Triss Merigold is undoubtedly one of the most prominent and fan-favorite characters from the trilogy of The Witcher games. She's consistently played a major role across the three games, paving her way into the hearts of fans all over the globe with her charm, beauty, and power. Her presence in the games is miles ahead of the manner in which she's been represented in the books, with her being nothing more than a side character. Regardless of her overall importance when it comes to the events of the books, it must be said that CD Projekt Red did an admirable job of adapting her character and breathing new life into it for the video games.
To put this statement into context, here are ten ways in which the games nail Triss' unique personality traits and mannerisms presented in the books.
10 A Cheerful And Positive Attitude
Staying happy in a place like the Continent can be a hard task, especially given the sheer amount of murder and debauchery that plagues this area. So, Triss should be commended for having such a positive attitude in general when it comes to living life in such a hellish landscape.
Of course, the fact that she's a powerful sorceress and well-acquainted with the nobility certainly helps with things.
9 Sports A Strong Idealistic Vision
Idealism is a concept that is equal parts admirable and dangerous. While it's a great thing in general to want things to happen in a near-perfect manner, the fact of the matter is that things rarely play out in an ideal manner.
This is perhaps one of the major reasons why Triss' character has her fair share of detractors. However, let's not take away from the fact that wanting idealism is the first step towards attaining it — something that is quite noble in every sense of the word.
8 Can Go Somewhat Overboard When It Comes To Attaining Perfection
Then again, there's a point when striving to do things in an ideal manner can do more harm than good, and Triss is definitely guilty of not being able to draw a line in this regard.
Her quest for perfection can be quite detrimental at times — to herself and to others — causing its fair share of problems if things go south because of a stubborn dedication towards idealism.
7 Dedicated To The Tasks Given To Her
But of course, there's two sides to the coin of idealism. While striving for perfection has caused some disturbances for Triss — some more severe than others — this mentality has contributed to Triss' dedication towards the work that has been given to her.
Triss has always shown a strong level of commitment towards anything she has been assigned to do, which is why — more often than not — she has always reaped splendid results.
6 A Childlike Fascination About Things
For such a powerful sorceress who has definitely traveled the world over and witnessed things that most people couldn't even dream of, it's refreshing to see the childlike wonder that Triss can exhibit over certain things, some of which can be borderline mundane.
It's truly a breath of fresh air, and the fact that this particular personality trait has been described so vividly in the games is one of the major reasons why most fans of The Witcher choose Triss over Yennefer.
5 Somewhat Naive And Exploitable
Unfortunately, for someone who exhibits the childlike wonder we've mentioned, this fascination can sometimes be a double-edged sword. In the case of Triss, there are times when she has proven to be quite naive to the ways of the word — a definite surprise, given the fact that she's supposed to be an all-knowing surprise who's wary about the world and its numerous tricks.
This has led to times when Triss has been exploited and taken advantage of — a situation that every sorceress should ideally be wary of. However, this exploitation goes both ways...
4 Can Be Manipulative To Get Her Way
At this point, it might be understandable if one thinks that Triss isn't exactly the perfect example of a sorceress. However, that is not the case, since Triss has definitely performed her fair share of manipulations as well.
Can one really blame her? A combination of beauty and power is one of the most potent mixes on the Continent. So, in such a cutthroat world, people should make the most of the tools given to them. In the case of Triss Merigold, her influence and charm can help her get things that no other person would be able to.
3 A Sweet And Caring Person
While Triss can be fairly manipulative at times, there's no question that she can develop attachments to the people closest to her. While this is not all that documented in the books, the games have one excellent example — her relationship with Geralt.
Throughout all three games, Triss has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that Geralt is able to accomplish his goals without getting stuck at any particular hurdle. It's a testament to the sweet and caring nature of this person.
2 Obsessive About The People Close To Her
However, let's not forget the idealistic nature of Triss. She is a sorceress who craves perfection in everything she does, including her own relationships as well.
This leads to a situation where Triss can get borderline obsessed with the people she's formed close bonds with, going out of her way to ensure that these bonds function to the best of their ability. This obsessive nature stems out of a caring nature but can be somewhat toxic at times.
1 Can Be Somewhat Conflicted About Her Actions And Morals
Triss is the perfect example of a sorceress who is different in every sense of the word — something we've already discussed at length before. She has shown to be quite introspective multiple times throughout the books and games, and this introspection has led to internal conflict for her several times.
For a sorcerer to think so much about her actions and question her morals is rare, but this is precisely why Triss' character is such a rarity — and also why fans from all over the world absolutely adore her gaming counterpart. It's a shame that she is not a major character in the books, but the Netflix series might just be fixing that.