One way or the other, it’s been a whole decade since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt swooped onto our screens and made monster looking look dangerously like a viable profession path. That’s proper, ten years of ethical ambiguity, of enjoying Gwent, and of asking ourselves, “Wait, how did Roach rise up there?”.
To have fun this monumental monster-slaying milestone, we’re diving fang-first into the fiercest foes that Geralt’s ever confronted, from greater vampires to archgriffins, one for yearly of the sport to date.
So, draw your sword, chug a Cat potion, and put together your self to rely down the ten most terrifying, completely uninvited friends in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
As a part of the celebration, we’ve additionally put collectively a particular 10-year anniversary Displate assortment—a tribute to the sport’s unforgettable monsters, moments, and temper. Think about it our manner of honoring a decade of silver swords and spectral threats.
10 Years of Killing Monsters
Counting expansions and reskins, followers estimate there are round 136 monsters within the recreation (what a terrifying idea…). And, whereas we’d like to pore over the pages of the bestiary for hours, solely the fiercest and strongest monsters are making the minimize for our 10-years-10-monsters-mash-up checklist.
10. The Toad Prince
Did you additionally fall into the lure of underestimating this fiendish frog as a result of he sounded just like the butt of a joke from a fairytale? Everybody does it. This outsized and overpowered amphibian gives Geralt an unexpectedly robust experience because the Hearts of Stone growth’s first boss.
With tongue assaults, venom spit, and devastating leaps, the Toad Prince presents a deadly assault course for its victims to navigate. He’s obtained loads of well being too, so staying nimble and slashing when you may is the one solution to take this croacking beast down.
9. Hyms
Whereas a lot of the monsters in The Witcher 3 depend on brute drive, energy, or highly effective magic to convey you down, hyms are in a league of their very own. Grasp manipulators, these specters someway handle to win fights with out even having a physique to battle with.
When you’re planning to face off in opposition to a hym, phrase of recommendation: clear your thoughts. They feed on guilt to drive their victims to suicide with out a lot as lifting a finger, making you your individual worst enemy.
Nevertheless it’s not all thoughts video games with these foes, oh no. What makes hyms so highly effective is their slippery standing as specters. It’s not so simple as operating a well-aimed blade by their coronary heart. As a substitute, you’ll want to make use of a mixture of wit and trickery to win in opposition to these shadow monsters.
8. Fiends
Gaining a number of additional fear-factor factors for his or her seems, fiends develop extra fearsome the longer you spend staring. However don’t cease for too lengthy; they’re as lethal as they arrive, with sudden velocity for his or her measurement and horns that you simply positively don’t wish to be on the receiving finish of.
There’s extra than simply brute drive right here, too; fiends use their third eye to lure foes into hypnosis, forcing them to see naught however the eye itself. However this gentle within the darkness gives no salvation, because the fiend will cost whereas its sufferer is trapped within the fugue state, tearing by them with ease.
7. Djinns
Assume you’ve seen a djinn earlier than? Assume once more, as a result of djinns in The Witcher 3 take being a genie to a darker, extra twisted place…
When contained they will grant as much as three needs for his or her captor, turning essentially the most novice of mages right into a grasp, sparking an inescapable love between two targets, and fulfilling no matter else one can think about. However as soon as all three needs are granted and the djinn is free of its containment, that’s when you really want to fret.
Fights with djinns are by no means fisticuffs; their spell-casting talents are unmatched they usually can teleport quick distances to assault and evade, which means you really want to have your wits about you. Be warned, although, when a djinn is nearing defeat, they develop much more harmful. Strive taking one on and also you’ll know what we imply. Or simply belief us, as much as you.
6. Archgriffins
Head and shoulders (and wings) above your common griffins, archgriffins are extremely spectacular on account of their energy and measurement. With lethal assaults, sharp claws, and the flexibility to spit acid, archgriffins are a formidable feathered foe that you simply actually don’t wish to encounter until your manner round a crossbow. The one lurking in Skellige, specifically, is extensively accepted to be one of many hardest monsters in all of The Witcher 3.
