Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtreeis on the way, and with it, new lore and stories within Miyazaki and Martin’s twisted, confounding universe. The expansion will be introducing new major players like theenigmatic Messmer, who is seemingly connectedto the rest ofElden Ring’s pantheon of godly figures, but it should also build on other characters and concepts. It’s clear the DLC will shed more light on Miquella, Marika, and perhaps others like Mohg, Radagon, and St. Trina, but there is one group that is overdue for some more context: the Godskins.
MostElden Ringplayers will be familiar with the Godskin enemy type. They come in two varieties, the plump Godskin Noble and the lanky Godskin Apostle, but both are equally intimidating, lethal, and, in many ways, unnerving. As their titles imply, they don robes made from milky white patches of skin, with haunting faces sewn into the smooth, fleshy fabric. They wield the power of the Black Flame and also appear to have some shapeshifting abilities, making them formidable foes. But despite their striking character designs, not much is known about these Godskin NPCs, and they may yet play a key role in the broaderElden Ringstory.
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree Can ‘Flesh’ Out the Godskins
What Elden Ring Reveals About the Godskins
Elden Ringdoesn’t feature any questsor major areas based on the Godskins, but these beings are nevertheless suggested to be significant threats, not just to the player, but to the demigods as well. Godskins serve the mysterious Gloam-Eyed Queen, an Empyrean who has cared for them since their infancy, swaddling them in cloth made from soft, sewn-together skin. The Gloam-Eyed Queen harnessed the power of Destined Death through Black Flame magic, the latter of which she passed down to her Godskin servants.
Players can face off against the Godskin Apostle and Godskin Noble a total of four times each, though the only mandatory battle is in Crumbling Farum Azula.
Destined Death, also known as the Rune of Death, is part of the Elden Ring, which is a representation of the laws of nature and reality. Destined Death is the facet of reality that encapsulates death, bringing this ultimate fate to every living being. Maliketh, serving Queen Marika, sealed away the Rune of Death, restricting the power of Black Flame magic and fundamentally altering how death functions in The Lands Between. Since the Gloam-Eyed Queen is a servant of Destined Death, she is naturally at odds with Marika and her demigod kin, who are now immortal due to tampering with the Rune of Death. The Godskins play an important role in the conflict between these queens, though their full influence and history is a bit muddy.
What Shadow of the Erdtree Can Reveal About the Godskins
It’s not unlikely thatShadow of the Erdtree will reincorporate Godskinsin some form, as the sect is far from clearly defined in the base game, with players left to guess at the particulars of their goals and, by extension, the status of the Gloam-Eyed Queen. The DLC could also answer a number of other questions about the nature of Godskins, such as whether they are humans, where they come from, and how they are born.
The Godskins could be after Miquella, as he is one of the most powerful living demigods. This would make them a major antagonistic force in the expansion and prove that they are actively attempting to bring Destined Death to Marika’s family. If they reprise their role asbosses in Shadow of the Erdtree, then it would be a good opportunity for the DLC to pull back the curtain on their lore and current role in theElden Ringstory.
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
