'The Witcher' Season 2 Explained: What is The Wild Hunt?

The Witcher Season 2, which was released on December 17, had a number of surprises in store for fans, and one came in the form of The Wild Hunt.

Having two cameos during the course of the show's sophomore season, the horde were seen first during a vision that Princess Ciri (Freya Allan) had and then a second time in the show's action-packed finale.

Fans of the books and games will already be familiar with The Wild Hunt, but, for those less well-versed in The Witcher franchise, here is everything you need to know about the group.

What is The Wild Hunt in 'The Witcher'?

In Season 2 of The Witcher The Wild Hunt have minimal impact on the overall storyline, but their appearance is important for the way it sets up future seasons.

The Wild Hunt's appearance in the show's finale saw Ciri transport herself, Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) and Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) to a different world, which is where they are confronted by the horde.

Ciri manages to bring the trio back to The Continent, but this is not before the leader of The Wild Hunt calls her the "starry-eyed daughter of chaos" and warns that she is theirs.

It is clear from this statement, and their appearance in Ciri's vision earlier in the season, that The Wild Hunt are after her, much like they were in the books.

The Wild Hunt were first referred to in Andrzej Sapkowski's novels in "Sword of Destiny", before they appeared in "Time of Contempt" and "The Tower of the Swallow", and they are also the main antagonists in the third Witcher game.

The Wild Hunt are also known as the Wraiths of Mörhogg, and to some they are seen as ghosts who gallop across the sky as an omen of war, which is how they are first seen in the Netflix show.

They are, in fact, a horde of elves, Aen Elle elves from Tir ná Lia to be exact, and they refer to themselves as Dearg Ruadhri, or "Red Riders" in Elvish.

The Wild Hunt are led by their king Eredin Bréacc Glas and they traverse different worlds in search of people they can enslave to be subjugated by Alder Folk.

Eredin and his horde turn their focus on Ciri after learning that she is in possession of Elder Blood, something which is revealed in The Witcher Season 2 and explains their appearance in the show.

The group want to capture Ciri to have access to her Elder Blood because their powers are diminishing and they are unable to travel between worlds in the same manner, or indeed the same numbers, as they used to. Ciri's blood will rectify this.

While it has yet to be confirmed when The Wild Hunt will return in The Witcher, their introduction in Season 2 suggests they will be an adversary in Season 3.

The Witcher Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream globally on Netflix now.