Elden Ring: All Berserk References

Let’s be sincere, the comparisons to Berserk each time a brand new From Software program sport comes out are at all times over-the-top, and Elden Ring might be the ‘worst offender’ of all of them.

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Folks adore Berserk, and for good cause. It is change into so unhealthy with gamers making an attempt to match each side of Elden Ring to Berserk that discovering a real affect or reference is now tough to even speak about. That stated, let’s point out a few of the references and inspirations from Berserk in Elden Ring that a variety of gamers are discovering and declaring and speaking about whether or not they’re direct references or (extra probably) simply small bits of affect right here and there.

Up to date December twenty first, 2023 by Jacob Buchalter: With Elden Ring followers ready seemingly perpetually for any information on The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, let’s take one other look again on the base sport. It has been apparent ever for the reason that days of Demon’s Souls that Hidetaka Miyazaki was an enormous fan of Berserk. There are such a lot of issues followers of each collection can level to within the From Software program video games which can be clearly impressed by Berserk. A few of these issues are a bit extra on the nostril than others, however none of them are 1:1 copies. So, let’s comb by all the things in Elden Ring as soon as once more and see if there are any Berserk references or homages we would have missed out on the primary time.

10 The Demigod Radahn, The Apostle Nosferatu Zodd & The Supreme King Gaiseric

Radahn’s Silhouette Feels Impressed By The Supreme King Gaiseric & His Fashion Of Fight Is Related To Zodd’s

First off, let’s simply make one factor clear, at no level on this checklist are we saying that any of those Berserk similarities are 1:1 copies from the Berserk manga. Reasonably, they’re facets, characters, and elements of Elden Ring the place it is apparent that some a part of Berserk was used for inspiration of their design. To begin off with, Radahn has a variety of facets of his design that really feel much like each Nosferatu Zodd and the legendary civilization’s chief Supreme King Gaiseric in Berserk.

Radahn’s Armor has a really related silhouette to Gaiseric’s, whereas his model of fight utilizing two gigantic blades appears very harking back to how Zodd fights in his non-Apostle kind. Even Radahn’s blades look visually much like Zodd’s, however that is about the place the similarities cease. By way of his character, the king of Caelid, Radahn, would not have a lot in widespread in any respect with both of those two Berserk characters

9 Ranni The Witch & Schierke The Witch

Ranni Has Some Fairly Noticeable Schierke Similarities

Transferring on to a fairly skinny connection between two characters, Ranni the Witch and Schierke the Witch-in-training. Once more, it is not just like the workforce at From Software program is copying and pasting from Berserk, Witches are nearly at all times in any excessive fantasy media. However, Schierke clearly contributed to Ranni’s general idea. To color a clearer image, let’s describe Ranni as an entire.

She’s a Witch who lives remoted from the remainder of the world, has an absurdly massive hat, was skilled by an much more legendary Witch, and has a physique that appears to imitate the type of a younger woman. On high of all this, the Snow Witch that Ranni realized from was identified to have lived within the woods (in a tree) similar to Schierk’s mentor, Flora, did. In fact, when it comes to her persona and objectives, Ranni has extra in widespread with Griffith than she does with Schierke. And, these examples do not even breach the floor of the connection between Schierke and Intestine’s friendship in comparison with Ranni and Blaidd’s.

8 The Erdtree & The World Spiral Tree

Of Course, Each Examples Did not ‘Invent’ The Concept Of A World Tree

We could not get far into this checklist with out mentioning Elden Ring’s Erdtree. So many individuals are evaluating the Erdtree to Berserk’s World Spiral Tree which first appeared in Quantity 37. Let’s simply get this out of the best way first and say that there are a ton of various ‘world timber’ in many various cultures and religions. For one, Yggdrasil, the Norse Mythology iteration of the World Tree, is by far probably the most well-known. However, there are many different examples in different cultures starting from Hungarian to Chinese language.

That stated, the best way that the branches of Elden Ring’s Erdtree appear to stretch alongside your complete sky and the way the highest branches look extra like they’re made of sunshine than the rest does appear extremely much like the World Spiral Tree. Moreover, the World Spiral Tree in Berserk is what hyperlinks the Bodily and Astral Plains collectively, for higher or for worse, and the Erdtree in Elden Ring is the primary means that the “Nice Will”, an Outer God, is ready to intrude within the Lands Between.

7 The Greatsword & Guts’ Dragonslayer

Or At The Very Least It Has A Lot In Widespread With His Golden Age Sword

Subsequent up, let’s speak about one other generally recurring Berserk reference in FromSoft video games, the Greatsword design. It is no stretch of the creativeness to say that Guts’ Dragonslayer Sword from Berserk is without doubt one of the most iconic swords in media. This sword, often described as a literal slab of iron that no human ought to be capable to wield, is so extremely iconic.

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And, the identical sword (in addition to Guts armor, and many others.) has been reimagined within the Greatsword designs of a number of Darkish Souls video games in addition to Elden Ring. That stated, the Greatsword in Elden Ring, particularly, its hilt and grip, share much more visually with Intestine’s Golden Age Arc Greatsword than his Black Swordsman Dragonslayer (aside from the dimensions of the blade, in fact).

