Elden Ring Symbology - Magic Crests

[@sanginho1998]

I'm 99.99% sure the dragon communion crest depicts an anatomically correct heart, with the blood vessels being the branches (the aorta looking branch really popped to me), as you correctly showed in the numbered figure. It represents the communion of dragon hearts required to attain their powers. Awesome video, really good material for discussion!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks! I’m glad you liked the video. That’s a great observation about dragon hearts! I hadn’t even thought of that.

[@rogirek3362]

Can it be both? When we find Placidusax, he's just floating motionless in the center of the storm, his wings furled around making him into the shape of a heart. I always kind of interpreted crumbling Farum Azula as a refuge for the stone dragons, hidden outside of time, and Placidusax at the center of the storm being the force that maintains it; but Placidusax, the heart of Farum Azula itself is ruined, and so it crumbles.

[@sanginho1998]

@@rogirek3362 good point, there can also be a connection with Placidusax's pose inside the arena.

[@Xandros999]

Placidusax had five heads once, but now seems to have been reduced to a primordial form of the Two Fingers, communing with the Greater Will.

[@R3m1ly]

This makes much more sense than the connection to Placidusax. The purpose of dragon communion is more about worshipping the power that the dragons can offer you, not necessarily the dragons themselves, hence the killing and tearing out their hearts. To this end I don't understand what sort of reverence partakers of dragon communion might have for Placidusax, or why he would be their crest. It would make much more sense to have the crest be a dragon heart, which is essentially their object of worship.

[@Yal_Rathol]

the eight-pointed star probably represents the influence of the outer gods, since ranni and the nox serve the moon, the golden order serves the greater will, mohg serves the formless mother, etc. which makes the crest of miquella and malenia and the haligtree unique, because they show a broken star, and miquella's goal is to rid the world of the outer gods' influence through his unalloyed gold.

[@SinisterStromboli]

That’s an interesting take, I’m gonna look into this! Thanks!

[@zatoby6705]

Sounds like the taint of chaos to me.

[@Ozone946]

dont forget the Scarlet Rot, thats another outer god

[@Yal_Rathol]

@@Ozone946 yeah, which is where my interpretation comes from. if the star represents the outer gods, and miquella is specifically working to break their hold on the lands between through unalloyed gold as a response to the outer gods cursing him and malenia, then showing a broken star on his emblem makes sense. it all comes back to the rot, who "blessed" malenia and how miquella wants to break that god's hold over his sister.

[@RockyRockthrow]

You can actually see Malenia's Crest on Finlay when she performs Golden Vow on you

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks, I've gotta check that out! After I made the video, I noticed that some Cleanrot Knights use a buff that makes Malenia's Crest appear too.

[@brokenlord3218]

If I remember right all scythe type cleanrot Knights can use it if they have an ally they can buff

[@Suntoria236]

@@SinisterStromboliThat Crest is imo easiest to see at the 2 Cleanrot Knights duo boss cave in Caelid, also I think the wiki has a name for the buff they cast with that crest but it’s not Golden Vow, even though they’re pretty similar in effect iirc

Hi there! I've been searching for this one too and Malenia's crest appeared in one of the trailers in a spell casted by one of the demihuman queen's, hence why some people call it the demihuman crest, but that doesn't happen in the actual released game. I can't see how those two could be related in Lore now, but apparently they once had a relation while the game was in development.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks so much! That's been bothering me for a while, so its nice to finally have an answer.

[@tinnasell4161]

Perhaps, it has something to do with the fact that demihumans use needles a lot. But it's just a guess)

[@Ezekiel_Allium]

It would make sense, a lot of miquella's whole deal is taking in opressed and despised peoples, it's kinda weird a connection between him and the demi humans didn't survive to the final product

[@sirrealism7300]

I saw something interesting... Ok so, you know how miquellas all about controlling people, and you can use miquellas needle to make enemies your ally? Well, one of the demihuman queens has glowing purple eyes, the same purple eyes that the ants being controlled by the nox swordstresses in nokron have. This gives me the idea that they're being controlled by miquella, or some other entity out there... since they're half beast, the controlling seems more than possible.

[@wanidouse]

The crest looks very similar to depictions of Helfen's Great Tree-- that is, the place referenced by Helfen's Steeple that exists in the afterlife and is parallel to the Erdtree in the living world. Helfen itself is very nordic-- like valhalla it is where heroes who die in battle go in the afterlife and it is full of other elders and heroes. Mind you, I don't remember how much of that is explicitly stated, how much of that is extrapolated from its depictions, or how much of it is just drawing from nordic myth. Also it should be noted that the Japanese translation does not distinguish between a Great Tree and an Erdtree. In general the translation for this game is fucked (Ranni is literally supposed to say the opposite of what she does in English). The theory that holds more weight is that the Erdtree grew out of the crucible. I'm not sure how the greater will factors into that.

[@lichofthewilds4384]

While the connection between the force behind the three fingers and the formless mother feels super weak to me the thoughts about the erdtree and how maybe the great tree was grafted together are super intriguing. Recently I’d been convinced that those two trees had no distinction between them besides age, they were just the same tree at different times. But now, the repeated symbolism of twisting lines on erdtree associated objects, the weird bits of language around the “two” trees, and the mural above the entrance to the erdtree proper cement this idea. It would even feed back into the origin of the grafting Godrick preforms.

