The Witcher 3: All Bombs (& How To Use Them)

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is well known for its wealth of amazing content, from the size of the world, to the huge number of items Geralt can discover and craft. Aside from being a master monster hunter, it turns out he is also something of a master craftsman. This certainly works in his favor, as there is a staggeringly high number of craftable items in The Witcher 3.

Related: The Witcher 3 Potions: Recipes, Effects, and Ingredients.

Some of the most valuable items that Geralt can craft are his throwable bombs. With a wide range of applications, these weapons remain important throughout the entire game. And with multiple tiers of upgrades on top of the base item, completing the full list of every available bomb will keep Geralt busy for quite some time. This guide will provide players with a comprehensive list of everything required to both craft and upgrade all bombs in The Witcher 3.

Updated by Christopher Norman Worcester on May 9, 2023: With the release of the next-gen update, we’ve added a comprehensive list of materials required to craft and upgrade each bomb, as well as a basic explanation of their uses.

10 How to Craft and Upgrade Bombs in The Witcher 3

Geralt will begin his journey in The Witcher 3 with two bomb types ready to be crafted: Samum and Grapeshot. These will be enough to begin the journey, but represent a tiny fraction of what’s available.

To craft bombs, Geralt must wait until he is free to roam White Orchard. Once there, he can access the Alchemy section from the pause menu. This section represents the items that Geralt can craft on his own, as opposed to weapons and armor, which must be taken to the blacksmith and armorer, respectively. This will include things like Witcher 3‘s decoctions and potions, as well as bombs.

Other than the Grapeshot and Samum, Geralt will have to find or buy the base and upgrade manuscripts for every bomb. The fastest route to collecting all manuscripts is to simply buy them. There are a select few Herbalists and Alchemy Supply merchants that carry many of the manuscripts.

It is also possible to find manuscripts through exploration, but many of them are randomly assigned to chests on each playthrough. Any manuscript that is likely to be in a single, specific area will be noted in its corresponding section. Once Geralt acquires a manuscript, he can craft it in the Alchemy section. Bombs only have to be crafted once. After that, meditating will automatically refill all charges of every bomb.

9 How to Use Bombs in The Witcher 3

Bombs can be extremely powerful tools in The Witcher 3. The key to knowing exactly how to use them lies in the pages of Geralt’s trusty bestiary. Once Geralt kills a beast, it will be added to the list, and included with that will be all of its vulnerabilities. Geralt can use this information to try and guess exactly what other monsters may be vulnerable to. And remember, if a beast is vulnerable to the base version of a bomb, it will be vulnerable to all versions of it.

Equipping a desired bomb has become incredibly easy with the next-gen update. Go to the inventory and select a bomb to equip from the ‘Oils, Potions, Bombs’ section. Once it is equipped, pull up Geralt’s weapon/sign wheel by holding L1/Left Bumper. The equipped bomb should show up at the 5 o’clock position. While holding the wheel open, hover over the bomb and use the d-pad to cycle through all available bombs.

When Geralt has the desired bomb selected, he can press R1/Right Bumper to throw at a locked target. Or, he can hold R1/Right Bumper to bring up a reticle and aim for himself. With this, Geralt is free to use his bombs whenever he chooses.

Related: The Witcher 3: Things You Should Never Spend Your Money On

8 Grapeshot

Although the Grapeshot is one of the earliest bombs Geralt will get his hands on, it will remain a viable tool throughout his time on the path. This bomb can be used in practically any combat encounter where physical damage is relevant.

The Grapeshot is one of a few bombs that can be used to destroy monster nests.

Enhanced Upgrade Diagram:

Purchase: Geralt can purchase the diagram from Otto Bamber at the Herbalist’s Hut located across the river from Oxenfurt’s Novigrad Gate.

Loot: When Geralt finds his way to the shores of Skellige, there are several crates and chests around him. The Enhanced Grapeshot diagram can be found here.

Superior Upgrade Manuscript:

Purchase: Gremist is a druid living on Skellige. Geralt must complete a side-quest before gaining access to his wares, but once he does, he can buy several superior bomb upgrade diagrams. He is found at Gedyneith.

Loot: This diagram is one of the infamous ‘random chest’ diagrams, and as such cannot be reliably labeled as being located at any one location. If trying to find it quickly, it is likely better to purchase the diagram from Gremist.

7 Samum

Samum is the second starting bomb, and can be used to temporarily blind enemies. Samum is particularly useful against enemies with eye-related attacks, like the Fiend. Be careful, however, as Geralt can blind himself if he’s too close to the explosion.

Like the Grapeshot, this bomb will also clear monster nests.

Enhanced Upgrade Manuscript:

Purchased From Otto Bamber: Herbalist found outside the Novigrad Gate in Oxenfurt.

Loot from Chest: No single location, can only be found randomly.

Superior Upgrade Manuscript:

Purchase: Gremist at Gedyneith

Loot from Chest: Randomized chest locations.

6 Dancing Star

Dancing Star is a powerful explosive bomb that has the ability to ignite enemies, or any flammable gas or material, for varying durations depending on upgrade level. Dancing Star is extremely effective against large groups of enemies, as well as those vulnerable to fire. This bomb is also a viable option for igniting the gas cloud created by Dragon’s Dream.

