The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Update adds two new alternative character appearances, changing the visuals of the Nilfgaardian armor and Dandelion’s outfit. This guide will show them to you and explain where and how to activate them in your game!
The Witcher 3 had sixteen free DLCs released prior to the launch of the Next-Gen update, which brought the game to Patch 4.0. With it, we get two more Free DLCs, a ton of new features, gameplay balance, and even new quest that rewards you a whole new Witcher Gear Set based on the Netflix TV Show!
Three of these Free DLCs were alternative skins for important characters: Ciri, Yennefer and Triss. To celebrate the release of The Witcher TV Show on Netflix, CD PROJEKT RED added two more alternative new skins to the game with the next-gen update.
The first new skin is for Master Dandelion. The second new skin is for the Nilfgaardian armor. Below I will show you what they look like and explain how to activate them in your game.
And here’s the best part! You can make Geralt look like one of the Nilfgaardian soldiers from the TV Show by obtaining the newly added Nilfgaardian Guardsman Armor Set! Details below!
How to activate and use alternative Character Outfits in The Witcher 3
To activate and use an alternative appearance of a character in The Witcher 3, first exit to main screen if you are currently playing the game. Open the main menu of the game, go to Options, then Gameplay. Scroll to the bottom and select which characters you want to appear with their alternative outfits.
The new alternative skins for Dandelion and Niflgaardian armor are available for all platforms, including the last-gen consoles.
By default, all of the alternative outfits are set to OFF. You can only change these parameters when you are not playing the game. They will not appear if you open the Gameplay tab of the main menu while you are playing the game.
If you want to find out what is available on which platform and version, check out The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Changes Overview coverage we did.
Learn how to add a transmog feature to the game and change the outfit and appearance of Geralt and Roach by using a mod!
Overview and Comparison between Default and Alternative Character Appearances
If you have never used the alternative outfits for Ciri, Yennefer and Triss, you can see them below along with the two new ones of Dandelion and Nilfgaardian armor.
Dandelion Alternative Appearance
Dandelion doesn’t look like himself if you ask me, with the alternative appearance active. In fact, this is the same character model as before, but his facial attributes are different – he is now clean-shaven. The clothes and his entire outfit are inspired by the Netflix show The Witcher.
Nilfgaardian Armor Alternative Appearance
The reskin of the Nilfgaardian armor is inspired by the first season of the Netflix show The Witcher. This skin applies only to the NPCs.
One of the free DLCs added years ago to The Witcher 3 brought an actual Nilfgaardian armor set, which you can purchase from the Quartermaster NPC at Crow’s Perch in Velen. This armor set is not affected by the alternative skin. It always looks like this:
But there’s more! Visit the House of Respite, located at the southeastern corner of Velen. Dress up with that Niflgaardian armor set that you bought at Crow’s Perch and the guards will let you in. Don’t change your gear in front of them. They are not that stupid after all.
Inside, at the northern end of the main house (it’s a brothel, but the way), you will find a Nilfgaardian Helmet (it actually goes into your Mask slot) sitting on the window and two pieces of Nilfgaardian guardsman armor in a chest right next to the same window.
Now, dress up in this new armor set and make sure you have the Nilfgaardian Armor Alternative Appearance set to ON and enjoy the transformation.
I honestly don’t know if anybody would ever prefer to look at Geralt (or even at the Nilfgaardian NPCs) wearing the Netflix inspired appearance, but CD PROJEKT RED decided to include it anyway.
Alternative Yennefer Appearance
The alternative outfit for Yennefer is a lot more daring. It features more skin and less clothing. The default one is more suitable for outside wearing and in places where the weather is colder… kind of. The alternative outfit is more sexy and bold.
Triss Alternative Appearance
Out of all DLCs prior to the Next-Gen update, the alternative outfit for Triss was the most unique. It’s very different in style and appearance, but still keeps the green accents.
Ciri Alternative Appearance
Ciri’s alternative appearance is weird to me. It’s a lot more colorful, but maybe this is what makes me dislike it.
Should you use Alternative Character Skins and When
Using the alternative appearances for Ciri, Yennefer, Triss, Dandelion and the Nilfgaaridna armor will not change the behavior of the characters in any way.
The alternative skins are just that – skins. They do not make any story or any other changes in your game except to make the characters look different and wear different clothes.
The alternative outfits are available to all players who own the base game. The two newest ones – Dandelion and Nilfgaard, require you to update the game to Patch 4.0 or higher. The ones for Ciri, Yennefer and Triss were part of CD PROJEKT RED’s original Free DLC program for The Witcher 3 and are available in versions 1.32 and earlier.
The new outfits will appear everywhere except for pre-rendered clips, such as the very first intro clip where we see Yennefer running from a battle and Geralt and Vesemir looking for her at the battlefield sometime later.