[@SinisterStromboli]

It would be kinda wild for them to rename a tree and act like it’s different for no reason. When it comes to the Formless Mother, it really boils down to the fact that it seems like she’s connected to the Crucible of Life, and the 3 Fingers is definitely connected to the Crucible somehow. Also their goals and abilities aren’t as different as you may think.

[@lichofthewilds4384]

@@SinisterStromboli See I don’t think the crucible of life/primordial crucible and “the one great” are the same thing. From what I’ve gathered “The One Great” seems to have existed before even the beginning of all things. Then it broke apart and spilt forming everything in the lands between and not. The Crucible seems to be something that existed far afterwards and represents a chaotic and vibrant form life. The force behind the 3 Fingers is just that, a force that exists and drives all back to that original state at the beginning of existence, while Mohg and by extension the Mother is actually seen guarding the space where the 3 fingers are held, to me this points a want to keep anyone away from them.

[@humorlessink2658]

@@lichofthewilds4384 yeah and I further your point by pointing out that the term “crucible” is a common element in alchemy which has various other parallels, like Marika and Raddagon becoming a representation of the rhebis a perfect being that is both male and female. But that aside the crucible is meant to be a force of change, like evolution and mutation like what we see with the Omen and the Crucible Knights. The crucible is therefore not the progenitor or originator of all life but rather the frenzied flame and all existence was broken down by the greater will and then grew with the help of the crucible. Since we see influence of both forces that are completely separate such as misbegotten and the afore mentioned omen.

[@samfish2550]

Also it was in the Church where you fight the projection of mohg is the same place where mohg I believe had his epiphany about the formless mother, right above the subterranean shunting grounds and the 3 fingers buried in their depths.

[@zusty9589]

@@SinisterStromboli The name doesn't exist as a proper name in the Japanese texts. Rather, what's generally referred too are what can be translated as 'great roots'. There isn't a reason to suggest that they belonged to some separate tree of power which existed beyond the Erdtee, much less beyond the Greater Will. And the One Great is not the Crucible. Rather, Hyetta, teaching what was given to her by the Frenzied Flame, claims that the One Great preceded even the Greater Will, being then one and all. And there is no real relation between the Frenzied Flame and the Formless Mother, nor between the Formless Mother and a 'Greattree', since there is no Greattree originally mentioned.

[@fishyfriend710]

I like to think the group password crest is the Tarnished warriors own unique way of communicating to each other, since they were all most likely warriors under Godfrey at some point

[@SinisterStromboli]

I like that!

[@gorge3030]

You and other smaller creators are what's developing our understanding further every day. Smough is obviously doing a lot of heavy lifting but it's also fairly surface level(if that can even exist in ER lore 😅), this is truly the deepest lore!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks so much, that means a lot! I've spent a lot of time staring at walls and floors for some of these videos lol.

[@handtomouth4690]

Damn, calling smough surface level...never thought I'd see that.

[@georgewalker7573]

Amazing video! Just wanted to point out that the gravity seal is actually the shape of a magnetic field like that of the earth, a gravitational field is just straight lines pointing towards the object with great mass

[@SinisterStromboli]

I'm sure you're right, but it is called gravity magic, and it affects non-metal targets. Unless we find something that suggests magnetism is involved somehow, they may have taken some artistic liberties to create an image that would be easily recognized as a "field".

[@lacrima5571]

@@SinisterStromboli My guess is that the gravitational magic in the ER is related to both gravity and magnetism. Probably people are trying to find some meaning because they think the two can't be together but ER is a fantasy game so it's very possible for them to combine different things. Radahn can fly and lighten himself with his gravitational magic, while at the same time he can charge his weapon and create magnetic fields/attacks with purple lightning effect.

[@Diamon_Boots]

While I do feel like it probably comes down to "they are both associated with planets and space and other physics stuff" and the look of a magnetic field being much more interesting and distinct than a gravity one, I think there is also a fun conection of a planet's magnetic field being responsible for blocking solar and other types of space radiation, with gravity magic also being a sort of deterrent against things that come from space. The flaw this might have is I can't remember if the enemies that use gravity magic also make the crest appear (I think they don't, but I can't say for sure). Either way, I love the gravity aspect of the game, and wish it got developed more, both in magic/weapon arts and in enemy variety.

[@lollicupkate]

The eight-pointed star is probably the polar star. Check out the "Black Leather Shield" description, "From the north, this shield depicts the polar star in rivets of gold." It has eight points.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Good eye, I agree!

[@SubmachineExplorer]

The malenia crest also appears when cleanrot knights with scythes are buffing themselfs

[@SinisterStromboli]

I saw a cleanrot knight do that like two days after I published this video, I was pissed lol.

[@purplehaze2358]

I’m not sure whether this video makes my brain feel bigger or smaller, but it’s definitely one of the two.

[@SinisterStromboli]

lol im glad it had an effect on your brain

[@Tulip_bip]

elden ring made me realise i have a huge thing for fancy magic symbols lmao. idk why, but when i saw them appear in the trailer when people casted spells, it made me really happy. i love how mystical the magic in elden ring is

[@SinisterStromboli]

I'd recommend a game called Enchanted Arms then. I played it when I was a kid and recently discovered IT WAS ALSO MADE BY FROMSOFTWARE Theres really cool magic symbols in that game tho

[@ooccttoo]

16:22 Something I haven't seen anyone else notice about the Stormveil crest is that the bird's head and wings resemble the grip and guard of a sword - and there's a blade coming directly down underneath the feathers in the middle. Makes very literal the idea of their weapons being empowered by the storm itself.

