Ciri and witcher potions
This is a big change from the source material. In Sapkowski's novels and in previous Witcher games, Ciri never underwent the Trial of the Grasses. That ritual mutates a person's body to tolerate witcher potions, which are toxic to ordinary humans. Without the Trial, Ciri could not drink potions that Geralt relied on constantly.
In The Witcher IV, Ciri has undergone the Trial. Sebastian Kalemba confirmed that players will experience the Trial of the Grasses firsthand during the game. This means the potion system, a core part of the Witcher gameplay loop since the first game, is fully available to the player.
What potions do
Witcher potions grant temporary buffs that help in combat and exploration. Based on the franchise's established systems, expected effects include:
Night vision (Cat potion in previous games)
Poison immunity or resistance
Vitality regeneration
Damage boosts
Increased stamina recovery
Toxicity management (drinking too many potions has consequences)
The specific potion list for The Witcher IV has not been published. Previous games had around 20 to 30 potions, and the new game will likely have a comparable number.
Oils, bombs, and decoctions
The alchemy system extends beyond potions. In The Witcher 3, the system included:
Oils: applied to swords to deal bonus damage against specific monster types (e.g., Specter Oil against wraiths)
Bombs: throwable items with various effects (fire, freezing, blinding, anti-regeneration)
Decoctions: long-lasting potions brewed from monster parts, with powerful effects but high toxicity costs
CDPR has not detailed which of these sub-systems return or how they may be redesigned. Given the franchise's history, some version of all four categories is expected.
Manuscript Pages
Crafting recipes in the Witcher franchise are called Manuscript Pages. In previous games, these were found in treasure chests, dropped by enemies, or purchased from merchants. Finding a Manuscript Page unlocked a new potion, oil, bomb, or decoction recipe.
How recipe acquisition works in The Witcher IV has not been confirmed, but the Manuscript Page system is a long-running franchise convention. Exploration and looting will likely remain the primary ways to discover new recipes.
Narrative context
The fact that Ciri now has access to potions is one of several changes that redefine her as a full witcher rather than the Elder Blood sorceress of the previous game. Combined with her combat abilities and witcher signs, potion access means she fills Geralt's gameplay role without simply copying him. Her fighting style is different, her magic is different, but the preparation ritual of meditating and brewing before a hunt carries forward.