The world of The Witcher games is massive and fascinating, inspiring awe and wonder. Filled with magic and monsters, playing The Witcher games is an RPG adventure lover's dream.
In a land brimming with danger, a witcher must rely on his swords and magic if they wish to survive long and make some coin. Igni is a simple, fire-based magic spell that can come quite in handy if players know how to use it effectively. Whether you're new to The Witcher franchise or a veteran in need of a refresher, look no further for a deep dive on Geralt's Igni sign.
10 One Of Five Signs
The Igni sign is one of five signs that Geralt is capable of employing in combat and non-combat scenarios.
Each of the signs provide Geralt a different ability. Aard is a telekinetic-based power that allows players to push away enemies. Igni sets targets on fire. Yrden gives Geralt control over time, slowing enemies down. Quen grants players a protective shield. Lastly, Axii lets Geralt use mind tricks on enemies to incapacitate them.
9 Based On The Alchemical Symbol For Fire
A fun fact that shows the developer's attention to detail in The Witcher 3 is how many aspects of the game are based on reality or history in some capacity.
A perfect example of this is how the symbol for Igni is derived from the alchemical symbol for fire. With alchemy being a precursor to chemistry, and seen as magic-based in some popular culture, using this symbol as inspiration for the symbol for Igni is a great nod to both fantasy and science.
8 Ignite And Burn
A crucial benefit of Igni is its ability to set enemies on fire, creating a burning effect that inflicts damage over time. A vast majority of enemies in the game are susceptible to burning, making Igni a powerful sign.
Although some enemies are immune to catching on fire, this is a rare occurrence. It is far more common to find an enemy that has Igni has a major weakness.
7 Can Cause Panic Effect
In addition to burning enemies and causing damage over time, Igni can also cause a panic effect. Not only can players inflict burning damage, but they can also temporarily make an enemy a non-threat because they're too busy panicking to attack you.
This status only lasts a few seconds and isn't nearly as effective as Axii in incapacitating enemies. It can also be stopped if you accidentally attack the panicked enemy too quickly. That said, it's still a nice sub-ability for Igni, making it all the more useful.
6 Good For Early Game Hunting
During the early game in The Witcher 3, using Igni while hunting animals is a great way to farm food for health and hides for coin. Coming across low-level creatures like deer or rabbits, Geralt can use a blast of Igni to one-shot these creatures quickly and efficiently, instead of chasing them around with your sword or crossbow.
This is a good way early on to make some easy coin selling hides and saving up animal meat for recovering health.
5 Best Way To Deal With Beehives
A small nuisance in the game while exploring is coming across beehives every now and then. Getting attacked by a swarm of bees isn't fun for anyone. What some players don't know though is that Igni can be used as a simple and surefire way to deal with a beehive.
By shooting a wave of fire in the general direction of the beehive, players can eliminate it before it becomes a threat. The honeycomb from beehives has some great properties for recovering health as well, so keep your eyes peeled.
4 Detonate Flammable Gasses
In the heat of combat, it's easy to forget how important it is to use your surroundings to your advantage. When playing on higher difficulties, this becomes an absolute necessity.
Gas clouds, easy to spot because of their green color, can be ignited by Igni to create powerful explosions. There are several quests in the game that put you in close proximity to gas clouds, and sometimes making use of them is the only way to survive a fight without consuming all your food and potions.
3 Melt Enemy Armor
Both human and non-human enemies can have armor even if it doesn't necessarily look like they do. There is an important upgrade for Igni that allows you to melt through certain percentages of enemy armor.
Although you won't be able to completely do away with enemy armor in most cases, using Igni is a great way to limit your target's ability to reduce the damage they receive from your sword attacks.
2 Alternate Sign
Every sign in The Witcher 3 has an alternate sign mode that changes the spell and allows you to perform a different ability. For Igni, instead of sending out a single wave of fire, players can project a continuous stream of sparks that engulf their targets in flame.
The attack isn't as overpowered as it sounds, but it's still a decent ability that allows Geralt to more effectively focus on powerful monsters. Igni's alternate sign can also be used to destroy enemy shields, which the standard sign cannot do.
1 Practical Outside Of Combat
Rivaled only by Axii, Igni has the most use outside of combat than any sign in the game. Although Axii can be used in dialogue to greatly affect conversation and character interactions, Igni has far more practical uses.
From igniting a torch to setting the proper flame to cook a pot of soup, having access to the sign Igni is like having the ability to be a low-level fire bender who can whip out some flame whenever it's needed. In a world without electricity, that can mean the difference between life and death.