[@SinisterStromboli]

I’ve heard other people say that the shape beneath the bird looks like a silhouette. Either way, I definitely missed a lot of details in that Crest

[@McGeeMcGeeMcGee-g7w]

Wow! the godskin/Mt Gelmir connections are so cool!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks, I actually remember kinda freaking out when I figured that out lol. It felt like a crazy idea at first, but then I started finding more and more that supported the idea, and everything kinda clicked into place.

[@lovesiriusblack]

This was well worth the wait! Wow, so many interesting things I've already noticed but have never given much though/had much thoughts to give to! 😅So thank you for the eye-opener and different perspectives, so much detail! Watched the whole thing now and I can't wait for the Indiana Jones vibe for the next video! Keep up the good work 🥳

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks so much! The next video will have a lot of those little details too, so I'm glad you liked it.

[@darlingxluxii7977]

Agreeed!! Keep up 😻🥰

[@bludgeon1081]

I really liked how these symbols appeared when casting. Felt that that was one of things missing from Dark Souls. Always felt great casting something like blackflame blade and seeing the glyph appear. Anyways, love that someone made a video of this!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks so much! I agree! They give magic a really cool mystery and atmosphere imo.

[@bludgeon1081]

@@colorpg152 Interesting, never thought of it that way. Personally, I always like to roleplay that I'm affiliated to something though so it's kinda the opposite for me.

[@SinisterStromboli]

I think it's more like a "logo" from the people that made it you can think of it like an image built into the spell kinda like a signature

[@noahg-f4558]

This is really, really awesome. I have been thinking a lot about my own impressions from the imagery of this game and have been so blown away from the care put into every thought, every allusion and every principle from this game. I would love to see a video taking a look at the various talismans (especially the weird two fingers talisman, where it looks like an X since it has feet), but thanks for stirring my imagination with this video.

[@SinisterStromboli]

A video about the talismans is a good idea! Also I'm glad you liked the video.

[@HealthyMaxwellRoth]

How on earth don't you have a wider audience? So much interesting details and research in this video. Very glad I got to have it recommanded by youtube. Thank you for your work!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Lol this is the second video I’ve ever made in my life, and my first was about 3 weeks ago, so I’m still growing. I’m kinda shocked by the response this video has been getting. I expected it to be less popular than my first video, and I was very wrong lol. Thanks so much for your kind words, btw!

[@danielbarnett3672]

The swirl in the Godskin crest could reference the Gloam-eyed queen's twisting iris, as seen on Melina

[@SinisterStromboli]

Ooh I hadn't thought of that before, good observation!

[@Espressodepressoh]

I also see a fingerprint in the centre. It looks like the Gloam-eyed Queen has some history with the Three fingers.

[@Last4TheWin]

one thing i noticed about the fire monks/giants seal, aren’t those four “suns” around the centre circle the eye of the fell god? also, when the fell god awakens in the fire giant and its eye opens, it has the same pattern of a central dot surrounded by eight symmetrical dots as well, what do you think? great video btw

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks! Good observation with the Fell God's eye. I think it has something to do with the 8-Pointed Star, but I'm still doing some research about it for my next video. As for the Fire Monk Crest, I'm not sure if those suns are the eye of the Fell God, but its 9 "pupils" do swirl in a similar way.

[@lithrawri]

it also kinda looks like the top view of the Forge

[@linkdude64]

It looks like the storm at Saturn's north pole, which is the same Saturn who devoured his kid, which is the same Cannanite cult that put the moloch statue outside of the Roman coliseum. The same cult that was present in the Kubrick movie eyes wide shut...

[@sirrealism7300]

@@SinisterStromboli im pretty sure the 8 pointed star is possibly the "blood star", the thing that the thorn magic wielders use.

[@kommentier9884]

I was actually wondering about all the crests and symbols that appear when casting spells, so this was super interesting to watch.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.

[@lephonometrographe]

Wow, great video ! The crests are finally getting the attention they deserve ! And If I may add a personal theory about the intertwined kind of helix symbolism : if we think of the Erdtree as two forming a greater one, I cannot help but think about Marika/Radagon as being really similar. Though if they actually represent the Erdtree or not is up to debate, but I think this detail might be relevant ^^

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks, I’m glad you liked the video! Good observation, I’ve wondered about whether the intertwining trees have some connection to Radagon and Marika becoming one as well. I’m just not sure what it could mean lol.

[@lephonometrographe]

@@SinisterStromboli well apart from the rebis theory/inspiration, I think everyone is still very much confused about this haha

[@sanityplusmilkshakes]

Your analysis of symbology is fascinating. I'm looking forward to future uploads!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks so much!

[@DeathScorpi0]

Aside from what looks like an eye in the center of the Frenzied Flame crest, if you look closer the whole pattern inside the "flame" is a fingerprint.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Nice eye! That crest is amazing, wow.

[@notazazel]

Ok so seems to me like Ranni didn’t need the rune of death at all. All she needed to do was create a primal glintstone using a glintstone blade and move to another body that wasn’t shortlisted by the greater will to become a candidate for the next God of the lands between

[@SinisterStromboli]

I think that Ranni’s Primal Glintstone was in the Dark Moon Ring. That’s why she comes back to life after killing her Two Fingers. Ranni didn’t need the Rune of Death to stay alive, it was created when she killed her body. She said that she killed her body so she couldn’t be controlled by her Two Fingers.

