Witcher 3 Money Making: Merchant & Bandit Farming
This guide explains two reliable ways to earn crowns in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: selling loot to merchants at the best prices and repeatedly clearing bandit camps. You’ll learn the exact steps to maximize profit from both methods, what to sell, and how to avoid common pitfalls. No mods or exploits are needed—just in-game knowledge and a bit of patience.
What You’ll Need
- A character level of at least 10 (for better loot and access to richer merchants).
- The ability to fast travel (unlocked early in the game).
- At least one repair kit or a blacksmith to repair your gear (bandit farming damages equipment).
- A decent sword and some food or swallow potions for healing.
- Optional: The “Strong Back” skill (increases carry weight) or the “Gourmet” skill (extends food regen) to make farming sessions longer.
Step-by-Step
Part 1: Merchant Selling – Getting the Best Prices
- Identify the best merchants: Not all merchants pay the same. The best prices for general goods are usually found in Novigrad, especially at the merchant near the Passiflora (the brothel) and the armorer in the square. For weapons and armor, the smiths in Novigrad and Oxenfurt pay more than rural traders. Use the fast travel signposts to reach these cities quickly.
- Loot everything from human enemies: Bandits, soldiers, and monsters drop weapons, armor, and hides. Pick up every sword, mace, and piece of armor that isn’t too heavy. The weight adds up, so prioritize items with a good value-to-weight ratio (e.g., swords and heavy armor are worth more per pound than pelts).
- Sell to the right merchant: Sell weapons to a blacksmith, armor to an armorer, and general junk (hides, pelts, monster parts) to a merchant or herbalist. Merchants specialize: they pay more for items they deal in, and they also have more gold to buy them.
- Use the “Haggling” perk: If you have the “Haggling” skill (from the Axii tree), you can get a 10% better price when selling. This is a long-term investment that pays off if you sell a lot.
- Wait for merchants to restock gold: Merchants have a limited amount of gold. If they run out, you can’t sell to them. Meditate for 24 hours (or fast travel to a different region and back) to reset their gold. This is essential for bulk selling.
- Sell in bulk: Instead of selling a few items at a time, wait until you have a full inventory of loot, then sell everything at once to a single merchant. This saves time and lets you take advantage of the merchant’s full gold pool.
Part 2: Bandit Farming – Repeatable Income
- Find a bandit camp: Look for camps marked on your map with a red skull icon (if you’re lower level) or a sword icon. The best camps for farming are those with 4-6 bandits and a chest or two. Some good early locations include the camp near the “Abandoned Site” east of White Orchard, and the camps along the Pontar River in Velen.
- Clear the camp: Kill all bandits. Use stealth or a combination of signs (Aard to knock them down, Igni for damage) to make the fight easier. Loot every body—they drop weapons, armor, and sometimes gems.
- Loot the chests and containers: Bandit camps usually have a few chests or barrels containing valuables like jewelry, crafting materials, and sometimes crowns. Take everything.
- Fast travel to a merchant: After looting, use fast travel to go to a city (e.g., Novigrad) and sell your haul. This is the key to making money: the loot is worthless if you don’t sell it.
- Return to the camp: Fast travel back to the camp. The bandits will have respawned (usually after a few in-game days or after you’ve been away for a while). Clear it again, loot, sell, repeat. This is a reliable, repeatable source of income.
- Optimize your route: Find a camp that is close to a fast travel signpost and a merchant. For example, the camp near the “Crossroads” signpost in Velen is close to the merchant at the “Inn at the Crossroads.” This minimizes travel time.
Common Mistakes
- Selling to the wrong merchant: Selling swords to a general merchant gets you half the price. Always match the item type to the merchant.
- Not checking merchant gold: If a merchant has no gold, you can’t sell. Always check their gold amount before starting a selling spree.
- Over-encumbered: Picking up too much loot slows you down. Sell or drop low-value items like pelts (they weigh a lot and sell for little).
- Ignoring repair costs: If your gear breaks, you’ll spend a fortune on repairs. Keep a repair kit or visit a smith regularly.
- Farming camps that are too high level: If you’re level 5 and the camp has level 15 bandits, you’ll die and lose time. Choose camps appropriate to your level.
Tips
- Invest in the “Gourmet” skill: It makes food regen last 20 minutes, so you can heal between fights without using potions.
- Use the “Strong Back” skill: Increases your carry weight by 60, allowing you to loot more before having to sell.
- Dismantle jewelry: Instead of selling rings and necklaces, dismantle them at a blacksmith. They yield precious stones and gold dust, which sell for more than the original item.
- Don’t buy gear: You’ll find better weapons and armor from loot. Save your crowns for runestones, glyphs, and Gwent cards.
- Complete side quests: Many quests reward you with crowns or valuable items. They also level you up, making bandit farming easier.
Troubleshooting
- Merchants are out of gold: Meditate for 24 hours or fast travel to a different region and back. This resets their gold.
- Bandits don’t respawn: Usually, bandits respawn after a few in-game days. If they don’t, try fast traveling to a different region and returning, or meditate for 48 hours.
- You’re dying to bandits: Use Quen sign to shield yourself, dodge instead of rolling, and use Aard to stagger enemies. If the camp is too high level, find a lower-level camp.
- You’re over-encumbered: Use a fast travel signpost to get to a merchant immediately. If you’re in the wilderness, drop the heaviest items (like pelts) to free up space.
- Item prices seem too low: Check if you’re selling to the correct merchant type. Also, the “Haggling” skill increases prices—consider respecing if you’ve invested elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to make money in Witcher 3?
Combining merchant selling with bandit farming is one of the most consistent methods. Loot everything, sell to the right merchants, and repeat. You can also make money from Gwent (betting) and selling alchemy ingredients, but those are less reliable.
How do I increase merchant gold?
Merchants have a fixed gold pool that resets after you meditate for 24 hours or fast travel away and back. You can’t increase the pool, but you can wait for it to reset.
Should I sell or dismantle weapons and armor?
Generally, sell weapons and armor for crowns. Dismantle only when you need specific crafting materials (like silver or leather) or for jewelry that yields precious stones.
What items should I never sell?
Never sell alchemy ingredients (herbs, monster parts) unless you have an excess. They’re needed for potions and oils. Also, keep any item with a green or gold border—those are quest items or unique gear.
Do bandit camps respawn infinitely?
Yes, most bandit camps respawn indefinitely. The respawn timer is roughly 2-3 in-game days. You can keep farming the same camp for as long as you want.
Is it better to farm bandits or do quests for money?
Quests give more crowns per hour, but bandit farming is more reliable and can be done at any level. For pure grinding, bandit farming is faster; for a mix of fun and money, do quests.
Related
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