6 The Sword Graveyard & The Hill Of Swords

Sword Graveyards Aren’t A New Idea, However Nonetheless

Going from probably the most generally talked about reference to the least talked about, subsequent up are the Sword Graveyards in Elden Ring. There are a very good ten or so of those unfold all through the Lands between and so they’re often outdoors or close to one of many sport’s Castles or Legacy Dungeons. Every one among them features a bunch of swords with their blades caught into the bottom nearly like tombstones, with one massive Greatsword on the heart with carvings made into the blade.

These carvings often give a bit extra lore to particular vital characters in Elden Ring, however the Graveyard itself is clearly impressed by The Hill of Swords, a memorial to the Band of the Hawk after the Eclipse in Berserk. Sure, different tales and Darkish Fantasy media have used the idea of a graveyard of swords beforehand, however Guts is without doubt one of the most well-known sources and the Greatsword on the heart as soon as once more factors to Guts. And, contemplating the tragic passing of manga creator, Kentaro Miura, a Hill of Swords reference does really feel extra applicable now than ever.

5 The Arsenal Appeal & Intestine’s Journey Of Vengeance

The Appeal’s Description Is So Clearly About Guts

Whereas the Arsenal allure has the least direct proof linking it to Berserk up to now, it is one of many references that gamers are most assured in. For one, Guts previous the Black Swordsman arc of the manga is understood to hold a literal “Arsenal” of weapons with him beside the Dragonslayer corresponding to bombs, throwing knives, and even cannonballs for his steel arm.

Two, the sword seen on the Arsenal allure is a big sword, once more hinting in the direction of the Dragonslayer. Lastly, the merchandise description of the Arsenal Appeal talks about it being produced from a Greatsword way back wielded by a hero who hungered for vengeance, which was Guts’ most important purpose within the Berserk storyline.

4 Wonderous Physick Crystal Tears & The Crystal Tears Of An Apostle

This One Took Some Digging To Discover

This subsequent reference was discovered a bit extra just lately, and if it’s a direct reference to Berserk, it exhibits that director Hidetaka Miyazaki is much more of a Berserk fanboy than beforehand led on. Because it seems, the completely different “Crystal Tears” that gamers can get hold of from defeating Erdtree Avatars look nearly an identical to the Crystal Tear seen in chapter 83 of Berserk (generally known as the “misplaced” chapter).

On this “technically” non-canon Chapter, Griffith actually meets with God throughout his transformation into Femto and sheds his closing tear as a human earlier than dropping all emotion, generally known as a Crystal Tear. If one had been to attach the lore of the Crystal Tears in Berserk again to Elden Ring, it does give some implications that the Erdtree Avatars may need as soon as been one thing extra human earlier than changing into these “Apostles” of the Erdtree.

3 Malenia & Farnese

Possibly Not A Full Character Reference However At The Very Least It is Seen In The Armor

Now, these references are beginning to get a bit much less ironclad and are extra debatable as “influenced” by Berserk or media like Berserk moderately than simply direct references. First up on the checklist of those influenced designs, let’s speak concerning the similarities between Melania’s Helmet and Farnese’s Holy Iron Chain Knights Helmet. Whether or not it is the wings on the facet of the helmet, the faceplate similarities, or the “angelic” iconography of the helmet itself.

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That stated, it is extra probably that Malenia’s designs take extra inspiration from Valkyries from Norse mythos than strictly Farnese in Berserk, however who’s to say that each did not play into the ultimate design?

2 Miquella’s Cocoon & Femto’s ‘Egg’

By Far The Largest ‘Stretch’ On Right here

Whereas gamers have been looking each nook and cranny of Elden Ring for Berserk nods, there was a continuing idea that is been popping up, and that is the comparability between Griffith of Berserk and Miquella of Elden Ring, who followers suppose may have an analogous ‘Hero turned Villain’ second.

Miquella is barely seen in any respect in Elden Ring, and most of what the participant is aware of about him is his cursed childlike look, his magical allure, and his fervent dedication to bettering the lives of everybody round him. However there are slight hints in some merchandise descriptions all through the sport that time towards Miquella having some darker aspirations or motives. That is the place folks wish to suppose that he’ll be Miyazaki’s model of Griffith/Femto. And, there is not any higher second of this comparability than Miquella’s arm popping out of the cocoon in Mohg’s area.

Not solely does this “transformation” Cocoon bear some tonal similarities with Griffith’s self-made egg form after turning into Femto, however the arm outstretched additionally appears to be like so much just like the basic cowl artwork for Berserk of an arm reaching for a Behelit. Hopefully, even an ‘evil model’ of Miquella will not find yourself as ruthless as Femto appears to be.

1 Blaidd & The Berserk Armor

Blaidd’s Promotional Pose And Normal Design Have Apparent Berserk Ties

Berserk followers may be questioning why that is final on the checklist, given how instantly folks drew up this comparability between Blaidd and Guts. Effectively, frankly, it is simply because there’s not a lot else about Blaidd apart from his dog-like loyalty to Ranni and huge sword that make him something like Guts. Positive, he is simply barely hanging on to his sanity like Guts is, however that might be stated for lots of From Software program characters.

Sure, the publish he makes in some promo artwork for Elden Ring does look similar to Guts’ iconic pose within the Berserker Armor, however Miyazaki has referenced this pose many occasions earlier than. The truth is, Artorias of the Abyss, as a personality, is a huge Guts reference. In any case, Blaidd and Guts do have some similarities.