Is Ciri a witcher in The Witcher 4?

The Witcher 4 features Ciri as the protagonist, and her cat-eyed powers left fans curious if she’s gone “full witcher”.

CD Projekt Red became one of the biggest names in the AAA gaming scene with The Witcher 3. With over 50 million units sold as of 2024, The Witcher 3 propelled the Polish company to untold heights. Since then, CD Projekt Red released Cyberpunk 2077. Despite a controversial launch, the game eventually became beloved after all the fixes and Phantom Liberty’s release.

With new experiences under its belt, the studio promises great things for its next release. The Witcher 4 made its world premiere on The Game Awards 2024. Fans saw an older and wiser Ciri, seemingly jaded by her years of monster hunting.

Cat-eyed fans noticed Ciri may have become a fully-fledged witcher.=

Is Ciri a witcher in The Witcher 4?

CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Ciri is now a witcher, having undergone the Trial of the Grasses.  One of the more ambiguous story beats from The Witcher 3 is what exactly Ciri was. Though she had inherent magical powers and trained under Geralt, she never became a full-blooded witcher. Though she did hunt monsters, “true” witchers are more than just the profession.

Witchers must undergo the infamously painful “Trial of the Grasses.” The task involved apprentices consuming a special concoction to mutate their physiology. Only three in ten apprentices survived the ordeal. Those who lived through the drink gained reflexes greater than any normal human. For the lore, it communicated to readers just how brutal becoming a “true” witcher could be.

Even if the apprentice survives the drink, they would become novice witchers. These inexperienced warriors often die by the dozens, tricked by their new powers to feel invincible. Geralt’s powers may help him even the odds against monsters, but it’s experience that forged him into a legend.

In an interview with IGN, The Witcher 4 developers confirmed that Ciri survived the trial. In The Witcher 3, she had not yet done so, leaving her witcher status vague. Although the trial transformed her into something more, it was the years that changed Ciri significantly.

Ciri will be a different protagonist from Geralt in The Witcher 4

As the new protagonist, Ciri will be more emotional and headstrong.  Those qualities run in sharp contrast to Geralt’s methodical coldness. Though Geralt was perfectly capable of warmth, he had no such feelings for the job. Even at his kindest, Geralt kept a stoic attitude, barely letting anyone know his true feelings.

In The Game Awards 2024 trailer, Ciri showcased a fiery wrath. Her perceived injustice of the village sacrifice led to her taking on their supposed god. Despite her good intentions, the maiden still died for her village. Her anger at the people is something that fans never saw much with the cold Geralt.

The contrast will help set the tone for The Witcher 4. Player choice will reportedly play an even deeper role than in The Witcher 3. Given the variations already present in The Witcher 3, fans may expect even more complex relationships.

The developer specifically cited the experience from Cyberpunk 2077 as a stepping stone. The variance in gameplay and character builds will also help differentiate Ciri from Geralt. Fortunately for fans, they may not have to wait years to see more of Ciri.

The Witcher 4 is set for a 2025 release.