The Witcher 3 platinum is a long but fair one - most of it comes from simply playing one of the best RPGs ever made - with one notorious catch that stops more players than any boss: Gwent. This guide covers the base-game trophy list, the Gwent grind and its missable cards, the handful of other things to watch, how long the platinum takes, and how to skip the grind if you would rather just enjoy the story.
The base-game trophy list
The Witcher 3's base-game platinum is around 52 trophies, and the two paid expansions - Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine - have their own separate trophy lists that are not required for the base platinum. You can earn it on any difficulty, so you do not need to play on Death March. Most trophies come from finishing the main and secondary quests, exploring, and engaging with the combat and alchemy systems - the natural result of a full playthrough.
Gwent: the real platinum blocker
Gwent is the wall. Several trophies require you to build a strong deck, win matches against named NPCs, and collect specific cards - and this is where the missable risk lives. Some cards come from merchants or from quests that can be failed or locked out if you progress the story too far, so a blind first run can leave you unable to complete a Gwent collection trophy without a new game. The fix is to play Gwent actively from early on: buy every card from every merchant as you meet them, beat the Gwent questline opponents, and do the Gwent-related secondary quests before they expire.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Trophies | Around 52 for the base-game platinum |
| DLC | Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine have separate lists, not needed |
| Difficulty | Any - no Death March requirement |
| Time | Roughly 90 to 120 hours |
| Main blocker | Gwent - deck building, wins and missable cards |
The other things to watch
Beyond Gwent, the list is mostly forgiving, but a few trophies want deliberate play: finishing all the Velen, Novigrad and Skellige secondary quests, completing every witcher contract and question-mark location, and reaching a high character level through natural progression. None are hard, but they reward a methodical playthrough over a rushed one. Clearing regions fully before moving on is the simplest way to avoid backtracking across the enormous map late in the run.
How long, and how to skip it
Expect roughly 90 to 120 hours for the base platinum, most of it the Gwent collection and full map completion. If that is more than you have time for, the completion can be handled for you: a fully unlocked starter save ($50) hands you an account with the game's content opened up, a modded save ($50) lets you power through combat with one-hit kills and maxed stats, and the Platinum Trophy service ($15) completes the list - Gwent and all. Everything is on the Witcher 3 services hub.
The Gwent trophies, broken down
Gwent is responsible for most of the platinum's difficulty, so it is worth knowing what it actually asks. You need to win Gwent matches against named players, build a competitive deck, and - the dangerous one - collect specific cards, some of which come from merchants or from quests that can be failed or locked out by story progress. That is the missable risk: a card tied to a character who dies or a quest that expires can leave a collection trophy impossible without a new playthrough. The defence is simple discipline - buy every Gwent card from every merchant the moment you meet them, play the innkeepers and named opponents as you travel, and finish the Gwent secondary quests before advancing the main story past their point of no return.
Modded save or trophy service: which for Witcher 3
If you would rather not grind Gwent and full map completion, three options skip different amounts. The fully unlocked starter save hands you an account with the content opened up; the modded save adds one-hit kills and maxed stats so you can blitz the combat and quests; and the Platinum Trophy service completes the entire list, Gwent collection and all, so you never touch the card game if you do not want to. Pick the save if you still want to play through the story powered up; pick the trophy service if the Gwent grind specifically is the part you want gone. All three are on the Witcher 3 services hub.
The bottom line
The Witcher 3 platinum is long but fair, and almost entirely a joy - except Gwent, which is both the main grind and the one place you can lock yourself out by missing cards. Buy every card early, do the Gwent quests before story points of no return, and complete regions as you go. If the card game and full map completion are more than you want, the Platinum Trophy service does the whole list and the modded save lets you power through the rest. See the Witcher 3 services hub.
Related guides
- The Witcher 3 Platinum Trophy service
- The Witcher 3 modded save
- The Witcher 3 fully unlocked starter save
- All Witcher 3 services
- The Witcher 3 adrenaline fury build
- God of War Ragnarok platinum trophy guide
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trophies are in The Witcher 3 platinum?
The base-game platinum is around 52 trophies. The Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions have their own separate trophy lists and are not required for the base platinum.
What is the hardest trophy in The Witcher 3?
The Gwent trophies. They require building a strong deck, beating named opponents and collecting specific cards - some of which are missable if you progress the story too far or a merchant becomes unavailable.
Are there missable trophies in The Witcher 3?
Mainly through Gwent - certain cards and quest opponents can be locked out by story progress. Buy every card from merchants as you meet them and do the Gwent quests early to avoid a second playthrough.
How long does the Witcher 3 platinum take?
Roughly 90 to 120 hours. The Gwent collection and full map completion - contracts, secondary quests and question marks across Velen, Novigrad and Skellige - are the biggest time sinks.
Can you get the platinum on any difficulty?
Yes. There is no Death March requirement, so you can play on a comfortable difficulty and still earn every trophy.
Which Gwent cards are missable in The Witcher 3?
Certain cards come from merchants or quest characters who can become unavailable as the story advances. To avoid losing a collection trophy, buy every Gwent card from merchants as soon as you meet them and complete the Gwent secondary quests early, before story points of no return.
Do I need the DLC for the Witcher 3 platinum?
No. The base-game platinum does not require Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine - those expansions have their own separate trophy lists. You can earn the platinum from the base game alone, on any difficulty.