Russian cosplayer Ilona Bugayeva, known online as Sladkoslava, has unveiled two distinct versions of Triss Merigold, one of the most beloved sorceresses from The Witcher universe. Showcasing both the signature in-game outfit and an alternate look from the free DLC, she captures the dual moods that define this iconic RPG character.
Who is Triss Merigold?
Triss Merigold hails from Maribor and is a pivotal figure in Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher novels as well as the CD Projekt RED game series. A sorceress, healer, and alchemist, she ranks among the youngest yet most gifted mages of the Northern Kingdoms. Triss serves as an advisor to King Foltest and is a close friend to both Ciri and Yennefer.
Visually, the game’s Triss sports long red hair, pale skin, and striking green eyes-a look that has become canonical. This contrasts with the books, where Sapkowski describes her with chestnut hair and blue eyes.
Behind her charming appearance lies a turbulent past. During the Battle of Sodden Hill, Triss was gravely injured and presumed dead for a long time-so much so that her name was engraved on a memorial stone. This earned her the haunting nickname ”The Fourteenth from the Hill.” The battle left her with burns that no magic or cosmetic remedy could fully heal.
Personality-wise, Triss is warm and kind-hearted. She values loyalty, compassion, and has a sincere desire to help others. She speaks her mind and has no patience for flattery or manipulation.
Triss Merigold in the Witcher games
Triss appears in all three main Witcher games-The Witcher, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In the first game, she finds Geralt after he loses his memory and tends to him. Her taking advantage of his amnesia is one of the more morally ambiguous moments in her storyline.
Choosing Triss as a romance option in The Witcher 3 leads to one of the rare peaceful endings in the franchise: Triss and Geralt relocate together to the kingdoms of Toussaint and Kovir. Triss becomes a royal advisor, while Geralt occasionally takes on Witcher contracts-a calm finale in a saga usually marked by turmoil.
Triss’s fiery magic is formidable. During the battle at Kaer Morhen in The Witcher 3, she unleashes a devastating firestorm that uproots trees and scorches the Wild Hunt’s forces. Yet she is physically fragile and ironically allergic to potions-a weakness the developers deliberately built into her character.
Details of the two cosplay costumes
Offering two different outfits in a single photoshoot is more than a nod to variety. In The Witcher 3, Triss sports a richly detailed signature costume in narcissus blue with gold accents, alongside several alternate skins introduced through DLC. The free cosmetic DLC, released alongside the paid expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, allowed players to dress characters differently without additional story content.
Sladkoslava nailed both costumes with attention to detail-the hairstyle, color accents, and overall character vibe. For anyone craving more options, here are a few additional cosplay takes to inspire:
The Witcher 4 development update
While cosplayers pay tribute to The Witcher 3’s magic, CD Projekt RED is hard at work on the next chapter. The Witcher 4 is the first installment in a fresh trilogy spotlighting Ciri, Geralt’s adoptive daughter. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game targets PS5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.
CD Projekt RED has confirmed that The Witcher 4 won’t launch before 2027, as announced by CFO Piotr Nielubowicz during a recent financial briefing.
A technical demo running on PlayStation 5 was unveiled at the State of Unreal presentation in June 2025. For more coverage on what CD Projekt RED revealed, check our detailed report on itzine.ru.
The Witcher franchise remains one of the crown jewels in RPG gaming, blending rich storytelling with memorable characters like Triss Merigold. With The Witcher 4’s delayed release, fans and cosplayers alike have more time to explore and celebrate the legacy before the saga advances to its next chapter.