrafted Griffin Armor (Complete):
The full armor set can be found north of the Redgill fast-travel point. There is a question mark that hides an Aard Place of Power in the same location.
The entrance to the area is guarded by a Lvl. 30 cyclops, so make sure Geralt is prepared. The chest containing the diagrams is located just past the Place of Power.
A Note On Grandmaster Gear:
The final Mastercrafted armor diagrams mark the final pieces of the School of the Griffin Witcher Gear in the base version of The Witcher 3. However, a new upgrade tier known as Grandmaster Gear was released with the Blood & Wine expansion. Given that this tier is tied to its own unique quest, it is not included here.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is currently available for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. The next-gen update for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S will be available December 14th.