Leshen

Leshen

Species	Relicts
DLC	Base game
Oil	Relict Oil
Signs	Igni
Bombs	Dimeritium Bomb
Location	Velen Skellige Kaer Morhen Novigrad

The Leshen is a Relict that rules the dense, ancient forests of the world. It uses inborn magic to command the plants and animals of its territory. Leshens live in the deep woods of Velen, Skellige and the valley of Kaer Morhen.

Lore

The bestiary entry opens with a grim promise from Mulliver, the ealdorman of Hoshberg in lower Aedirn. The village never hunts in the Leshen's woods. It never will, even if the whole village starves.

That fear is well earned. A Leshen hunts with stealth and cunning. Because the whole forest serves it, stalking one is very hard. Half the battle is simply getting close enough to strike. The oldest Leshens earn the title "ancient." Their skills and tactics make them even more dangerous.

Behaviour

Leshens dwell in dense, primeval woods and defend them fiercely. On Ard Skellig, a Leshen settled in the forest around a sawmill and killed all the workers there. The sawmill now stands abandoned and overgrown.

Some Leshens become part of village life. The Woodland Spirit in the forest near the Skellige village of Fayrlund is the best-known case. The elders of Fayrlund worship it as a protector, while the young warriors want it killed.

Weaknesses

Coat the silver sword with Relict Oil. Igni is the Leshen's great weakness, so cast it at every chance. Dimeritium Bombs help too.

A Leshen moves slowly, but its claws hit very hard. Dodge or roll away from every swipe. Watch for it to push its arms into the ground. That calls up a line of roots that bursts from the earth in front of it, so roll out of the line. A Leshen also sends swarms of crows to harass its foe, and the older ones call Wolves to their side.

When pressed, the Leshen vanishes and moves to a new spot before taking shape again. Its path stays visible as it travels, so track it and be ready when it reappears.

Contracts and Quests

Quest	Quest Giver	Location	Reward
Abandoned Sawmill	-	Abandoned Sawmill, Ard Skellig	50 XP

A Leshen is fought in the side quest Abandoned Sawmill on Ard Skellig, in Skellige. The quest begins on the first visit to the sawmill in the forest. Searching the abandoned buildings with the Witcher Senses turns up human bones. The Leshen that killed the woodcutters then appears and must be slain.

Drops

Name	Image
Fiber
Leshen Mutagen	-
Leshen Resin
Monster Bone	-
Timber
Powdered Monster Tissue
Ancient Leshen Mutagen	-
Infused Shard
Hardened Timber

Notes

The Leshen is based on the Leshy of Slavic myth. Its name comes from "les," the Slavic word for forest.

All Monster Categories

All Relicts

Name	Image	Variant of	Oil	Signs	Bombs	Location	DLC
Chort		-	Relict Oil	-	Devil's Puffball	Velen Skellige Kaer Morhen White Orchard	Base game
Crones		-	Relict Oil	Quen	-	Velen	Base game
Doppler		-	Relict Oil	-	-	Novigrad Skellige	Base game
Fiend		-	Relict Oil	-	Samum Devil's Puffball	Velen Skellige	Base game
Fugas		-	-	-	-	-	Base game
Godling		-	-	-	-	Velen Novigrad	Base game
Grottore	-	Spriggan	Relict Oil	Igni	Dimeritium Bomb	Toussaint	Blood and Wine
Howler		Chort	Relict Oil	-	Devil's Puffball	-	Base game
Imp		Doppler	Relict Oil	-	-	Novigrad	Base game
Kernun		Leshen	Relict Oil	Igni	Dimeritium Bomb	-	Base game
Leshen		-	Relict Oil	Igni	Dimeritium Bomb	Velen Skellige Kaer Morhen Novigrad	Base game
Morvudd		Fiend	Relict Oil	-	Devil's Puffball Samum	Skellige	Base game
Shaelmaar		-	Relict Oil	Aard	Samum Dragon's Dream	Toussaint	Blood and Wine
Shaelmaar from the Emperor of Nilfgaard		Shaelmaar	Relict Oil	Aard	Samum	Toussaint	Blood and Wine
Spriggan		-	Relict Oil	Igni	Dimeritium Bomb	Toussaint	Blood and Wine
Sylvan		-	Relict Oil	Igni	Samum Devil's Puffball	Velen	Base game
The Caretaker		-	Relict Oil	Quen	-	-	Hearts of Stone
The Monster of Tufo	-	Shaelmaar	Relict Oil	Aard	Samum	Toussaint	Blood and Wine
Wicked Witch		-	-	-	-	Land of a Thousand Fables	Blood and Wine
Woodland Spirit		Leshen	Relict Oil	Igni	Dimeritium Bomb	-	Base game