The world ofThe Witcher 3is filled with monsters of all kinds, and they’re the reason why Witchers exist in the first place. Geralt’s story, including theBlood and Wineand Hearts of Stone expansion packs, will bring him face-to-face with some of the strongest beings in the entire franchise. Some of these, the Witcher canhandle with a potionand his trusty silver sword. But then there are those who can make quick work of Geralt with a single strike, and those with hidden powers that Geralt can’t even begin to comprehend.
10 Best Locations in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
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Here are our picks for the strongest monsters from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, from difficult to kill to completely untouchable.
Be warned! There is a degree of subjectivity here!
8Gargoyles
Stone Sentinels That Pack a Mean Punch
Gargoyles might come off as sluggish creatures, but underestimating them could be the biggest mistake a player makes. These sturdy, magically animated beasts exist to guard ancient ruins and forgotten treasures, and Geralt faces them multiple times during his excavations to the sewers beneath Novigrad and the depths of forgotten caves. Their towering forms, coupled with their sheer durability, make them formidable foes.
Since it’s made of stone, a Gargoyle’s biggest asset is its use of brute force in battle, charging at Geralt with devastating physical attacks capable of smashingthrough armor. They have high defense and HP stats, which means the best option a player has is to use elemental oil or Thunderbolt potion, Quen, and dodge frequently to take care of this beast. Still, despite their slow movement, Gargoyle’s ability to chain attacks with incredible power can catch even the most experienced players off guard.
7Werewolves
Cursed by the Moon, Bound by the Beast
The idea of Werewolves might not seem unique, but it’s extremely enduring in fantasy media. Encountering one in The Witcher 3 is always an intense, visceral experience, and other than facing them during quests, they can also be found, very rarely, in various forests and caves throughout Velen and Skellige.
One of the most memorable encounters with a werewolf occurs during the “Wild at Heart” quest, where Geralt investigates the disappearance of a villager, only to discover the tragic curse that binds a man to his beastly form. Werewolves rely on a mix of speed, strength, and relentless aggression, often attacking in rapid succession while summoning packs of wolves to overwhelm their prey. They can also regenerate health at alarming speeds, making them especially deadly in prolonged combat. To deal with these foes, players must use Moon Dust bombs and cursed oil to halt their regeneration and deal extra damage to these beasts, respectively.
Royal Ribbit
Introduced in theHearts of Stone expansion, the Toad Prince is a grotesque, over-sized amphibian hiding in the sewers beneath Oxenfurt. What begins as a routine monster contract quickly spirals into one of the most challenging fights in Geralt’s lifetime.
The Toad Prince’s strength lies in its raw size, poisonous attacks, and unpredictable behavior. Its poisonous spittle and wide-reaching tongue strikes can drain Geralt’s health in seconds. The enclosed sewer setting makes evading its attacks even more difficult, creating a claustrophobic battle where careful positioning and consistent dodging are critical. The lore behind the Toad Prince reveals it to be Prince Sirvat, the heir to the Ofiri throne who was cursed by Olgried over a love spat, adding a tragic twist to the story.
The King of the Wild Hunt
The main antagonist of The Witcher 3, Eredin Bréacc Glas, leads the spectral warriors of the Wild Hunt and serves as Geralt’s ultimate rival in the base game. Known as the King of the Aen Elle elves, Eredin’s motivations are rooted in his desire to conquer and survive, no matter the cost.
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The final battle with Eredin takes place on the frozen expanse of Undvik, where his mastery over magic and swordsmanship comes to the forefront. He teleports unpredictably, raining down heavy strikes and magic attacks that can stagger or outright kill Geralt if players aren’t careful. Eredin’s strength doesn’t just lie in his abilities but in the gravitas of the confrontation itself, as this fight had a buildup of years, and it’s just as difficult and brutal as players expected it to be.
A Spirit of Unfathomable Power
The Djinn is an elemental being of incredible magical might, bound by ancient spells to fulfill wishes — often with catastrophic results. Geralt encounters a Djinn during the fan-favorite quest “The Last Wish,” where he joins Yennefer on a journey to track and capture the elusive creature.
This side quest is not just a heartwarming or bittersweet moment in Geralt and Yennefer’s tumultuous romance, based on the dialogue options players pick, but also a challenging test of combat prowess. The Djinn’s attacks are heavily magic-based, with the constant onslaught of ranged icicle attacks and AoE lightning attacks that can only be dodged, making it difficult to land hits. The only option players have is to use the pillar on the ship to block some of the projectiles, dodge constantly, and look for an opening to land acouple of swordstrikes before taking cover behind the pillar again.
3Detlaff van der Eretein
The Beast of Beauclair
The Blood and Wine expansion introduces players to Detlaff van der Eretein, a highervampirewith unparalleled strength and a tragic backstory. While Detlaff has moments of eerie calm and emotional vulnerability, his rage manifests in battle as he transforms into a batlike, winged abomination during his second phase.
The climactic duel of Geralt against Detlaff is one of the hardest fights in the entire game, including the expansion packs. His attack patterns evolve rapidly, shifting between devastating melee strikes, aerial lunges, and ranged bat swarms that swoop in toward Geralt. What makes Detlaff even more legendary is the sheer scale of his transformations and the emotional weight of his story. Players will need to read his movements and dodge at just the right time, which is the key to all three phases of the fight with Detlaff.
2The Unseen Elder
The Strongest Higher Vampire Ever
The Unseen Elder is a higher vampire just like Detlaff, but so powerful and ancient that even other vampires fear him. Making his entrance during the Blood and Wine expansion, the Elder resides in an ominous cave deep beneath Toussaint. Merely speaking with him is enough to instill a sense of dread and his words feel like they carry the weight of millennia.
Geralt never directly battles the Unseen Elder in a boss fight, but what few cutscenes there are in the game are enough to indicate how insignificant Geralt is in his presence. Should Geralt provoke him, death will come instantly. This is a being who exists on a level far beyond mortal understanding, making him a standout among The Witcher 3’s strongest monsters.
1Gaunter O’Dimm
The Devil’s in the Details, and the Mirrors
Topping the list is none other than Gaunter O’Dimm, the enigmatic and sinister being from Hearts of Stone whose name acronyms GOD. Also known as “Master of Mirrors,” O’Dimm appears to be a simple merchant but is, in truth, an ancient and malevolent entity capable of bending reality to his will.
O’Dimm’s true strength lies in his intellect and the way he manipulates others into making deals they can never escape. He doesn’t fight Geralt in a traditional sense, but instead drags him into a surreal puzzle-like confrontation where Geralt must outwit him in a race against time. What truly makes Gaunter an unsettling creature is that no one in the game seems to know what he exactly is or the extent of his strength, and if provoked, his power could surpass that of every other monster in the Witcher universe.
Based on clues from both the Witcher games and books, it is indirectly confirmed that he is the “Devil” of the Witcher universe, possessing powers far beyond that of a Djinn, with records of people encountering him thousands of years ago, always with an evil intention in mind. There’s also the fact that Gaunter always seems to appear whenever someone says the word “Devil”, further confirming this fact.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
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