Naturally, the Soulsborne game’s vague lore is up next and it too has secrets of its own. At the moment, the majority of the players are still fixated on getting good, seeking maidens, or recovering from the pain of the recent nerf wave from update 1.03. So it’s easy to miss some of these hidden quests, items, and lore material in Elden Ring.
Updated April 29th, 2022, by Sid Natividad: Much of Elden Ring’s biggest shockers revolve around secrets. In fact, one of the most important facets of its plot are some nefarious and dark Elden Ring secrets that could have caused even more catastrophe in the lands between. Some of these secrets are so well-kept or vague, that some players can miss them.
And of course, there are even more Elden Ring secrets to discover several weeks after the game has been released. At this point, it seems like there’s no end to them as some eagle-eyed members of the community keep finding new lore bits and hidden details.
Warning, spoilers ahead!
15 Two Moons In The Moonlight Altar
Upon visiting the Moonlight Altar for the first time, players will probably be awed at the spectacle as something feels special about that place. Turns out it is special because it’s the only place in the Lands Between (so far) where another moon is visible.
One of them is brighter than the other which could signify that it was Ranni’s moon and that she has succeeded in her quest for the Age of Stars. The other less bright moon might have been Rennala’s doing. In any case, it’s a good detail to keep watch for when visiting the Moonlight Altar.
14 Seluvis Might Have Been A Puppet
It’s difficult to determine what exactly killed Seluvis in Three Sisters since he dies way before the Black Knife Assassins attack the place. Some speculate that it was Ranni who killed him while others blame Gideon Ofnir. However, his position during death could also imply that he was being controlled by someone else and that Seluvis was but a mere puppet.
Because when he dies, his body just slumps on the ground as if his puppet strings were cut. This is also the same position for other puppets (especially the ones in Seluvis’ hidden dungeon) after their master has ceased controlling them.
13 Gideon Ofnir’s Spies
Gideon Ofnir might call himself the “All-Knowing” but those who hate him deem him as merely “All-Hearing” (such as Latenna, the Albinauric woman with the medallion). This is because Gideon simply uses his vast spy network to gain his knowledge and spy on the demigods.
This is evident in the Eye Surcoat body armor which can be found on a corpse in Rykard’s boss arena. The armor bears Gideon’s insignia, meaning that he had a spy watching Rykard who was discovered and promptly eaten by the Serpent God. Also, Gideon was the one who sent Ensha to kill the players.
12 Making Bosses Fall Asleep
Turns out there’s another acting to add to the heap when it comes to unique ways to win against bosses or just about any enemy in the game. That would be Sleep. It’s a special condition that builds up like others, but the target will suddenly slump into a docile nap once it triggers.
Surprisingly, it works well on a lot of bosses. The Godskin Duo, for example, are highly susceptible to Sleep and take vastly increase damage when critically attack when they’re asleep. Common ways to deal Sleep would be Sword of St Trina, Sleep bombs, or St. Trina’s Torch.
11 Godfrey’s Hidden Dialogue
There’s apparently a datamined cut content in Elden Ring detailing that Godfrey/Hoarah Loux was supposed to have a bigger role than just an ex-Elden Lord Tarnished who’s also vying for the Elden Ring (again). He even has recorded dialogue where he’s supposed to act as guide to the players.
The cut dialogue also reveals that Godfrey has a deeper relationship with the Tarnished players; the latter is supposedly part of Godfrey’s army whom he took beyond the Lands Between at Marika’s behest to wage war and become stronger, strong enough to fight the demigods and the Erdtree. It’s shame that it was cut as it would have fleshed out Godfrey and also expanded the Tarnished player’s backstory.
10 Melina & Ranni Are Probably The Same Person
Shocking, isn’t it? The thought that Ranni might have been manipulating the Tarnished players all along through Melina. It’s not clear whether Melina is a projected clone of Ranni or an offshoot of her (just like how Millicent is an offshoot clone of Malenia), but there are plenty of telltale signs indicating this.
The most noticeable is their eyes. Ranni’s right eye is closed while it’s the left eye for Melina and both have the same marking or tattoo. When Melina also opens her left eye in one of the endings, the pupil’s bright blue just like Ranni’s open eye. Additionally, there’s a secret conversation in the Church of Elleh where Ranni kept asking about Torrent and even gave something to the players which apparently belonged to Torrent’s previous owner.
9 Marika & Radagon Are Also The Same Person
One big secret that a lot of players will have missed while traipsing through Leyndell is a statue revealing the truth regarding Queen Marika and her consort, Elden Lord Radagon. The two are exposed to be one and the same with Radagon being a gender-bent off-shoot of Marika who somehow sprouted from her before or after their war with the giants.
What’s weird about this is that Radagon went on to marry Marika and even made children with her. Their offspring were Malenia and Miquella, both of whom had debilitating afflictions of their own possibly either due to the Fire Giant’s curse or because of the incestuous nature of their relationship. Seeing as the game was half-written by George R.R. Martin, that convoluted royal family plot isn’t too surprising.
