Of all the mages, witches, and sorceresses in the world of The Witcher, the one who stands out the most is undoubtedly Yennefer of Vengerberg. While she only properly appears in one of the three Witcher titles released by CD Projekt Red, her razor-sharp wit and immaculate sense of style have cemented her in the minds of fans.
RELATED: The Witcher: Characters Missing From The Books That We May Never See
Still, for all its accomplishments, there are many aspects of Yennefer's illustrious history that weren't captured in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and there is much that you may not know about her if your only view into The Witcher world is the game series. Here are the most interesting things.
Updated January 7, 2022, By Ben Jessey:The Witcher Netflix series is once again a hot topic due to the release of its second season. And in the Sophomore year, Yennefer is once again one of the highlights of the show. The sorceress's popularity continues to grow, which has led to many non-book readers wanting to find out more about her.
This list already provides plenty of interesting facts about Yen. However, we felt it needed a bit of a refresh to make it easier to read. We also added an extra piece of fascinating trivia that was previously overlooked.
THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
16 Netflix Didn't Provide The First Live-Action Adaptation Of The Character
Netflix and Anya Chalotra deserve plenty of credit for their adaptation of Yennefer as she's one of the stars of the series. Yet, that's not actually the first live-action version of the character.
Back in 2001, there was a polish movie called The Hexer, which later became a television series. They were adaptations of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books. So naturally, Yennefer features in both of them, and she's played by an actress named Grazyna Wolszczak. However, she has a smaller role than Chalotra as Yen only appears in two episodes of The Hexer show.
15 She Really Likes Apple Juice
When Geralt and Yennefer first met in the books, he won her favor by bringing her apple juice. It was a very quick and simple moment, yet his actions helped sway Yennefer into helping him save Dandelion, who had been rendered helpless by the infamous djinn.
Of course, Yennefer had her own reasons for wanting to get her hands on the djinn but it doesn't stop the moment between Geralt and the sorceress from being pretty adorable. Who would have thought that someone as powerful and fierce as Yennefer would be charmed by something as innocuous as apple juice?
14 She Is Considered A Byronic Hero
It's not often to find a female example of the Byronic Hero trope, but Yennefer fits it perfectly. She is withdrawn and cold to those who she doesn't deem worthy of accepting her time.
She is extremely ambitious and intelligent, but also prone to selfishness. Yennefer can be very cold and hard to get to know. Even she and Geralt have a hard time getting along on occasion despite the fact they're considered to be the other's one true love.
13 She Was A Character In The Witcher Battle Arena
The Witcher Battle Arena was a free multiplayer battle arena that users could participate in online to compete using the best characters from the franchise. Unfortunately, it was a relatively short-lived game. Players would compete in 6-player battles and have to capture three conquest points before moving toward a deathmatch.
RELATED: The Witcher: Hidden Details About Yennefer’s Outfit You Never Noticed
Yennefer was one of the characters available to play in the game. She had an awesome weapon called the Dark Moon and a skin that you could change called Ravenlord's Embrace. It's a shame the game didn't make it a full year before being shut down.
12 She Has Done Some Terrible Things For Love
Pretty much every single character in The Witcher universe has done bad things as a means to an end. Yennefer is no exception. She has even used and brainwashed Geralt in the past. During their first encounter, she turned him into a puppet to get revenge against those who had wronged her.
She has also come close to killing him in some of her darkest and most enraged moments. Yennefer is not shy about admitting she can be cruel. When it comes to protecting Ciri, in particular, there is nothing she won't do.
11 She Once Tried To Commit Suicide
According to the World of Witcher compendium, which contains writings by Dandelion, Yennefer once tried to take her own life. She was abused as a child and had a hunchback, this led her to depression and isolation.
While she was a student at Aretuza, Yennefer tried to kill herself by cutting her forearms. She managed to do a great deal of damage to her tendons but did not die. She even managed to impress the academy's chancellor and receive a recommendation to continue her training as a sorceress.
10 Never Ask A Lady Her Age
While it's mentioned at times that mages live unnaturally long, it's never stated outright how old Yennefer of Vengerberg actually is in the game series. Given that we know she was born in the year 1173, however, we can conclude that by the time the first game takes place in 1271, she would be around 98 years old.
This sharply contrasts with her own youthful appearance, as she still appears, for all intents and purposes, to be in her early twenties when players properly meet her in Wild Hunt – another benefit of being an exceptionally powerful sorceress.
