The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is not short on death. From the moment it starts, there's character death. Some of it's to be expected, as it's the villains you fight against — other times, it's the shocking death of a dearly beloved character that will tug at your heart strings.

We've taken the five most satisfying deaths and the five most heart-breaking to put them side by side and show players each end of the spectrum. It goes without saying, but there are major spoilers ahead so if you haven't played The Witcher 3 and are intending to (or are currently playing it), it might be best to save this for later.

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10 Hurt: Lambert

Lambert is an optional death — it's completely avoidable, and you should at least try! Perhaps that's why it's so heart-wrenching if does die, because it was avoidable. That one's on you, player.

One of the younger witchers, he's perhaps not the most likeable character of the series but he is a witcher and therefore loyal to Geralt and Kaer Morhen. That alone means he's worth saving. But if you don't get to him in time to save him from the Wild Hunt, he'll be murdered by them. R.I.P.

9 Satisfying: The Wild Hunt

The most obviously satisfying death is the nemesis of the main game: the Wild Hunt. Fearsome riders with impressive but terrifying armor, they spend the whole game after Ciri while Geralt tries to stop them. As you see more and more flashbacks with Ciri and explore her relationship with Geralt, you'll start to feel as protective over her as Geralt does himself, and the idea of the Wild Hunt getting to her will give you real motivation to finish the game and see them gone for good.

There are multiple members and when you finally do kill them, a satisfying animation accompanies the end. The fights are also long and brutal, so you'll be wiping sweat away from your forehead when you finally do manage to take them out.

8 Hurt: Vesemir

Vesemir and Geralt in The Witcher 3

Vesemir is an unavoidable death at the end of act two, and it's a tear-jerker. Beware.

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He dies protecting Ciri from the Wild Hunt at Kaer Morhen, which makes sense — Vesemir may have been hard on Ciri, but he truly did love her and he's murdered trying to save her. Don't worry, as you'll get a chance to go after the Wild Hunt member who killed him and you'll totally be satisfied when you get to fight him as Ciri (justice!), but the scene and the funeral itself is just terrible. You might need a break from the game at this point.

7 Satisfying-ish: Dettlaff

Dettlaff is the main enemy of Blood & Wine, a higher vampire who has been terrorising Toussaint. It's a long fight, which is why we've specified it as satisfying — and he's certainly not a good person — but it's just barely so, because it is a little sad when his friend Regis has to step in and finish the fight for you. Still, overall, Dettlaff was a brutal murderer who took out a lot of innocent people — even if he was tricked — and this is probably justice. Especially after you spend that fight desperately rolling out of the way to avoid his flurry of bats.

6 Hurt: Syanna & Anna

It's possible to have both Syanna and Anna Henrietta die in Blood & Wine. If Syanna makes it back to confront her sister but Geralt doesn't show her enough sympathy in conversation, she will stab Anna in the back when her sister means to hug her and will be shot with an arrow because of it. Although Geralt will try to intervene, he will fail to get there in time, and his only option in response will be to place flowers at their graves. It's a sad scene, especially with the conversation that comes afterwards between Geralt and Regis.

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You can absolutely save both of them, though, so maybe this is just motivation to be careful.

5 Satisfying: The Baron

The Baron is one of the earlier characters you will meet, and there are a few possible endings to this quest, but he can die. He seems to be a pathetic, sad man but honestly, we can't help but feel satisfied when he dies because at the end of the day, he was abusive and just plain awful. No baron sympathizers here!

4 Hurt: Anna, The Baron's Wife

It is sad that his wife may die at the end of the quest though. Anna seems to be a gentle woman who didn't really deserve the husband or the life that she got. This is a really interesting quest to complete early in the game, but it will thrust you into the sadness of the Witcher world very early. Straight into the deep end!

3 Satisfying: Olgierd Von Everec

Olgierd might just be one of the most complicated characters of the whole game, and it's hard to specify if his death is satisfying or tragic — and he has to be on this list, because his potential death is one of the most impactful of the game and he's the main character in Hearts of Stone. But the fact he's become so cold and uncaring, and what it drove his wife Iris too, is ultimately what makes his death well-deserved. Or at least justified.

2 Satisfying: Iris Von Everec

Iris is already dead by the time Geralt meets her, but he has to put her spirit to rest and we're calling that death satisfying for other reasons. Iris is plagued by nightmares, and it's satisfying to put her to rest because she can finally be at peace after suffering under the torture of those nightmares for so long.

1 Hurt: Ciri

Yes — Ciri can die at the end of the game. Sorry! Beware!

There are three potential Ciri endings. She can become a witcher (considered the good ending), Empress (bittersweet), or she can die (bad). She will die if Geralt doesn't give her enough emotional support throughout the game along with a few other things, so when Ciri wants a snowball fight or to be accompanied to a grave, you do it. Unless you're a monster and want to see her dead. How could you?

NEXT: 10 Secret Side Quests Everyone Missed In The Witcher 3