The Witcheris a series that draws heavily from Eastern European mythology.The Witchergames are based on the books by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, and CD Projekt RED, a Polish game development studio, has remained faithful to the lore and setting of the books. As such, many of the monsters found inThe Witcher games, includingThe Witcher 3, are drawn from Eastern European mythology.The Witcher 4is likely to be no different, withThe Witcher 4’s trailer featuring a monster, a bauk—a typical monster from Eastern European legend.
The Witcher 4has the opportunity to bring back some fan-favorite monsters and monsters that have become staples inThe Witcherseries. At the same time, it also has the opportunity to introduce some classic monsters from Eastern European culture thathaven’t been seen inThe Witchergamesyet. Some of these monsters are sentient, with some creatures having entries in the Bestiary, but are capable of morality and speech and can be harmless if they choose.
Returning Monsters From The Witcher 3
Leshen
Leshen are possibly one of the mosticonic monsters inThe Witcher 3and in Eastern Europe. Their distinctive appearance, sinister nature, and deadly attacks make them formidable and terrifying foes inThe Witcher 3, made all the worse by the fact that they don’t appear until higher levels. That they have to be lured out, and that signs of them exist before they’re actually seen, makes them all the more sinister, lending the woods of the Continent a more sinister edge.The Witcher 4cannot go without this iconic monster.
Hym
Monsters are made all the more interesting when they force the protagonist to face their own problems, and the hym is a monster that does just that. First encountered inThe Witcher 3in Skellige, hyms are specters that feed on a person’s guilt and can drive them to madness through visions. Exorcising a hym takes creativity, making them a monster that would provide a formidable challenge, an interesting storyline, and possibly push Ciri to her limits inThe Witcher 4.
Sentient Monsters
Godling
The Witcher’s godlingsare mischievous creatures who are caretakers of the forest. As characters, they’re a welcome break from the horrifying monsters that plague the Continent, and they add depth and magic to the world ofThe Witcher. Geralt meets two godlings inThe Witcher 3, where they offer him their help. Godlings, or creatures like them, would be a great addition toThe Witcher 4, especially when making the world more diverse, rich in lore, and feel more alive.
Nyakva
Nyavkas are a part of Ukranian folklore and are the result of girls who died tragic deaths. Nyavka live in caves in the forest and are notable for their love of flowers, which they use to decorate their caves and their long hair. Though they look like ordinary women, their backs are entirely skinless and without muscles, showing their spine and internal organs. Nyavka can go into a trance and kill young men by drowning them but, outside this occasional trance, they help peasants, save livestock from wild animals, and are generally portrayed as gentle, showing an oddduality that could be interesting forThe Witcher 4to explore.
Higher Vampire
Higher vampires are some of the most interesting characters inThe Witcherseries. They’re incredibly long-lived, intelligent, and most avoid conflict with humans. Higher vampires provide different perspectives, and including new higher vampire characters inThe Witcher 4for Ciri to meet would be great.Bringing back a character like Regis inThe Witcher 4would also likely be a popular decision.
New Monsters From Eastern European Legends
Bauk
Themonster seen inThe Witcher 4trailerwas a bauk. It was the first time a bauk had been seen inThe Witchergames and was confirmed to be one in a subsequent developer interview. With such a high-stakes battle, it would be a missed opportunity for players to not be able to relive the battle against the bauk in-game, even if the circumstances and context surrounding it are different.
Rusalka
River and sea monsters inThe Witcher 3are typically drowners and only really prove challenging in large groups. To give some variation, particularly in the Continent’s rivers,The Witcher 4could introduce rusalki. Rusalki are one of themost famous monsters in Eastern Europe, but haven’t made an appearance inThe Witchergames yet. Rusalki are river monsters that take the form of beautiful young women and lure men to their deaths by drowning them. This makes them very similar to the sirens of Greek mythology, but rusalki are fully women rather than half-fish or half-bird.
Drekavac
The drekavac would be appropriate forThe Witcher 4as it is a monster that appears wherever there have been bloody battles in a full-scale war. Rising from the corpses of soldiers, the drekavac is a monster that screams and brings death. It’s said that his scream is a sign of their coming death, much like the banshee. If there are as manybattlefields inThe Witcher 4as there were inThe Witcher 3, the drekavac would be incredibly suitable for the setting.
