Aard sign
From Witcher Wiki
The Aard Sign is a simple magical sign used by witchers. It is comprised of a telekinetic thrust that can stun, repel, knock down or disarm opponents, as well as remove barriers and other objects.
| The so-called Sign of Aard, Ciri, is a very simple spell belonging to the family of psychokinetic magic which is based on thrusting energy in the required direction. The force of the thrust depends on how the will of the person throwing it is focused and on the expelled force. It can be considerable. The witchers adapted the spell, making use of the fact that it does not require knowledge of a magical formula — concentration and the hand gesture are enough. That's why they call it a Sign. Where they got the name from, I don't know, maybe from the Elder Speech — the word "ard", as you know, means "mountain", "upper" or "the highest". If that is truly the case then the name is very misleading because it's hard to find an easier psychokinetic spell.
— page 309, Blood of Elves (UK edition)
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[edit] In The Witcher computer game
Aard is the first Sign Geralt 'learns' over the course of the game; one cannot finish the Prologue without it as it is necessary to break through a wall of debris to exit the witchers' laboratory. Its icon is based on the alchemical symbol for Air. It is the sign that the witcher uses the most. Outside of combat, Aard is most often used to clear a path, either by blowing down a wall or blowing apart a pile of debris. During combat it can stun, knockdown or disarm an opponent.
The witcher's skill with the sign is developed through the allocation of talents.
[edit] Mechanics
- To use the Aard sign, right-click on the desired target
- Endurance is used whenever the sign is cast, if the overall level is too low, Geralt will not be able to cast the sign
- Tip: Knocked-down or stunned opponents are easy to kill with a single strike.
Later on, visiting the Circles of Elements attributed to Aard grants Geralt the Blessing of Air.
[edit] Examples of obstructions that are "Aard-able"
[edit] Circles of Elements
Circles of Elements dedicated to the Aard sign and bestowing the Blessing of Air include:
- Circle of Whispering Stones in the Prologue
- Circle of the Windy Wanderer in the outskirts
- Circle of Lifeless Air in the sewers
- Circle of the Winter Storm in the fields
- Circle of Mute Thunder in the swamp cemetery
[edit] In "The Price of Neutrality" premium module
There are only two circles of elements in "The Price of Neutrality" and only one of them is for Aard. It has no special name.
- Circle of Elements southwest of the Camp.
[edit] Notes
- Info from Damar's Definitive Guide to Witcher Signs
- Early on in the game, it's a lifesaver, because it lets you insta-kill stunned and knocked-down opponents. Most Bosses (except for The Beast) are immune to stun and prolonged knockdown; they'll still fall down but will pop right back up before you can execute a finisher.
- There's no reason not to buy at least all Bronze levels of Aard. Thereafter, it's up to you; it's still essentially a Force Push, just a "better" one (wider angle with even greater chance to stun/knock down/disarm). Aard works fairly well for crowd control, but later in the game it is significantly overshadowed by Igni.
- According to The Witcher, a short story in The Last Wish (collection), Geralt used Aard during his fight with the striga.
- In the short story A Question of Price, Geralt uses Aard to stop the chaos during the banquet.
- Geralt sought to harm the djinn in the short story The Last Wish with the Sign of Aard.
