The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stands as one of the best RPGs in part thanks to its narrative, and players will get to relive those branching storylines when the new-gen remasters launch late this year. Character writing is a key strength regardless of the decisions players have Geralt of Rivia make throughout the game, but they'll need to be thoughtful should they want the best resolution.
Fans by and large think of Ciri's "witcher ending" as the best or "good" end, and for good reason. That being said, players will have to indulge their inner parent to achieve it, as the decisions made along the way aren't so apparent.
Comforting Ciri In Blood On The Battlefield
Following the tragic events of The Battle of Kaer Morhen, the main cast of characters are now grappling with the aftermath and gathering the strength to push on. Namely, Geralt grieving the death of his surrogate father Vesemir and, by extension, Ciri's surrogate grandfather.
In Blood on the Battlefield, Ciri finds herself growing frustrated during her training sessions, and if players want her to reach the witcher ending, Geralt needs to comfort and reassure her by saying "I know what might lift your spirits" as opposed to telling her to relax and that she doesn't need to be an expert at everything. This could be seen as one of the more nuanced dialogue choices to make.
Take Ciri To Velen Instead Of Seeing Emhyr In Blood On The Battlefield
Also during Blood on the Battlefield, and after comforting Ciri in her training following the death of one of The Witcher 3's best supporting characters, players will have another key decision to make when helping shape her ending.
It's one of several choices that serve as primers for all three of Ciri's possible fates, and having Geralt decide to take her to Velen as opposed to seeing her (biological) father Emperor Emhyr is a key way to cut out certain bumps further along the story. This decision helps ensure that Ciri doesn't die in the finale and simultaneously paves the way for the witcher ending.
Don't Press The Matter On Where To Go In Blood Of The Battlefield
Alternatively, the player can choose a second option to avoid any tension with Emperor Emhyr. Instead of outright choosing to go to Velen or seeing Emhyr, the player can simply opt out of making either choice and letting the clock run out. It'll be the same overall result in that not telling Ciri either dialogue option results in her being one step closer to avoiding death and not visiting Emhyr in Vizima.
Throughout The Witcher 3, players will get several opportunities to make dialogue choices with the added pressure of being on a timer. However, sometimes saying nothing is a good call in and of itself, and this level of role-playing nuance is part of the reason The Witcher 3 is such an excellent fantasy RPG.
Refuse Emhry's Payment For Ciri (If Choosing To See Emhyr)
While avoiding visiting Emhyr in Vizima outright is the safest option to eventually reach the witcher ending for Ciri, The Witcher 3 does give a couple of opportunities to course correct and ensure Ciri's safety. The first of which, assuming the player mistakenly chose to see Emhyr instead of riding for Velen, is to refuse the Emperor of Nilfgaard's payment for bringing Ciri back safely.
The alternative will see Ciri sow doubt in herself and potentially result in her death if more wrong turns are made elsewhere. That being said, making this decision alone isn't enough for the witcher ending, as it would send her to the "Empress Ciri" ending.
Ensure Nilfgaard Loses The War (If Choosing To See Emhyr)
The second and final technical decision (and one that's required if Geralt takes Ciri to see Emperor Emhyr) is making sure that Nilfgaard loses the war against Redania and their sadistic king Radovid V. To save Ciri and put her on the witcher ending, it, unfortunately, means avoiding one of The Witcher 3's best side quests.
Alternatively, players can still choose to complete the Reason of State side quest after going through the other quest chain of An Eye for an Eye, A Deadly Plot, and Redania's Most Wanted, but they'll have to make a grisly decision against Vernon Roche while siding with Dijkstra.
Suggesting Ciri Speak To The Lodge Of Sorceresses In Final Preparations
During Final Preparations, Geralt and Ciri will tackle a series of smaller quests before snuffing out the threat of the Wild Hunt once and for all. Towards the end, the player will force Geralt to make a critical choice that directly impacts Ciri's fate as either a witcher or an empress.
The Lodge of Sorceresses is one of the most pivotal allies in this mainline quest, and Geralt needs to urge Ciri to seek out and talk to the members of the Lodge on her own, as opposed to agreeing to accompany her. This decision helps nudge Ciri toward building greater self-confidence, though, it's ultimately well within character for Geralt to support Ciri's choice to become a witcher or Empress of Nilfgaard.
Validate Ciri's Anger In Child Of The Elder Blood
Later in the main questline, Ciri will tell Geralt in confidence that her Elven mentor Avallac'h has a secret laboratory that even she wasn't allowed to enter. This leads the trio of Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri to investigate this hidden base. There, they discover Avallac'h's secret lover and the fact that he was researching and experimenting with the Elder Blood gene that grants Ciri her powers.
She understandably grows angry and lashes out, and Geralt can choose to tell her to calm down or let herself vent. Players must choose the latter, as it helps validate her emotions and helps prevent her death at the end of the game.
Accompany Ciri To Skjall's Grave In The Child Of The Elder Blood
Again during Child of the Elder Blood, the player will have one more choice to make to help cement Ciri's survival and growth into a full-fledged witcher. This long, arduous, and bloody quest has taken a toll on everyone involved, especially Ciri when considering everyone who's died along the way for her sake.
In addition to the devastating loss of Vesemir, a comparatively unsung hero in the form of Skjall died on Skellige after falling in love with her and dying to save her from the Wild Hunt. In a somber final scene of the quest, Geralt can (and should) choose to accompany Ciri to visit Skjall's grave before the climax.