In this Guide, we will explain how to obtain the Griffin Armour set in The Witcher 3. It’s also sometimes called the Gryphon School Armour.
The Griffin Armour is a medium armour set that buffs your stamina regeneration and sign intensity, and when upgraded to Mastercrafted level or higher, it also allows you to cast an additional sign for free each time you cast a sign in Standard Mode, and enhances your Yrden Sign with a larger radius, a damage-over-time AOE effect, and damage mitigation for Geralt while he is standing inside his Yrden AOE.
For these reasons, the Griffin Armour is very powerful and can be used in builds that are focused on enhancing Geralt’s sign-casting abilities, such as this Piercing Cold Aard Build.
Fairly early in the game (after you finish in White Orchard), you can obtain the basic level of the Griffin Armour by finding the diagrams to craft each piece. Then collect the required materials and pay an Armourer or Weaponsmith to craft them for you. As the game progresses, you’ll be able to find, craft and equip upgraded versions of the armour, going through the following tiers:
- Standard (Level 11)
- Enhanced (Level 18)
- Superior (Level 26)
- Mastercrafted (Level 31)
- Grandmaster (Level 40, Requires Blood and Wine DLC).
The Mastercrafted and Grandmaster tiers will unlock the special abilities for Geralt’s Signs, mentioned above. The lower tiers only give stat boosts; however, Witcher Gear is considerably stronger than any other armour you’re likely to obtain at a similar level.
Below are the locations for the diagrams of each piece of Griffin Armour, tier by tier.
How to Find the Standard Griffin Armour in The Witcher 3
To start your Griffin Armour set in The Witcher 3, you’ll first need to craft the standard tier armour and weapons. You need to be at least level 11 to equip them.
Here are all of the locations for the standard tier Griffin Armour:
Griffin Silver Sword Location
There’s a small island just off the coast of northwest Velen, on which there is a lighthouse. A Wyvern nests in the lighthouse, which you’ll probably need to defeat. Explore the lighthouse to find the diagram for the Griffin Silver Sword.
Griffin Steel Sword Location
The Griffin Steel Sword diagram is located on another island, this time in the river dividing Velen from the Oxenfurt and Novigrad area. You can reach the island by crossing marshland from the south or a broken bridge from the north. Whichever route you choose, you’ll probably be attacked by Drowners on the way.
On the island, an abandoned watchtower contains some Endrega enemies you’ll need to beat. After you get past them, you can explore the Watchtower to find the diagram for the Griffin Steel Sword.
Griffin Armour Location
The Diagrams for the Griffin Armour, Gloves, Boots and Trousers are all found in the same location. They’re in a dungeon called Dragonslayer’s Grotto, hidden away in the forest directly northwest of Downwarren village. You’ll need to beat some Wraiths and an Ekimmara to get the diagram – remember to use the Yrden sign to force them into physical form during the fight.
How to Find the Enhanced Griffin Armour in The Witcher 3
After obtaining the standard versions of the Griffin Armour, you can upgrade them to their Enhanced version. You need to be level 18 to equip this tier of Griffin Armour.
Here are the locations for the Enhanced Griffin Armour Diagrams in The Witcher 3:
Enhanced Griffin Silver Sword Location
Follow the road south from the Ancient Oak. Turn left at the crossroads, and you will find a cave. Explore the cave to find the Enhanced Griffin Silver Sword diagram.
Enhanced Griffin Steel Sword Location
On the coast west of the village of Midcopse, you can find a bandit camp. Defeat the bandits and explore the camp to find a chest containing the diagram for the Enhanced Griffin Steel Sword.
Enhanced Griffin Chest Location
The Enhanced Griffin Chest Diagram is in a chest at White Eagle Fort, just west of Oxenfurt. You will also find a singing troll here. The chest with the diagram is located in the ruined building.
Enhanced Griffin Boots Location
On the coast to the northwest of the Inn at the Crossroads, there are some ruined buildings. Explore the ruins to find a chest containing the diagram for the Enhanced Griffin Boots.
Enhanced Griffin Trousers Location
Find the Burned Ruins just east of Crow’s Perch. Smoke rises from the ruins, and inside you can find a chest containing the diagram for the Enhanced Griffin Trousers.
Enhanced Griffin Gloves Location
At the southern edge of Velen is a haunted village called Frischlow, inhabited only by Wraiths who will attack you if you enter. Defeat the Wraiths, and you can then explore the village freely. Find the graveyard, then find the nearby cave. A Noonwraith guards the cave.