9 Elven Blood
One of the predominant themes of The Witcher is racism directed towards non-human beings such as dwarves, elves, and others. As such, it's interesting to note that while Yennefer looks fully human, she is in fact considered a quadroon. In the real world, this term refers to someone who is one-quarter black by birth.
However, in The Witcher, this means that Yennefer is one-quarter elven, being the product of a human father and a half-elven mother. This heritage lends itself to her graceful features and could explain why she's one of gaming's most powerful mages, as elves are known for their magic talents.
8 The Hunchback of Vengerberg
One would never know it just from looking at Yennefer, but she was not born with such ethereal features. Yennefer of Vengerberg was born a hunchback, complete with crooked shoulders and a distorted frame.
This deformity was the source of much strife in her childhood, ultimately leading her father to leave as he was disgusted by her appearance. He also blamed her mother, claiming that the elven blood Yennefer had inherited from her was the reason for her hunchback.
7 Abusive Childhood
Though she stands proud and confident in The Witcher 3, Yennefer's resolve was tempered by trauma and abuse. Throughout her childhood, she suffered at the hands of her father, who inflicted both physical and mental pain on her. Though he eventually left, Yennefer's youth did not get any easier for it.
RELATED: The Witcher 3: Times Yennefer Was Actually a Nice Person
Her mother then blamed her for his departure and began to beat her as well. This torment pushed Yennefer to the edge, to the point where she once attempted to take her own life. Fortunately, the mages of Aretuza, who recognized her innate magical talent, were able to save Yennefer before helping her find a path to a better life.
6 Study At Aretuza
Yennefer was discovered during her youth by the Aretuza Academy, a school for aspiring sorceresses. Though she had a difficult time adjusting to such a prestigious and elite institution, she quickly became its best pupil.
By the end of her first year at Aretuza, Yennefer's spinal column had been fixed, removing her hunchback. Subsequently, she graduated as one of the brightest and most talented students at the academy, setting her well on her way to becoming the dominating force that appears in the games.
5 Past Loves
Geralt has the option to romance Yennefer in Witcher 3, and the sorceress only has eyes for him during this time. Yet, her romantic life was much more tumultuous in the past. Significantly, she took two other lovers before solidifying her affections for Geralt: Crach an Craite and the sorcerer Istredd.
Though her affair with Crach (who also appears in The Witcher 3) was brief, her involvement with Istredd was complicated when he and Geralt met one another. Neither was willing to share Yennefer, with Istredd going so far as to propose marriage to her. In the end, Yennefer left both of them for a time, later reuniting with Geralt.
4 Blinded At Sodden Hill
Yennefer was also present during the climactic battle of the First Nilfgaard War, the Battle of Sodden Hill. It was at this conflict that the tide turned decisively for the Northern Kingdoms, as their mages and sorceresses were able to overwhelm the opposing Nilfgaardian forces. However, this particular fight was not without cost, as many perished and many others incurred terrible scars, both physical and mental.
During the course of the fighting, Yennefer was attacked and blinded by Nilfgaardian sorceress Fringilla Vigo, and while she was later able to heal the damage, the emotional impact of the injury is something she still carries with her.
3 Training Ciri
Sometime after the Battle of Sodden Hill, Geralt requested Yennefer's help in training a child who was a Source – someone with access to tremendous magical power. This child was Ciri, and as Yennefer instructed her in the magical arts at the Temple of Melitele, she grew attached.
RELATED: The Witcher: The Biggest Differences Between Yennefer In The Books And The Game
From this point on, Yennefer's relationship with Ciri developed into one that was not merely teacher and student, but more akin to mother and daughter. While this relationship is certainly seen in the game series, its origins in Yennefer's magical tutelage are not discussed, leaving out the long history between these two characters.
2 The Thanedd Coup And The Lodge Of Sorceresses
At a meeting of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers – of which Yennefer was the youngest member – on Thanedd Island, there was a falling out between mages supporting Nilfgaard and mages supporting the Northern Realms. Yennefer was present during these events on the side of the North. which makes it that much more surprising that she aligns with the Nilfgaardian Empire in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
However, in the aftermath of the coup, Yennefer also refused to join the powerful members of the Lodge of Sorceresses as she disagreed with their goals. It seems Yennefer's aim has never been power or patriotism, but rather a desire to find and protect Ciri from all who would use her against her will.