[@xRickAstleyx]

IT says in the Glinstone Blade's description that when sorcerers did that, that they technically died. Gods can't die, so Ranni neded the rune of death to leave her Empyrean body. I would say that glinstone is probably the method she used to bind herself to her doll body.

[@xRickAstleyx]

@@SinisterStromboli I don't think the rune of death was created when Ranni and Godwyn died, as the Black Knife Assassins are stated multiple times to have stolen the rune of death to make the weapons they used to slay gods. What you're thinking of is "Mending Rune of the Death-Prince" which is a different thing entirely, formed from the two hallowbrands that were made on Godwyn and Ranni when they got killed.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Yeah I meant to say she didn't need to Rune of Death to stay alive, and then say that the Cursemark of Death was created when she killed her body. Oops

[@SinisterStromboli]

I like this a lot! It makes a lot of sense.

[@foxywoxy1915]

Always wanted to view the crests in a clear pic. Love this video

[@SinisterStromboli]

Glad you like it!

[@zakaryrichmond396]

I was half asleep while listening to this video this morning and your description of the mood of Nokstella during the Glintstone Crest section immediately made me think of the fell Gods eye a large central circle with evenly spaced icons surrounding it only in this case there are eight

[@SinisterStromboli]

You have a good EYE lol, nice observation.

[@lavalarva7728]

I think the two fingers crest appears on the Elden Beast's special attack where it summons the Elden Ring where the circle closes up to blast you. It appears on the border you have to surpass to avoid the attack.

[@SinisterStromboli]

I think you're right! It would make sense too, if those are "the words of their faith"

[@Noname0039]

Great video and good analysis, it was a pleasant surprise to find it.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks!

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

This is an excellent resource. Kudos!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks!

[@kruxdewdrop1220]

At 8:10, the center reminds me a lot of the crucible knights' armor, specifically the joints and chest where there are black dots surrounded similar wavey patterns.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Lol and I've always considered that a possible depiction of the Crucible of Life too

[@glinteastwood]

Based on the title/topic alone, I could not click on this video fast enough. And what an absolute treat it is. Thank you! Subbed/belled/tempted to get a tattoo.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked the video! Also you're right, a lot of these Crests would be really cool tattoos.

[@sirrealism7300]

This is by far one of the best elden ring lore videos ive seen yet. Vaati has been failing me, this is what i want.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Wow thats an incredible compliment! Thanks so much.

[@ironstar183]

Love the different perspective and approach, subbed!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks!

[@RyanMDanks]

Underrated channel. Loved the video. Keep going

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks so much!

[@rkmugen]

Man, this is why I bought this game.... all the thought and detail they put into it. Once you beat the game, and apart from all the glitches and boss cheeses to try out and exploit, there is still so much to lore delve into, connections to make, theories to suppose, and this is before even getting into the speculation of how FromSoft will expand the story, either in a future sequel, prequel, or DLC. Just so much added value!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Every time I feel like I've found almost everything the game has to offer, I find something new. It's incredible.

[@one-eyed-dragon]

Amazing vid mate, great analysis. But, I wanna add a small detail. So the Malenia crest is actually also used by her Cleanrot Knights, particularly the scythe wielding commanders, in a skill that buffs themselves and all nearby allies. And correct me if I’m wrong, but it is possible you may have gotten these symbols from a reddit post that I actually did, posting the different symbols with their labels. And well, I am afraid I mislabelled the Malenia one as a Demihuman Queen sigil, further promoting that myth. I have since made a corrected version but I’ve sort of forgotten to post it anywhere. I hope I do not sound rude with my assumption, just mostly wanted to talk about my horrid lore mistake 😆😆

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks! I also noticed that the Cleanrot Knights use a buff with Malenia's Crest while I was streaming, but it was a few days after I published the video. I was pissed lol. I tried to look up these symbols to see if anyone online had any info on them yet, and a few places and images had that symbol labeled as the demihuman crest. I think I saw a reddit post or two about these symbols too, but I wasn't trying to call out any specific person. In another comment, I saw someone say that a Demihuman Queen is shown casting a spell with that crest in a trailer or something, which helps explain how the rumor started too.

[@hiroshima19]

your mic sounds better in this video, not as much background noise. good content too, I haven't seen anyone else cover this yet

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks!

[@bertyamgeebler1865]

ahh so cool! i have always loved the detail put into items and crests

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks! I didn’t expect there to be so much detail honestly, I had more to say than I thought I would.

[@Sharmanixs]

Ever since I've seen the first trailer of Elden Ring and I saw these symbols I've always wanted to explore more what they mean. Thanks!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Glad I could help out!

[@rafaellenzi.advogado]

Super interesting man, keep up the good work!

[@darlingxluxii7977]

Well said 💕

[@SinisterStromboli]

I'm glad you liked it! I appreciate your support.

[@lemonarque9927]

Surprisingly engaging video, i love the way you narrated and explained 🐸👍

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thank you!

[@higinho23]

Thanks for the excellent video!

