Easter eggs and references in Elden Ring
Elden Ring is almost like the holy grail of action-RPG games. A huge world, a mesmerizing atmosphere, formidable bosses… and of course, a ton of well-hidden secrets! If you’re the type who likes searching every nook and cranny of the Lands Between, you must have come across a few. But for you less lucky explorers, we’ve prepared a short list of Easter eggs and references to pop culture and previous FromSoftware games.
1. A Song of Ice and Fire comes to the Lands Between
A throne made of blades, a dark and merciless universe… Does that ring a bell? It should, since Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin helped create the Elden Ring’s lore. And naturally, FromSoftware wanted to tip its hat to him!
If you defeat Leonine Misbegotten, you will earn the Grafted Blade Greatsword, a weapon that strangely resembles the iconic iron throne from the series. A subtle tribute to the bloody world of Westeros.
2. A reference to Berserk, the genesis of dark fantasy
From the first few minutes of play, it’s hard not to notice the influence of the mythical Berserk manga. That’s no coincidence, as Kentaro Miura’s work has inspired FromSoftware since Dark Souls and continues through Elden Ring.
References abound: the starting armor of the Prisoner class evokes Griffith, the manga’s antagonist, and the Greatsword resembles the Dragonslayer wielded by Guts. And if you pay close attention to Blaidd, the warrior wolf, you’ll see that he sometimes strikes the same iconic pose as Guts. A simple nod or true tribute?
3. Moonlight Greatsword, FromSoftware’s cult weapon
If there’s one thing that FromSoftware loves to slip into its games, it’s the famous Dark Moon Greatsword (or Moonlight Greatsword for those in the know). This mystical blade has appeared in almost every studio title since King’s Field, and Elden Ring is no exception!
As usual, its appearance has been updated, but its abilities and aura remain faithful to the classic weapon. A beautiful tribute to the studio’s earliest fans!
4. Dark Souls: the ghost that still haunts the Lands Between
If you thought you could explore Elden Ring without feeling Dark Souls breathing down your neck, you’ll be disappointed (or delighted!). FromSoftware likes to revive their best ideas and slip in some juicy references.
Patches, the king of low blows
He’s back! Patches, the relentless traitor who has been catching players off guard since Dark Souls 1, is back in Murkwater Cave. As sneaky as ever, he’ll ambush you before surrendering. So are you going to spare him or make him pay for his past pranks?
An iconic demon returns
Some of the bosses in Elden Ring will give you a feeling of déjà vu. The avatars of the Erdtree bear a strong resemblance to the nightmarish Stray Demon from Dark Souls, and the massive knight of Mt. Gelmir seems straight out of a painful memory of Executioner Smough with his huge hammer. Coincidence? We doubt it.
Anastasia, carnage unbound
If you’ve encountered Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater, you may have felt a wave of nostalgia. Her appearance and aggressiveness are reminiscent of a certain Butcher from Dark Souls. An enemy that keeps careless explorers reeling.
5. Blaidd and an (un)expected reference
Blaidd, the proud armored wolf, is one of the most memorable characters in Elden Ring. But did you know that he hides a rather unusual reference?
The description of his armor reads: “Blaidd was the blade of Ranni, but the cold bothered him anyway.” A quote that sparked the imagination of players and led them to make a connection… with Frozen! That’s right! “Let it go, let it go…” But Blaidd would’ve probably preferred a different fate.
Bring the Elden Ring experience into your living room.
Before revealing the final, and probably most surprising, Easter egg of this article, we’d like to talk about the opportunity to expand and intensify the Elden Ring experience.
Since Elden Ring is a demanding adventure, why not gear up like a true Tarnished ready to face the direst threats of the Lands Between? That’s where the ESWAP X2 ELDEN RING comes in: a gamepad specifically designed for those who refuse to be bullied by a boss that’s too big for its britches.
With its design in the colors of Shadow of the Erdtree, it draws players directly into the game’s atmosphere. But its real strength lies in its performance. Its mechanical keys, 64% faster than those of conventional controllers, allow you to chain dodges and attacks with almost supernatural speed. No more late rolls when facing Malenia!
Its modular design is also a core feature. Thanks to Hot-Swap technology, players can adapt their gamepad to their playing style, just like they optimize their build in Elden Ring. Add to that ultra-precise S5 NXG mini-sticks, capable of relaying every movement with surgical precision, and you have the ultimate weapon for conquering the Lands Between.
And to top things off, four additional reconfigurable buttons provide a tactical advantage. Need quick access to a skill or have a dedicated button for a special attack? No problem. The ESWAP X2 is designed to maximize every fraction of a second in combat.
A true artifact of power, worthy of an Elden Lord.
A world full of secrets
Elden Ring is a game filled with nods and tributes to pop culture, its own previous games and iconic works. And that’s only a taste of all the Easter eggs in store! There’s always a reference hidden somewhere. Having fun looking for them could be a new way to rediscover the game, especially with an ESWAP X2 ELDEN RING gamepad in hand to take your immersion to the next level. Right?