Vampire

Template:Infobox specieTemplate:BigQuote Vampire is a hypernym used to refer to a number of creatures that thrive on blood, which contains their victims' life force.

Vampire species

Higher grades:
- Higher vampire
- Alp (Alpor in The Last Wish)
- Katakan
- Mula (Moola in The Last Wish)
- Bruxa
- Nosferat
Lower grades:
- Ekimma (Ekimmara in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)
- Fleder
- Garkain ^[1]
- Plumard

Andrzej Sapkowski

Vampires in Sapkowski's works break with many popular stereotypes. In particular, vampire repellents such as holy water, crucifixes, garlic, wooden stakes, etc. are nothing but folklore within the Witcher saga. For example, Regis, the vampire who accompanies Geralt for a time, was once decapitated, staked through the heart, sprinkled with holy water and finally buried, but that did not prevent him from regenerating, albeit slowly.

Notable vampires

Facts and myths

Here are a few more myths and facts about vampires in Sapkowski's works:

Higher vampires do not need to drink blood. It is like alcohol to them, in that they can become drunk from it. Additionally, drinking blood increases their strength.
They are not adversely affected by silver; although most vampires short of true Higher vampires can be wounded by it.
A vampire bite does not turn the bitten creature into a vampire.
Vampires are not undead or transformed creatures; they are born as vampires. The race of vampires appeared in the world after the Conjunction of the Spheres.
Not all vampires must avoid the sun. Many have adapted and easily tolerate daylight.
They cannot be seen in mirrors and other reflective surfaces.
Rushing water (rivers, etc.) poses no obstacle to their movement.
Holy water, crucifixes, and garlic are ineffective against them.
Partial bodily damage, such as a stake through the heart or decapitation, is only an inconvenience to them.
Some can touch white hot metal with their bare hands without injury (this was the case with Regis).

Book quotes

Physiologus entry

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Others

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The Witcher

There is at least two points where the game breaks with Sapkowski's written works regarding vampires:

Garlic repels vampires
Humans can be turned into vampires (Blue Eyes)

Notable vampires

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Bruxa

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Characters

Hubert Rejk

Blood and Wine expansion

Of named higher vampires, Geralt can encounter up to four: Regis, Dettlaff van der Eretein, Orianna, and the Unseen Elder of Toussaint.

Throughout the main story quest La Cage au Fou, Regis and Geralt's exploration of Tesham Mutna reveals that vampires descend from three ancient tribes that arrived on the Continent during the Conjunction of the Spheres. A single portal opened from their world in caves underneath what later became Toussaint. The symbols of these tribes remain deep within the ruins, serving as reminders of their original realm.

The main story also expanded on the capabilities of a higher vampire: they are unique and have skills that accompanies it, and they are impregnable to most methods of extermination, practically giving higher vampires some form of immortality; and a set of vampiric codes that applies to all vampires, no matter the classification:

- A vampire killing another is forbidden and any vampire that does this is considered a traitor to the vampiric race.

- If a vampire sees another wounded, one can leave them alone, or help nurture them.