Summary
- Witchers carry two swords—one steel and one silver—to fight monsters. Silver swords are rare and deadly against monsters, while steel swords are used against regular enemies.
- The Witcher books and games have inconsistent lore regarding Geralt's use of swords.
- Future Witcher games can introduce new gameplay elements and focus on the importance of swords. A new protagonist from a different witcher School could bring changes and make legendary swords more significant.
Nothing is more important to a witcher than his swords. Made from steel and silver respectively, swords in The Witcher are the most iconic hallmark of the gruesome profession, and the sight of two swords on the back of a traveler marks them a witcher just as much as the pendant around their neck. As swords are so important in The Witcher, so are the stories and lore behind them but as stories develop with each chapter, it's time for the lore behind swords to have a revamp.
Witchers have two swords as a mark of their profession and as a matter of practicality. As monster hunters and killers, their weapons need to be specially geared towards fighting and killing the monsters that roam the Continent, who are notoriously only harmed by silver. To that end, all witchers need to carry a silver sword, the iconic sword of the witcher. Silver swords are more rare and expensive than standard steel swords, and have no special effects against mundane enemies such as humans or normal animals. Silver swords are actually a hindrance against the mundane, and tend to chip or break against tough armor and with use. When used against monsters, however, silver swords are deadly, which is why witchers all carry one, and why they're unique in doing so.
Sword Lore is Inconsistent Between The Witcher Games and Books
There are some differences between The Witcher books and games regarding Geralt's use of swords. In the books, Geralt's primary sword is the one made from steel, which he carries on his back. The steel sword is sufficient for fighting and killing many of the monsters he faces, including cutting through thick, tough hides that would buckle swords made from more fragile silver. His silver sword is reserved only for certain monsters that are weak to silver, but that also wouldn't damage the delicate and expensive material. Rather than holstering it on his back, Geralt keeps his silver sword with Roach's saddlebags.
Swords both steel and silver come in various collections to be completed in the games, such as swords from various witcher Schools or elf-made swords. There are also a number of legendary swords Geralt has encountered over the years, such as Aerondight, a sword which has appeared in all three The Witcher games and is inspired by the sword Excalibur from the Arthurian legends, complete with the Lady in the Lake. It's these kinds of swords that leave the biggest impressions on players thanks to the effort it takes to obtain them, the characters tied to them, and the lore-rich tales behind them.
The Future of The Witcher Games is The Time For Changes in Lore
The player character of the future games will probably not be Geralt but rather be a new protagonist from the new witcher School of the Lynx. Every witcher School has its own sword techniques and practice and, with a brand new character, this would be the perfect time to introduce new gameplay elements in The Witcher that aligns more closely to the lore of swords in the books. An example would be when players have to be more careful with their silver sword and choose when to bring it out to the field.
Additionally, legendary swords such as Aerondight could play a larger role in the games rather than taking a backseat as a collectible. Swords are central to a witcher's profession and life, and that needs to be driven home in future games. The practicality of the way Geralt uses swords in The Witcher books combined with the stories behind the legendary swords would be the perfect way to shake up sword lore in future installments of The Witcher.