[@SinisterStromboli]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@exxy9931]

20:25 - the bottom left symbol in the circle (think of like a stick-lined 8 with a line through it) immediately reminds me of the Symbol of Sacrifice from Berserk. To my knowledge, you can usually (not always) see overtly Berserk inspired things connecting to multiplayer functionality in Soulsborne games (take for instance, the different eye orbs in the original Dark Souls being similar to Beherits like Griffith's "Egg of the King"). It's not a 1:1 likeness but probably the closest they could get without risking copyright infringement.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thats really cool, good eye

[@exxy9931]

@erStromboli my apologies for effectively graveyard posting but I came back to this after the Elden Ring DLC reveal trailer to see if there's any more connections I can make with the previously known sigils. I wanted to mention that the Gravity Crest is likely Magnetism Field Lines. I forgot who and where I heard this from but thought it was worth adding. I couldn't find anything that definitively felt like it was expanded on by the DLC trailer. Edit: I spoke too soon. There's a knight at 0:50 in the reveal trailer that has a partisan that's vaguely similar to Mohg's symbol.

[@yeshuabriles7862]

One of the most thorough videos I’ve seen. Thanks, you’ve given me more questions than answers. 😂

[@pepega8198]

miquella’s crest was on the door of the town beyond snowfield which leads to haligtree

[@SinisterStromboli]

That probably because the town is guarding Miquella’s Haligtree! A really weird thing about that town is that there are 3 Black Knives there too

[@AesaKamar]

I love this content! Thanks for making it~

[@SinisterStromboli]

I’m glad you liked it!

[@quickclaw240]

The birds remind me of Hunin and Munin.

[@SinisterStromboli]

That’s a good observation, they are kinda similar. Instead of going out and collecting information like Hunin and Munin, they find bodies.

[@gabrielandrade9237]

seeing the crests in a good resolution for the first time, the dragon Crest resemble a little the horns and remembers me of the crucible, just like the twirl at the center of the black flame crest also resemble some sort of fiery chaos

[@SinisterStromboli]

Good observations! The dragon communion crest reminds me of the crucible too.

[@SirianXM]

Really cool video, haven't seen anyone else talking about this. Thank you 🙏

[@Cosmic-Sorceress-17]

It's incredible how much a spell says about someone who casts it, and what the crests of spells used by someone say about what they may believe or strive for. This is why I love using magic so much, since magic is an artistic expression and reflection of it's user. It's why I commit myself to certain types of magic that fit a character's personality and beliefs. These crests say so much about magic as a whole, even forms of magic that seem so distant from one another. I love how magic in Elden Ring is so deeply connected to life and the cycle of life: it really makes it stand out as a magic system to me.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thats a really awesome way to look at it!

[@Cosmic-Sorceress-17]

@@SinisterStromboli Thank you! I always love getting into lore dives with videos like these to help inspire me and keep me immersed as I eagerly await more content.

[@its_nuked]

Really cool video and a topic i havent seen anyone else discuss. Good shit man ^^

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks so much!

[@jonnymario771]

I never thought about connecting death with glintstone, but we know an entity called the twinbird that was the mother of all deathbirds.

[@SinisterStromboli]

The Deathbirds also use ghostflame sorcery kinda like the Death Hexes. Theirs is a different color and cold tho.

[@ben-ty9jo]

Very interesting video about a subject I largely haven't seen covered much in the community, you've earned a subscriber🙂

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks so much, that was exactly what I was going for!

[@ividyon]

The last "crest" you couldn't identify is particle textured for 'light' VFX such as Radagon's or Elden Beast's Holy attacks. Look at such attacks with "Holy" effects up close to find em.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Someone let me know on twitter a few days after I made the video and I got some great pics! You're totally right though

[@ixph]

Really interesting video! I'm looking forward to the next one as I love looking at all the details on the armor sets. However, I think the music is slightly too loud compared to your voice. Otherwise, great job!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks! I agree about the background music, it’ll be balance better next time!

[@darlingxluxii7977]

Awesome channel!! Big support!! These symbols Analysis are so helpful! Really appreciate it! There are a huge amount in this game haha 🥰💕✨👌🏽 overall a great video!! ♥️🤗

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks, I really appreciate that!

[@nazek4216]

I have a hunch that the second staff in the Sellia crest is the Staff of Loss respectively. The Staff of Loss is notable for not having a glintstone, matching the empty space at the tip, and it's found in Sellia.

[@SinisterStromboli]

thats a good thought, I'm going to look into that

[@M12Z0]

Thank you for the video and the research. I was anxious to know what those simbols were

[@SinisterStromboli]

I’m glad you liked the video!

[@Endra88]

Finally found even deeper meaning into this game. I really love how From goes into every little detail. Good job! A little critic but you could probably do without the bg music or at least lower it by like 50%. I found it very distracting.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks! Also I agree, I’ve been working on improving the volume in my future videos.

[@user-rv8yv4yh9n]

I always thought it was a very interesting idea that spells always start with the symbol first summoned before the spell, like you're pulling the magic from the seal itself

[@SinisterStromboli]

Same! It really makes each magic type feel like it has an identity

[@joshuaortiz6681]

I like the similarities in the Carian, nox, and sellian crest. It hints that they’re related and came from the same group (ancient astrologers). My personal theory is that numen and the ancient astrologers are the same group that came from outside the land between and settling around the fire giant mountain and that Queen marika was supposed to be their empyrean for the dark moon (like Ranni would do later) but she betrayed them and became the empyrean for the greater will instead. This would mean the nox are the eternal, which are numen, as said by Gowry about the Sellians and the description of the black knife assassin’s weapons along with Rogier’s dialogue about the night of the black knives, and then that would mean that Rennala is numen as she is also an ancient astrologer (stargazer heirloom) and moon worshipper like the nox, implying that she is old (and long lived like the numen).

[@SinisterStromboli]

I've had an idea like this before but not this fleshed out! I'm going to look into this, great observations

[@throg4657]

16:37 kinda looks like a troll’s hammer doesn’t it?

