Ciri is a complicated character at the start of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and she faces an even more complicated future as the events of the campaign unfold. Her fiery personality, bravery, and compassion for the needs of others make her a strong woman with great potential.
While the game's focus is largely on Geralt, there are plenty of moments when Ciri shines. Whether it’s complaining about books, chastising her friend for flirting with Geralt, or talking about her year in the world of Cyberpunk 2077, here are some of the most memorable things she’s said.
10 Demolish The Place
Ciri's encounter with Aen Elle was less than pleasant. The horrible woman ranted about the impurity of Ciri’s blood even though it carried the Elder Blood gift/curse among other things. At that moment, much of what Ciri had come to believe was proven false and she felt utterly betrayed.
Later, Yennefer was concerned she’d set her powers free in her emotional state and level the place to which Ciri replied, “Shame I can’t do that at will, because I’d really like to now.” Which gave players a great moment to see Geralt become a cool dad and let Yennefer show her mischievous side.
9 Metal In Their Heads
Probably the most talked-about moment in the entire game is shortly after Geralt and Ciri are reunited. Ciri explains how Avallac’h kept her safe by taking her to various worlds in hiding.
One particular world that Ciri and Avallac’h hid out in caught player’s attention. To a disbelieving Geralt, Ciri relates the details of this curious world that players have been excited to explore themselves, “People there had metal in their heads, waged war from a distance, using things similar to megascopes. And there were no horses, everyone had their own flying ships.”
8 Can’t Buy Me
The player has the choice to reveal the existence of Ciri’s true father, the Emperor Emhyr, and his wishes to see his daughter. Upon delivering Ciri, the Emperor dismisses Geralt as he wants to discuss an urgent matter in private with his daughter.
Shortly after leaving them alone, Ciri emerges from the room in a fury. Spotting Geralt she growls out this memorable line, “If he thinks he can buy me, he is sorely mistaken.”
7 I Always Returned
For this moment to occur the player must put in motion the events that lead to Ciri becoming Empress. After parting ways, Geralt goes to the land of Toussaint which opens an entirely new chapter in his life, a place where he can put down roots in Crovo Bianco and perhaps retire, eventually.
After completing the last quest, Geralt goes home to find his surrogate daughter Ciri waiting for him. After admitting he never expected to see her again, Ciri reminds Geralt of how nothing stopped them from seeing each other before, “Well I’ve departed, escaped, been forced to flee so many times…yet I always returned. You ought to be used to it by now.”
6 A Strong Ruler
As Ciri and Geralt settle against a nearby tree to catch up, Ciri relates what life has been like since accepting her title and preparing to replace Emperor Emhyr on the throne. While the man is ready for Ciri to take over and move out to pasture, Ciri isn’t.
Ciri reveals she wants to get to know the people and the land, in order for her to make the right decisions without being swayed by others who know more than she does, “I told him I wished to be a good ruler, a strong ruler, not some puppet.”.
5 Control Yourself
Geralt and Ciri come across Ciri’s old friend Bea. The young woman works in a tavern and when they arrive she’s being harassed by a group of thugs. After Geralt and Ciri chase them off, Geralt introduces himself to Bea as a defender of the downtrodden.
Bea replies that she’s been downtrodden and mentions that she could use some help recovering. Taken aback by the sudden turn of events, Ciri laughingly chastises her eager friend, “Bea, you strumpet, control yourself! This is Geralt!”.
4 You’re But A Witcher
After the destruction of the Wild Hunt, it is revealed that the White Frost is coming and will consume their world, destroying everyone and everything. Avallac’h and Ciri seek to use a tower on Undvik that would allow Ciri, with her Elder Blood, to potentially stop the White Frost.
Geralt is understandably concerned about this last-ditch attempt as Ciri may very well die from the confrontation. He questions whether there is another way or if this will even work to which Ciri replies, “What can you know about saving the world silly? You’re but a witcher.”
3 Try It Out
If the player has decided to keep Ciri’s existence a secret from the Emperor, Ciri will seek to become a Witcher like Geralt, albeit without the physiological changes that occur from the Trial of the Grasses.
To help keep her safe, Geralt commissions the creation of a witcher’s silver sword, complete with a set of runes which he claims makes it similar to a sword he once owned, but much better. Ciri excitedly sheathes the blade and declares, “Let’s try it out then.”
2 Horribly Dull
As a child, Ciri was excited to become a witcher but preferred the physical trials to the academic ones. Geralt finds that when Vesemir closed his eyes a moment she had snuck away to practice on the Pendulum rather than read a book about Ghouls and Alghouls.
Confronting her on the ramparts, Ciri admits that what she did was wrong, but justifies it by saying, “Well yes…but that book was horribly dull.”
1 Change
While there has been a large debate between whether Ciri becoming a witcher or an empress was a better ending for her, this moment in the game suggests the later was the right choice. She would have been incredibly happy as a Witcher, but it wouldn’t give her the ability to change the world.
Speaking with Geralt for the last time before she goes off to become Empress, Ciri reveals the true reason she chose to become an empress, “…realized that if I wish to change anything, I cannot do so hunting monster around forgotten villages.”