Queen Marika
The immortal keeper who shattered the Ring and was imprisoned within the Erdtree, leaving her demigods to war over succession and power.
Queen Marika is the immortal ruler who governed the Lands Between as the keeper of the Elden Ring, a powerful force that manifested as the physical concept of order. She acted as the sovereign during the Age of the Erdtree before a catastrophic event altered the realm forever. After shattering the Elden Ring, she was imprisoned within the Erdtree, her absence leaving the world fractured and summoning exiled Tarnished back to the Lands Between with the goal to repair the Ring and become the new Elden Lord.
- Role
- Keeper of the Elden Ring
- Relation
- Radagon (One Being)
- Children
- Demigods
Lore & Background
Marika's reign defined the era before the Shattering, where she maintained order as the keeper of the Elden Ring. Her authority extended over several demigod children, who claimed territories across the Lands Between only after the Ring was shattered. When Marika shattered the Ring, it sparked a war for power and succession among her demigod children, who fought one another for dominance. The narrative reveals that Marika and Radagon are the same being; after the Tarnished defeats Radagon, the Elden Beast emerges as the final mandatory boss. Upon its defeat, the Tarnished mends the Elden Ring through Marika's body, confirming their unity. This duality suggests a complex existence where the Queen and her consort are intrinsically linked.
In Their Own Story
The journey to repair the Ring begins with the Tarnished summoned back after the Shattering. They meet Melina, who guides them to the Roundtable Hold, where the Two Fingers instructs the collection of Great Runes from defeated demigods. As the Tarnished defeats Morgott the Grace-Given at the foot of the Erdtree, he reveals that the tree will not allow entry, blocking the repair of the Ring with a wall of thorns. To proceed, the Tarnished must burn the thorns using either the Flame of Ruin or the Frenzied Flame. If the Flame of Ruin is chosen without the Frenzied Flame's influence, Melina sacrifices herself to set the Erdtree on fire. The Tarnished then travels to Farum Azula, defeats Maliketh, and returns to face Radagon within Marika's body and the Elden Beast. Upon vanquishing them, the player accesses Marika's shattered corpse to choose one of six different endings.
Reader's Guide
Queen Marika serves as the central figure whose actions drive the game's conflict. Players must navigate the Lands Between to collect Great Runes from her demigod children to reach the Erdtree. Her physical presence is encountered only at the very end, where she exists as a shattered corpse after Radagon and the Elden Beast are defeated. The Tarnished's interaction with Melina is crucial, as she grants the ability to turn runes into strength and provides the steed Torrent under the condition of reaching the Erdtree. Depending on whether the player harnesses the Frenzied Flame or the Flame of Ruin, Marika's fate and the world's future diverge significantly, leading to distinct endings that redefine the order she once held.
Did You Know?
- Marika shattered the Elden Ring, an event known as the Shattering.
- She was imprisoned inside the Erdtree after shattering the Ring, leaving her demigod children to fight over its shards.
- Radagon and Marika are the same being; Radagon is fought separately, and their unity is revealed when the Elden Ring emerges from Marika's corpse upon his defeat.
- Six different endings can be achieved depending on the Tarnished's actions throughout the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Queen Marika?
She was the immortal Empress who ruled over the Lands Between and served as the vessel for the Elden Ring during the Age of the Erdtree. Her existence defined the order and laws of the realm before its eventual shattering.
What is Queen Marika's relationship with Radagon?
Marika and Radagon are actually two aspects of the same being, sharing a single soul despite appearing as separate individuals in history. This duality played a crucial role in the metaphysical structure of the Elden Ring itself.
Why did Queen Marika shatter the Elden Ring?
In an act of defiance against the Greater Will, Marika destroyed the Elden Ring to alter the laws governing the Lands Between. This catastrophic event triggered a civil war among her children and fractured the world's stability.
Where is Queen Marika located during the game?
Following the destruction of the Ring, she was imprisoned within the roots of the Erdtree by the Two Fingers. Her physical form remains trapped there while her consciousness influences events from afar.
How does Queen Marika's story end?
Her narrative concludes when the Tarnished confronts her within the Erdtree to either restore the Ring or establish a new order. Depending on the player's choices, she may be killed or spared as the world transitions into its next era.
More in Characters & NPCs
Related in Elden Ring
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Elsewhere in the Elden Ring universe
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