1 Malus Isle
Directly prior to the events of the CD Projekt Red games, Yennefer traveled with Ciri to Rivia, where they found Geralt bleeding out from a fatal wound. Yennefer's attempts to save him fell short, and in the end, it was Ciri (with the help of a unicorn, no less) who managed to bring Geralt back.
Ciri then took them to Malus Island, a mysterious isle hidden deep in the fogs of Loch Eskalott. It was there that Yennefer and Geralt recovered and rested before eventually being found by the Wild Hunt, kicking off the story depicted in the Witcher game series.
NEXT: Books Series That Would Make Better Games Than The Witcher 3
FAQs
What is special about Yennefer in The Witcher? ›
However, in The Witcher, this means that Yennefer is one-quarter elven, being the product of a human father and a half-elven mother. This heritage lends itself to her graceful features and could explain why she's one of gaming's most powerful mages, as elves are known for their magic talents.
What was missing in Yennefer? ›In The Witcher, when Yennefer of Vengerberg became a mage, she lost the ability to have children.
Does Yen really love Geralt? ›But because of the true love between Yennefer and Geralt, they always find their way back to each other in the end.
Why did Triss not tell Geralt about Yennefer? ›When Geralt lost his memory, Triss kept the truth about his past from him. She didn't tell him about his relationship with Yennefer and let Geralt think they were madly in love. As a result, Geralt didn't look for Yennefer. In the third game, Triss, herself, mentions taking advantage of Geralt when he had amnesia.
Who is Geralt's true love? › Can Yennefer have a baby? ›
Geralt is a father figure to Ciri, and Yennefer is like a mother to her, as she's also unable to have children. Yennefer, like most sorceresses, is sterile and secretly sought a way of restoring her fertility.
Why was Yennefer infertile? ›Many sorcerers are infertile, but nobody knows exactly why. In the show, however, Yennefer's infertility is the direct result of her physical transformation.
Does Yennefer steal Ciri's power? ›Yennefer steals Ciri from Geralt (Henry Cavill) to take to the Deathless Mother in exchange for her power. Still, upon realizing her love for Ciri and the significance she presents for the world, Yennefer sacrifices herself to save Ciri.
What did Yennefer sacrifice to become beautiful? ›In the show we saw that Yennefer had to sacrifice her ability to have children in order to change her appearanc, but in the books it is said that no all the sorceresses are unable to have children (like Geralt's mother).
How many times can Geralt sleep with Yen? ›Geralt and Yennefer in The Witcher 3 may tryst twice... once during The King is Dead - Long Live the King, and again during No Place Like Home.
Has Yen ever cheated on Geralt? ›
9 YENNEFER'S ATROCITY: Cheating On Geralt
For starters, there are multiple instances in the story where Yennefer has slept with people behind Geralt's back, causing the witcher no end of grief when he found out.
Geralt does, and the thing blows their assailants clear out of the cave they battled in. All of this implies that Yennefer also used the kiss to boost Geralt's powers, as previous episodes have shown that his Aard is nowhere near that strong.
Why does Yennefer treat Geralt so badly? ›She feels for him what she cannot feel for others, and yet others can show her what Geralt never shows her. This was the whole idea in Shard of Ice with the two eh... ravens?
Does Yen hate Triss? ›Triss and Yennefer are close friends who encounter each other throughout the series. Triss doesn't seem to have much regard for Yennefer as she is always trying to sneak off with Geralt or is disregarding Yen's pleas for help when she is on the run from the Lodge.
Does sleeping with Triss affect Yennefer? ›Sleeping with Triss will leave Yen heartbroken, and if Geralt tries to seduce both women, they'll plot their rightful revenge together.
Who is Geralt's daughter? ›Even though Geralt does not believe in destiny, he unknowingly demands the unborn child of princess Pavetta and her husband Duny as a reward for his services by invoking "the Law of Surprise". The child turns out to be a girl, Cirilla, commonly known as Ciri; since then the two are linked to each other.
Who is Geralt's canon wife? ›The former is Geralt's long-running love interest, and in the books, it's Yennefer who Geralt loves. In other words, this is considered the more canon choice.
