The many enemy types that can be found inThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntkeep people like Geralt of Rivia in business. Ghosts, or specters as they are often referred to, are one such nuisance that Geralt must deal with on a daily basis. Whether day or night, specters are always a problem.
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Just like every species of animal found in the wild, not every specter is made the same way. Some may be a dime a dozen while others are extremely rare and unique. Identifying which kind of ghost the player is dealing with can go a long way toward defeating it that much quicker. After all, it’s a Witcher’s business to know what he is fighting.
12Wraith
The most common type of specter in the game is arguably the Wraith. These beings, having died with some sort of unfinished business, often haunt cemeteries and catacombs. Wraiths are said to be in constant pain, forever searching for a way to right the wrongs they committed in life.
Fighting Wraiths in a large group can bea dangerous endeavor. They strike quickly with their swords and lanterns and have the ability to teleport. It’s a good idea to cast Yrden whenever possible to slow them down and inflict some damage. Dodging is vitally important in order tostay one step aheadof these ghostly fiends.
11Hym
Hyms are the stuff of nightmares inThe Witcheruniverse. They are undoubtedly one of the most dangerous demons a person can come across. Hyms don’t attack their victims in the traditional sense. A Hym torments its target psychologically, driving them to madness. Eventually, the victims often commit suicide to escape the mental torture.
Hyms manifest as shadows when in contact with a light source. As such, Geralt often needs to keep the Igni Sign handy to keep the room well lit. He won’t be able to hit what he can’t see. Yrden is also useful for slowing the demon down to deliver some damage.A silver bladecoated with specter oil is definitely a sensible choice.
10Barghest
A pack of wild dogs or wolves should never be taken lightly. That advice is especially true when it comes to phantom dogs. Barghests are vile, undead creatures who are said to torment those who are particularly wicked. Their strength, like most animals similar to them, is in their numbers.
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The key to defeating a group of Barghests is to avoid being surrounded. Staying mobile and on the edges of the fight is paramount to Geralt’s survival. These animals sometimes like to spit fire, so casting Quen is often helpful. A good strategy involves picking off the Barghests one-by-one until their numbers are cut down to something more manageable.
9Nightwraith
Although they may look like just a bag of bones, Nightwraiths are often extremely dangerous. They appear after dusk and tend to waylay unwary travelers who cross their paths.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s bestiary explains that Nightwraiths favor more rural locations, such as fields and meadows. Jenny o' the Woods is one example of this type of enemy.
Nightwraiths can be difficult to fight due to their ability to turn incorporeal. They need to be under the effects of a Moon Dust bomb or the Yrden Sign to do some serious damage. Nightwraiths also like to create doppelgangers of themselves to confuse the player and should be defeated as quickly as possible.
8Ethereal
An Ethereal is a person’s worst fears come to life. They are described as predatory creatures who prey on human trauma and uncomfortable memories. Geralt encounters a total of six Ethereals in theHearts of Stoneexpansionon the von Everec Estate.
The boss fight with the Ethereals can be easy or difficult depending on the player’s dodging and parrying skills. They can be fought one at a time, unless Geralt accidentally deals damage to one who is waiting to join the fight. The one who got damaged will then join the fray immediately. It’s best to try to avoid that scenario.
7Plague Maiden
A Plague Maiden, or Pesta, is one of the most unsightly beings a player may come across. They tend to haunt lands ravaged by disease and often carry dangerous illnesses with them. It’s theorized that Plague Maidens were once victims of particularly awful diseases and are unable to be laid to rest as a result. Geralt discovers one in the “A Towerful of Mice” quest.
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Plague Maidens possess a couple of different attacks. The most common of these consists of a cloud of insects that will try to swarm Geralt.Using Igni to burn them awayor Aard to push them back is a viable strategy. As with most specters, casting Yrden can slow a Plague Maiden down to mount an effective offense.
6Banshee
Banshees, like their name implies, are notable for their piercing wails and shrieks. According to the in-game lore Banshees are neither living nor dead, but stuck between both worlds. Like other wraiths they often take the form of old, decomposing women in ratty clothing. Longlocks in theBlood and Wineexpansion is one example of a unique Banshee.
A Banshee operates a bit differently from other wraiths when confronting Geralt in battle. Banshees possess a stun attack in the form of an ear-splitting scream, which can leave the player open to further attacks. They can also summon allies in a fight to distract Geralt. A combination of Quen for defense and Yrden for offense will usually get the job done.
5Penitent
A Penitent is described as a very rare and dangerous type of wraith. Supposedly, they only haunt people who have committed evil acts in their lifetime. A ghostly, impenetrable mist usually heralds the arrival of a Penitent. On the Isle of Skellige, Geralt can be contracted to eliminate one in the “Phantom of Eldberg” quest.
The usual methods for dispensing with Wraiths can be applied to the Penitent. He will like to teleport around the battlefield to get behind Geralt and will also summon lesser Wraiths to help. As always, using Yrden to force the Penitent to take corporeal form before unloading on him is the best strategy.
4Umbra
Individuals who transform into Umbras after death are typically the result of some despicable deed committed during life. More specifically, it’s evil acts perpetrated against innocents that may result in the offender being turned into an Umbra. In “Equine Phantoms,” Geralt learns that a former knight was turned into an Umbra for mistreating his horse.
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In combat, an Umbra can actually take any form. In Geralt’s case he will have to contend with multiple phantom panthers in order to weaken the apparition. Coating the silver blade with specter oil and staying mobile should make the fight rather easy.
3Noonwraith
Noonwraiths, unlike their Nightwraith cousins, predominantly manifest during daylight hours. In life, Noonwraiths were said to be young women who met violent ends around the time they were supposed to be married. Thus, they tend to be quite angry creatures and will attack anyone within their grasp. The Devil by the Well and the White Lady are examples of unique Noonwraiths.
Preferably, fighting a Noonwraith during the night is the best option, as she will be slightly weaker. A Noonwraith can take an immaterial form, which makes her highly resistant to physical attacks. Yrden needs to be cast so that she can take corporeal form. Moon Dust bombs can also do the trick.
