Though it might be somewhat similar to Game of Thrones, Netflix's The Witcher presents an entirely different kind of world, one of monsters and Witchers and magical screams. One of the most starkly different aspects of The Witcher in comparison to a majority of on-screen fantasy stories is its portrayal of magic. Magic was used minimally in Game of Thrones, and more so in the form of prayer than as a means of defense or as a weapon.
Likewise, in Lord of the Rings, magic was prevalent, but only for a few fortunate characters - and even for those characters, their powers were never exactly blatant. But The Witcher has entire organizations of sorcerers and, beyond the thrilling magical battles it shows, has also found a way to strongly incorporate magic and sorcery into several plotlines. Of the many spellcasters, sorcerers, and mages that exist in this world, here are the 10 most powerful (on the show).
Vilgefortz
The warrior-mage that makes a short appearance in the finale is known, to fans of the books and games, as one of the most powerful mages on the Continent. However, while he is not a bad swordsman, his magical abilities were never truly showcased, and his arrogance proved to usurp his sense of strategy.We are all hoping that the following seasons give him the power we know he has; in the meantime, he makes the top 10, but barely.
Geralt of Rivia
The White Wolf, while not a technical mage, possesses some level of magical power (Aard), due to his Witcher mutations. In comparison to many other mages seen on the show, Geralt's power, while definitely limited, is used far more effectively.
No, he can't shoot flames from his hands or cast widespread illusions, but he can blast people out of his way, which becomes a useful tool for those many close-quarters battles he partakes in. However, if the show continues to follow the novels and the games, there is future opportunity to see Geralt become quite the magical adversary, possibly using both fire (Igni) and shield (Quen) spells.
Princess Ciri of Cintra
The Lion Cub of Cintra has demonstrated some levels of magical prowess on the show, each time with epic results. Every time thus far that Ciri has used magic has occurred when she is in some kind of distress, and it comes in the form of an ear-splitting scream that shakes the earth and occasionally slaughters everyone around her.
However, she neither understands, nor can control this power - based on her journey in the books and games, she could well become the most powerful character on the show, but as of now, all she has is quite a bit of potential.
Triss Merigold
While the version of Triss in the games was vastly different (and far more powerful) than the one that appears in the show, Netflix's version of Triss is certainly not weak.
Her two biggest moments come in the finale where she casts a spell that produces toxic gas, and later when she attempts to rebuild the shattered gate that leads into the keep. Like Ciri, she has the potential to become far more powerful as the show progresses, yet, based on this first season, she is of little more than average strength for a sorcerer.
Coral
While this mage receives very little screentime (and is presumed dead after the Battle of Sodden), she did have a moment that showcased how powerful she was. Standing on the field before the keep, with dozens of Nilfgaard troops marching towards her, Coral simply raises her hand and makes a fist -the entire squadron of soldiers simply die where they stand, unable to defend against her magic.
The only consequence of this magical feat was a dribble of blood below her nose, not unlike what we see with Eleven in Stranger Things.
Mousesack
Though the loyal druid is not a member of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, his power is still undeniable -the magical shield that he placed before the gates of Cintra's palace held for hours against a relentless storm of flaming arrows.
In addition to that, he has shown a certain level of mastery around casting and utilizing portals; it is unfortunate that they killed him off so soon, even though his death did further Ciri's own journey. He might not be the most powerful mage on the Continent, but he is still strong.
Stregobor
Even though Stregobor doesn't showcase his powers in the same way as many of the other mages on the show, it is clear that he is still incredibly powerful. His most blatant use of magic was the illusion that he cast over his lair in Blaviken; while this is a different use of power than telekinetic blasts, portals, or flaming hands, it is still a relatively impressive feat.
Beyond that, Stregobor is one of the leaders of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers; he could not have achieved this kind of position or level of respect without being one of the most powerful mages on the Continent.
Tissaia de Vries
Though she is widely regarded as one of the most powerful mages on the Continent, Tissaia does not often utilize magic during the course of the first season of The Witcher. Her most impressive feat thus far occurs when Yennefer loses control after failing to capture lightning in a bottle and blasts the lightning at Tissaia, who easily redirects the blast into the sky. But, despite the fact that she does not use an excessive amount of magic, the fact that she is one of the leaders of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, as well as the fact that she is the one charged with acquiring and training new mages at Aretuza, prove her power.
In fact, her decision to use her chaos sparingly implies a level of control and wisdom that few other mages have. But that wisdom was not enough to save her from Fringilla -perhaps she is losing her touch.
Fringilla Vigo
Fringilla first appears as little more than an example of 'the balance,' as she first used her magic without holding the flower, resulting in the crippling of her hand. But, after Yennefer takes her position, Fringilla goes to advise Nilfgaard, where she delves into forbidden magic and quickly becomes powerful.
She created the mind control worms, destroyed the gates to the keep at the Battle of Sodden, and used a combination of magic and creativity to launch arrows directly into the keep, though all of those successes pale in comparison to her easy incapacitation of Tissaia.
Yennefer of Vengerberg
There is truly no question that Yennefer is the most powerful person on the Continent. As an untrained hunchback, she created a portal to Aretuza, a task that is no easy feat, especially without training. While she struggled initially at Aretuza, she quickly tapped into her power, becoming an adept warrior -her battle with the assassin who hunted the infant princess was fierce and relentless, full of portals, shields, and magical escapes.
Her attempt to imprison the djinn, while unsuccessful, definitely hinted at both her longing for more power, as well as her capability to unleash and channel power. But her true strength was not properly shown until the Battle of Sodden. After redirecting balls of fire and telepathically commanding her troops, a wounded Tissaia tells Yennefer, at long last, to unleash her chaos. And she does so, in a fantastic storm of all-consuming fire that shot forth from her hands and burned Nilfgaard's forces, as well as the entire forest, to ashes.