5. Leshens
Some beasts are extra blatant, looking the harmless even when unprovoked. However there’s one thing much more terrifying in regards to the others — those who loom within the shadows, simply out of sight, till they’re pressured to behave. That is how leshens, beings decided to guard the pure world, behave when human settlements encroach just a little too far on their land.
The result for these intruders is pure horror. Leshens intention to make some extent — to keep off future offenders — so that they string up their victims in twisted roots that wrap by and round them. Taking one on in a battle isn’t any much less intimidating both; past summoning wolves to tear at your flesh, their towering measurement, razor-sharp bone claws, and elemental management can overwhelm even the hardest witcher.
4. The Wild Hunt
You don’t title a whole recreation after a bunch of enemies until they’re a critical downside. Meet the Wild Hunt — spectral riders from one other world, freezing the air round them and your blood within the course of.
Led by the fearsome Eredin, this terrifying cavalry doesn’t simply chase you throughout continents for enjoyable — they’re out for Ciri, and nothing wanting cataclysm goes to cease them. Driving skeletal horses internationally prefer it’s no large deal, they make each look really feel like a cutscene you don’t wish to be in.
The Wild Hunt is armored, magic-wielding, and instructions an aura of pure dread. You possibly can battle them — technically. However more often than not, it’s extra about surviving lengthy sufficient to get away. When you ever want a purpose to whisper a fast prayer to Melitele, that is it.
3. The Caretaker
It is a monster who lives as much as his title — however positively not in a comforting manner. There’s nothing heat or useful about this towering nightmare from Hearts of Stone.
Arguably one of many scariest encounters in a recreation overflowing with horrors, the Caretaker’s preventing model is a merciless present that retains on giving, therapeutic itself each time it strikes — just like the scary, faceless menace that he’s.
So, put together to dodge each swipe and assault he throws your manner, and make good use of that Quen signal in the event you can.
2. Detlaff van der Eretein
Ah, sure, everybody’s (least) favourite greater vampire, Detlaff. Encountering him as a boss in Blood and Wine must be one of the crucial difficult components of the whole recreation.
Not solely is he impressively overpowered, however he’s conceited too. To cite Detlaff: “When you acknowledge any gods, begin praying now.” He’s good and he is aware of it. The Beast of Beauclair is so robust to battle as a result of not solely is he fast and quick-witted, however he’s almost immortal, too.
And simply while you assume the battle is over, Detlaff unleashes his true energy. Cornered and consumed by rage, he transforms right into a nightmarish, monstrous model of himself — the ultimate and most terrifying stage of the battle.
1. Gaunter O’ Dimm
Taking the highest spot on our checklist, we’ve got Gaunter O’Dimm. He’s shadowy, devilish, shrouded in thriller, and really the stuff of nightmares. Showing as a person, although nobody is aware of if he’s human, he definitely has a monstrous urge for food for snatching souls.
O’Dimm, or Grasp Mirror, can teleport, bend the legal guidelines of time, and trick even the wisest minds into falling to his will. And if that wasn’t sufficient to persuade you it is a worthy opponent, he additionally controls a whole realm of terrifying illusions and monsters that yield to his each whim.
The one saving grace in opposition to O’Dimm? He can’t resist enjoying video games and making offers. As maybe the closest factor to the Satan Geralt has ever encountered, he asks for cost within the type of your soul. Although he virtually all the time wins, the really crafty would possibly simply slip away… if luck is on their aspect.
Monstrous Decor At Displate
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is perhaps a decade outdated now, however our posters are recent as something. When you’re a Witcher tremendous fan, and also you’re a fan of some tasteful darkish fantasy decor, browse our vary of Witcher-themed posters to deck out your partitions Continent-style.
From sorceresses’ spells to the Path scenes, we’re celebrating all issues The Witcher for its 10-year anniversary this yr with a new anniversary assortment of Displates.
What are you ready for? Wind’s howling.
