Ice Giant

The ice giant is an ogroid: a huge, blue-skinned, roughly humanlike monster that the Witcher 3 bestiary describes as primeval and possibly the last of its kind. Every attempt to talk to one has ended with someone dead. It is extremely strong, draws extra power from cold weather and blizzards, and senses movement across snow and ice, so the crunch of footsteps on snow is enough to wake it.

The giant you fight in The Witcher 3 is called Myrhyff. About a year before the game begins, it took over the island of Undvik and drove out or slaughtered its people. It feeds raw meat, much of it human, to the sirens that live around it, and a half-mad old man named Octo believes he and the sirens are readying a ship for the giant’s battle against the gods.

The encounter is the climax of The Lord of Undvik, a secondary quest from Crach an Craite. Hjalmar an Craite sailed to Undvik to kill the giant and prove himself worthy of the crown, and Geralt goes after him. On the way you’ll cross paths with sirens, ice trolls, harpies and nekkers, and you can rescue Hjalmar’s companions. After the fight you can let Hjalmar take the glory or keep it yourself, which changes prices with Skellige merchants. Finishing the quest also opens King’s Gambit.

Combat strategy

The ice giant fights a lot like a cyclops: slow but crushing melee blows plus area attacks that can stun you. In The Lord of Undvik it swings a huge anchor. Keep Quen up at all times, because a single clean hit takes a big chunk of your health. The safest opening comes right after an anchor swing, when the anchor sticks in the ground and the giant is busy pulling it free.

Coat your silver sword with ogroid oil.
Keep Quen active throughout the fight; the bestiary lists it among the giant’s susceptibilities.
Dodge to the side of his swings, then attack while the anchor is stuck in the ground.
Back off from area slams rather than trying to roll through them.
When approaching the lair, stay off the snow so the noise doesn’t wake him early.
Deal with any sirens around him so you aren’t harassed from the air.