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Ciri's Combat and Abilities
February 22, 2026 at 02:44 PM
Initial article covering all confirmed combat systems and ability categories
Ciri does not fight like Geralt. Where Geralt was methodical, grounded, and relied on preparation, Ciri is acrobatic and fast. She pirouettes over enemies, uses teleport dashes for short-distance repositioning, and leans into agility over brute strength. The overall fighting style is more fluid and mobile.
Ciri wields Zireael, her silver sword. This confirms that the game follows the ending of The Witcher 3 where Ciri becomes a witcher and receives the sword. Silver swords in the Witcher universe are used against monsters, while steel swords are for humans. Whether Ciri also carries a steel sword has not been confirmed.
The chain weapon is new. Ciri wraps it around her left arm and uses it in several ways:
Restraining monsters at a distance
Pulling enemies closer or anchoring to them
Imbuing it with witcher signs (for example, wrapping it in fire via Igni)
Grappling onto surfaces or objects
The chain replaces Geralt's crossbow as the secondary ranged option. It is both a combat tool and a traversal device. In footage from trailers, Ciri uses the chain to lash a monster and then close the distance for a sword strike.
After undergoing the Trial of the Grasses, Ciri has full access to the five witcher signs:
Aard: telekinetic blast that pushes enemies back
Igni: fire stream or burst
Quen: protective shield
Yrden: magical trap that slows enemies in an area
Axii: mind influence that can stun or calm targets
The signs can be imbued into the chain weapon, creating combo potential. Wrapping the chain in Igni and then striking a monster applies fire damage. How many sign-chain combinations exist has not been detailed.
Ciri trained under Yennefer of Vengerberg, one of the most powerful sorceresses in the Witcher universe. This gives her access to magic beyond standard witcher signs. One confirmed ability is "Bolt," a lightning-infused punch that deals heavy damage.
Her magic is described as more offensively powerful than Geralt's signs. Geralt's signs were utility tools: a quick blast of fire, a defensive shield, a brief stun. Ciri's magic can apparently hit much harder, reflecting her sorcerous training.
This is where things get complicated. In The Witcher 3, Ciri's Elder Blood gave her the ability to teleport across space and time, phase through dimensions, and unleash devastating energy blasts. If those powers carried over at full strength, the game would have serious balance problems.
CDPR's solution: nerf them. Executive Producer Malgorzata Mitrega said: "Something totally happened in-between" The Witcher 3 and The Witcher IV. Whatever that event was, it reduced Ciri's Elder Blood abilities. The teleport dashes she uses in combat are a remnant of those powers, but the full spacetime manipulation is gone or severely limited.
To compensate, Ciri has full access to witcher potions (thanks to the Trial of the Grasses) and more powerful offensive magic (thanks to Yennefer's training). She lost her most overpowered ability but gained a wider toolkit.
Between the sword, chain weapon, five signs, advanced magic, and alchemy, Ciri has a large number of combat options. The skill tree will presumably let players specialize in some of these areas over others, though specifics on progression have not been shared.
