Hello, I'm planning on doing an insane swordsman build, so as part of the fun, I'm making a list with the best equipment on each chapter so I can try to make the best character to face the the difficulties of each area (of course the first chapter will be the hardest though). Prologue is kinda irrelevant though.

Please help me.
Chapter 1
Best silver sword:
Best steel sword: Red Meteorite sword?
Best armor: Kayran?

Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Best silver sword: Zekkikanterment/Addan Deith
Best steel sword: Caerme
Best armor: Vran/Ysgith
Other: Elven blood set

Please feel free to help me with the items or adding boots, etc.

Act 1: These are what I usually finish the act with:
Witcher's Superb Silver Sword
Jagged Blade (steel)
Kayran Armor

Act 2: Lots of choices, and which ones you can get depend on which path you choose and how you play some side quests. These are just some of the outstanding ones.
Robust (Yellow, Red, Blue) Meteorite Sword (silver)
Blood Sword (silver, Roche's path)
Gwyhyr (steel, Iorveth's path)
Mahakaman Sihil (steel, Roche's path)
Thyssen's Armor (Iorveth's path)
Zireael's Armor (Roche's path)
Armor of Loc Muinne
Draug Armor


Act 3:
Forgotten Vran Sword (steel, Roche's path)
Caerme (steel)
Addan Deith (silver)
Zerrikanterment (silver, Iorveth's path)
Armor of Ysgith
Vran Armor

Meteorite swords are all silver swords, and I'm pretty sure you can't get any without mods in Chapter I -- don't think that either the swords themselves or the diagrams are available anywhere until Chapter II.

Chapter I's choices are fairly limited. There's the Jagged Blade for a steel sword, for instance; it requires some Endrega farming unless you're lucky, since you can only craft one and you can't buy the required Endrega teeth AFAICT.

I prefer the Superb Witcher's Silver Sword to the Sword of Kaer Morhen, since the former has a rune slot (to which I like to add a fire rune) and the latter doesn't. They're both somewhat late in the chapter.

Armor is likewise limited; you've got your Blue Stripes Combat Jacket, the Hunter's Armor and the Kayran Armor. The last requires a somewhat expensive diagram and may not be worth it.

Zerrikanterment is perhaps not optimal for a swordsman specialist; it's crowning feature is the heavy sign damage bonus, IIRC.

You can get the Superb Silver Sword early in Act 1; the crafting diagram is part of the Nekker Contract reward. Doing this before the Endrega Contract or Melitele's Heart is a win.

My last Geralt was a bomb-throwing alchemist; Thyssen's Armor was perfect for him. And even though he wasn't much of a swordsman, Caerme and Addan Deith allowed him to do a good impression of one.

@ lw2jgog
You can buy endrega teeth from Anezka in Lobinden. Usually only 4 or 5 at a time, but she sells them.


@ cjrgreen

You can buy the diagram for Draug armor in Chapter 2 buy you don't get all the needed crafting materials until Chapter 3, so it's really a Chapter 3 armor.

To get the Superb Silver Sword diagram from Louis Merse, you have to complete BOTH the Nekker and Endrega Contracts.

About the Superb Witcher Sword . . .

I don't want to get into a pissing match with you as in "my playthroughs are better than your playthroughs, neener, neener!", but . . .

I just reloaded a savegame (patch 1.3) and did the Nekker contract alone, without finishing the Endrega contract. I went to Louis Merse and interrupted him as he was giving a pickle tickle to Mrs. Merse. He gave me a reward for the Nekkers, but no diagram for Superb Witcher Sword.

In the scheme of things for other players, it really doesn't matter. They should do both quests anyway and it's easier doing them at the same time.

Oh? Bugger. Checked Cedric, the Mysterious Merchant, some F-named merchant in the center, the dwarven smith, and Sendler... neglected to check her inventory enough.

I suppose killing the Endregas was more fun than buying them. :P

Witcher Rule #7. Witchers don't buy things, they kill things.

SPOILER,

Yes because you have to defeat the Draugh (Chapter 3 Boss) for the last item. And then the battle starts, so there are no merchants at that point.

There is an interesting new mod called "All Rare Weapons and Armor_ But Balanced for Normal Play" over at witchernexus.com. Looks like it could be fun, if you have become bored with the same old "best-items-available-for-that-chapter".

There was a lot of times I would find a sword or armor late in the game that is now way too low in stats to be useful, but looks cool or has a fun effect. I find myself thinking how fun it would have been to have had it back at a an earlier chapter.

http://www.witchernexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=168

Cheers!

Actually, on my 3rd playthrough, I imported my save files from TW1 ( they were on Vista and I am playing this in Windows 7, so used a Flash Drive ). Had the Aerondight Silver sword and forgot the Steel. I also had some realy good armor, that I am still using as it is better the the blue stripes armor. Actually, it is better than what I've seen so far ( just left Flotsam).

There is some good stuff in the game, but you have to take your time. Some come as a result of a quest, but some really good stuff can be found in caves and stuff, if you take the time to look.