It doesn’t matter how hard Geralt tries to remain neutral in The Witcher 3. His every more significant action has an impact on the world and the people around him. And that includes not just his choice of a romantic partner with whom he could settle down (Yennefer or Triss). Geralt, although he doesn’t like politics, can also influence who will be the ruler of not one, but four separate lands!
The three biggest lands in The Witcher 3 are Redania, Nilfgaard, and the Skellige isles. Geralt’s actions throughout the course of the main game will influence who will rule the lands in the end. Sometimes it will work out better, sometimes it won’t, but each ruler has a specific ending depending on what will Geralt do.
Updated on October 2, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: The Witcher 3 is poised to receive a next-gen upgrade sooner rather than later, one that will feature a host of graphical improvements and the like to get new players into the mix once again. The game already had an influx after the Netflix series, and the release of the next-gen edition is going to make you fall in love with The Witcher 3 and its characters once again.
There are several rulers present in the game, potential and otherwise, who can take over their respective kingdoms courtesy of Geralt’s actions. Here’s a look at these rulers and how they can assume their position of power if need be, now formatted for more clarity.
4/4 Ciri As The Empress Of Nilfgaard
There are three possible destinies Ciri has in the game. However, only one of them sees her becoming the future Empress of Nilfgaard, replacing Emhyr on the throne. In order to achieve this, you have to make all the right choices connected to Ciri. In other words, Geralt has to be supportive of her — go snowballing with her, visit Skjall’s grave, trash the laboratory, let her speak with the sorceresses alone, and don’t accept the payment Emhyr offers Geralt for bringing Ciri to him.
This way, Ciri defeats the White Frost. However, it’s also important to save the mages in Novigrad, to help kill Radovid, and finally, side with Vernon Roche and kill Dijkstra. If you don’t do any of these things, Radovid will win and Ciri will become a witcher instead. This would be a loss for the Continent, since the game hints at the fact she’ll be a good ruler. Of course, the good ending itself is pretty subjective… but most people understand Ciri’s decision to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of the empire.
3/4 Who Rules The Continent?
One of the major decisions that Geralt can make in the game is indirectly deciding who gets to win the war. Depending on their actions, three rulers can ascend the throne after the end of the base game. Some would argue that none of these rulers are particularly ideal, but some are probably better than others in the eyes of most.
Emhyr Wins The War
Many people consider Emhyr var Emreis the lesser of two evils — he’s not a very nice guy, but he does help Geralt on more than one occasion. He’s also the reason why Geralt gets to reunite with Ciri in the first place, since he’s the one who tells Geralt that Ciri has returned. Finally, he doesn’t kill those who can do magic like Radovid, which might be really low standards to keep for a ruler, but is still something to keep an eye on regardless.
Emhyr wins the war if Geralt gets the mages out of Novigrad, helps kill Radovid, and then kills Dijkstra — who betrays Vernon Roche after Radovid is dead. Nilfgaard then gains control over the rest of the Continent, except for Temeria (Roche’s land), which is given a semblance of sovereignty. The war will then end and a new era of prosperity will begin. The reason for it? Emhyr will focus on the traitors in Nilfgaard instead, killing all those who oppose him.
Radovid Rules
Radovid is a cunning ruler and excellent strategist. Unfortunately, he’s also unhinged, and hates everybody who has anything to do with magic. It’s something of a paradox, in that it’s easier to ensure his victory than Emhyr’s. All Geralt needs to do is to ignore Triss’ quest Now or Never, and Radovid wins the war.
That gives him the opportunity to further explore his hobbies — playing chess and burning mages and non-humans alive. He won’t even have to kill Emhyr himself — the Emperor’s subjects will overthrow him and murder Emhyr. He’s not exactly the best ruler to keep around… but some people would argue that he’s still not the worst ruler that you can pick in the game.
