Based on the famous story behind the series, The Witcher 4 seems inevitably to break a great tradition with its choice of protagonists, as Ciri takes on the same mantle as her father, Geralt. While The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has multiple endings, it seems The Witcher 4 will officially confirm who were canon, given that Ciri will lead the next game as its Witcher protagonist. But while some of these endings suggest that Ciri will follow in Geralt's footsteps and train to become a Witcher, The Witcher 4 the announcement raises new questions about when and how Ciri finally achieved this.
More specifically, Ciri's transformation into a Witcher i The Witcher 4 raises questions regarding the series' lore with the Trial of the Grasses, a specialized alchemical concoction that individuals must take to become a Witcher. Even with the release of The Witcher 4 trailer, many players have expressed confusion about how Ciri could be the new game's Witcher protagonist, due to the series' lore suggesting that only men can survive the trial. As a result, it seems The Witcher 4 is already in a position where it's guaranteed to break some series traditions thanks to Ciri's upcoming role as the game's titular Witcher.
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The Witcher 4 needs to put its money where the cinematic trailer's mouth is
Now that The Witcher 4 has been confirmed by CD Projekt Red, the series must fulfill a promise teased in the trailer.
The significance of how Ciri became a Witcher in The Witcher 4
Although there are different schools of Witchers, virtually all have their own version of the Trial of the Grasses that its candidates must take, and crucially, only three out of ten boys are expected to be strong enough to survive. Girls, on the other hand, usually do not survive the trial, which has raised doubts about how Ciri can be a Witcher despite her training and prophesied fate in The Witcher 3. Even accounting for details like her Elder Blood lineage, it seems unlikely that Ciri could survive the School of the Wolf's Trial of the Grasses, as Geralt had.
However, there are some exceptions in The Witchers lore that could allow Ciri to become a Witcher herself, and if true, this could mean The Witcher 4 will break new ground for its game and player experience. For example, which players may have learned during The Witcher 3is the School of Cats an example where female Witchers are possible due to differences in the Trial of the Grasses. Combined with CD Projekt Red teasing a cat-like pendant instead of Geralt's wolf, it's possible that Ciri became a Witcher through a different school and trial than her father.
What this could mean for The Witcher 4
Although the logistics of how Ciri became a Witcher may not be in focus The Witcher 4s themes or story, the difference between her and Geralt may lead to gameplay changes that reflect this. While The Witcher 4s trailer has already teased details that Ciri using magic, signs and potions, going through the trial with a different school could give Ciri different powers and characteristics than those seen with Geralt. However, based on the design of the pendant shown off by CD Projekt Red, it appears that Ciri may have joined a never-before-seen school in the games due to its resemblance to a lynx.
With a potential armor reference to the School of the Lynx i The Witcher 3, The Witcher 4 could use this school to trade things up from Geralt. Although players should be careful not to confuse content from fans with potential The Witcher 4 news, the choice of a lynx instead of a cat could be to maintain the power or aggression of the Wolf School as a compromise for Ciri to become the first female Witcher. But only with The Witcher 4s trailer reveal and CD Projekt Red's confirmation that Ciri has completed the Trial of the Grasses, players can only speculate until more news is given.
The Witcher IV
