Geralt of Rivia isn’t the only witcher in the universe of The Witcher, but all of them are men – so why are there no female witchers? The Witcher is a series of novels and short stories written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and which has become so popular it has branched out to other media, most notably video games. The books have been adapted into a movie and a TV series in Poland, and they made their way into the world of streaming thanks to Netflix with its first English language adaptation, simply titled The Witcher, and released in December 2019.

The Netflix series took a different approach to the stories and followed three characters in different places and points in time, with their paths converging towards the end of the season, and even though this was confusing to many, that didn’t stop the series from being a success. These characters are the title witcher, Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill); sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra); and the crown princess of Cintra, Ciri (Freya Allan). Fans will continue following their journeys in season 2 of The Witcher, where Geralt will train Ciri with the help of other witchers, but that doesn’t mean she will become one.

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As mentioned above, there are various witchers in Sapkowski’s world, but they are all male – there are, however, various sorceresses, but their skills and training are very different. Witcher trainees begin their preparation at a very early age, and they are subjected to intense alchemical processes, mutagenic compounds, and intense physical and magical training. As a result of all these, they go through many mutations that give them strength, speed, endurance, and more but also leave them sterile. Now, in order for a trainee to become a witcher, he has to go through the Trials, a series of tests that transform the subject’s organism through secret herbs, infusions, and more. First is the Trial of the Grasses, a week-long, incredibly painful test that requires the absorption of special virus cultures and alchemical ingredients with the purpose of modifying the physiology of the subject.

The Witcher Geralt hugs Ciri season 1

Few of the trainees that take the Trial of the Grasses survive the process, and those who make it through gain lightning-quick reflexes, physical strength, sharpened senses, and slower aging. Now, it’s because of these extreme tests, mutations, and more that there are no female witchers in the world of The Witcher. Women have gone through the trial but none have survived, most likely because the tests were designed to be applied on men, not women, so if there was interest in having female witchers, a trial designed for them would have to be made – of course, many readers and fans of The Witcher have pointed out the lack of female witchers as a sexist and misogynist problem in this universe, as women not surviving the trial paints them as weak, while others suggest it’s all about adrenal hormone response, which is stronger in men.

Now, while Ciri will train in Kaer Morhen in The Witcher season 2 and will count on the help of other witchers close to Geralt, she won’t be a witcher either, as she won’t go through the same processes that turned Geralt, Lambert, and Eskel into witchers, and instead, she’s considered an affiliate of the School of the Wolf. It’s unlikely Sapkowski will add female witchers to this universe, and it’s even more unlikely the Netflix series will, but that doesn’t mean that Ciri’s training won’t be exciting and interesting to watch in season 2.

Next: The Witcher Season 2: Every New & Returning Character Confirmed So Far