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Overview
Witcher schools are organizations that recruit, mutate, and train monster hunters known as witchers. Each school has its own headquarters, combat philosophy, and traditions. Recruits undergo the Trial of the Grasses, a mutagenic process that kills most candidates. Survivors gain enhanced reflexes, senses, and resistance to toxins.
By the time of The Witcher 3, most schools were in severe decline or defunct. Anti-witcher pogroms, loss of knowledge, and dwindling monster populations had reduced the witcher population to scattered individuals. The Witcher IV introduces a new school, the School of the Lynx, potentially marking a revival.
School of the Wolf
Headquarters: Kaer Morhen, a fortress in the Blue Mountains of Kaedwen. The name means "Keep of the Elder Sea" in Elder Speech. The fortress is accessible only via a treacherous mountain path nicknamed "The Killer."
Founded in the 11th century by witchers from the fractured Order of Witchers who settled in the Morhen Valley. The Wolf School teaches balanced combat: swordsmanship, signs, herbalism, bomb preparation, and monster lore. It is considered the most well-rounded school.
In the 1170s, peasants from Kaedwen attacked Kaer Morhen with the aid of mages, killing most witchers inside. Knowledge of how to perform the Trial of the Grasses was lost in the attack. By the events of The Witcher 3, only a handful of wolves remained: Geralt, Vesemir (the last "old" witcher), Eskel, and Lambert.
School of the Cat
Originally based at Stygga Castle in Ebbing. Founded when a group of early witchers established themselves there. A rebellion led by Gezras of Leyda (who had survived botched mutation experiments that enhanced rather than dulled emotions) broke away in the 11th century, becoming the Cat School.
The Cat School is the most controversial. Its members abandoned political neutrality and became known as assassins more than monster hunters. Uniquely among witcher schools, the Cats accepted girls and elves as trainees. Their combat style favors speed and agility over strength, using light armor and fast attacks.
Stygga Castle was besieged by royal forces, and all witchers inside were killed. Surviving Cats scattered and operated independently. The school's reputation for mercenary work made Cats distrusted even by other witchers.
School of the Griffin
Headquarters: Kaer Seren, a fortress in Kovir and Poviss, at the sea end of a mountain range. The fortress had previously been used by the mage Alzur for early witcher creation experiments.
Founded by Erland of Larvik and 13 companions who wanted to preserve the original chivalric ideals of the Order of Witchers. The Griffin School emphasized signs (witcher magic) more than any other school, along with social etiquette and a knightly code. Griffins were considered the most traditional and "by the book" witchers.
School of the Bear
Headquarters: Haern Caduch, a remote fortress in the Amell Mountains. The Bear School was the first group to split from the original Order of Witchers.
Bears are loners by nature. Unlike the communal atmosphere of the Wolf School, Bear witchers had weak bonds with each other, and meetings on the Path sometimes led to violence. Their combat style favors heavy armor and defensive fighting. Along with the Cat School, Bears are one of only two schools known to use crossbows.
School of the Viper
Headquarters: Gorthur Gvaed, a keep in the Tir Tochair mountains. Founded by witchers who betrayed and broke away from the Bear School, nearly killing the Bear School's founder Arnaghad in the process.
The Viper School has the most brutal reputation. Training included raising a pet animal and then being ordered to kill it before graduation. Vipers embraced poison as a signature weapon and favored twin daggers coated in venom.
In The Witcher 2, Viper witchers Letho, Auckes, and Serrit were coerced by Emperor Emhyr var Emreis into assassinating Northern kings (Foltest of Temeria, Demavend of Aedirn) in exchange for promises to rebuild their school. Emhyr reneged and sent bounty hunters after them instead. Letho is the main antagonist of The Witcher 2.
School of the Manticore
Based in Zerrikania, a distant land far to the east. The Manticore School is associated with alchemy expertise. Little is known about its history or traditions. In The Witcher 3's Blood and Wine expansion, players can find Manticore School witcher gear.
School of the Lynx
The newest school, introduced in The Witcher IV. Ciri wears its feline medallion. Game director Sebastian Kalemba described Ciri as "about to form her own codex on her own terms," suggesting she may have founded the school herself. For more details, see the School of the Lynx article.