After defeating it, you can enter the cave and find the diagram for the Enhanced Griffin Gloves inside a chest.
How to Find the Superior Griffin Armour in The Witcher 3
Once you have the Enhanced Griffin Armour, you can upgrade it to the next tier, called Superior Griffin Armour. You need to be level 26 to equip this tier.
Below are the diagram locations for the Superior Griffin Armour in The Witcher 3:
Superior Griffin Silver Sword Location
Near the southern tip of Ard Skellig (the largest island in Skellige), head northeast from Elverum Lighthouse, along the coast. You will come to a cave. Explore the cave until you find the large room with the statue. At the rear of this chamber, you can find a chest that contains the diagram for the Superior Griffin Silver Sword.
Superior Griffin Steel Sword Location
On the small island of An Skellig, on the northern side. Slide down the mountain from the Yngvar’s Fang Signpost, then follow the road until you encounter a tall pointy rock. If you use your Witcher Senses, you can identify the correct rock because it has a Witcher symbol carved into its face. Behind the rock is a chest that contains the diagram for the Superior Griffin Steel Sword.
Superior Griffin Armour Location
Back on Ard Skellig, at the north-eastern tip of the island, there is a Signpost called Giant’s Toes. There is a path here dominated by rock formations, such as rocky archways. Follow this path to the end, clearing out any enemies along the way.
At the end, you will find a camp; look around the area to find a chest containing the diagrams for Superior Griffin Chest, Gloves, Boots and Trousers.
How to Find the Mastercrafted Griffin Armour in The Witcher 3
Once you have the Superior Griffin Armour, you can upgrade it to Mastercrafted level. This is the first tier where the additional set bonuses from Witcher Gear activate, making the armour significantly more powerful when you wear a full set. You need to be level 31 to equip it.
To craft the armour, you’ll need to secure the services of a master armourer and a master weaponsmith. You’ll need to complete a quest for each to use their services. To start the quest for the master armourer, talk to the blacksmith in Crow’s Perch; for the weaponsmith, speak to Hattori in Novigrad.
Below are the locations for all of the Mastercrafted Griffin Armour Diagrams in The Witcher 3:
Mastercrafted Griffin Silver Sword Location
On Ard Skellig, there are some ruins across the lake from the Fornhala Signpost. Among these ruins, you can find a chest which contains the diagram for the Mastercrafted Silver Sword.
Mastercrafted Griffin Steel Sword Location
Still on Ard Skellig, head down the path that leads east from the Boxholm Signpost. The path leads to some ruins, guarded by an Earth Elemental. Defeat the boss and then explore the ruins. The chest contains the diagram for the Mastercrafted Griffin Steel Sword.
Mastercrafted Griffin Armour Location
Once again, we can get all four armour diagrams in one place! On the eastern coast of Ard Skellig, roughly halfway between the Whale Graveyard and Redgill Signposts, another set of ruins is guarded by a Cyclops.
After defeating the cyclops, climb to the upper level of the ruin, where you’ll find a Place of Power and a couple of chests. One of these chests contains the diagrams for the Mastercrafted Griffin Chest, Boots, Gloves, and Trousers.
How to Find the Grandmaster Griffin Armour in The Witcher 3
We’ve finally reached the highest-tier version of the Griffin Armour in The Witcher 3. To get this tier, you’ll need the Blood and Wine DLC. To craft these items, you’ll need to secure the services of the Grandmaster Smith. You can find him in Beauclair, and you’ll need to complete a quest for him before he’ll make the items. You need to be level 40 to equip Grandmaster Griffin Armour.
The diagrams are grouped in two locations, so you don’t have to run around to too many different places to find them.
The first three diagrams are found in Fort Ussar Ruins, on the eastern edge of Toussaint. Explore the ruins to find a chest beneath some fallen debris. This chest contains the diagrams for the Grandmaster Griffin Steel Sword, Gloves and Boots.
The remaining diagrams can be found a little way to the north of the first, in Mont Crane Castle. You’ll need to defeat some bandits hiding in the castle before you can properly explore it. You’ll need to dispel an illusion on the far wall of the castle and use your Witcher Senses to access a secret passageway that leads to a dungeon.
Progress through the dungeon until you reach the area guarded by the Elemental enemy. Defeat the boss and then explore the area. You can find the trousers diagram on a desk, the silver sword diagram on a table, and the chest diagram in a bookshelf.
