Siren

Sirens are hybrids from the same family as lamias and ekhidnae. Strictly speaking, the ones in The Witcher 3 are closer to nixa than to true sirens or merpeople, since they have wings and fly. They can take the shape of beautiful women with silver-scaled tails, and they use that look and their song to lure sailors. When the prey gets close, those pretty faces turn into fish-like jaws full of fangs and the tails become sharp talons.

They hunt in flocks, move as easily through water as through the air, and will tear a boat apart plank by plank if given the chance. A threatened or wounded siren lets out a terrible shriek that stuns attackers while the flock regroups or escapes.

In The Witcher 3 they’re a fixture of the Skellige Isles, especially along the coasts and over open water between islands. They surround the shores in Siren’s Call, The Price of Honor, The Path of Warriors and Possession, and on Undvik the ice giant feeds them during The Lord of Undvik. They also guard the treasure in Black Pearl. The contract Here Comes the Groom leads to Melusine, an unusually large siren.

Combat strategy

Sirens are only dangerous while they are flying. Damage their fin-like wings and force them to land, and they become almost helpless, open to a quick finisher. Aard, Grapeshot and crossbow bolts all knock them down, and Igni works especially well against them. On a boat, the crossbow is your main tool; on land, let them dive at you and punish the landing.

Coat your silver sword with hybrid oil.
Use Igni on sirens in range; they are especially vulnerable to fire.
Grapeshot or Aard brings them down so you can finish them on the ground.
From a boat, shoot them with the crossbow before they wreck your hull.
When one shrieks, back off and wait for the stun to pass rather than rushing in.
Fight from the shore instead of the water whenever you can.
Pay attention to singing near the coast; it usually means a flock is close.