The Witcher 4 has finally been announced after almost ten years without a new game in the series, and Ciri has been shown taking center stage with the new title. As with any title as hyped-up as The Witcher 4, there are a plethora of questions surrounding it, such as what the plot will be about, whether legacy characters like Geralt will make a return, and Ciri got into the situation she’s in at the start of the reveal trailer. Another question concerns Ciri’s abilities and her proficiency with magic.

Witchers can use weak magic through their signs, such as Aard or Igni, as well as the ability to use certain potions based on the mutations from the Trial of Grasses. Ciri does appear to be a proper Witcher now, with the cat eyes and all, which brings up how she managed to survive the Trial of Grasses. Traditionally, only boys could undergo the process and most died; however, Ciri has the Witcher mutations despite being a woman and presumably too old to undergo the process. This also doesn’t explain her skill with magic beyond the means of regular Witchers.

Ciri Uses Powerful Magic In The Witcher 4 Trailer

She Draws Her Power From A Source Nearby

Ciri’s proficiency with magic can be explained by the books, which are mostly canon to the games. In the books, Ciri spends some time with Yennefer after learning how to fight like a Witcher with Geralt and the School of the Wolf in Kaer Morhen. During this time, when Ciri must have been going through an awkward phase, since Yennefer kept calling her “ugly one”, she learned how to use chaotic magic, Elder Speech, runes, history, and more about her own abilities as a Source.

Ciri spends most of the book series and all of The Witcher 3 being hunted for her Elder Blood, which comes from Lara Dorren, her ancient ancestor.

Her power comes from her Elder Blood, and although it seems she has lost the power to manipulate space and time as before, her status as a Source and prior knowledge of magic is clearly in use to make her more powerful than the average Witcher. This isn’t uncommon either, since Triss mentions that Eskel’s magical potential and prowess is beyond Geralt’s, and Ciri is similar, able to cast more powerful spells than just Witcher Signs, such as the lightning spell she uses in the trailer.

Yennefer Trained Ciri In Magic In The Books

And The Trailer Seems To Reference One Of Ciri’s First Lessons

In The Witcher 4 reveal trailer, Ciri draws magic from a water source, something that isn’t seen often in the game series but is one of the easiest ways to learn magic. Back when Ciri was a child, this was how Yennefer first got her to apply her magical knowledge in Blood of Elves, the first Witcher book that isn’t a collection of short stories. Ciri is taught to search among plants for a source of water, as that element, along with earth, fire, and air are all sources for magical power to be drawn from, with water being the easiest to draw from.

Dimeritium is a special material that is able to suppress magical powers and could be used to hamper Ciri’s spells in The Witcher 4 .

Ciri does become too afraid to use magic in the books when she attempts to use fire in Time of Contempt; however, after all the teleporting and manipulation of time and space that she does in The Witcher 3, as well as maturing and reconnecting with Yennefer, it makes sense for her to revisit her magical studies. She draws from water in the trailer, just as she did as a child, and uses fire magic, possibly as a stronger version of Igni or as another spell altogether. This shows Ciri’s progression with magic compared to her book counterpart.

Magic Could Add A New Layer To The Witcher’s Combat

Lightning Blasts And Burning Hot Chains Are Just The Tip Of The Iceberg

For reasons that hopefully will be explained in the game, Ciri is now a proper Witcher, and the series’ fourth game will presumably have the potions and sword oils that made the combat in Wild Hunt so methodical. With her magic, Ciri will be able to do more than Geralt could, although it seems that she has lost her overpowered teleportation powers at the end of The Witcher 3. This will give the player more options in combat, and if Ciri can draw from all four sources of magic, there could be a lot of spells to use.

Ciri has always had the potential to be a mage, and this was even hinted at in The Witcher 3. Margarita Laux-Antille is stated to have only cared for her education, which references her time as a teacher (and later rectoress) of Aretuza, specifically when Ciri was looking to enroll. Although her disposition and talent with a sword make Ciri more well-fit to be a Witcher, The Witcher 4 shows that she is applying her lessons with Yennefer. Her versatile skill set could make the game’s combat the best in the series.