What's more to the point, defying miscellaneous creatures requires you to perform a particular strike and apply specific swordfighting styles depending on the enemy's origin and its basic characteristics. Silver and steel fighting styles represent sub-styles in combat. If, by chance, you come across a werewolf or similar entities, using the silver style will, understandably, induce greater damage than resorting to the typical steel technique. Every once in a while, it's possible to use magically enhanced ruins and upgrade weapons. In order to do so, of course, you're gonna have to pay a visit to the local smithy.
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As you travel through the realm and fight against monsters, scores of potions will be available and could enhance the character's skills. Most of these though, come with certain side effects. Drinking alcohol, for instance, blurs the character's vision and severely influences his combat abilities. The good thing is that drinking alcohol improves Geralt's social skills, which makes it easier for him to gather information from certain NPCs. Other potions may cause other debilitating side effects such as temporary blindness or significant decrease in a particular attribute.
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