Posted July 06, 2015
pocketnunu: Invest points in Axii. Use it on bandits, especially ones with shields or 2 handed axes or pikes - with Axii, they'll lower their shields and weapons where you can go in for the kill. Works also on some monsters to stun or stagger, giving you a chance for clear, solid hits. You will also be able to influence people in dialogue. Very helpful.
THIS. I was lvl 4 like you when I arrived in Velen, and against all those lvl 9-10 humans, Axii is great. I don't know if you need to upgrade it or not, but when you stun a human enemy with it, you can instakill him then. Also, as others have noted, following the main quest is a good idea. In Velen I mostly did side quests first, because I figured main quests at lvl 5 were actually the start of questlines leading you to higher level stuff... except they don't, not in Velen. All the main quest in Velen can be done at lvl 5-8. I was lvl 12 and definitely overleveled when I finished the main questline in the swamp, and one particular monster that should have been the "boss" of that quest was disappointingly easy...