Vampires

Vampires are creatures that live on blood, which carries the life force of their victims. They are not undead humans but monsters that appeared after the Conjunction. They range from bat-like beasts that tear their prey apart to Higher Vampires who pass for ordinary people in human cities.

Most village lore about them is wrong. Garlic, holy water and religious symbols do nothing to them, and wooden stakes have little effect. Higher Vampires are immortal and extremely rare. Even a witcher's medallion stays perfectly still around them. Protofleders came from the world of the Higher Vampires during the Conjunction of the Spheres. They still live in the Unseen Elder's cave in Toussaint.

Katakans look like huge bats. They turn invisible and prowl the streets of Novigrad. Ekimmaras shred their victims with long claws and slurp the blood off the ground. Alps usually take the form of women and prowl near villages at night. Bruxae turn invisible and dart around faster than the eye can follow. Fleders and Garkains are lesser vampires. A Fleder tears apart any weaker being in a mindless rage, and a Garkain often leads a pack of other lesser vampires.

A silver sword coated in Vampire Oil is the answer, since Katakans are immune to steel. Magic hurts vampires as well, and Igni hits Katakans and Ekimmaras hard. Yrden holds the invisible ones in place, and Moon Dust makes them easier to track. Black Blood punishes those that drink a witcher's blood. Many vampires regain health, so a quick kill is the safer plan.