Witches - Revision history

Ninja: Consolidate audited content into canonical standalone guide

2026-08-11T20:46:44Z

Consolidate audited content into canonical standalone guide

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 == Energy and combat ==
-Witches use '''Energy''' rather than Blood. A Self Scan or public player scan shows current and maximum Energy; maximum capacity, combat strength, attack range, and scanning range develop through the [[Player Age Groups|age groups]]. See the [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD#Self-Scan Button|Self-Scan guide]] for the fields shown by the HUD.
+Witches use '''Energy''' rather than Blood. A Self Scan or public player scan shows current and maximum Energy; maximum capacity, combat strength, attack range, and scanning range develop through the [[Player Age Groups|age groups]]. See the [[Self Scan|Self-Scan guide]] for the fields shown by the HUD.
 Witch attacks use '''magic''' as their species identity. Damage and attack rate remain consistent with other species in the same age group; see [[Species-Specific Attacks]] and [[Combat]] for the shared rules.
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 == Interactions with regular humans ==
-A regular human is not a registered player. Humans have their own blood level and can be examined with the HUD's [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD#Human Scan|Human Scan]].
+A regular human is not a registered player. Humans have their own blood level and can be examined with the HUD's [[Scan Others#Human Scan|Human Scan]].
 Witch Resurrection works only on an '''eligible dead regular human'''. It cannot be used on:
@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 * [[Abominations]]
 == Witch Resurrection ==
-Witch Resurrection has two separate 21-day periods: an eligibility wait after death and a scheduled-revival wait after Resurrection reaches 100%.
+[[Witch Resurrection]] is the Witch ability used on eligible dead regular humans. A human first waits 21 days, Resurrection Progress must then reach 100%, and completion schedules a second 21-day period before the human returns. The standalone guide covers the complete timeline, partial-progress expiry, credit, scan wording, the private tracker, and its relationship with [[Hunter Protection]].
 == Witches and Abominations ==
@@ Line 146: / Line 86: @@
 * The private Witch Revive Tracker shows current and recent revivals.
-For scanning ranges, public and private scan fields, and human status information, see the [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD#Scan Others Button|Scan Others guide]].
+For scanning ranges, public and private scan fields, and human status information, see the [[Scan Others|Scan Others guide]].
 == Hierarchy and changing species ==
-Witches take part in the game's wider lineage and organisational systems. See [[Player Hierarchy]] for the current hierarchy guide and [[In-World Devices#Species Change|Species Change]] for the in-world device used to change species.
+Witches take part in the game's wider lineage and organisational systems. See [[Player Hierarchy]] for the current hierarchy guide and [[Species Change]] for the in-world device used to change species.
 Species choice affects your resource, combat identity, human ability, affiliation type, and roleplay. Review the cost and current restrictions before changing.
@@ Line 161: / Line 101: @@
 * [[Hunters]]
 * [[Gameplay]]
 * [[Combat]]
@@ Line 167: / Line 109: @@
 * [[Abominations]]
 * [[Player Hierarchy]]
-* [[In-World Devices#Species Change|Species Change]]
+* [[Species Change]]
 [[Category:Gameplay]]

Maintenance script: Add full Witches species guide

2026-08-10T23:23:54Z

Add full Witches species guide

New page

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Witches}}

<blockquote>
''Seloria, the Witchmother, stole the language of gods and wove it with the whispers of the Void.''
</blockquote>

'''Witches''' are one of the four playable species in ''Descendants of Darkness''. They wield magic, draw upon Energy, and can build '''Witch Resurrection''' on eligible dead regular humans. Completing the spell schedules a human's return; it does not revive them immediately.

This page covers the Witch-specific parts of play. For rules shared by every species, see [[Gameplay]], [[Combat]], and the [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD|Main HUD guide]].

__TOC__

== Quick reference ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Feature !! Witch rule
|-
| Primary resource || Energy
|-
| Combat identity || Magic
|-
| Unique human ability || Witch Resurrection
|-
| Valid Resurrection target || An eligible dead regular human
|-
| Initial wait after death || 21 days
|-
| Partial Resurrection expiry || After 7 days without further progress
|-
| Scheduled revival period || 21 days after progress reaches 100%
|-
| Blood on return || 1.0 litre
|-
| Website records || Witch Resurrections and the private Witch Revive Tracker
|}

== Seloria and the Witches ==

The [[Main Page#Descendants of Darkness LORE|Descendants of Darkness lore]] names '''Seloria, the Witchmother''' as one of three born of the Abyss. She stole the language of gods and wove it together with the whispers of the Void, creating the first Witches.

That lore establishes Witches as heirs to arcane knowledge and the power to bind souls through magic. Witch Resurrection expresses that identity in gameplay by calling dead mortals back toward life.

== Witch identity and role ==

Witches are Energy-based practitioners of magic. They can fight other players, confront [[Abominations]], advance through the common age-based combat system, and interact with regular humans through Resurrection.

Witch Resurrection is a process rather than an instant revival. A dead human must first become eligible, progress must then be built to 100%, and the completed spell schedules a later return.

== Energy and combat ==

Witches use '''Energy''' rather than Blood. A Self Scan or public player scan shows current and maximum Energy; maximum capacity, combat strength, attack range, and scanning range develop through the [[Player Age Groups|age groups]]. See the [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD#Self-Scan Button|Self-Scan guide]] for the fields shown by the HUD.

