The Witcher 3 is considered by many to be one of the greatest open-world titles of all time, and one need only play through this majestic title to understand why this is the case. The game absolutely oozes quality from every pore, with the stories present in this grand fantasy adventure easily serving as one of the standout parts of this game.
Of course, one can't fail to mention the combat of this title as well, which has taken massive strides from the rudimentary battles featured in the first game and the rather floaty combat present in the second title. A fast-paced and energetic combat system is further augmented by a whole host of diverse enemies, some of which have been mainstays of the series for quite some time indeed.
Keeping this in mind, here are ten of the most notable recurring enemies in The Witcher series.
10 Basilisk
It was a close fight between the Basilisk and the Cockatrice for the tenth spot on this list, given the fact that both enemies do make frequent appearances in the first game. However, it's the relative abundance of the Basilisk in the third game in comparison to the Cockatrice — an enemy found only in two locations, along with a special boss version in a side quest — that helps it bag this spot.
The Basilisk is no slouch — it might not have the petrifying gaze that is associated with this mythological figure, but its fierceness and ferocity in combat will make it enough of a challenge for budding Witchers.
9 Nekker
Easily one of the ugliest looking creatures on this list, Nekkers are some of the most annoying enemies players can face in The Witcher series.
Introduced in the second game, Nekkers make it infinitely clear that they're not inclined for one-on-one combat at all — rather, these enemies prefer to overpower their opposition through sheer numbers and agile movement. Players need to use quick slashes and AoE attacks in order to efficiently take down a pack of Nekkers.
8 Harpy
Another enemy that prefers to overpower any would-be assailants with their numbers, Harpies have the added annoying advantage of being airborne, meaning that players need to bring a horde of these enemies down first before they can deal substantial damage.
However, one has to admit that Harpies are one of the more satisfying enemies to defeat in the game. These monsters tend to appear after players already have a good grasp of the combat system, allowing them to employ everything they've learned about the game's combat as they mow down waves upon waves of these enemy types.
7 Wyvern
It seems that flying enemies tend to form the bulk of recurring enemies in The Witcher series, with each of them being quite annoying in their own right. The Wyvern is no exception to this golden rule.
While fighting these annoying creatures can be a pain early on, players who manage to get used to the attack patterns of these enemies will find themselves mowing down waves upon waves of these enemies.
6 Ghoul
An enemy that prefers fighting cowardly in packs — a pattern seen in a ton of enemies on this list — ghouls are extremely lethal enemies that can turn Geralt into a bloody mess if the player doesn't manage this enemy group properly.
Players need to be patient while fighting ghouls — charging in headfirst without a proper strategy will lead to Geralt suffering from unnecessary attacks. Taking these enemies out one by one and separating the pack should be the utmost priority.
Of course, things are different when players encounter the tougher variant of these monsters — the Alghoul. While fighting this beast, the player needs to strike fast and dodge their blows ever faster to emerge victorious.
5 Endrega
The only insectoid enemy to make this list appears during a time in The Witcher 2 when players are finally getting a hand of the ridiculously hard combat — at least in the early stages of the game. As a result, Endrega's end up serving as great practice for the player as they get used to fighting in The Witcher 2.
Their appearance in The Witcher 3 might not be as striking or iconic, but they still manage to serve as fun enemies to spar with. The fact that they come in different types — as either an Endrega worker, drone, or warrior — further adds to the fun people can have while fighting these enemies.
4 Rotfiend
One of the more unique enemies that can take unaware players off-guard with their self-destruction technique, Rotfiends initially appear like nothing more than an uglier version of ghouls.
However, Rotfiends have an ace up their sleeve that allows them to detonate their bodies... unless the player sets them on fire or kills them with a downed finisher. Failing to do either of these means that the player must be ready to dodge at any moment after a Rotfiend's health reaches critical levels.
3 Wraith
Undead enemies are quite prevalent in The Witcher series, but one has to admit that the Wraith manages to set itself apart in a class of its own due to its frequent appearances across the three games coupled with their many variations, such as noonwraiths, nightwraiths, and plague maidens.
Using the Yrden sign along with Specter Oil is pretty much a must for any player who wishes to take care of these enemies without facing constant game-overs.
2 Bruxa
Out of all the vampire-type enemies present in The Witcher series, the Bruxa is one of the few to have appeared across all three games, cementing itself as one of the most iconic enemies in the entire series.
Bruxae are powerful, fast-paced vampires that can completely slice and dice Geralt if he's not careful enough. However, defeating them becomes quite easy once the player gets accustomed to the combat system and uses an effective strategy to deal with them.
1 Drowner
Easily the most recognizable — and frequent — enemy that players will encounter throughout The Witcher series, Drowners and their variants — such as the Drowned Dead and Mucknixer — are generally manageable as the game progresses.
However, early playthroughs of The Witcher 3 are certainly marred by players dying at the hands of swift Drowners time and time again, making them learn the usefulness of Fast and Strong Attacks in different combat situations.