Elden Ring: Why Godfrey Was Exiled & Became The First Tarnished

Elden Ringlore isn’t always clear, meaning players are often killing bosses and characters they don’t fully understand, which is also the case with Godfrey. Some bosses and NPCs mention Godfrey’s name on the way to the game’s finale but fail to address how and why the first Tarnished met his fate. Thankfully, plenty of information is available throughout the game in item descriptions, dialogue, and side quests scattered across the open world. Godfrey, the former Elden Lord’s story emphasizes the suffering present throughout the Lands Between and Elden Ring‘s main quest.

[Warning: Spoilers for Elden Ring are below.]

Elden Ring takes place in the Lands Between, a mysterious region shaken to its core by an event called the Shattering. Once, Queen Marika ruled over the Lands Between alongside Godfrey, her husband, and had several demigod children to lead and inspire their people. Unfortunately, once the Elden Ring shattered, demigods came under fire and engaged in a civil war to reclaim its shards. Robbed of their immortality and Grace, legendary heroes like Godwyn, Morgott, and Mohg died in disgrace. These heroes later resurrected alongside the player character and pursued the Great Runes of the Lands Between.

For players who aren’t aware, Godfrey is Elden Ring’s first Elden Lord, former husband of Marika, and the first Tarnished. Despite creating an impressive legacy through his demigod children and war against the Fire Giants, Godfrey fell from power like many leaders in the Lands Between. Intervention from the Greater Will and the robbing of the Death Rune shattered any control Queen Marika had over her kingdom, though Godfrey’s fall came long before the beginning of Elden Ring. As a result, much of his legacy is warped by the perceptions of insane creatures, bitter NPCs, and second-hand accounts scattered throughout the world.

Who Was Godfrey Before Elden Ring?

As the first Tarnished in the Lands Between, Godfrey is essential in the game’s lore. All player characters are Tarnished in Elden Ring, as are many bosses located throughout the world. However, Godfrey is legendary among the Tarnished legion who first obtained the title. Once a chieftain of warriors from the Badlands, Godfrey’s first name was Hoarah Loux and changed following his engagement to Queen Marika. He fathered Godwyn the Golden, Morgott the Omen King, and Mohg Lord of Blood during their marriage. However, everything changed once Godfrey engaged in a war against the Giants. While many details surrounding this war are scarce, players can piece together several important stories and events that shaped the Lands Between and Godfrey’s fate.

Giants are a recurring enemy type in Elden Ring, but their lore is noticeably vague throughout the game. Players can assume that their population used to be much higher, considering that Queen Marika and Lord Godfrey once waged an entire war against them. The Storm Lord led the Giants in the conflict, though he eventually died in single combat against Godfrey. It’s said that after defeating his greatest challenger in battle, Godrey’s “warrior spirit” left him along with his Grace. The light surrounding his body and the energy imbued by the Erdtree fled Godfrey’s spirit, leaving him broken and insignificant compared to Queen Marika and the demigods. With a single victory, Godfrey sewed the seeds of his own destruction.

How Does One Become Tarnished In Elden Ring?

To understand why Godfrey became Tarnished, one must first understand who the Tarnished are and how they come into being. The core of Elden Ring‘s Lands Between is the Erdtree, which bestows Grace to all the land’s inhabitants. Characters with Grace appear with gold light surrounding their eyes, which is why all player characters sport dark shadows on their face. While there isn’t much evidence surrounding how characters lose their Grace, it seemingly corresponds closely with how warriors from Dark Souls become Hollow. Given Godfrey’s story, it appears that the former Elden Lord suffered similar circumstances to become Tarnished.

Tarnished in Elden Ring are often exiled from the Lands Between, suffering outright aggression from many inhabitants no matter their intentions. Given the information from Godfrey’s life and the knowledge players have concerning the Tarnished, it’s unsurprising that the former Elden Lord lost his Grace after completing his final war. Having lived a life of bloodshed and combat, it’s unsurprising that his hope and drive vanished with a final victory. After losing his Grace and becoming Elden Ring‘s first Tarnished, Godfrey suffered exile from the Lands Between and withered away in obscurity. However, to uncover why his kingdom abandoned him so swiftly, one must understand Marika’s manipulative nature and power-hungry origins.

Marika Exiled Godfrey After He Lost Grace In Elden Ring

Queen Marika is a prominent Elden Ring character, ruling the Lands Between before the Shattering. She first rose to power with the assistance of the Greater Will outside the kingdom, honing her abilities (and immortality) through the Elden Ring and the Erdtree. As an Empyrean, Marika obtained great power and influence throughout the world, though she eventually took Godfrey as a spouse to secure victory against the Giants. However, once Godfrey’s war against the Giants ceased and the immediate threat against her throne vanished, Marika’s true colors shone as she banished her newly Tarnished husband from the Lands Between. As Marika later showed, this became the first step toward an impressive power consolidation within the kingdom.

After Godfrey’s departure, Elden Ring‘s Queen Marika took Radagon as her next partner and sired Miquella, Radahn, Praetor Ryhard, and Princess Ranni as their demigod children. However, players later discover that Radagon and Marika are the same being with different forms. In an attempt to free herself from the Greater Will’s control, she shattered the Elden Ring and unintentionally brought about the decimation of her kingdom and children. The Greater Will eventually locked her and Radagon away into the Erdtree as punishment for her betrayal. Given this information, it’s almost certain that Godfrey’s exile came about due to Marika’s grab for power and freedom from the Greater Will’s influence.

Like many characters in Elden Ring, Godfrey’s story is one of tragedy and heartbreak. Central themes in games like Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Elden Ring revolve around hopelessness and the effects of spiritual defeat. These storytelling trends reflect the frustration players feel when battling bosses and enemies repeatedly, as the eventual loss of hope results in an unfinished story and embittered feelings that cause many Tarnished to turn mad and violent. Unfortunately, like all Tarnished, there’s no way to save Godfrey during Elden Ring, and players must slay him to complete their goal, ending his days with one final defeat.

About The Author

Natalie Lindner
(504 Articles Published)

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Natalie Lindner is a Game Features Writer for Screen Rant, creating content on the past, present, and future of games in the industry. Prior to this, she worked out of a writing consultancy in Rhode Island from 2018 to 2021, where she helped college students improve their writing abilities. Natalie has contributed her video game writing to several smaller websites and projects since 2018 and is eager to continue that journey with Screen Rant.

Working out of New Hampshire, Natalie spends the time she isn’t writing about games outside; hiking or biking. On those rainy days, she can be found striving for action on the latest FPS or perusing the latest comic books.

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