In the most general sense, Elden Ring is the story of the god of the Lands Between, Queen Marika the Eternal, and her eight demi-god children. Yet, despite her mastery of the titular Elden Ring and the control over the rules of reality it affords her, there are forces far more powerful than Marika at work in the background—namely, the “Outer Gods.”
*This article is nothing but spoilers.*
The Outer Gods are celestial beings existing outside of The Lands Between. Each has its own unique nature and goals. In general, while unimaginably powerful. they cannot act on the world directly. Instead, they act through proxies—specifically a special type of mortal, known as an “Empyrean,” who they can empower and turn into a lesser god to rule in their steads. Each of these lesser gods would then take a mortal champion to be their partner and lord.
In the story of Elden Ring, we learn of at least six likely Outer Gods—some much more central to the story than others. So, let’s take a look at each—along with their Empyrean’s and chosen lords.
The Greater Will
The Greater Will is the most prominent Outer God in Elden Ring. It is the Outer God of order. It seeks for existence to be tightly controlled—with all those opposing its “Golden Order” to be subjugated (as in the case of the Academy of Raya Lucaria) or utterly destroyed (as in the case of the Dragons and Giants). Their Empyrean proxy is none other than Queen Marika herself who became the vessel for a portion of The Greater Will’s power known as the “Elden Ring.” Marika had two chosen consorts. The first was the warrior of the Badlands Hoarah Loux who was renamed Godfrey upon becoming her Elden Lord. The second was Radagon—a male version of Marika herself created through the power of the Elden Ring.
The Greater Will also exerted its power on the world through a group of eldritch creatures known as the Two Fingers who could communicate directly with the Outer God and speak its words through the finger maidens that served them. The Two Fingers also served as watchdogs—spying on and controlling the fates of any newly born Empyreans who could potentially make a pact with another Outer God and overthrow Marika and the Golden Order.
In the current era, with the Elden Ring shattered, The Greater Will’s power has been greatly reduced—causing it to summon back those once excluded from its grand order as Tarnished. It then attempts to guide these Tarnished via the Two Fingers and the various points of grace and lead them to do what must be done to repair the Elden Ring.
The Frenzied Flame
The Frenzied Flame is the polar opposite of the Greater Will. Rather than a god of order it is one of chaos and it seeks to unmake all that the Greater Will has made. Because of this, it doesn’t need an Empyrean—after all, what need is there for a lesser god to be its proxy on a lifeless world? Rather, all it needs is a champion to destroy the Elden Ring and allow it to supplant The Greater Will.
During the time of the game The Frenzied Flame has the most influence of any Outer God outside of The Greater Will. Summoned by the prayers of the Merchants of the Great Caravan (who were persecuted greatly under Marika’s rule), The Frenzied Flame was able to send its own Three Fingers into the Lands Between to act as its voice—and even groom blind women into becoming its own finger maidens and spread its corrupting influence.
Its chosen champion to become the Lord of Frenzied Flame is Vyke—the man closest to becoming Elden Lord (before the coming of the player character, anyway). However, after Vyke learned he would need to sacrifice his beloved maiden to burn the thorns preventing entry into the Erdtree, he was seduced by the promise that he would not need to if he took the The Frenzied Flame’s power into himself. Unfortunately, like all those to do so, this process eventually drove him mad and he killed his own maiden—before being trapped in an Evergoal on his way to burn the Erdtree.
The Dark Moon
The third main Outer God of the story is The Dark Moon. While it is now in decline, it was once worshiped openly by both the Carian royal family and the people of the Eternal Cities. However, when The Greater Will became the reigning Outer God of the Lands Between, it physically forced the Eternal Cities underground for worshiping a different Outer God. Later, after Marika’s ascension, her armies were sent to destroy the Carian royal family—though this ended in a stalemate and an eventual merging of kingdoms.
The Dark Moon’s Empyrean proxy is Ranni—a child of both the Carian royal family and Queen Marika’s own male form—and its champion is the player character. Seeking freedom from The Greater Will’s oppressive order, Ranni wishes to supplant it with The Dark Moon—as while it is known to be both bewitching and dangerous, it has no plans for mankind in general and is willing to leave the mortal races to their own devices once it is in control. In fact, The Dark Moon doesn’t even care if its lesser god and her chosen champion are even present in the Lands Between—meaning that mankind would be granted true free will upon its ascension.
The Formless Mother
Little is known about The Formless Mother beyond the fact that it is the Outer God of blood and that it craves wounds. Its chosen champion is Mohg an Omen who hopes to force his half-brother Miquella into being The Formless Mother’s Empyrean proxy. In order to do this, he has kidnapped the sleeping Miquella and has placed his cocoon on an alter to The Formless Mother. Mohg then routinely enters said cocoon after transforming himself into blood—though no signs of success have been seen thus far.
The Goddess of Rot
The Goddess of Rot is exactly what her name suggests—she longs for the putrefaction of all living things. She is the origin of the Scarlet Rot spreading across Caelid and is worshiped by the Kindreds of Rot. Her chosen Empyrean and champion is Melania. As a child born from only one divine parent, Melania was cursed from birth—this curse being the Scarlet Rot. Should the rot overwhelm her, she “blooms” at the center of a Scarlet Aeonia. Should she bloom three times, The Goddess of Rot herself will become one with Melania—unleashing an Outer God-made-flesh upon the world. Gowry and the Order of Rot are dedicated to making this happen—and with creating additional Valkyries to aid the reborn Goddess.
The Fel God
Very little is known about The Fel God. It is the Outer God of fire and was worshipped by the Giants. It is the source of most fire-based incantations in Elden Ring and its conjured flames are so strong they could burn even the Erdtree. This made The Fel God—along with its worshipers—a threat that could not be ignored. So, upon Marika’s ascension, the Greater Will order the almost complete genocide of giants upon Marika’s ascension. Yet, even then The Fel God’s flame could not be extinguished and it continues to burn to this day guarded by the last of the giants.
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