The werewolves in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt have an intriguing, and sometimes annoying, ability to regenerate health. This makes encounters with the beasts particularly challenging and can prolong the fight if Geralt isn’t adequately equipped for the situation. The journal and bestiary shed some insight into the nature of werewolves and other monsters in The Witcher 3, like foglets or leshens, but it doesn’t fully explain why they have this healing factor. However, the reason behind werewolves’ regeneration is quite easy to figure out.

Werewolves are formidable enemies in The Witcher 3, and Geralt can effectively employ several strategies to defeat them. Using the silver sword with cursed oil is a good approach, but it doesn’t counteract the monster’s ability to heal. The brute force method to prevent werewolves from healing is constantly attacking them, but this is risky as they can deal massive damage if given the opportunity. The critical point is that silver is a werewolf’s greatest vulnerability, and constant exposure to it can inhibit their regenerative abilities. Witchers who understand how this ability works can then exploit this weakness with more than just the two swords in The Witcher 3.

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Werewolves have a healing factor so that the body’s cells can withstand the often violent transformation process. Within a short period of time, human bones break and bend to fit the larger frame of the werewolf. This happens all over again when it turns back into a human. Those affected by this curse must have some accelerated healing attribute in order even to survive this trauma. Given this information, the best strategy to stop werewolves from healing is to use a bomb of Moon Dust, which contains silver splinters that inhibit the magical abilities of some monsters, including werewolves.

Witcher 3: Why Moon Dust Is So Effective Against Werewolves

Image of Geralt squaring off against a tall werewolf in the forest in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Beyond stating their practical application, the journal provides only a vague explanation about why bombs, potions, oils, etc., work against The Witcher 3’s biggest monsters. However, breaking down the ingredients used to make the items reveals some clues as to the reasoning behind their effectiveness. In the case of Moon Dust bombs, it's relatively easy to deduce how they prevent werewolves from healing. To craft Moon Dust, Geralt must find saltpeter and quicksilver solution. Saltpeter, also known as potassium nitrate in the real world, is a significant component of black powder and is often used in fireworks. This ingredient provides the boom for Moon Dust, but the quicksilver solution makes it especially effective against werewolves.

Quicksilver solution provides the silver splinters that are released upon detonation. The fragments become stuck in the werewolf’s skin, and with constant exposure to its primary weakness, the wolf cannot use its healing ability. This proves just how viable bomb builds are in The Witcher 3. This effect of Moon Dust is improved when crafting better versions like Superior Moon Dust, which requires a plant called Hop Umbels, whose pollen is particularly effective against magic. As the pollen clings to the enemy, inhibiting magical abilities, it’s possible that it can help the adherence of smaller shards of silver, further exposing werewolves to their weakness and making them easier to fight in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

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