You're riding Roach through the rain-slicked bogs of Velen when a strange, humming light catches your eye. That’s it. That’s the rush. Most players see places of power Witcher 3 icons on their map and think "Oh, cool, a temporary buff." But if you’re playing on Death March or just trying to turn Geralt into a walking god, these stone monoliths are actually the most important landmarks in the game. They aren't just scenery. They are literally free levels.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild how many people skip them. Each one you draw from gives you an Ability Point. In a game where leveling up starts to feel like a massive grind once you hit the mid-20s, finding these stones is the only way to max out your combat or sign trees without spending forty hours hunting drowners.
The Hidden Math Behind the Magic
Let’s get technical for a second. When you interact with one of these stones, you get two things. First, a 30-minute boost to a specific Sign’s intensity. If you hit an Igni stone, your fire gets hotter. Simple. But the second thing—the Ability Point—is permanent. You get one point per stone. There are roughly 30 of these scattered across the Continent and its DLCs. That’s 30 levels worth of power sitting out in the woods.
You’ve probably noticed that the game doesn't just hand these out. Usually, there's a guard. A Level 20 Leshen might be stalking the woods near a stone when you’re only Level 8. It’s a gamble. Do you sprint in, tap the stone while the monster is winding up an attack, and pray you don't get one-shotted? Most of the time, yeah, that’s the play.
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Why White Orchard is the MVP
If you leave the starting area of White Orchard without hitting all six places of power Witcher 3 offers, you’re basically playing with one hand tied behind your back. Think about it. You start the game at Level 1. By the time you kill the Griffin and head to Vizima, you could have six extra points. That is enough to fully upgrade Delusion (Axi) so you can talk your way out of fights, or dump everything into Muscle Memory for that sweet fast-attack damage.
I've seen players struggle through the Bloody Baron’s questline because their build is "thin." They have the levels, but they don't have the points to specialize. Don't be that guy. Spend twenty minutes riding around the orchards. It’s worth it.
Mapping the Continent’s Veins
Velen is a nightmare. It’s huge, it’s muddy, and the stones are spread out like salt on a steak. You’ll find one tucked away on a cliffside near the Whispering Hillock, but good luck getting to it without triggering a fight with a werewolf or a pack of wolves.
Skellige is even worse for the completionists. You have to sail. A lot. But the rewards in the Isles are some of the best in the game because they are often tucked into areas you only visit during major story beats. For example, there’s one during the "King’s Gambit" quest that is actually missable if you don't choose a specific path or explore the cellar of Kaer Trolde properly. It’s annoying, sure, but that’s the Witcher for you. Nothing is truly free.
The Touissant Power Spike
When the Blood and Wine DLC dropped, CD Projekt Red knew we were all overpowered. They gave us the Mutation system. To unlock the high-tier mutations like "Euphoria" or "Piercing Cold," you need dozens of Ability Points. This is where the places of power Witcher 3 locations in the Duchy of Toussaint become mandatory. There are five here. If you’ve been hoarding points, these five are the final ingredients for a "broken" build.
One stone in Toussaint is hidden behind a breakable wall in a ruin. You’d walk right past it if you weren't listening for that low-frequency hum. That sound is your best friend. Even if you can't see the glow through the trees, the audio cue is a dead giveaway that you're near a power source.
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Don't Fall for These Common Mistakes
People think the buff doesn't stack. They’re right. You can’t hit two Quen stones and get a 40% shield boost. It just refreshes the timer. However, you can have multiple different Sign buffs active at once. If you’re fast enough or have a fast horse, you can stack an Igni buff and a Quen buff before heading into a boss fight like Eredin or a tough Witcher Contract.
Another thing? The "Draw from" animation. It takes a few seconds. In the middle of a fight, that's an eternity. I’ve watched friends try to "mid-combat buff" only to get smacked by a Golem. Clear the area first. Or, if you're feeling spicy, use the Axii sign on the guardian to buy yourself the five seconds you need to kneel down and siphon the energy.
- Velen/Novigrad: 8 Stones total. Most are in the wilderness; one is deep underground during "Wandering in the Dark" with Keira Metz.
- Skellige: 9 Stones. Several are on tiny islands that require a boat and a lot of patience.
- Kaer Morhen: Only 1. It’s near the cave where you do the Trial of the Grasses quest. Hard to miss if you're looking for it.
- Toussaint: 5 Stones. Generally easier to find but often guarded by high-level "Wight" or "Scolopendromorph" enemies.
Building Your Geralt Around the Stones
Because these points are static—meaning they are always in the same spot every playthrough—you can plan your build from hour one. If you know you want to go deep into the Alchemy tree to use three decoctions at once, you need a lot of "filler" points to unlock the bottom-tier skills.
The places of power Witcher 3 offers are the "filler" you need. Instead of waiting to hit Level 30 to get your capstone skill, you can have it by Level 20 just by exploring. It changes the entire rhythm of the game. You stop being a victim of the level-scaling and start becoming the predator.
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Kinda makes you wonder why the other Witchers aren't constantly hanging out at these stones. Maybe they are, and Geralt is just the only one lucky enough to find them before they're "empty." Actually, the lore suggests these stones are intersections of Ley Lines, basically magical plumbing that occasionally leaks. Geralt is just a magical plumber with two swords.
Final Steps for Your Journey
If you’re staring at a map of Velen and feeling overwhelmed, take a breath. You don't need to hunt them all at once. Start with the ones in White Orchard to get your foundation. Once you reach the mid-game, prioritize the stones that match your playstyle. If you lean heavily on the "Quen" shield, make a detour for those specific monoliths before any major story mission.
Check your map for "Unknown Locations" (the little white question marks). In Skellige, if a question mark is on a high peak or a lonely island, there's a 50% chance it's a place of power. Keep your ears open for that humming sound, and always keep a few Grapeshot bombs handy—most of these sites are guarded by monsters that don't take kindly to a Witcher stealing their mojo. Go get those points and stop settling for a mediocre build.