1666: Amsterdam The Originals

The Originals are the central antagonists of 1666: Amsterdam. They are supernatural beings who have lived for centuries, hiding behind human faces and abusing the power they have accumulated over lifetimes. Noa, as the Collector trained by the Zaindaris coven, is tasked with hunting them and reclaiming that power.

What Are The Originals?

The Originals are beings transformed by prolonged exposure to Nux — the same magical force that powers Noa’s witchcraft. Centuries of accumulation has made them immortal, supernaturally powerful, and dangerous. They have integrated into human society, often occupying positions of power or influence, and they use their long lifespans to manipulate institutions and cover their tracks.

Each Original encountered in the game has a specific historical inspiration and a unique supernatural ability set. Their human disguises are not mere illusions — they are physically present in their human form. Only under the full moon during the Esbat do they reveal their true nature.

How to Identify Them

During the investigation phase, The Originals are identifiable through a combination of witch sight and evidence gathering. Witch sight reveals their distinctive dark aura. Documents found in their homes provide confirmation and narrative context for their long lives and specific abuses.

The game does not make identification trivial. Some NPCs have faint supernatural signatures that are not Originals — ambient magical residue from centuries of supernatural activity in Amsterdam. The distinction requires reading the evidence carefully, not just relying on witch sight alone.

Combat Profiles

Each Original has a unique combat profile. Some are aggressive, closing distance quickly and overwhelming with area attacks. Others are defensive, maintaining distance and forcing Noa to approach through hazardous terrain. All of them are significantly more dangerous than standard enemies.

Spoiler warning: the following section of this page lists combat profiles for each Original encountered in the current Early Access content. Each profile is marked with a spoiler summary hidden behind a click-to-reveal. Do not read further if you want to go into encounters blind.

Story Significance

The Originals are not just mechanical challenges — each one has a story. The documents you find in their homes describe centuries of manipulation, abuse, and supernatural predation. The choice to collect them is not framed as unambiguous heroism — Noa wrestles with the morality of her role throughout the campaign. The Characters page covers how these moral questions develop across the story.

See also the How to Hunt The Originals guide for the mechanical loop of identification and combat, and the Amsterdam Map for the districts where each Original is encountered.