The Shrieker

The Shrieker is a cockatrice that had been preying on livestock and people around Crow’s Perch. Cockatrices are draconids that strike with frightening precision, slicing arteries and leaving victims bleeding. Its most recent victim was Borzoy, the old lord’s hunter, who left behind a young son, Symko.

It hides in a cave near the Burned Ruins and refuses to leave a high, unreachable nook, so Geralt has to smoke it out.

You hunt it in The Witcher 3 during Contract: Shrieker, a level 8 contract in Velen. Pick up the notice in Crow’s Perch and talk to Chet, then visit Symko. East of the village, a dead dog and tracks lead to blood, across the water and around the Burned Ruins to the cave. Once you locate the monster inside, throw a Samum, Grapeshot or Dancing Star bomb at its hiding spot, then run outside after it as it flees out the back. It turns to fight soon after. The Shrieker drops a cockatrice trophy, a cockatrice stomach and a dwarven axe.

Combat strategy

The Shrieker has no attack that covers its rear, so getting behind it is the whole game. Its frontal pecks come out with very little warning and are hard to dodge, so don’t stand in front of it trading blows. Roll under or past its wings when it charges and attack from the back.

When it takes to the air, bring it back down with the crossbow, a bomb or a sign. Players often find level 10 to 12 more comfortable than the suggested level 8.