What Is The Witcher & What Are His Powers? Netflix Show

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTStory from TV ShowsADVERTISEMENTWho Is This Witcher Dude & What Are His Powers?Gina VaynshteynLast Updated December 20, 2019, 3:15 PM Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.The Witcher, which the internet has collectively decided is the new Game of Thrones, is finally available to stream on Netflix. After the long months of build-up and suspense, we can dive into the world of The Witcher, based on a series of fantasy novels written by Andrzej Sapkowski. And we'll binge all of it all at once if we so dang well please. The story follows a witcher, Geralt of Rivia (played by Henry Cavill), who battles monsters and evil beings in exchange for money.In the final trailer released December 12, we see soldiers going into battle and seemingly malevolent people who are after Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon (Freya Allan). Ciri is the last heir to the Cintran throne and she possesses powerful abilities and has magic in her blood. The princess escapes her home, which has been invaded by the Nilfgaard (the current ruling empire), and sets out to find Geralt, so he can not only protect her from those who wish her harm, but train her so she can defeat her enemies and take back her rightful throne. As far as I know, dragons are not involved and Ciri can’t walk through fire.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT

Who Is Geralt Of Rivia?

Geralt of Rivia is the Witcher. He’s also known as the White Wolf because of his white-blonde Legolas-y hair, which we learn is actually genetically mutated during his training to become a Witcher.

What Is A Witcher?

Witchers (who are mostly men but some female witchers do exist, yay!) are like bounty hunters — they make a living by killing monsters. Witchers were once humans, but through intense training and some kind of toxic exposure, become mutants of sorts, with superhuman strength and abilities.Kids are put through Witcher training when they’re super young, and many don’t make it. During Comic Con this year, Cavill explained, “Most of these children don’t survive, like 1 of 10.” Plus, we know that Witchers aren’t exactly the emotional type (can you tell by Cavill’s never-wavering steely gaze?). Cavill added, “They travel the world hunting monsters for coin, and that’s their one sole purpose. But they’re often rejected by the world because they are not supposed to have emotions...but ultimately a bunch of badasses that kill monsters.” Geralt, however, is kind of different. “Geralt is much more than that. He has this hard exterior because he believes that’s the way the world is. But in truth, deep deep down there’s this man that has a belief in what the world can be,” Cavill says. 

What Are The Witcher’s Powers, Exactly?

Aside from being super fast, strong, and having the ability to outlast any normal human (or creature) in battle, Witchers have also studied magic. (It’s important to note that witchers aren’t born with magical abilities — beings who are born with the capacity to wield magic are called Sources in the series). According to Witcher Wiki, Witchers can cast “simple magic spells.” With one hand, they cast spells by moving their fingers a certain way, and with the other hand they wield their weapon — which is one of the reasons why they’re so powerful. AdvertisementADVERTISEMENTHowever, Witchers’ powers and abilities come with a price. The mysterious mutation they go through sterilizes them so they’re unable to have kids of their own. 

Can Witchers Fall In Love?

Even though Witchers are generally chilly folks who most people distrust, they can still have romantic (or at least sexual) feelings. At least, Geralt does. We know that he and Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) have an on-and-off-again thing going on, and that they get very, very close. Yennefer is a Source who was born with a spinal deformity. She was rescued from a terrible household when she was little, and is trained by a powerful sorceress. Yennefer becomes super influential and goes on to be an advisor to important political figures. By using magic, Yennefer is able to hide her spinal issues and presents herself as one of the most beautiful women in the world. And who knows, the world may just be thinking “Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen who?” after we all watch the first few episodes of The Witcher.Related Content: AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT EntertainmentEverything We Know About Bridgerton Season 4I count down to a new season of Bridgerton like football fans count down to the Super Bowl. They are 108 and 118 days away, respectively. The official releby Kathleen Newman-B...EntertainmentWhat To Watch After The Summer I Turned PrettyNow that The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 has wrapped up, it feels like there’s a hole in our hearts. Instead of spending our Wednesday nights witby Rachel ChoyEntertainmentThese 8 Netflix Treats Are Worth Watching In OctoberAs we get further through the year, there’s nothing I want to do more than slump on the couch and reach for the remote. It’s been a busy few moby Rachel ChoyAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTEntertainmentEverything We Know About The Pitt Season 2The Pitt is currently the best drama on television. I say that with my whole chest. And at the Emmys this month, the medical drama was officially awarded tby Kathleen Newman-B...EntertainmentThe Summer I Turned Pretty Finale Was For Team BellySpoilers ahead. Isabelle “Belly” Conklin has made her choice. For three seasons of The Summer I Turned Pretty, we’ve watched her romantically terroriby Kathleen Newman-B...Entertainment“I’m Not Afraid Any More.” Joy Sunday On Wednesday &...Joy Sunday glides into the lobby of The Whitby Hotel in New York City’s midtown donning a caramel corset and flouncy Emilio Pucci mini skirt.  Sunday’by Taryn FinleyEntertainmentThe Best TV Shows & Movies To Stream In AugustWhile most people have been getting out into the great outdoors this summer, we’ve been glued to our big and little screens as per usual. The Emmys nominby Alicia LansomEntertainmentSterling K. Brown & Ernest Kingsley Jr. Lead A Joyful Rebellion I...Washington Black is about joy. That may come as a surprise, since the story (based on the novel by Esi Edugyan) starts on a Barbados plantation where we fiby Kathleen Newman-B...EntertainmentIs The Bear Committing “Category Fraud”? Either Way, Ayo E...For many TV watchers The Bear and controversial Emmy nominations go hand in hand. For the last few years, every time the show scores Emmys nominations —&by Banseka Kayembe¡Súbelo!Love Island USA’s Amaya and Bryan Represent the Latine Lov...On Sunday, July 13, I perched on the edge of my stool at a Brooklyn bar, facing a huge screen normally reserved for sports. Now, it displayed the neon lighby Tess GarciaEntertainmentLove Island USA Needs An Overhaul Next SeasonLove Island USA needs to figure out what it wants to be before returning for Season 8. Sunday night’s finale was proof. Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales?by Taryn FinleyEntertainmentTwo Things Can Be True: Cierra Was Wrong & Love Island Mis...Update – Thursday, July 10: Cierra Ortega issued an apology video via Instagram in which she said she was taking accountability for using an anti-Asiby Taryn FinleyAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT