SPOILERS AHEAD for Season 1 and 2 of Netflix’s The Witcher!
Netflix's The Witcher stars Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, the famous monster hunter. Throughout the series, many monsters find a way to get in Geralt or another character's way. And we figured you might want some back story or explanation on who and what these various critters are…
While we've seen all the terrors that arrived with the show's first season, the brief footage we've seen of the second season has already teased such fearsome foes as the Leshy and the Bruxa. We also catch a glimpse of Kristofer Hivju's Nivellen, a cursed man who appears to be a big part of this new season's story.
From dragons to Djinns to Kikimoras, we've gathered all the monsters that appear in Geralt's journey that will also hopefully help make the wait for The Witcher's next season's debut on Netflix on December 17, 2021!
Leshy
A Leshy, or Leshen as they are also known, are forest monsters that are highly intelligent and are said to be iron-resistant. Some peasants in The Witcher’s world believe the Leshy to be a protector of the forest, but actually it appears to be a dangerous creature that hunts and surprises those walking in its home. The Leshy also has the ability to shapeshift and can take the forms of many things to stalk its prey. While Geralt doesn’t run into one in the books and only hears of its legend, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s Geralt does and can find them in Velen, Reardon Manor, Downwarren, and more.
Bruxa
The Bruxa is a type of vampire that can take the form of both a dark-haired human and a large bat. They are incredibly fast and often appear as attractive women to lure unsuspecting men to their doom so they can drink their blood. Bruxae appear in both The Witcher 2 and The Witcher 3’s Blood and Wine expansion. In The Last Wish story, Geralt has to deal with the Bruxa Vareena at Nivellen’s Manor, which we know will be featured in this season. It has been confirmed that Agnes Bjorn will play her.
Nivellen
Nivellen is a cursed man who appears in The Last Wish story and will be played by Game of Thrones’ Kristofer Hivju in the Netflix series’ second season. His younger days were spent as a gang member in Redania, where he was coerced into raping a young priestess while his partners robbed the temple of Gelibol. The woman was part of Coram Agh Tera – also known as the Cult of the Lionhead Spider – and she cursed Nivellen to be a “monster in a man’s skin.” He would soon thereafter become a monster outwardly, while still staying himself. Without spoiling too much, Geralt meets this cursed man while looking into the deaths of a merchant and female companion near his manor.
Woman of Fire
Lars Mikkelsen’s Stregobor returns for Season 2 and appears to conjure a woman of fire who may or may not be a monster. This creature very well may be a fire elemental, as The Witcher 2’s journal entry on them states, “Sorcerers proficient in the Art can create gateways to dimensions ruled by the four elements and force the creatures dwelling there to serve them.”
Kikimora
The Kikimora is an insectoid monster species that can be found in swamps. We are introduced to the Kikimora in the opening moments of Netflix’s The Witcher as Geralt has to take one down, while making sure not to be drowned by its many legs.
When Geralt brings the Kikimora back to Blaviken to collect on a bounty, Marilka says her father asked for a Graveir, and that Kikimora are better left alive for “population control.”
The Devil of Posada (Torque the Sylvan)
Geralt is given a job to kill a “devil” that is stealing a farmer’s crop. The monster in question is not a devil, but a Sylvan, Torque the Sylvan to be exact.
A humanoid monster with goat-like features and horns atop its head, Torque was working with Filavandrel, King of the Elves, after the Elves were forced out of Dol Blathanna and into hiding. He worked to get/steal them food and supplies to help them survive.
Striga
The Striga is a woman who is cursed and turned into a monster. King Foltest of Temeria had an incestuous relationship with his late sister, Adda, who then became pregnant with his child. Ostrit the knight had also fallen in love with Adda and cursed Foltest for what he did. However, the curse passed to the child. When Adda died while she was pregnant, their child emerged as a Striga.
Using Ostrit as bait, Geralt went to an abandoned part of the castle to cure the Striga of its curse, which meant locking himself away with her until dawn broke. He accomplished his mission, but not before the Striga tore through his neck. Luckily, Triss Merigold was nearby to save his life.
Magical Assassin's Monster Pet
This ferocious monster served the assassin chasing after Yennefer and Kalis as a battle/chase ensued featuring portals and enchanted tracking jewelry. This creature features blade-like front claws and a top speed of quite scary.
Duny, Urcheon of Erlenwald (The Cursed Knight)
Duny, the Urcheon of Erlenwald, was a cursed knight who wished to marry Pavetta, the daughter of Queen Calanthe of Cintra. He was cursed with a head to resemble a hedgehog and was set to be killed by the Queen, but invoked the Law of Surprise.
Duny saved Pavetta's father in the past and his payment was this law that states the savior would be rewarded something unexpected in the future. The Queen did not much care and still ordered the death of Duny, but Geralt helped intervene until Pavetta revealed she possessed powers, which in turn caused Calanthe to honor the Law of Surprise.
Duny was then cured of the curse, and then proceeded to offer Geralt a Law of Surprise in return, which would set many events of The Witcher in motion as their future daughter Ciri would see this debt paid.
Doppler
The Doppler is a doppelgänger who can take the forms and memories of its victims. This particular Doppler took the form of Mousesack to lure Ciri out of the safety of Brokilon.
Djinn
Sometimes, the scariest monsters are those you can not see. The Djinn is similar to a genie in that it grants three wishes to those who release it. Jaskier finds this particular Djinn and is then injured, needing Geralt to save him by taking him to Rinde.
He then crosses paths with Yennefer, who wants the Djinn for herself for its power that would hopefully allow her to give birth.
It is then revealed that Geralt is actually the Djinn's master. We don't find out what his last wish was, but the Djinn ends up leaving Yennefer's body, saving her.
Hirikka
The Hirikka, in Witcher lore, is said to be even rarer than a dragon. Geralt knew of this creature and told his traveling companions to put down their weapons as it simply looked hungry.
Eyck took matters into his own hands and gruesomely killed the creature. Karma sure did catch up with him quickly, however.
Dragon
Borch Three Jackdaws enlists Geralt to his hunting party that is set to compete in a contest arranged by King Niedamir to kill a dragon found in the mountains.
Geralt travels with Borch and his companions, a pack of dwarfs, some reavers, and Yennefer. When they reach the cave, they find out Borch is actually a rare mythical golden dragon named Villentretenmerth and he brought Geralt along not to kill a dragon, but to protect one.
The Undead
Geralt finds himself in a battle with the undead after he meets a merchant named Yurga at a refugee camp. Geralt defeats the undead horrors, but not before one takes a near-fatal big bite out of his leg.
Mind-Controlling Ear Worms
These terrifying little worms utilized by the Nilfgaardians are deployed in the final episode to turn the tide of the Battle of Sodden Hill. They crawl into unsuspecting victims and turn them against their allies.
For more on Netflix's The Witcher, check out our look at the latest trailer for The Witcher's second season, our explainer of the first season's ending, a look at who Vesemir is, and how this new season will start with an adaptation of A Grain of Truth.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN who can't wait and is so excited he just can't hide it. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.