[@SinisterStromboli]

It does actually Gideon’s Crest actually has several similarities with the Fell God that I’ve never noticed before, fantastic observation!

[@leno9190]

Nice video, very excited for you future content :)

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks!

[@eldenringpvpenthusiast1710]

The throne in sellian crest looks like nights sacred ground throne with fingerslayer blade

[@SinisterStromboli]

Good observation, you're 100% right!

[@narukamisaika4160]

Omggg even the divine towers with the clouds on the maaaaap!!!! Que the incredibles mystery music!!!!

[@SinisterStromboli]

The Divine Towers are really cool!

[@JP12345]

17:39 I think the more likely explanation is that Miquella and Malenia are twins in a referred to as "the twin prodigies", plus the multiple statues of them hugging all around the Haligtree

[@SinisterStromboli]

Then why are there so many spiral things associated with the Erdtree? I feel like you ignored that part to focus on the fact that there happen to be twins involved, which could honestly be a coincidence without more context.

[@JP12345]

@@SinisterStromboli I'm sorry, I didn't put a lot of thought into it

[@LL-yd8zz]

A thing of note is that the volcano manor and godskins aren't related at all besides being allies. I think the tail on the godskins is far more reminiscent to the tails the crucible knights use Ooh, and another thing, I think the eye like shape in the frezied flame crest looks a lot like the pupils of Shabriri grapes - which are human eyes!

[@SinisterStromboli]

We really don’t know for sure whether the godskins are related to volcano manor so I’d be careful when making definitive claims like that.

[@quecobpt]

Please, viewers and channel, rewatch from 10:35 to 11:05 of this video, while bearing in mind what the DLC trailers showed us. This connection between volcano manor and rykard/serpent, godskins, black flame and gloam eyed queen is getting pretty interesting...

[@dovahkiin_brasil]

"the great tree was grafted by the Erdtree" Holy shit this make soo much sense and I never noticed

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thats how I felt! It finally made grafting make a bit of sense

[@Kevin-uz5he]

Great video, I was always intrigued by the symbols. I'd like to add a couple of thing I didn't see in the comments: -The Giant's flame symbol middle ring looks like it has the the branches that impaled the giants in the mountains and are surrounding the fire monk camps. -The Troll's hammer has a design like the eye of the Fell God, with one circle surrounded by eight circles, which makes sense since the trolls betrayed the giants in that war.

[@Kevin-uz5he]

-The four suns look like the spell Flame of the Fell God since it's a twirling fire ball, but that's a bit of a stretch

[@SinisterStromboli]

Nice observation, I hadn't thought about the fact that it could be those thorny branches.

[@ianperry4974]

Still wishing we got a frenzied flame head/helmet when you do the lord of frenzied flame ending.

[@SinisterStromboli]

It would be so much fun to run around as a Sauron eye lol

[@mistermahdy]

I enjoyed this a lot!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Awesome! I’m glad you liked it.

[@ducksocks629]

two things I noticed, the Dragon Communion Crest is Placidusax waiting at the center of Farum Azula (it's why the sides are broken), and the Stormveil Crest has a person standing in the center.

[@SinisterStromboli]

I really like both of these observations! It does seem like it could be Farum Azula on the Dragon Communion Crest. I'd noticed the shape on the Stormveil Crest before, but now that you mention it I think you're right. It really looks like its a person, good eye!

[@TanakaMatsumoto]

It's not necessarily a magical crest, but more probable that it's a family crest on the cape of the Twinned armor. It's really hard to see because it's so faint but there is a crest of some kind on the cape. There's quite a few capes with crests on them that are quite hard to see, another is the Raging Wolf armor cape, it also has a crest on it that's really hard to see what it even is, I'm assuming once again family crest. It's cool to see all the unique designs littered all over the game.

[@SinisterStromboli]

BRUH the symbol on the Twinned Armor's cape has been bothering me so much. It looks like a faded incomplete Crest and I've been trying to keep my eyes open for a complete or less faded example of it anywhere else, and I haven't found anything. Good eye though! I think some of the Crests on those capes could be important because they're not easily found anywhere else.

[@nerfer200]

7:37 Actually, the Oracles mentioned are not the envoys, but rather an alternate meaning to Oracle: "To see visions" The bubbles claymen peer into are the oracles they hope to see visions of

[@ghosttimm420]

14:00 Holy sh*t, this makes so much sense. I feel like I just had an epiphany.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Oh yeah, the Formless Mother has some really interesting connections to things!

[@ultrabear1583]

The unknown crest at the end seems like the sparks came out from Radagon's golden lightning projectiles, and yes it seems to me there's word of light coming out before the golden lightning bolt explodes.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Someone on Twitter let me know that they’re in one of the Elden Beast’s attacks, I have some pics on Twitter! It may be in Radagon’s as well if that’s the case tho

[@absolutezer0174]

Nice work . Cant wait to see more

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks!

[@chadhumbert1791]

Amazing breakdown

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.