Who has Yennefer slept with? ›It even got to a point in the books where Yennefer slept with Geralt and Istredd on the same day, with each only finding out after the fact. You don't have to be a witcher or a sorceress to know that that's an unethical way to have an agreed-upon monogamous relationship.
Is Yennefer half elf? ›Yennefer is one quarter elven since her mother was a half-blood elf. Yennefer has a congenital hunchback, a rare birth defect. Because of her condition, her childhood was difficult. She suffered abuse and was even ridiculed by her parents.
Why can't witchers be female? ›Straight answer: No there is not one single Female witcher because of the mutation being aimed at boys. They stopped trying to make female witchers when they just got dead bodies.
What is Geralt's last wish? ›
Geralt wished to die alongside Yennefer. Since a djinn can't kill its own master, this wish would provide a nice loophole that would save Yennefer's life and also ensure that Geralt and Yennefer's lives are bound together until their very ends.
Why did they take Yennefer's uterus? ›It's a requirement for the procedure she went through. We've been shown in the Witcher that the magic is something for something, and for the procedure to work, she has to sacrifice her womb.
Why was Yennefer so powerful? ›This aptitude is attributed to her elven lineage. As Yennefer explains to Istredd, her biological father was a half-elf. This elvish heritage was responsible for her deformities, but also for her natural familiarity with magic.
Why has Yennefer got purple eyes? ›Anya Chalotra, who plays Yennefer had beautiful purple eyes. The contacts that change the color of darker eyes, like Chalotra's, are much thicker than the ones that can be used to change light eyes. They used a combination of contacts and CGI to make her eyes purple.
Who is stronger Ciri or Yennefer? ›While Ciri's powers might make her incredibly fast in combat, one can't write off Yennefer's agility altogether. After all, Yennefer's known to have incredibly fast attacking speed, with her foes having no chance to respond due to the sheer barrage of attacks they face against this powerful sorceress.
Who can defeat Yennefer? ›Even though Yennefer is a very strong sorceresses, Caranthir's magic abilities are better than hers and he could defeat her in battle.
Is Fringilla stronger than Yennefer? ›Fringilla was strong enough to even temporarily blind Yennefer during the Battle of Sodden, and her illusions managed to trick Vilgefortz, one of the biggest antagonists from the books.
Is Yennefer the most powerful mage? ›There is truly no question that Yennefer is the most powerful person on the Continent. As an untrained hunchback, she created a portal to Aretuza, a task that is no easy feat, especially without training.
Who is the deathless mother? ›Voleth Meir, also known as the Deathless Mother, is a major antagonist in the Netflix television adaptation of The Witcher, serving as an unseen antagonist in season one, and one of the two main antagonists (alongside Rience) in season two.
Why did the girls get turned into eels in the Witcher? ›According to the official site for Netflix's The Witcher, the pool with white water at the bottom of the tower is Aretuza's power source, and the “mages not capable of harnessing chaos are transformed into eels, forced to live out their days in this pool and provide power to the academy.”
How much older is Geralt than Yennefer? ›
But in the “present day,” Yennefer is 71 on the show. In book/video game lore, however, she mentions being 94 and is usually considered to be a few years older than Geralt. Yennefer's timeline as we watch it develop on the show is the oldest one, beginning at the earliest date.
Who is more powerful Geralt or Yennefer? ›Geralt of Rivia
Sure, Geralt does not have the raw power of a mage like Yennefer or Vilgefortz, but his ability to improvise gives him a strong edge in the battlefield. Also, it's hinted at that Geralt's max power is probably a lot greater than we ever see given the fact that he also has mage blood.
He's allowed to make multiple choices throughout each game, as he's hardly monogamous. In The Witcher 3, however, romance is framed with some finality. The player is forced to choose one or neither. Choosing either Triss or Yennefer leads to an ending specific to that romance.
Do Yen and Geralt get married? ›So, he wrote another short story that's supposed to be set in a different timeline where Geralt & Yennefer settled down peacefully and got married in the end. Essentially, they were given the typical "happy-ever-after" ending.
Does Yen get mad if you drink with the witchers? ›Having A Drink With Your Allies
Eventually, things get heated between Yen and Lambert. You can tell the Witcher to mind his manners, but it doesn't alter the scene too much. After the argument, Yen goes to bed and tells you not to stay up too late.
For the record and in the books, the only other sorceress Geralt had romantic and sexual ties with is Fringilla Vigo.