Dijkstra’s Rule Of Terror
The former Redanian spy and Novigrad criminal lord crosses paths with Geralt multiple times throughout the game. Dijkstra helps Geralt more than once, but also needs Geralt to help him as well. He can become the new ruler of the Continent if both Emhyr and Radovid die, which can be a pretty interesting pick for a ruler if you want to see someone from left field take over the throne instead.
It goes like this — Geralt and Triss need to get the mages out of Novigrad. Geralt then helps assassinate Radovid and lets Dijkstra kill Roche, Ves, and Thaler. If he does that, Dijkstra becomes the new ruler. He will rule Redania using fear and intimidation, and people will lose their freedom — but the Continent’s industry will prosper. If this sacrifice seems like a fine one for you to make, then this course of action is certainly viable.
2/4 The Future Of Skellige
Entering Skellige makes for a great time, as players get to see a completely different zone that is full to the brim with islands and bodies of water galore. It also serves as the stage for another political drama, as the children of Crach an Craite fight for their right to rule over Skellige. This is where Geralt can take a part in a quest that decides the future of this land, and who ends up sitting on the throne.
Cerys Is The Best Queen
Cerys an Craite is an intelligent and brave young woman… and one of the three potential rulers Skellige can end up with. Cerys is more patient than her brother, and even though she might not be as physically strong as others, she more than makes up for it with her brilliant mind. Cerys can become an excellent ruler who will lead Skellige toward prosperity.
To achieve this, Geralt first needs to help Cerys complete her individual quest The Possession. Afterward, he needs to side with Cerys after the berserker attack at the feast at Kaer Trolde, and help her discover the true culprit — the wife of the former Skellige ruler, Bran. Doing all of this ensures that the best ruler sits on the throne, one who will secure Skellige’s future and prove everyone who discredited her on the basis of her gender wrong.
Hjalmar Wages A War
Hjalmar is one of Geralt’s good friends, and no matter if he becomes the new king of Skellige or not, he will join Geralt at Kaer Morhen to fight the Wild Hunt. However, even though he’s charismatic and his people love him, Hjalmar is also reckless and acts before he thinks. That makes him the exact opposite of his sister, and not exactly the most ideal option to sit on a throne and properly think through all his decisions.
Hjalmar can become the next ruler of Skellige if Geralt helps him finish his individual quest, The Lord of Undvik, and then sides with Hjalmar after the attack. Unlike Cerys, Hjalmar and Geralt won’t find the person responsible for the attack, but that doesn’t stop Hjalmar from becoming king. He will then organize regular raids against Nilfgaard, which will lead to the death of many of his people.
Svanrige Is A Bad King
The worst option of all the three possible Skellige rulers is to let Svanrige win. He’s the son of the former king Bran, and Birna, the woman who orchestrated the berserker attack. Svanrige will win if Geralt refuses to help Cerys and Hjalmar with their individual quests, or if he refuses to help them solve the attack after the feast.
In that case, Svanrige will get the crown for himself, the attack goes unpunished, and Svanrige will then make some pretty questionable decisions as king. He will cause a civil war against all the remaining Skellige jarls and families who could endanger his position. It pretty much serves as punishment for those of you who decide to ignore the battle for the throne that takes place in this region.
1/4 Anna Henrietta Lives Or Dies
Finally, there’s also one ruler from the DLC whose ultimate fate depends on Geralt. Anna Henrietta will die at the hands of her sister Syanna unless Geralt does one of the two following things: He either lets Dettlaff kill Syanna, like the higher vampire wants to, or he convinces Syanna to forgive Anna Henrietta.
If you want Syanna to die, he should refrain from buying her the ribbon in the Land of a Thousand Fables. Alternatively, you can be sympathetic to Syanna in the Land of a Thousand Fables, and then visit her before Syanna speaks with Anna Henrietta once Geralt and Syanna return to Toussaint.
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- The Witcher 3: The Ending For Every Ruler & Their Kingdom (& How To Get Them)
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