The Mystical Enigma of Marika: Unveiling Her Destiny within Shadow of the Erdtree

Highlights

Elden Ring's upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree expansion has sparked speculation among fans about its potential narrative and characters like Queen Marika.

Queen Marika, who was responsible for causing The Shattering and the fragmentation of the Elden Ring, may have a crucial role in Shadow of the Erdtree due to her immense power and potential link to the image shown in the expansion's teaser. The teaser, featuring a dark tree and a youthful figure, hints at the involvement of either Miquella or a young Marika. However, the presence of a sunless sky suggests that Miquella aims to put an end to the corrupted Erdtree and fix the mistakes of Marika's past.

Elden Ring has solidified its position as one of the standout RPGs in recent years, and The Lands Between's intricate lore has been instrumental in captivating fans. As players explore the game's different regions, they uncover numerous hints about the true narrative behind the events. Although the release date for Elden Ring's upcoming expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, is yet to be announced, fans are already speculating about how it will progress the story.

The DLC could potentially follow various storylines, but Queen Marika is likely to have connections to all of them. Among the game's characters, Miquella and Godwyn are the most popular candidates for the expansion, given their potential ties to the solitary teaser image. However, considering the unresolved plot threads and uncovered details from the base game, a focus on Marika may be equally plausible.

Queen Marika the Eternal's True Significance

Marika, as the mastermind behind The Shattering event, plays a pivotal role in the Tarnished's story. By breaking the Elden Ring and ultimately facing crucifixion at the hands of the Elden Beast, she sets the stage for the narrative. In the possible endings where the Elden Ring is restored and Marika's broken body is healed, players assume the role of Elden Lord, seemingly her partner. As the fallen queen of the Erdtree empire, Marika possessed the Elden Ring's immense power after dethroning the Gloam-Eyed Queen of the previous era. This powerful queen's influence may hold the key to unraveling the mystery of Shadow of the Erdtree.

Marika's pivotal actions include the removal of the Rune of Death from the Elden Ring, resulting in an era of immortality known as the "Age of Plenty." However, this decision leads to dire consequences when her adversaries, the loyalists known as Ranni and the Black Knife Assassins, conspire to use the Rune of Death against her. This threatens the lineage of the Golden Order by targeting Prince Godwyn. Driven by paranoia, Marika shatters the Elden Ring. Subsequently, power struggles ensue within her family lineage. Despite this, she appears to support Miquella's succession plan.

How Marika Could Factor Into Shadow of the Erdtree

The teaser image of Shadow of the Erdtree portrays a person riding towards a ominous tree, and Marika is connected to this situation in all scenarios. If the figure is Miquella, it suggests her determination to successfully destroy the Erdtree, bring an end to Godwyn, and bring forth the era of the Haligtree. This plan was likely approved by Marika herself, as evidenced by her instructions for Melina to burn down the Erdtree, indicating her readiness for the world's transition. Alternatively, it could be a young Marika approaching the Great Tree, a tree only mentioned before. A statue at the Chapel of Anticipation reveals that she was once a priestess in an era that honored death before she ushered in a new age.

While the presence of a dark tree and a young blonde figure creates uncertainty over whether it is Miquella or Marika, the sky without sunlight provides a clearer picture. It is never mentioned that Marika's reign had a dark sky, but Castle Sol is aware of Miquella's intention to create a golden needle from the sun itself, causing an eclipse in order to cleanse the infested Erdtree and give Godwyn a true death. Considering how much Marika was affected by Godwyn's slaying, this act could serve as a tribute to her while rectifying her greatest mistake, the elimination of death from The Lands Between.

Elden Ring is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.