Even if you are a hardcore Witcher fan, here are five facts about Geralt of Rivia which you might have not known.
When it comes to iconic video game and fantasy protagonists, few stand shoulder to shoulder with Geralt of Rivia. He’s gruff, sarcastic, pragmatic, and somehow still manages to carry a strange kind of charm that makes him unforgettable. Since his debut in Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels and his evolution into the main character of CD Projekt Red’s games, Geralt has become one of the most beloved figures in gaming and literature alike. Although heavily criticized, the Netflix Witcher series has further helped him reach a wider audience.
What makes Geralt of Rivia so dear to gamers and readers is mostly because of how layered he is. In The Witcher 3, he’s not just fighting monsters but also dealing with politics, philosophy, love, loss, and the eternal struggle between destiny and free will. He isn’t a traditional hero who saves the world for glory; he’s someone who’s simply trying to survive in a brutal, unfair world while protecting the few people he loves. And yet, beneath his cold exterior, there’s a deeply human character whose flaws and contradictions make him feel real. It is because of this complexity, many Witcher fans keep returning to both the books and the games to learn more about him. But even die-hard readers and players might have missed a few things about everyone’s favorite White Wolf.
So, let’s dive into five surprising facts about Geralt of Rivia that even seasoned fans might not know.
5. He Is an Agnostic Atheist
Here’s one of the most ironic aspects and one of the interesting facts about Geralt of Rivia: he lives in a world full of sorcerers, monsters, curses, magic and magical destinies, yet for some reason, Geralt doesn’t really believe in gods. Geralt has seen that vampires exist and that werewolves prowl the forests, but when it comes to divine beings, he remains an agnostic atheist.
However, he doesn’t outright claim that gods don’t exist, but he refuses to put his faith in them without evidence. In the books, this often puts him at odds with priests and worshippers. In The Witcher 3, his skepticism is just as strong; he frequently mocks religious zealots, particularly the fanatical cult of the Eternal Fire. It’s one of those contradictions that make him such a unique character: a man who lives in the world of magic but rejects gods and religion.
4. He Is Not an Orphan
A lot of fans assume Geralt is an orphan because he was raised in Kaer Morhen by the witchers of the School of the Wolf. However, it’s not true. His mother, Visenna, was a sorceress and healer. Though she abandoned him at Kaer Morhen, she was alive and even later met him as an adult. His father’s identity is much less clear; possibly a man named Korin, possibly someone else entirely- but the fact remains that Geralt wasn’t an orphan. His parents simply chose a different path for him, one that would eventually turn him into the White Wolf.
3. He Believed Ciri to Be a Boy
When Geralt invoked the Law of Surprise, he assumed his Child of Destiny would be a boy. Imagine his surprise when destiny handed him Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon or better known as Ciri. This twist shaped the entire Witcher saga. Geralt went from believing he would one day mentor a boy to becoming the father figure of a fiercely independent young girl who would change the fate of the continent. The relationship between Geralt and Ciri is central to the novels and it becomes the emotional heart of The Witcher 3. It also adds a layer of irony to Geralt’s constant skepticism about destiny: even when he doubts it, destiny has the last laugh.
2. He Actually Hates Beards
In the books, Geralt prefers a clean-shaven face and isn’t fond of beards. This detail often surprises fans who only know him from The Witcher 3, where the game includes a beard-growing mechanic that quickly became quite popular. In fact, many players associate Geralt of Rivia with his rugged bearded look, but in Sapkowski’s novels, he makes it clear that stubble and beards are not his style. This is one of those instances where the games added their own flavor to his character, making him appear rougher and older than the book version. Therefore, this is definitely one of the facts about Geralt of Rivia that can shock players who don’t know much about book Geralt.
1. Geralt of Rivia is Not from Rivia
One of the funniest facts about Geralt of Rivia is that the witcher isn’t from Rivia at all. His surname was essentially a marketing trick taught to young witchers by Vesemir, so they could sound more trustworthy to potential clients. Geralt originally wanted to call himself “Geralt Roger Eric du Haute-Bellegarde,” but Vesemir vetoed it for being too pretentious. Later, Queen Meve of Lyria and Rivia actually knighted him for his bravery, which ironically legitimized the name he had made up. So, while his title started as a facade, it eventually became real.