Witch attacks use '''magic''' as their species identity. Damage and attack rate remain consistent with other species in the same age group; see [[Species-Specific Attacks]] and [[Combat]] for the shared rules.

Making real Witch Resurrection progress can restore Witch Energy.

== Interactions with regular humans ==

A regular human is not a registered player. Humans have their own blood level and can be examined with the HUD's [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD#Human Scan|Human Scan]].

Witch Resurrection works only on an '''eligible dead regular human'''. It cannot be used on:

* Living humans
* Registered players
* [[Abominations]]

== Witch Resurrection ==

Witch Resurrection has two separate 21-day periods: an eligibility wait after death and a scheduled-revival wait after Resurrection reaches 100%.

=== Full timeline ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Stage !! What happens !! Scan wording
|-
| Death || A regular human dies. The initial 21-day eligibility wait begins. || '''Revivable in'''
|-
| Eligible || After the first 21 days, a Witch can build Resurrection Progress. || Resurrection progress/state
|-
| 100% complete || Resurrection is scheduled and the completing Witch is credited. The human remains dead while the second 21-day period begins. || '''Revive in'''
|-
| Return || When the scheduled period ends, the human returns with 1.0 litre of blood. || Living-human information
|}

The earliest normal return is therefore roughly '''42 days after death''' when a Witch completes Resurrection as soon as the initial 21-day wait ends. If no Witch completes it immediately, the total time is longer.

=== Initial 21-day cooldown ===

For the first '''21 days''' after a regular human is killed, Witch Resurrection cannot begin. Scans describe this wait using '''Revivable in'''. When the countdown ends, the dead human becomes eligible for Resurrection progress.

=== Building Resurrection Progress ===

Once the human is eligible, a Witch can begin building '''Resurrection Progress'''. Each successful use that makes real progress moves the spell closer to 100%, can restore Witch Energy, and refreshes the unfinished spell's activity window.

Unfinished Resurrection progress expires after '''7 days without further progress'''. A later attempt must begin the progress again if the partial spell has expired.

=== Completion and scheduled revival ===

Reaching '''100%''' does not immediately revive the human. Instead:

* Resurrection is scheduled.
* The Witch who completes the progress is recorded and credited.
* The completion contributes to the Witch Resurrections statistic.
* A second '''21-day''' period begins before the human returns.

During this scheduled period, scans use '''Revive in''' to show the remaining time. If Resurrection is already scheduled, another attempt reports that it is already scheduled rather than beginning another revival.

When the scheduled revival completes, the regular human returns with '''1.0 litre of blood'''.

== Witch Revive Tracker ==

The [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/revive-tracker Witch Revive Tracker] is a private, login-required Witch page. It can show:

* Mortals currently being revived
* The time remaining before each return
* The player who originally killed the mortal
* Mortals recently restored to life

The tracker is available to Witches; non-Witches do not receive Witch revival records.

== Witches, Hunters, and human death ==

[[Hunters#Hunter Protection|Hunter Protection]] and Witch Resurrection can affect the same regular human at different stages:

# A Hunter protects a living human.
# Another player kills that human while the Protection is active.
# After the initial Resurrection wait, a Witch may build progress and schedule the human's return.
# The Hunter's private '''Protected by Me''' view may show the Witch revival status.

Witch Resurrection does not replace Hunter Protection. Protection applies while a regular human is alive; Resurrection applies after an eligible regular human is dead.

== Witches and Abominations ==

Witch Resurrection does not work on Abominations. Abominations have their own combat, reward, scanning, and return behaviours; see [[Abominations]] rather than treating them as ordinary Resurrection targets.

== Statistics and scanning ==

Witch-related information appears across the HUD and website:

* Self and public player scans use '''Energy''' for Witches and may identify their current species and Coven affiliation.
* Human scans can expose Resurrection progress and state.
* During the initial wait, scans use '''Revivable in'''.
* After completion, scans use '''Revive in''' and may identify the Witch responsible.
* Player profiles can display Witch Resurrections.
* The [https://descendantsofdarkness.com/leaderboards/witch-resurrection Witch Resurrections leaderboard] ranks completed Resurrections (login required).
* The private Witch Revive Tracker shows current and recent revivals.

For scanning ranges, public and private scan fields, and human status information, see the [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD#Scan Others Button|Scan Others guide]].

== Hierarchy and changing species ==

Witches take part in the game's wider lineage and organisational systems. See [[Player Hierarchy]] for the current hierarchy guide and [[In-World Devices#Species Change|Species Change]] for the in-world device used to change species.

Species choice affects your resource, combat identity, human ability, affiliation type, and roleplay. Review the cost and current restrictions before changing.

== Rules ==

The [[Guidelines and Etiquette|Dark Oath]] applies to Witches as it does to every player. In particular, scans and system information are protected by the Masquerade and must not be disclosed to non-players.

== See also ==

* [[Hunters]]
* [[Gameplay]]
* [[Combat]]
* [[Descendants of Darkness Main HUD]]
* [[Species-Specific Attacks]]
* [[Abominations]]
* [[Player Hierarchy]]
* [[In-World Devices#Species Change|Species Change]]

[[Category:Gameplay]]