The Dancing Star bomb is capable of destroying monster nests.

Base Dancing Star Manuscript:

Purchase: Blacksmith, Oxenfurt.

Enhanced Dancing Star Manuscript:

Purchase: N/A

Loot: Available in the Elven ruins near Byways, can be found during “Wandering in the Dark.” Will also be available during “Swamp Thing,” in Ignis Fatuus’ cave.

Superior Dancing Star Manuscript:

Purchase: Gremist at Gedyneith

Loot: Destroyed Bastion, guarded by a Wyvern.

Related: The Witcher: The Most Powerful Mages, According To Lore

5 Moon Dust

The Moon Dust bomb is a specialized bomb that can be used against enemies that feature any kind of noticeable transformation. For example, several vampire creatures can turn invisible. However, when that same vampire is exposed to the silver shavings in Moon Dust, the transformation will not be possible. The length of the effect is increased with each upgrade level.

Unfortunately, Moon Dust’s limited application makes it ineffective against monster nests.

Base Moon Dust Manuscript:

Purchase: Keira Metz, when she opens up her shop at home; also sold by the Herbalist Shop in Novigrad.

Loot: Can be randomly found in chests.

Enhanced Moon Dust Manuscript:

Purchase: Halfling Herbalist shop in Novigrad, Herbalist shop in Kaer Trolde Harbor.

Loot: Lornruk Lighthouse, sleeping quarters chest.

Superior Moon Dust Manuscript:

Purchase: Gremist in Gedyneith

Loot: Guarded treasure near Seven Cats Inn; also, possible to find at Yustianna’s Grotto

4 Northern Wind

Northern Wind explodes with a burst of white frost, freezing enemies caught in the blast. Northern Wind can have several possible uses, usually centered around its ability to briefly immobilize Geralt’s foes. It can be a good option for faster humanoid enemies, stopping them dead in their tracks.

Geralt cannot use Northern Wind to destroy monster nests.

Base Northern Wind Manuscript:

Purchase: Sold by Keira Metz. Can also be purchased from the Herbalist’s Hut.

Loot: Randomly assigned chests.

Enhanced Northern Wind Manuscript:

Purchase: Can be purchased from the Herbalist at Kaer Trolde.

Loot: Randomly assigned chests.

Superior Northern Wind Manuscript:

Purchase: N/A

Loot: It is sometimes possible to find this manuscript in the Clan Tordarroch Forge cave, where the ‘Master Armorers’ quest takes Geralt. However, it has been reported by some players that this is not the case. It is likely a possible random location, and therefore not always accurate. There are several reported locations of this nature, including: behind a breakable wall in the Von Everic Family Crypt, the Arkstone Castle Ruins during “A Dark Legacy,” or in the Ancient Crypt on Ard Skellig.

3 Dimeritium Bomb

Dimeritium Bombs have the ability to block the use of magic, making them incredibly useful against any enemy that wields magic-infused attacks. The bomb releases a cloud of small dimeritium shards, temporarily affecting anything in its blast. These bombs are used to close the portals created by the Wild Hunt minions.

Given their nature, Dimeritium Bombs will not destroy monster nests.

Base Dimeritium Bomb Manuscript:

Purchase: Otto Bamber at Herbalist’s Hut

Loot: Elven ruins near Byways

Enhanced Dimeritium Bomb Manuscript:

Purchase: Herbalist in Kaer Trolde Harbor

Loot: Randomly assigned chests

Superior Dimeritium Bomb Manuscript:

Purchase: Gremist at Gedyneith

Loot: Randomly assigned chests.

Related: The Witcher 3: Best Character Arcs

2 Dragon’s Dream

Dragon’s Dream creates a cloud of flammable gas, which can be ignited with any type of flame. This allows Geralt to stagger an explosion after the initial detonation, making it possible to lure enemies into the cloud before igniting.

This bomb cannot clear monster nests.

Base Dragon’s Dream Manuscript:

Purchase: N/A

Loot: Randomly assigned chests, with reports that bandit camps in White Orchard and Velen have a high probability of rewarding the manuscript.

Enhanced Dragon’s Dream Manuscript:

Purchase: Herbalist shop in Novigrad, Herbalist shop in Kaer Trolde

Loot: Randomly assigned chests.

Superior Dragon’s Dream Manuscript:

Purchase: Gremist in Gedyneith

Loot: Randomly assigned chests.

1 Devil’s Puffball

The Devil’s Puffball releases a cloud of poison onto the field of combat, dealing damage to enemies over time. Many monsters are vulnerable to poison, including most forms of lower vampires. Devil’s Puffball is also very effective against large groups of humans, helping Geralt manage multiple attackers at once.

Devil’s Puffball does not clear monster nests.

Base Devil’s Puffball Manuscript:

Purchase: Blacksmith in Oxenfurt

Loot: Randomly assigned chests.

Enhanced Devil’s Puffball Manuscript:

Purchase: Halfling Herbalist in Novigrad, Herbalist in Kaer Trolde.

Loot: Later in the game, Geralt will find Thaler hanging out with some trolls in a cave. This cave will contain a copy of the manuscript.

Superior Devil’s Puffball Manuscript:

Purchase: Gremist in Gedyneith.

Loot: Randomly assigned chests.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.