The Witcher video game series (and the books and the TV show) have taken modern fantasy to a new level and drawn in many new people to the genre. We’re not disregarding Lord of the Rings nor Skyrim, but today’s topic is how to play a witcher in the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons (DnD 5e).
Whether you were inspired by the downright astonishing Witcher 3 or the, let’s say, slightly less astonishing Witcher Netflix series, you came to the right place to learn.
Does Witcher Work in a D&D Setting?
The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to the idea of witchers is naturally the main character of the series, Geralt of Rivia. However, he pretty much fits the loner-type archetype in terms of personality, but there’s also another quirk. A witcher almost never works in teams by default, so it will definitely feel a little weird tossing one in a D&D environment, where party cooperation and interaction is the name of the game (not literally, of course, it’s still Dungeons&Dragons).
Working in the role of a witcher in a party will definitely require some element of working together between the Dungeon Master and the player, but also between the player and the rest of the party. In the end, that’s what it all comes down to. If you can walk the line of a really powerful class without turning into an edgy rogue who turns on the party, you’re gonna be just fine.
What is the Right Source for Your Homebrew 5e Witcher Class?
So, this one is tough. Obviously, the Witcher as an IP (Intellectual Property) is not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast (WotC), the company that owns official D&D copyright. As such, there isn’t an “official” Witcher class, so we have to homebrew one.
Because the Witcher franchise is so popular, there are quite a few attempts at homebrewing this class online. So naturally, this means there are variations, especially when it comes to understanding the difference between the series’ main character Geralt and his occupation as a witcher.
I assume plenty of you want to play an exact copy of Geralt, and while that is perfectly fine, I believe there is much more to be explored in a character that just has the same job as him. Thinking about the games and the show, many stories are related to the character of Geralt himself and his journey, which is why I will talk about the more general subject of witcher class for the rest of this article.
Quick note: at the end of this article, you will find the exact specifications of the witcher class for your D&D game.
The reason I have chosen this specific homebrew was that I feel it touches that core, monster-hunting essence of the witcher idea. Like, their entire role in society is to hunt monsters (for a price, of course), and I think this particular homebrew really emphasizes that point while also giving you the option of pulling all those badass moves you saw Geralt do on your screen.
The Role of a Witcher in Your Standard D&D Party
Because the main idea behind a witcher is that they are this unstoppable force, capable of going one on one with some of the most ferocious monsters out there, it’s going to feel weird having them rely on the party. In fact, the homebrew class I choose does a really good job of identifying witcher’s strengths and adapting them to the world of D&D.
So, we have this amazing and powerful guy that’s built for killing monsters. He doesn’t need a healer or buffs; he does that himself. So, how does he fit in with the party?
In my opinion, the player who uses a witcher should be what’s considered a tank. This means leading the charge in battle and essentially keeping the enemy occupied so that casters and range fighters can inflict damage. As you could’ve guessed, the witcher will also deal a lot of damage to enemies, so it works out both ways.
One thing that you should really pay attention to is the Witcher’s Code. It’s something that’s very similar to personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws that you get from default backgrounds.
How to Create a Witcher in DnD 5e
My first advice would be to invest your starting stats into Dexterity but to take a closer look at what you want your next highest attribute to be. If you’re dead set on using spells, then increase the Wisdom because that is what witchers use as their magic modifiers.
As always, when reaching the 3rd level, you get the coolest abilities. You get to use Signs which are spells you can use to give yourself buffs, but more importantly, you get to choose your Witcher School. There are five choices, each with its own unique boosts – School of the Wolf, Cat, Viper, Bear, and Griffon. You should definitely give all those a good read-through before choosing in order to give yourself optimal play enjoyment.
You should take a closer look at those and try to use them when the time is right. I can’t give you specific advice because I can’t possibly know what situations you will get into, but if you anticipate getting into the type of situation where you the best option might be a non-violent one, use Unnatural Persuasion (if you’re high enough level).
And that pretty much sums it up. I suggest you give the class description a thorough read before choosing it because there might be a specific way you want to play as a witcher that this class might limit. If that’s the case, you should consult your DM and see if they would be open to implementing some homebrew rules for you.
Below is a web archive link to the class from its original source.
https://web.archive.org/web/20220308185659/www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Witcher_(5e_Class)
