Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring’s most iconic hand gestures and what they mean 

FromSoftware’s Soulsborne games often feature gestures that are closely tied to their narratives. While signs like Dark Souls’ “Praise the Sun” and Bloodborne’s “Make Contact” seem unusual, those who delve into their background and meaning will gain a greater appreciation for them. Here are four FromSoftware gestures and their meanings: 

Dark Souls’ “Praise the Sun” gesture shows how grossly incandescent one can be 

Possibly the most popular gesture on this list, Dark Souls’ “Praise the Sun” gesture made its first appearance in 2009’s Demon’s Souls. The animation where players stretch their arms upwards in a V shape plays whenever magic is cast using the Ring of Sincere Prayer. 

According to an interview with series creator Hidetaka Miyazaki in the Dark Souls Design Works book, he was asked to change the animation because the people in charge didn’t find it cool enough. He told the higher-ups that he would change it but sneakily chose to keep it in the final game. The retention of the animation in Demon’s Souls made Miyazaki even more determined to bring it back in the game’s spiritual successor, Dark Souls. 

In Dark Souls, the “Praise the Sun” gesture is often associated with the Warrior of Sunlight covenant and its most famous member, Solaire of Astora. Known as the cooperative-focused covenant, Warrior of Sunlight members appear as golden phantoms and can be seen performing the “Praise the Sun” gesture when called from their golden summon signs. The goal of the covenant’s members is to aid others in jolly cooperation by defeating the bosses in the areas they were summoned to. Completing this task earns Sunlight Medals which can be used to increase the rank in the covenant and deepen their faith with the Lord of Sunlight, a.k.a. Gwyn, Lord of Cinder. 

In a franchise as dark and difficult as Dark Souls, the “Praise the Sun” gesture serves as a reminder that players can always seek help from others. While the name of the covenant has changed (Dark Souls 2 swapped it out for the Heirs of the Sun), the core philosophy of the gesture remains the same. 

Bloodborne’s “Make Contact” gesture shows how humans communicated with the Great Ones 

Performed by stretching one open arm upwards and another straight to the side, Bloodborne’s “Make Contact” gesture is found in the Upper Cathedral Ward on a statue. Once obtained, the gesture can be performed in front of the Brain of Mensis in the Nightmare of Mensis to gain the Moon Caryll Rune. 

Because of the gesture’s name, location, and use, it is highly likely that “Make Contact” was used by the humans that first discovered the Great Ones – large, mystical beings with different powers. The Great Ones seemed to understand the gesture, as is proven when the Brain of Mensis reacts to it. While the relationship between humans and the Great Ones didn’t turn out so well, “Make Contact” shows that there were efforts by both races to understand each other. 

Elden Ring’s “The Ring” and “Miquella’s Ring” are viral gestures 

While Elden Ring has by far the most gestures out of all of FromSoftware’s Soulsborne games, two hand gestures stand out. Both “The Ring” and “Miquella’s Ring” gestures pertain to their associated content. “The Ring” signifies the Elden Ring, which in turn represents the current order in the Lands Between. Though the Shattering splintered the Elden Ring, the Great Runes (which are shards of the Elden Ring) are in the possession of demigods associated with Queen Marika the Eternal and Radagon of the Golden Order. “The Ring” gesture, which is done by forming a circle above the head using both arms, signifies the complete Elden Ring and order being restored. 

The “Miquella’s Ring” gesture is both similar and different to “The Ring” in more ways than one. For starters, the way it is performed by forming a circle to one’s side using both arms is similar and somewhat unique at the same time. The fact that the gesture is named “Miquella’s Ring” alludes to the Empyrean’s choice to break off from the Golden Order and become a god in his own right (this serves as the core narrative for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC). Miquella’s proposed new order would then be signified by Miquella’s Ring and its associated gesture. 

What’s interesting is that both “The Ring” and “Miquella’s Ring” gestures are obtained in similar ways. “The Ring” can be obtained by pre-ordering Elden Ring or defeating a boss in the base game with someone who has pre-ordered the game themselves. “Miquella’s Ring” works the same way, with the only difference being that the pre-order and defeated bosses are associated with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. In this sense, both gestures are partly viral in nature as they can be obtained by interacting with other players. Though this may not be intended, getting the gestures this way could serve as a symbol of how faith in the Elden Ring and Miquella’s Ring is spread throughout the game’s community. 

There are more gestures in FromSoftware games with deeper meaning, but these four in particular are the most impactful in their associated titles. So, the next time you see someone pop a “Praise the Sun” gesture in a convention, be a good sport and throw them one back in kind.