The world of The Witcher is full to the brim with some of the most disgusting monsters you’ll ever gaze upon. Drowners, grave hags, foglets, plague maidens, and botchlings are just a few of the many horrifying creatures you’ll encounter in your journey as Geralt of Rivia. However, perhaps the most terrifying creature in The Witcher 3 that will surely rustle your jimmies are the rotfiends — heinous abominations that will make you shiver with their sheer grotesqueness at least once during your playthrough.
If one can stomach even looking at these things for too long — let alone reading about them — then it must be said that this creature is somewhat fascinating when it comes to its design, origin, and everything else along the same lines. However, that doesn’t mean that each and every possible detail surrounding this monster has been fleshed out, with a few key points that are genuinely somewhat perplexing. Keeping this in mind, here are ten questions about rotfiends that don’t have any clear answers to them.
10 Where Does Their Explosive Ability Come From?
A world steeped in fantasy is bound to have certain ridiculous elements to it that defy any logic or explanations. Rotfiends exploding after taking sufficient damage is one such element.
From a video game standpoint, this mechanic turns them into interesting enemies that require a different approach in combat. However, in terms of believability, it’s quite odd as to how and why this enemy uses this particular ability in the first place.
9 Why Does Setting Them On Fire Prevent Them From Exploding?
The whole point of explosions is that they stem from something ignitable, such as gas — which is something the rotfiends expel before their subsequent explosion. However, according to the game, burning a rotfiend before they explode is apparently an effective way to take care of the beast, which makes absolutely no sense.
If the gas the rotfiend expels isn’t flammable — which just sounds so wrong — then that poses another question…
8 Is The Previous Game’s Definition Of A Rotfiend Mistaken?
According to the definition of rotfiends in The Witcher 2, the gas that they expel right before their demise is so flammable that something as simple as a small spark can light it up. However, it seems that The Witcher 3 has completely discarded this explanation, with rotfiends convenient thrown into a state of chaos and confusion after being set alight instead of exploding as they should.
All this can only point to one conclusion — CD Projekt Red retconned the previous definition of rotfiends to make the tactic of burning them viable in The Witcher 3.
7 Why Does A Rotfiend Show His Full Strength Only When It’s Alone?
Speaking of the definition of rotfiends in The Witcher 2, another aspect of this beast that was described in detail was the fact that these creatures go into a full-on rage mode of sorts if isolated, with the force behind their blows being enough to rip apart their enemies.
However, if these rotfiends have so much power from the get-go, then why don’t they unleash it upon any immediate threat if they’re in a group? Safety in numbers might be a thing, but if those numbers are being whittled down quickly then their survival instincts should definitely kick in regardless.
6 Why Can’t They Be Damaged Just Before They Explode?
In The Witcher 3, a rotfiend can’t be damaged once the animation prior to its imminent explosion is triggered.
This makes absolutely no sense — the mere idea of a creature attaining invulnerability right before their self-imposed demise seems way too convenient, and a bit too video-gamey for a player’s liking.
5 Why Can’t They Explode When They’re Knocked Down?
In The Witcher 3, it’s revealed that rotfiends can be knocked down to prevent them from triggering their kamikaze attack. This allows Geralt to safely use a downed finisher that dispatches of this enemy without any unnecessary explosions. However, it’s not like a rotfiend needs to stand upright to explode, right?
Their fight-or-flight response should trigger whenever they’re in dire straights… such as when they’re knocked down and at the mercy of their enemy. And yet, not a single rotfiend has ever tried exploding and dying on their own terms when they get knocked down.
4 Why Can Only A Powered-Up Aard Sign Knock Rotfiends Down?
Of course, knocking down rotfiends isn’t as easy as one might think. A player needs to use a powered-up Aard Sign to even stand a chance of knocking down these fearsome foes.
However, it’s clear as day that clumsy foes like rotfiends and other necrophages don’t exactly have a stellar sense of balance. To state that only a powerful spell of sorts can knock them down seems like a poor excuse to make the gameplay scenario more interesting.
3 Why Doesn’t Geralt Just Knock Down Every Rotfiend He Sees If That’s Their Kryptonite?
Another question that comes up when it comes to these unblockable downed finishers is that Geralt should make a note of this strategy whenever he’s fighting rotfiends — or any other similar enemy — and knock them down as soon as possible without the need for any fancy footwork or Sign casting.
Yet, the famed witcher chooses to risk his life with every rotfiend he encounters, instead of taking the safe way out. While it’s understandable that knocking down the same enemy countless times might not make for interesting gameplay, it still shows that Geralt is still inept when it comes to the ways of combat in some ways.
2 Are Rotfiends Really So Stupid That They Manage To Get Themselves Trapped In Chain Explosions?
But if Geralt is inept in combat, then the rotfiends are absolute neanderthals in comparison. These opponents don’t care about anyone around them and damage anyone around them with an explosion… including their own kind.
This can lead to a hilarious situation where a whole gang of rotfiends can destroy themselves in a chain explosion that can honestly be somewhat amusing to watch.
1 Why Is Their Fighting Style Similar To That Of Drowners?
While it’s true that drowners and rotfiends both are necrophages, these creatures are still noticeably different in their appearance and, by extension, should have unique attacks that play to their strengths.
Instead, for some reason, both rotfiends and drowners have virtually the same moveset, with the rotfiend’s self-destruction move being the only major difference that sets them apart.
NEXT: 10 Games To Play If You Like The Witcher 3
