In Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica, witches were magical girls (girls who were granted powers) whose soul gems (gems containing the soul of a magical girl) become tainted with despair. They can cause accidents, murder, and even suicide through the Witch’s Kiss. They can form barriers where they hide and should a human wander into one, it will be impossible for them to escape. Within, they have minions or familiars which have different duties they perform for the witch. While the magical girls are really moe (cute), the witches, on the other hand, take on hideous forms. Here's some insight into the "wicked" witches that appear in the anime:
Charlotte
Type: Witch of Sweets
Nature: Tenacity
Familiars: Pyotr
First Appeared in: Episode 3
This witch can make any dessert that she desires. However, she can’t create the one thing she desires the most: cheese. But though she loves sugar, she is far from sweet. Well, if I couldn’t create the one thing I wanted most, I’d be a frustrated witch too.
Elsa Maria
Type: Shadow Witch
Nature: Self-righteousness
Familiars: Sebastian’s
First Appeared in: Episode 7
Portrayed to be praying, this witch is self-righteous. Her form is that of a shadow with snake-like tree branches extending from her body. Though she prays for everything and everyone, she drags all life forms she finds into her shadows. Religious, but self-righteous? Surprising, or not really?
Gertrud
Type: Rose Garden Witch
Nature: Distrustful
Familiars: Anthony & Adelbert
First Appeared in: Episode 2
She absolutely loves roses; her barrier is full of them. She treasures them more than anything in the world. She hates humans that wander into her barrier, but thanks to them, she can steal the life of those humans and give it to her precious roses. How... sweet?
Gisela
Type: Silver Witch
Nature: Liberal
Familiars: Dora
First Appeared in: Episode 7
She is a silver witch, her shine dulled by the sunset. Likewise, her speed is pretty dull too. This is ironic because everything inside her barrier moves at incredible speed.
H.N. Elly
Type: Box Witch
Nature: Covetous
Familiars: Daniyyel & Jennifer
First Appeared in: Episode 4
”I have only one wish. Box up that memory.”
This witch can examine one’s memories and capture them. She can also show the images of these memories through a screen. To defeat this witch, one must be without thought.
Izabel
Type: Artist Witch
Nature: Vanity
Familiars: Michaela
First Appeared in: Episode 10
The witch version of Narcissus from Greek mythology, she is vain to the point that she undoubtedly believes her existence is blessed. She has several artworks in her barrier and she often meddles in the human world to show them off. However, all her precious art have close resemblances to previously made masterpieces in the human world...
Kriemhild Gretchen
Type: Witch of Salvation
Nature: Mercy
Familiars: N/A
First Appeared in: Episode 10
This is the witch version of Madoka Kaname, the main protagonist of the series, from a different timeline. Her barrier is her heaven and she aims to absorb life from the planet into her heaven. Because she desires to bring salvation, she can be defeated if misfortune is erased from the planet.
Oktavia Von Seckendorff
Type: Mermaid Witch
Nature: Falling in Love
Familiars: Holger & Klarissa (Timeline 3)
First Appeared in: Episode 8
Oktavia is the witch version of Sayaka, one of the protagonists of the series and a friend of Madoka. Being in love with Kyosuke, a violinist, has probably inspired the concert hall in her barrier. Far before becoming a witch, she was moved by the performance of Kyosuke and now, as a witch, she is unable to move forward due to being stuck in her memories.
Patricia
Type: Class Representative
Nature: Onlooker
Familiars: Mathieu
First Appeared in: Episode 10
A witch who seemingly wants to appear like a normal school girl, she has made herself a school using threads that she spews from her mouth. She perpetually enacts a normal student life with her minions who play the roles of her classmates.
Roberta
Type: Birdcage Witch
Nature: Rage
Familiars: Gotz
First Appeared in: Episode 10
Roberta is a witch who is always, yes, in rage. She displays this rage inside her cage where she often stomps her feet. Those who ignore her will get a taste of her anger. She has extreme fondness of alcohol and is extremely disgusted by the birds that, as idiotic men would, try to woo her.
Walpurgis Night
Type: Stage-constructing Witch
Nature: Helplessness
Familiars: ?
First Appeared in: Episode 1
Not much is known about this witch. Even their real name eludes the magical girls. But they do know that this is the strongest witch that they will come across. It was previously a single witch, but has now become stronger by combining with other witches.
These witches are pretty terrifying, no? Good thing they aren’t real! But the magical girls on the other hand…