[@LucidLiuxx]

i don't know if this is right, but the dragon seal looks a bit like a heart, which stands out to me because you consume dragon hearts to gain their powers; the 2 half rings underneath could be symbolizing how the hearts contain the power of the dragons or something. also great video! i love learning about Elden Ring lore (even though i don't understand 90% of it lol) and this video helped a lot, keep up the good work!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Good observation about the dragon communion crest! I can’t believe I didn’t notice that it looked like a heart before Also thanks! I’m glad you liked the video

[@dachimshvidobadze2286]

7:10 - reverse F and lightning bolt on right and left of the Carian crest are from anglo-saxon: ansuz and sygil, representing god (or ash/oak tree) and sun respectively. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_runes

[@ILoveYou32147]

I forget who i heard it from but the gravity crest doesn’t depict gravitational field but rather the Electromagnetic field of a planet

[@SinisterStromboli]

Yeah it looks like an electromagnetic field, but it is literally gravity magic that has nothing to do with electromagnetism. Like sure we can all agree that it looks like that, but unless there's a reason for it to be an electromagnetic field, its a coincidence. For instance, we wouldn't look at a painting titled "Leonardo DaVinci" and say "actually that looks a lot more like Michelangelo, so its Michelangelo"

[@ncuriousmediator9434]

@@SinisterStromboli You at least can't say it looks like a gravitational field since gravitational fields don't have poles. Also there's nothing preventing an interpretation that gravity and electromagnetism are the same force in Elden Ring, which would also explain gravity lightning.

[@eclipzex77]

Hey! This was a great video, and just while i was playing the game i found the crest you see on Malenia on another place! If you fight the Cleanrot Knights, specifically the Scythe variant, there's a small chance that they'll prepare their Scythe and use a buff of sorts, and the buff uses the same crest you see on Malenia's cape! Maybe it's the Cleanrot Crest? Sorta like how Radahn uses a Lion for his Knights?

[@SinisterStromboli]

I saw them use that buff right after I released this video, I was pissed💀 Thanks for pointing it out though! I’m pretty sure it’s malenia’s crest

[@Rav3r927]

Cue William Dafoe: "Symbolism, I believe the word you were looking for is symbolism." "I'm an expert at nameiology."

[@SinisterStromboli]

I've gotta see this movie bc I've been seeing variations of this comment all over lol

[@Rav3r927]

@@SinisterStromboli such a good movie, hope you got a chance to check it out!

[@marhawkman303]

1:45 I feel the need to point out that one of the words used in Japanese that can be translated as "star"(sei)... actually just refers to objects you can see in the sky in general. So... that could be part of the ambiguity here.

[@SinisterStromboli]

I didn't know that, thanks for letting me know!

[@Kreacher3]

18:00 Kind of looks like a family tree with portraits as the fruits, as I believe family trees are sometimes drawn. It has the right number of icons for them to be Marika in the centre and Radagon and Godrey on either side. Each side terminates in twins, which might be Miquella-Malenia and Mohg-Morgott which leaves one icon on each side for Radahn and Godwyn. Could be a stretch though, Edit: Wait, that doesn't leave any space for Ranni. You could speculate that Ranni was born after the twins and this crest was designed before her birth (Which would also explain the absence of Melina) but that seems very tenuous. Also, I assume Ranni is the oldest sibling because she's Rennala's heir? Or is there no explicit mention of that?

[@SinisterStromboli]

It’s very possible that the single dot with 8 around it represents Marika and her children, but it’s hard to tell It would be interesting if Malenia is wearing a Crest that represents that though

[@SinisterStromboli]

Also, I think Ranni is Rennala’s heir because they have a matriarchal system Carian princesses are mentioned a lot, but Carian Princes never are, so I think Ranni is the heir bc she’s the only princess left

[@Kreacher3]

@@SinisterStromboli Makes sense!

[@Dark_Anarchus]

The gravity crest: it is 2 Astel one in the upper part and one in the bottom. We can see his neck with his hair and mandibles encircling a sphere in the middle. As in the astel ranged attack where he blast us with a bolt. Or the ball in the middle is an eye. The eye on Astel and the fallingstar beasts.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thats a cool idea, I like that!

[@Dark_Anarchus]

@@SinisterStromboli Ho and I just realized that the sphere in the middle might be an eye. Like the one one the fallingstar beasts and astel. It would make even more sense that this is astel in the symbol.

[@feathertop]

Great video, really informative!

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks!

[@pretty_fly_for_a_jeskai]

Awesome content, subbed and looking forward to more.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks so much, I appreciate it.

[@jakeniclaz5393]

I believe the unkwown crest, originates from the holy attacks the Elden beast and Radagon use, but I might be mistaken. If they do appear they are minuscule

[@SinisterStromboli]

Someone told me about this on Twitter and you’re absolutely right! I’ll go over it in my next vid, but I got some awesome pics of it. You can see them on my Twitter if you’re interested

[@The_Vent_Goblin]

Note about the Gravity crest: it's actually a magnetic field diagram, which would make sense given that all gravity sorceries either push or pull things. Even the cragblade ash of war coats the blade in rock, which could be due to a strong magnetic charge running through the blade.

[@SinisterStromboli]

I agree that it looks more like a magnetic field, but unless we find a way to really connect magnetism to gravity I'm not sure if it means anything. There's always the possibility that it was an artistic choice to make the field more easily recognizable as a field. I will say that the Onyx and Alabaster Lords using gravity magic based on repelling and attracting things does kinda sound like magnetism tho.

