Ranking The Beasts Of The Witcher Season 1

The Witcher fans like myself have waited for way too long for some Nilfgardian action. Netflix has seemingly grown tired of our cries, with Season 2 set to premiere on December 17, 2021. Whether you are most looking forward to Geralt’s brooding, Yennefer’s badassery or Ciri’s inevitable come-up, one thing that all fans are waiting for is the cornucopia of monsters scattered throughout the series. In preparation for Season 2, I’ll be ranking The Witcher’s season one monsters from cuddliest to most bloodcurdling. Let’s get into it!

Sylvan

Via Pinterest

Sylvans are definitely more clever than cruel, which explains why Torgue the Sylvan who famously headbutted Geralt was recruited by elven King Filavandrel to steal food. Thanks to their horns and other faun like features, Sylvans, are labelled superstitiously as devils. They are distinguished by prominent goat-like visages and delight in pranks, feasting, and music.

Hirrikka

Via The Witcher Wiki

Being ugly isnt a crime but it seems that for the Hirrikka, looks are responsible for the fear and ultimate violence it was shown in the series. Hirrika are said to be as rare as dragons with a diet that comprises mostly of grass and venison. They are described as generally harmless, which explains why Geralt didn’t want to kill the Hirrikka encountered on their dragon hunt (#RIPrandomhirrikka).

Djinn

Via SadGeezers

Witnessing a Djinn almost rip through Yennefer’s body in a ritual gone wrong shows just how dangerous these creatures can be, but as Geralt himself reveals, the evils of a Djinn depends on the one controlling them. Nevertheless, it’s easy to see how Djinns can be used to cause great destruction.

Kikimora

Via Youtube.com

Kikimora’s have origins in Slavic history as a female house spirit that enters through a keyhole, hides out in a household and tries to strangle people in their sleep. The Witcher’s Kikimora is however very different, as in the series it is a massive spider-like swamp dweller that gives even Geralt a run for his money in Episode 1.

Krallachs

Via witcher.fandom.com

Cockroaches are scary in real life and the Krallach or cockroach hound created specifically for the show takes that scariness to new heights. The fast creature with swordlike arms was used by a mage assassin to hunt Yennefer and was almost successful, showing just how dangerous these creatures can be.

Striga

Via thewrap.com

This ghastly beast came the closest to defeating Geralt, which says a lot about just how powerful it is. Also with roots in Slavic, Russian and Albanian mythology, a striga is a human woman transformed into a monster by a curse. They hunt at night with superhuman strength and speed, making them a mere whisper just before death for most who they meet.

Necrophages

Via quirkybyte

Whoever said there is strength in numbers must have been talking about the Nekkers. Named thanks to their necrophagous raids on battlefields, these zombie-like creatures aren't the most intimidating to look at, but their combination of speed and ruthlessness will have you losing your head either literally or figuratively, just ask Geralt and his hallucinations from a near-death fight with a pack of Nekkers.

Dopplers

With no dripping fangs or ghastly claws in sight, the scariest thing about the doppler is its ability to consume and absorb your very being and use your likeness for evil, whats scarier than that?

While the idea of having a doppelganger can seem cute, dopplers are much more powerful than a quirky lookalike, as they also gain your memories and skills, which as we all know is a more powerful arsenal than stealing your face.

Dragons

Via CBR

There are few worlds in which dragons aren't at the top of the monster food chain. The Witcher is no different. The Witcher’s Dragons all have varying degrees of strength but the many men who tried and failed to hunt and kill the dragons of Nilfgaard are a testament to the ferocity of these creatures.

Let me know in the comments if you agree with this ranking. If you don't, which monster in The Witcher truly raises the hair on the back of your neck?