What happens if you tell Triss and Yen you love them? ›With the two sorceresses, the point at which you'll become romantically intertwined is basically when you say "I love you." So, you can kiss Triss, but definitely don't tell her that you love her, because you'll lose Yennefer, and vice versa.
Why does Yennefer wear a necklace? ›Yennefer's Symbol: The Obsidian Star
Her symbol, the Obsidian Star, is a pendant that hangs off her neck with a velvet choker. In the books, Yennefer often touches her Obsidian Star in conversation. In the games, she wears the necklace at all times, suggesting it's highly important to her and potentially her magic.
Yennefer and Geralt's relationship seems doomed due to whatever it was that Geralt wished for – that being a wish that binds their two lives together. However, in the books Yennefer is grateful for this wish, and it's precisely Geralt's willingness to save her life that causes her to fall in love with him.
Why did Ciri's father fake his death? ›Well, Emhyr wasn't going to let a prophecy get the best of him. He intended to fake his, his wife, and his daughter's deaths and smuggle them to Nilfgaard where he would reclaim his birthright. That, he decided, was the best way to avoid destiny and keep himself and his family safe.
Why did Triss hair turn red? ›
The Witcher never directly breaks down Triss' hair change, but tacitly suggests being burned at the Battle of Sodden caused this fiery new color.
Who does Triss love? ›In the two previous Witcher games, Triss is Geralt's main romantic interest, but in The Witcher 3, the two haven't seen each other in a while. Geralt will be reunited with Triss in the city of Novigrad as part of the main story. During the main quest 'Count Reuven's Treasure', Triss will ask Geralt to come see her.
What is Triss allergic to? ›Triss Merigold of Maribor. Although allergic to magic, she's a talented healer and a very influential sorceress.
Does Geralt love Triss or Yennefer more? ›After all, one of Geralt's core motivations is the bond he shares with Yennefer — a deep connection that Triss can't even come close to. It's clear for everyone to see that Yennefer is meant to be Geralt's true love.
Why choose Triss over Yennefer? ›Choosing Yen may trigger a longer questline, but her relationship with Geralt is much more fraught. Triss, on the other hand, offers a much shorter questline. At the end of the day, we all know that Yen is Geralt's one true love, yet Triss is seemingly the more popular option.
Is Yennefer the most powerful? ›Yennefer of Vengerberg
There is truly no question that Yennefer is the most powerful person on the Continent. As an untrained hunchback, she created a portal to Aretuza, a task that is no easy feat, especially without training.
While she has a good heart, she can sometimes do things or act in a certain way that wouldn't be considered heroic. The video game adaptation of the character nailed this aspect of her personality. During the Witcher 3, Yennefer is at times kind and noble, whereas other times, she's jealous and selfish.
Does Yennefer in Witcher get her powers? ›To save Ciri from the Deathless Mother, Yennefer offers herself to the demon. Together, Ciri, Yennefer, and Geralt teleport to Voleth Meir's sphere of existence, where the Deathless Mother releases herself and allies with the Wild Hunt. When the three of them returned to the Continent, Yennefer had regained her magic.
Who is Geralt's wife? ›| Geralt of Rivia | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Witcher |
| Family | Visenna (mother) Korin (father) |
| Significant others | Yennefer of Vengerberg (lover) Triss Merigold (lover) Fringilla Vigo (lover) |
| Children | Ciri (adopted daughter) |
Geralt does, and the thing blows their assailants clear out of the cave they battled in. All of this implies that Yennefer also used the kiss to boost Geralt's powers, as previous episodes have shown that his Aard is nowhere near that strong.
Is Ciri more powerful than Yennefer? ›
1. Ciri. Ciri is the de facto strongest character in the Witcher. Even though you might think the book is mostly about Geralt, or maybe even Yennefer, in reality the whole story is about Ciri.
Why did Yennefer betray Geralt? ›Yennefer intended to trade Ciri to the demon in exchange for the return of her powers. Yennefer, however, couldn't go through with the plan due to her feelings for Geralt and her growing fondness for his adoptive daughter, eventually attempting to sacrifice herself to save Ciri before being spared.
Who is Yennefer's love interest? ›Yennefer. Alongside Triss, Yennefer is one of Geralt's main love interests in The Witcher 3. Geralt and Yennefer are already close right near the beginning of the game, but it's not until later on in the main story that you'll be able to solidify their love for one another.