There is so much about The Witcher series to love, from the dark fantasy adventures and deep lore in the original books, to the combat and Gwent-filled video games, to the gritty and charming Netflix series. With such clear themes of compassion even when faced with human nature's flaws and choosing your own path, this is a series that has made a profound impact on people's lives.
It's no wonder why some fans have decided to commemorate their love for The Witcher by getting a tattoo. Here are some of the best Witcher tattoos we've seen, and in particular, ones that only true fans of the series would recognize the significance of.
Watercolor Wolf Medallion
Reddit user Ganjaalex's tattoo is beautifully vibrant, a watercolor tattoo on the inside of the forearm that comes off pretty intense with the bright shine of the wolf medallion in the center of symbols that are reminiscent of in-series Witcher signs.
There are some people that still would recognize the wolf medallion as a symbol of the video game series, but with the popularity of the new Netflix series and its slightly altered wolf medallion, there's little correlation between this depiction of the old medallion and the new ones. That makes this a tattoo only fans of the Witcher game series would recognize and appreciate.
Wolf Medallion Silhouette
There is a lot to be said for the subtly of silhouettes in hiding a nerdy reference to a favorite piece of media. Reddit user JoshBenton's tattoo makes use of this and features not only a small silhouette of main character Geralt fighting what may be a griffin, but also sets this against a backdrop of mountains and all this within a wolf medallion, too.
This tattoo has beautiful shading on the gaping mouth of the wolf medallion and the slopes and peaks of the backdrop mountains, which also simultaneously provides the jagged edge for the top of the wolf's head. To some people, this may just be a cool-looking and intricate tattoo. To Witcher fans, this is means much more.
A Wolf And His Swords
Yet another tattoo cleverly including the older wolf medallion design, this sketchy-looking tattoo by artist Inez Janiak also features a hidden detail that others who are not familiar with the Witcher may miss out on. This tattoo has two swords.
Two swords are important to the series' lore as they are the method by which a Witcher carries out his hired job. A Witcher always has two swords: one for humans, and a silver sword for monsters. The fact that this tattoo includes a reference to that in-series detail makes it unique and one solely for Witcher fans to catch.
Geralt Silhouetted In Turquoise
This gorgeous tattoo by artist Evgeny Mel backdrops a lightning-streaked turquoise night sky against the silhouette of Geralt and a griffin high above him, all within a diamond's shape on the inside of the forearm.
With the two swords peeking over his back, his signature broad shoulders, and thick hair, that shadowed form is unmistakable as Geralt to any Witcher fan. However, to those who are less familiar with the series, this may just seem like a really cool Skyrim or other high-fantasy tattoo instead.
Ciri Half-Sleeve
Another tattoo from a Reddit user, Bishiebish is lucky enough to have one of Ciri as an arm-sleeve. Though it's colorless, it doesn't need a splash of anything to look stunning and remarkably similar to her countenance in the third video game.
To many people, Ciri's face may not be that recognizable. Geralt's face is iconic with the grim, weathered set to his jaw, his sharp yellow eyes, and his long white hair. Ciri, on the other hand, is a bit of a hidden gem. This is not just a cool tattoo of an ordinary character; to The Witcher fans, they'll be able to identify the fierce Lion Cub of Cintra easily.
King of the Wild Hunt
This tattoo by James Artink has a pretty intense crowned skull featured on it. Colored, shaded, amazingly detailed, this tattoo looks like it's honoring a skeleton king or some sort of death god, but fans of The Witcher know better and not just because Geralt can be seen at the bottom of the tattoo flying in to attack him.
This is the King of the Wild Hunt, a fearsome antagonist in The Witcher series that grew to particular fame and notoriety in the third Witcher game. Though he's only been mentioned in the first episode of the Netflix adaptation so far, he's still a popular villain, making this one character fans will identify quickly.
Intricate Witcher Signs
This tattoo worn by Reddit user Gurutiro features another beautifully-designed nod back to the series: the odd symbols down the arm's inside are Witcher signs used both in-game and by Geralt in the Netflix series for defensive or offensive purposes in the middle of battle.
There are many similar tattoos that include the Witcher signs as a subtle reference back to the series. It's clever, considering most people not familiar with The Witcher probably won't notice or catch what they mean or where they are from or what they do. People will just appreciate the awesome tattoo for what it is: an awesome-looking tattoo.
Ciri's Rose Tattoo
This tattoo is one of the far more obscure ones related that's still surprisingly enough related to The Witcher. After all, roses aren't exclusive to the series, but the particular placement of this tattoo on the inner thigh makes it a clear reference to something that was exclusive to the books.
Even fans of the video game may not have picked up on the small throw-away line about Ciri's rose tattoo. Only in book six, the Tower of Swallows, do you see Ciri get her rose tattoo on the inside of her thigh to match one her girlfriend has. Jen Bedlington's tattoo is a beautiful reference to this canonical detail and stunningly done, too.
The Leshen
Many of the monsters within The Witcher series are based on actual lore and myth. The iconic Leshen monster is no different. This black-and-white tattoo spread across the back by tattoo artist Artem Trembach celebrates and features this iconic creature from the series.
Those who aren't familiar with The Witcher may see an aesthetically cool tattoo of a walking, strangely humanoid dear skull. They aren't wrong; however, there's much more to the Leshen than they may know and a far greater connection to The Witcher series that only fans will pick up on and appreciate.
Scoia'tael Elven Swords
This tattoo both designed and worn by deviantartist LydiaKitten is perhaps the most obscure reference to The Witcher of all, a true test for any fan to see how well they really know the series and can pick up on visual references to its characters and vast world.
According to LydiaKitten's description, the design is a reference to the Scoia'tael, a group of non-human fighters working to combat discrimination against their kind. The leaves are a nod to traditional Aen Seidhe art, and the swords are redesigns of blades that belong to beloved Scoia'tael character, Iorveth. This is one clever Witcher tattoo only true fans would really understand.