For those near the end of the game or who have completed it, what build did you end up with? Curious on what everyone tried and your experiences, tactics, etc.

Attached is a screen of my skill tree toward the end...like many I guess I went swordsman/quen. Kind of rushed so this isn't my ideal but anyway.. Focus is on Quen/group damage and finishers/rolling. Build seems to get rather overpowered about halfway through, but fun regardless. Next I think I'll be trying signs and daggers (Igni as primary attack), and after that alchemy + Axii/Yrden.

My first build was horrid.

Basically all swordsman. Pretty much pointless as I feel any points spent past dealing group damage are wasted in that tree.

My second playthrough, I went four deep into swordsman for 100% group damage from sword swings, deep enough into signs for double yrden and quen dealing damage to 3 targets, and then rest into alchemy. This is what I consider my "best" build.

My current playthrough, I am trying to do no swords, no signs, all alchemy. It's tough. It's stupid. But, by now, combat had gotten so easy that I needed to find some artificial limitations to make it stop being a snorefest.

Yeah, I feel similarly so far. Going to try alchemy only eventually as well I think

I was thinking of an all alchemy and throwing knife build for kicks.

But really, I dont feel this is a game for wildly distinctive "builds." Only half of any of the trees are really any good, and you get enough points to hit nearly all of those. And Geralt is always going to be a swordsman at heart. I dont see going through this game and doing nothing but Ignii, for instance. But by all means, prove me wrong on that.

Some mobs are practically immune to igni, so yes, you couldn't do that, me thinks.

If someone just wants a build where you can play mindlessly and win, get the sword talents to reduce backstab damage, increase group damage and being able to dodge further. Then put most of your points into magic.

With Quen beefed up, the enemies kill themselves just trying to attack you. The Aard is so ridiculous you'll be doing instant kills over and over. The adrenaline skill will put everyone within a field into a stasis, making them easy targets to attack.

I agree with the just a few points in sword and maybe a smattering in magic and the rest into alchemy for 2nd play through. The combat is a snorefest by that point once you've figured out the mechanics.