8 A Second Finger Maiden
In one of the endings of the game where the players spitefully reject the Greater Will and use themselves as kindling for burning the Erdtree, Melina isn’t too happy with it and dumps the players. However, they needn’t be maidenless again even if they chose the Frenzied Flame and the Three Fingers path.
Because the Frenzied Flame presents its chosen Tarnished with their own version of a Finger Maiden. That would be Hyetta who can be found near the Lake-Facing Cliffs site of grace assuming players have finished Irina’s questline. That pre-requisite itself is sketchy as some players theorize that Hyetta is just Shabriri (an agent of the Three Fingers) who merely stole Irina’s body and is just posing as a fake Finger Maiden. As maidenless Tarnished though, beggars can’t be choosers; it’s not like Melina is a legitimate Finger Maiden anyway.
7 “Curing” The Scarlet Rot
The Scarlet Rot is one of the worst plagues and combat conditions in Elden Ring. When it isn’t driving players’ anxieties too high, its effects can be seen all over Caelid and the Haligtree. There is, however, some kind of salvation for its victims; a way to stymie the Scarlet Rot’s progression and damage.
That would be the Unalloyed Golden Needle which is a key component in Millicent’s questline. It also doesn’t just cure Scarlet Rot but also any element introduced by the meddling of the Outer Gods. Players can even use it to rid themselves of the Frenzied Flame. Too bad the Unalloyed Golden Needle’s use utilization wasn’t explored further as it probably could have cured the Omen curse that afflicted Morgott or Mohg.
6 Nepheli Might Be A Descendant Of Godfrey
Speaking of royal lineages, Godfrey also known as Hoarah Loux (his original name) was Queen Marika’s first consort and the first Elden Lord. He was cast away since he became Tarnished but nevertheless proves that he’s still capable of reclaiming his position. If his lineage is an indication of his strength, then another character who carries his name might have something good for her in the future.
That would be Nepheli Loux, Gideon Ofnir’s adopted barbarian daughter. Nepheli doesn’t seem to know her lineage since she was an orphan and it’s also not clear how much she’s related to Godfrey (if at all) but Gideon has always praised her strength.
5 Godwyn’s Head Under Stormveil Castle
Godwyn was the first to fall among the Elden royalty since he was assassinated and this led to Marika, his mother destroying the Elden Ring. But for some reason, he didn’t fully die. It seems it was merely his soul that was killed and his body continued to exist and fester in the hidden places of the Lands Between.
His most notable appearance is in his rancid throne in the Deeproot Depths but those who have fallen deep below the abyssal crevices of Stormveil Castle will have noticed something horrific. Because Godwyn’s deformed head and face are also there, menacingly resting like a Lovecraftian beast. How and why this happened remains a mystery.
4 The Ever-Brilliant Goldmask Armor Set
The ever-brilliant Goldmask was first shown in the intro as some kind of odd Tarnished and was never to be seen again. Because he’s the most elusive out of all the Tarnished and typically only appears in special and odd spots in the Altus Plateau. Turns out he’s actually the key to one of the good endings.
Goldmask holds the Great Rune that will mend the fractured Elden Ring. In addition to that, Goldmask will also perish but will leave behind a set of opulent rags that is probably the most risque armor set in Elden Ring since it’s literally just a towel, some bangles, and golden underwear.
3 General Radahn’s Horse’s Name
General Radahn’s boss fight was certainly one of the most epic concepts introduced by a Souls game. One thing that might have ruined the seriousness for some players is the fact that the giant Radahn insists on riding his normal-sized emaciated horse to battle.
He’s not doing it because he’s evil though. Radahn and his horse have a great bond and he even named him Leonard. Leonard is the closest thing to a company that Radahn has in his moments of madness as a Scarlet Rot zombie on Caelid’s beach. Moreover, Radahn also studied gravity magic so he can lighten himself and in turn, allow Leonard to carry him on his back.
2 Tanith Eating Rykard’s Disembodied Head
The whole Volcano Manor atmosphere reeks of creepiness and players are right to assume that there’s plenty wrong going on within behind its locked doors. Snake-men aside, the whole “meeting with Lord Rykard” was merely a pretense to feed promising Tarnished to the corrupted demigod.
Even so, his followers, particularly Lady Tanith blindly worship him. She even goes as far as to cannibalize Rykard’s gigantic severed head— tentacles and gross appendages all, just so he could join him. Presumably, Tanith wants to become part of Rykard’s family or somehow inherit Rykard’s nobility (including the serpenthood) and the best way she could think of was gobbling up his corpse.
1 Fia’s Underwear
Fia’s profession is an odd one. She “lies in bed” with great warriors, so she could “steal” their life energy and transfer it to revive dead nobles and royalty. What else happens under the sheets is a little ambiguous but certain attire found in-game (like very thin sleepwear) implies “Sacred Act” stuff past PG-13.
Moreover, there’s a cut content uncovered by modders (which is still in the game files) that shows the developers actually rendered and modeled a g-string thong for Fia. This was only accessible or can be equipped through mods or cheats. Her panties were named Deathbed Smalls for all ye maidenless Tarnished.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.
More: Awesome Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do In Elden Ring