[@MadMethod-qs1en]

@@SinisterStromboli It's also possible that the medieval society in ER has misunderstood magnetism as gravity with the biggest hint being the 'gravity' crest itself. While near a body of planetary mass that has a significant magnetic field, you can use magnetism to defy that mass's gravity. There are real-life machines that can do this. Notice that whenever we see the purple aura of 'gravity' magic, there are bolts of electricity crackling around it, as if strong static forces are being concentrated manipulated. With enough concentrated magnetic force, you can manipulate light to create images of black holes or lift and move even non-magnetic objects and such. But also, notice that the stones that are being manipulated in spells like rock sling, the cragblade AoW, and the gravity stone fan are all of the same greyish hue with striated patterns running through their surface or as part of their structure, as if they contain some kind of ore. Even the Ruins Greatsword, which has a 'gravity' skill, has noticeable striations that may denote some kind of ore-containing stone. I'm pretty sure scholars made this same mistake in the real world centuries ago. So maybe Radahn was holding Astel back with a planet-size magnetic force field and that's why 'the strongest of all demigods' is easier to defeat than Malenia. Homie couldn't possibly use his full power since most of it was being used to hold an eldritch abomination at bay.

[@LunarSpellbook]

Rykards crest looks like he is devouring the golden order, and the golden order seal looks like a tree grafted on to roots with a UFO above (LOL).

[@LunarSpellbook]

One more little detail in the three fingers crest is that their is a fingerprint, so many details in such a simple crest :)

[@SinisterStromboli]

You're totally right! The 3 Fingers crest is honestly an amazing design. Nice find.

[@goldenbough6563]

Great video. Amazing detail. You must be as obsessed with this damn game as I am. I've 2 comments relating to content. First, is there any chance the obsidian of the godskin seal is a nod to the black moon of nokastella or are there any similarities between those two seals? Secondly, I think it very likely the erd tree is a grafted tree. The falling star bearing the elden beast crashed into the great tree, removing its top, depositing the beast inside and continuing on to land at the impact crater in the sealed tunnel. The beast had to get inside the tree somehow and I don't think it tunneled its way in. The broken off top containing it was the crucible and the erd tree grew from this point. That makes the whole tree a grafted one, with the lower portion of the great tree acting as rootstock and the erd tree function as the scion. Again, great work. I watch all the lore videos and this one stands out as one of the best.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks for your kind words, they mean a lot to me! I haven't found anything that suggests that obsidian is related to the Black Moon of Nokstella in my opinion. I've never thought of that before though, so I'll keep my eyes open for any connections. I will say that the description for Memory Stones says that they are literally pieces of the Black Moon of Nokstella, and it looks more like marble than glass. I'll have a lot more to say about the Black Moon in my next symbology video though! I also think the Erdtree was grafted onto what was once the Great Tree. The Crucible of Life and Great Tree are different names for the same thing, because the Crucible Tree Helm says it resembles the Great Tree, while the weapon Siluria's Tree depicts a crucible and looks just like the Helm. So the fact that there are Crucible Knights with Axe themed armor makes me think they cut it down.

[@romanpaulo8083]

The fire monks crest looks like the forge ,viewed from the top

[@SinisterStromboli]

You're right, it does!

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Great work man. Also great user name

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks!

[@Supercohboy]

10:18 the dragon communion seal itself is supposed to represent the claws given to the original dragons, claws which represented their given intelligence and greater capability bestowed upon them by their ancient god. This can be confirmed through a few items and pieces of dialogue throughout the game, with the claws being mentioned The spiral in the center of this "claw" may have to do with the Golden Ratio in mathematics. It was most likely the best way to artistically represent "dragons are a part of the ancient order of things and are natural/born on this plain" in a way that's going to be symbolically significant. This is reinforced by the description of the dragon communion seal itself. The outer, licking symbols on the crest primarily represent their breath power imo, since their breath ability is what those within the Dragon Communion will be primarily emulating. If the artist DID think this hard about every little detail, rather than focusing on a few primary concepts to represent in the piece which does create incidental shapes at times...I see a bit of a draconic face within the crest itself. The inner circle of the crest has what looks like eyes, and the outermost symbol has a "tongue" hanging out of the face at the very bottom of the crest. That feels like a stretch though.

[@SinisterStromboli]

I think you're talking about description of the Cinquedea. Cinquedea are real Italian shortswords/daggers, and their name translates to "5 Fingers" bc was about the width of the weapon's blade. The Elden Ring Cinquedea says that its design celebrates the beastmen's 5 fingers that represent the intelligence once granted to their kind. Claws being a sign of intelligence wouldn't quite make sense because that's an animalistic trait. Fingers allow you to use tools and create things, which is generally a sign of intelligence. I like your take on the outside of the symbol representing their breath though, that would make a lot of sense.

[@Supercohboy]

@@SinisterStromboli ah yes, I couldn't remember if it was claws or fingers that were referenced! I thought that the term claws was used, my mistake. That's what I was referencing. The Ashen Hollow has a video, Every Dragon Explained, that talks about the Beastmen and ancient dragons (23:55ish), and the significance of their hands. I assumed that this was carried over to the Dragon Communion Seal, but there's no evidence that the church of dragon Communion recognized the significance, let alone designed their Crest off of this information. I think that I associated the two together because the ancient dragons' hands looks rather primordial, as does the claw hand on the seal.

[@diaznuts5947]

This is so good man

[@SinisterStromboli]

Thanks!

[@FilmAcolyteReturns]

I’ve always wanted to check these out for myself.

[@SinisterStromboli]

Glad I could help out!

[@HealthyMaxwellRoth]

Wait. Is this the Golden Mask at the top of the Golden Ordrer Fundamentalists crest?

[@SinisterStromboli]

It does look pretty similar! Good observation! I think there are two little symbols inside it just like his mask too! WHOA I think you’re onto some real shit here!