Bear

How to beat: Bear

Bears are not magical, so use your steel sword coated with Beast oil, and avoid fighting one head-on: dodge its claw swipes and cut at its flanks. Axii works very well because bears are usually alone, so stun it, land a few hits, dodge back out of range and repeat once your stamina recovers. Igni sets it on fire and briefly stuns it for flanking strikes, while Yrden slows it enough to make its paws easier to avoid, and Quen gives extra protection. When a bear rises on its hind legs, get away, because it is about to slam the ground hard enough to knock you down. Bears are territorial, so spotting one early often lets you avoid the fight entirely.