Death is an ever-present part of the world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and the game features some truly heartbreaking character deaths - some avoidable, some not. From the game's bloody beginnings, players can expect to see a fair share of both essential and non-essential characters meeting their demise during play. All of the characters are so lovingly and intricately crafted with the aid of emotional and cinematic cut scenes that it makes some of their deaths difficult to bear. But among them all, a few of The Witcher 3's characters were especially hard to say goodbye to.
[Warning - major spoilers for The Witcher 3 below.]
Some of the mentioned Witcher 3 character deaths are preventable by players, but only by either completing certain questlines or accomplishing a series of tasks in a very specific and successful order. The Witcher's manual save mechanics and numerous online walkthroughs also make it easy to spot an incoming death and take preventable measures. However, some are written into the game's story and will happen no matter what choices players make.
The deaths mentioned are not only sad because players have to say goodbye to the characters involved, but because of how well The Witcher sets up stories and side quests. The Witcher 3 has always been a testament to masterful storytelling through gaming, and it really drives that point home with the emotional reaction it elicits from players and how meaningful it can make characters.
The Witcher's Bloody Baron & His Wife End Tragically
Phillip Strenger, or otherwise known as the Bloody Baron, is one of the first characters that players will assist in The Witcher 3 on their quest to find Ciri and recover any information about her whereabouts. While the Baron has a well-deserved nickname and a laundry list of wrongdoings, he and his wife Anna’s story is tragic from beginning to end. If players choose to release the spirit in the tree rather than killing it, the Baron’s wife will be discovered in the form of a Water Hag. In a desperate attempt to cure her, players will need to investigate a series of dolls, one of which is connected to Anna. If players choose the wrong doll, Anna will burst into flames and die. Consumed by the grief of losing his wife, this will prompt the Baron to end his life the next time Geralt comes to see him.
Lambert & Keira's Lives Depend On One Another
Another duo in The Witcher 3 whose fates depend not only upon Geralt but also upon each other is the sorceress Keira Metz and fellow Witcher Lambert. Although players may have qualms with their rough personalities, their deaths are not only avoidable but heartbreaking if they happen. Early on in The Witcher 3, players both romance Keira and be responsible for whether she lives or dies. If she goes to Radovid she will be burned at the stake, but if players can convince her thoroughly and stay diplomatic she will head off to Kaer Morhen. If Keira dies and does not make it to the Witcher school to aid in the final fight, then she will not be able to save Lambert, and he will subsequently die.
The Witcher 3's Crach An Craite Dies A Hero
Although unavoidable, it is still a tragedy when Crach An Craite dies in The Witcher 3's main story. Crach has a long history with central figures of the game as Yennefer’s one-off flame and as Ciri’s uncle and protector by blood-oath. Not only was he a strong-willed and fair leader to his people on Skellige, but also Geralt and Yennefer’s eventual, safe recovery of Ciri during the second Northern War was in no small part thanks to Crach. His demise is ultimately at the hands of Eredin Bréacc Glas, the king of The Wild Hunt himself. Geralt arrives just in time to see that rather than uttering last words, Crach takes one final jab at Eredin in true Skelliger fashion before being struck down.
Betrayal In The Witcher 3 Will Kill Vernon Roche
Vernon Roche, commander of the Blue Stripes and fierce Temerian patriot has been consistently helpful to Geralt in the Witcher games, even going so far as to introduce himself as an old friend. Although most of the time he is stoic and expressionless, he is unwaveringly loyal and pays his debts whenever they are owed. His death is another avoidable one that depends entirely on where the player's loyalties lie. In the plot to assassinate King Radovid, Dijkstra will reveal his betrayal and corner Geralt, Roche, and Ves. Relying on the Witcher’s neutrality, Dijkstra will try to persuade him to leave and if done, both Roche and Ves will be killed.
Vesemir's Death At The End Of The Witcher Is Unavoidable
Considered by some to be one of the oldest Witchers alive, Vesemir acted as a parental figure to not only Geralt in his youth but subsequently Ciri when she was brought to Kaer Morhen. His dry wit and sage advice makes him a loveable character who is that much harder to lose. His death is, unfortunately, unavoidable, and no matter what path players take he will ultimately fall at the hands of Imlerith. During the Battle of Kaer Morhen, Vesemir will spend his final hours fending the Wild Hunt off from Ciri, putting himself directly in the line of danger to keep her safe. His last action is to use the Aard sign to push Ciri away before having his neck snapped by Imlerith. His funeral after the battle is bittersweet, and he is honored as a hero for being a crucial part in defeating the Wild Hunt.
Ciri's Death In The Witcher 3 Feels Like A Game Over
Ciri is possibly the most painful death in The Witcher 3, if not for the fact that players spend a majority of the main story trying to find and protect her then for how endeared everyone in the game is to her. Players get to see the world through her perspective and play as her in brief spots throughout the game, showing the audience her earnest and honest nature. Her fate will ultimately be decided by how good of a surrogate father players choose to make Geralt. In the dialogue choices, if the witcher is understanding of her feelings and allows her to express them in a constructive way, then she will live. If players choose the harsher, less encouraging dialogue, then Ciri will lose confidence in herself in battle and will fall victim to the White Frost whilst defeating it. This also pushes Geralt to become consumed by grief, leaving his fate unknown after trying to recover Ciri’s medallion from the last remaining Crone.
Whether these character deaths were particularly impactful to players or not, it shows how well The Witcher 3's story choices set up a variety of genuine narratives outside of the main protagonist. Each character has reasons to be loved by players outside of their association with Geralt, giving their stories supplemental life and structure of their own. Although a lot of them fall into grey morality, they are still able to be cherished and mourned due to their complex design.
