The Witcher series is one that has become synonymous with rich world building and intricate lore. Over the course of numerous novels, video games, and a well-received Netflix adaptation, a huge amount of information about this universe has become established.
Having said this, there are still swathes of lore that remain mysterious, or that are perhaps too complex to gain a full understanding through gameplay alone. An aspect of lore that may fall under this category is the stories of each Witcher school found throughout the Witcher franchise. A new Witcher title has recently been confirmed by CD Projekt Red, and with it come rumors of a brand-new Witcher school, so it's worth getting a grasp on the ones established so far.
What Are The Witcher Schools?
Witcher schools are, as one might expect, groups which teach the meticulous training needed to become an efficient Witcher. Schools oversee training, as well as provide equipment to novice Witchers, setting them up with the mentality and skill sets necessary to succeed within their perilous lifestyle. With a new Witcher title being revealed by CD Projekt Red that includes a mysterious sigil, the importance of these schools is as pertinent as ever.
There are numerous Witcher schools scattered across the land, each headquartered in secretive areas. There are currently seven known Witcher schools that have featured prominently across the various forms of Witcher media, each one named after a different animal. While the overall teachings of these schools can vary, the level of resourcefulness and lethality that they teach are consistent.
Witcher schools as an institution are disassociated from the original Order of Witchers, yet are centuries old. Despite coming under human attacks and discrimination over time, Witcher schools remained resilient and proud teaching facilities for countless generations before falling.
School of the Wolf
The School of the Wolf is perhaps the most infamous and recognizable of all the schools, being the one that taught Geralt of Rivia. The school is headquartered in Kaer Morhen, Kaedwen, an 11th-Century structure that was occupied by the Wolves after it was found to be abandoned.
The story of the School of the Wolf is a tragic one, having suffered many massacres throughout its history at the hands of enraged mobs goaded by priests and mages. The School of the Wolf even fell victim to betrayal at the hands of the School of the Cat, an event outlined in DLC for The Witcher 3. The school ultimately fell at the hands of Salamandra and the Wild Hunt.
School of the Cat
The School of the Cat is one of the most controversial of all the Witcher schools. It was formed as a result of a large-scale mutiny of students against their Witcher masters. The school is headquartered in a traveling caravan known as Dyn Marv, and is quite unique in its teaching of women and non-pureblood humans.
Those trained under the Cat are aptly agile and nimble, attacking with precise and rapid movements befitting their sigil and the ethos of the school. The school itself was marred following its role in betraying the School of the Wolf, and eventually fizzled into irrelevance.
School of the Griffin
The School of the Griffin, otherwise known as the School of the Eagle, are perhaps the most traditional and by-the-book of all the Witcher schools. Following the weakening of the Witcher Order with the formation of other Witcher schools, 14 die-hard Witchers formed the School of the Griffin with the intention of upholding the ethos and knightly ideals of their waning order.
Headquartered in Kovir and Poviss, students of the Griffin commanded more respect and social standing in comparison to other schools, with it being implied that use of magic was more common. The school was damaged during an avalanche caused by mages during a time of anti-Witcher sentiment, and slowly decayed to the point of extinction.
School of the Bear
The School of the Bear was the first Witcher school, being the original enclave to break away from the Witcher Order. Headquartered in the mountainous region of Haern Caduch, the Bears settled following a bloody feud with their Order.
Their location gave way to a rite of passage in which each student had to reach the summit of Mount Gorgon to prove their worth. As a result, those who were successful under the Bear were reserved and cold, with fraternal bonds being practically non-existent due to a higher emphasis being placed on professionalism and combat proficiency.
School of the Viper
The School of the Viper is one of the most ominous and brutal of all the Witcher schools. The school was founded as the result of a breakaway from the aforementioned School of the Bear, and is headquartered in the chasms of the Tir Tochair mountains.
Viper training involved forming a bond with and training an animal, which students would then have to kill upon graduation. This is reflective of the ruthless nature of the Vipers, who often use poisonous twin daggers to debilitate their targets. The Vipers also lacked the neutrality that many other schools displayed, accepting contracts against humans and monsters alike.
School of the Manticore
The School of the Manticore is one of the more reclusive and mysterious Witcher schools. Headquartered in the far-East lands of the Korath desert, the Manticore were relatively unknown to Nordlings. The group was founded as a further breakaway of the formerly Bear group that founded the School of the Vipers. These Witchers became allied with Zerrikanian royalty following a desert encounter with manticores, receiving financial backing and a bespoke headquarters. Ultimately, it was the decline of this relationship that saw the Manticore relegated to desert nomads.
School of the Crane
Not much is known of the School of the Crane, being one of the latest Witcher schools that formed after the Second Conjunction. Headquartered somewhere around the Eastern Coast, the Cranes specialized in fighting air and sea monsters. These Witchers utilized both swords and early versions of firearms, and have been known to fight underwater in protective suits. With the confirmation of a new Witcher title being actively in development, the School of the Crane is perfectly set up for further exploration within The Witcher universe.
A new Witcher game is in development.