The Witch Hunters of the Sigmarite Church

Lore & Background

The Witch Hunters trace their origins to the founding of the Church of Sigmar, when the need to defend the faithful from the corrupting influence of Chaos became paramount. They are granted broad powers by the Emperor and the Grand Theogonist, allowing them to operate above local law in pursuit of their quarry. Their methods are brutal and swift, relying on interrogation, execution, and the cleansing flame to excise taint wherever it is found. They are not merely warriors but also scholars of the arcane and the forbidden, studying the signs of corruption—a whispered name, a twisted shadow, a book bound in human skin—to better identify and destroy it.

In Their Own Story

The rain-slicked cobblestones of Ubersreik echoed with the heavy boots of a Witch Hunter patrol. Their leader, a gaunt man with a brand of Sigmar on his forehead, stopped before a boarded-up tenement. 'The ratmen are but a symptom,' he growled, his hand resting on the hilt of his rapier. 'The real plague is the doubt in men's hearts. We burn the heretic, we cleanse the witch, and we remind the Empire that faith is the only shield against the night.' Inside, a suspected cultist whimpered as the sound of a flintlock being cocked rang out—followed by a single, sharp crack, and then the hiss of holy fire consuming wood and bone.

Reader's Guide

In Vermintide 2, the Witch Hunters are primarily encountered as the main antagonistic faction in Act 2, 'The Curse of the Drakwald.' They are portrayed as a ruthless, paranoid force that sees the Skaven threat as secondary to the corruption of magic and heresy. Their hierarchy includes Witch Hunters, Zealots, and Flagellants, all fanatically loyal to the Church of Sigmar. They clash directly with the Ubersreik Five, viewing the heroes' use of magic and unconventional methods as a threat. Unlike the broader Warhammer canon where they are often secretive, in-game they are a visible, armed presence in the streets, burning 'witches' and hunting the party. Their goals are to purge the city of all taint, including the Skaven, but their methods create a hostile environment for the player, making them a primary enemy. They interact with the Skaven by fighting them, but their focus remains on human corruption, which often leads to them attacking the player's party instead of cooperating against the common ratmen foe—a fatal arrogance that leaves both sides bleeding in the gutters.

Did You Know?

• Victor Saltzpyre was once a Witch Hunter Captain before joining the Ubersreik Five, giving him insight into their methods.
• The Witch Hunters' symbol, the twin-tailed comet, is the holy symbol of Sigmar, representing his divine power.
• They are known to use a variety of weapons, including rapiers, flintlock pistols, and blessed stakes, all sanctified by the Church.
• In Vermintide 2, the Witch Hunters' presence in Act 2 is a direct result of the Skaven's disruption of the city, which they interpret as a sign of Chaos corruption.