{"id":34400,"date":"2024-07-22T12:31:18","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T03:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=34400"},"modified":"2024-07-22T12:31:19","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T03:31:19","slug":"dark-souls-bloodborne-and-elden-rings-most-iconic-hand-gestures-and-what-they-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/tips\/dark-souls-bloodborne-and-elden-rings-most-iconic-hand-gestures-and-what-they-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring\u2019s most iconic hand gestures and what they mean\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FromSoftware\u2019s Soulsborne games often feature gestures<\/a> that are closely tied to their narratives. While signs like Dark Souls\u2019 \u201cPraise the Sun\u201d and Bloodborne\u2019s \u201cMake Contact\u201d 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:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dark<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dark Souls\u2019 \u201cPraise the Sun\u201d gesture shows how grossly incandescent one can be <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Possibly the most popular gesture on this list, Dark Souls\u2019 \u201cPraise the Sun\u201d gesture made its first appearance in 2009\u2019s Demon\u2019s Souls. The animation where players stretch their arms upwards in a V shape plays whenever magic is cast using the Ring of Sincere Prayer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t 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\u2019s Souls made Miyazaki even more determined to bring it back in the game\u2019s spiritual successor, Dark Souls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Dark Souls, the \u201cPraise the Sun\u201d 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 \u201cPraise the Sun\u201d gesture when called from their golden summon signs. The goal of the covenant\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a franchise as dark and difficult as Dark Souls, the \u201cPraise the Sun\u201d 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bloodborne's
Image via AzeDevs<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bloodborne\u2019s \u201cMake Contact\u201d gesture shows how humans communicated with the Great Ones <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Performed by stretching one open arm upwards and another straight to the side, Bloodborne\u2019s \u201cMake Contact\u201d 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of the gesture\u2019s name, location, and use, it is highly likely that \u201cMake Contact\u201d was used by the humans that first discovered the Great Ones \u2013 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\u2019t turn out so well, \u201cMake Contact\u201d shows that there were efforts by both races to understand each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Elden
Image via stoned_sages<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Elden Ring\u2019s \u201cThe Ring\u201d and \u201cMiquella\u2019s Ring\u201d are viral gestures <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Elden Ring has by far the most gestures out of all of FromSoftware\u2019s Soulsborne games, two hand gestures stand out. Both \u201cThe Ring\u201d and \u201cMiquella\u2019s Ring\u201d gestures pertain to their associated content. \u201cThe Ring\u201d 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. \u201cThe Ring\u201d gesture, which is done by forming a circle above the head using both arms, signifies the complete Elden Ring and order being restored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Miquella's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cMiquella\u2019s Ring\u201d gesture is both similar and different to \u201cThe Ring\u201d in more ways than one. For starters, the way it is performed by forming a circle to one\u2019s side using both arms is similar and somewhat unique at the same time. The fact that the gesture is named \u201cMiquella\u2019s Ring\u201d alludes to the Empyrean\u2019s choice to break off from the Golden Order and become a god<\/a> in his own right (this serves as the core narrative for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC). Miquella\u2019s proposed new order would then be signified by Miquella\u2019s Ring and its associated gesture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s interesting is that both \u201cThe Ring\u201d and \u201cMiquella\u2019s Ring\u201d gestures are obtained in similar ways. \u201cThe Ring\u201d 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. \u201cMiquella\u2019s Ring\u201d 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\u2019s Ring is spread throughout the game\u2019s community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cPraise the Sun\u201d gesture in a convention, be a good sport and throw them one back in kind. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FromSoftware titles’ unusual gestures, such as the Elden Ring gesture, have unique roles in the games’ narrative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":34402,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[56],"class_list":["post-34400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips","tag-elden-ring"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nDark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring\u2019s most iconic hand gestures and what they mean\u00a0 - AUTOMATON WEST<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"FromSoftware titles' unusual gestures, such as the Elden Ring gesture, have unique roles in the games' narrative.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/tips\/dark-souls-bloodborne-and-elden-rings-most-iconic-hand-gestures-and-what-they-mean\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring\u2019s most iconic hand gestures and what they mean\u00a0 - 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