Initially in Elden Ring, the demigod family of Queen Marika the Eternal and Marika herself appear to be the strongest powers in the Lands Between, supported by a mysterious entity known as the Two Fingers. However, later in the story, the player learns that the demigods they battle against are nowhere close to the top.
Much of the game's backstory and plot is driven by the actions of the 'Outer Gods,' which are immensely powerful beings from outside the Lands Between who battle for influence over the world. Each has its own motives, goals, and followers. Several are important to the game's plot, while others are mere background mentions.
7 The Greater Will Is The Dominant Power In The Lands Between
The recent history of the Lands Between has been dominated by the Golden Order and the empire of Queen Marika that enforces it. Long after Marika's disappearance and the civil wars of the Shattering weakened the Golden Order, leaving the Lands Between in a sorry state, worship of her is widespread, and her empire is still the nominal power.
The patron – and true leader – of the Golden Order is the Outer God known as the Greater Will. Using the Erdtree as its symbol of power, it's associated with a notion of order and perfection – notably oppressing many of the 'imperfect' races of the world in favor of humanity. Its envoys are the Two Fingers, who serve as bizarre angels speaking the Greater Will's wishes to the Finger-Reader Crones. In the game's default ending, the player empowers the Greater Will by becoming Elden Lord – despite the Greater Will's resistance.
6 The Scarlet Rot Is A Spreading Corruption
Scarlet Rot is known first and foremost as one of the most unpleasant status effects in the game. It shreds a player's health and is the affliction that turned the once-mighty General Radahn into a broken shell of his former self. The Rot infests the entire region of Caelid following Radahn's duel with Malenia, and has devastated the region and all life within it.
However, it is more sinister than a mere illness. The Scarlet Rot is either an Outer God in and of itself or the most obvious manifestation of one. It's imprisoned beneath the Lands Between in the Lake of Rot, but evidently still has power. Despite Malenia being an Empyrean empowered by the Greater Will, the Scarlet Rot was able to corrupt her and afflict her with the Rot from birth, making her eventual destiny 'Goddess of Rot.'
5 The Dark Moon Acts Through Ranni The Witch
The politics of the Outer Gods are complex, and not always hostile. It's evident they can form alliances, as shown by the marriage between Radagon of the Golden Order – one of the most powerful servants of the Greater Will – and Queen Rennala of the Full Moon – leader of a dynasty empowered by the Dark Moon, another Outer God.
For a time, the two appeared to be allied, but the Dark Moon evidently takes another path following Radagon abandoning Rennala for Marika. Now its most obvious servant is Ranni the Witch, a demigod chosen as an Empyrean by the Greater Will, potentially one day to replace Marika. However, she instead follows the Dark Moon in a deliberate attempt to defy destiny. Its plans, achieved in the 'Age of Stars' ending, are to make the machinations of fate invisible to the masses, giving way to an age of uncertainty and freedom.
4 An Unnamed Outer God Of Death Inhabits The Lands Between
Not all Outer Gods are immense presences in the Lands Between. Others are minor players or background mentions. This is most notable with the Outer God associated with the concept of death, which doesn't even have a name. Receiving scant mention in item descriptions, the god is associated with the Deathbirds that can be periodically fought around the map at night.
Some fan theories tie this Outer God to the mysterious Godskin Cult and their Gloam-Eyed Queen leader, but the lore is unclear on the matter. Muddying things is how the Greater Will has at least some control over death, having the rune known as Destined Death as part of its world-defining Elden Ring. As such, perhaps this nameless god may be explored more in the future.
3 The Fell God Is The Beaten God Of The Giants
Prior to the Shattering, the Golden Order fought two notable wars. The one against the dragons ended in peace with the dragons becoming a valued part of Marika's empire. The other, however, ended in the near-total extinction of the giants, leaving only one left to tend to their forge – something that becomes crucial later in the game.
The game makes various mentions of the 'Fell God' of the giants, and its power implies it's an Outer God. The reason one giant is alive is that even the power of the Greater Will could not extinguish their forge, and it presents a threat to the world if left alone. In addition, the Fell God is likely the one most directly fought in the game. When the player weakens the Fire Giant enough, it offers its own wounded leg in tribute and becomes empowered by its deity, one enormous eye-opening in its midsection.
2 The Formless Mother Is A Goddess Of Blood And Defilement
A great many of the Outer Gods at least have some pretence of benevolence and beneficence, but not the Formless Mother. Another minor player, relatively speaking, she's worshipped primarily by the demigod Mohg, the Lord of Blood, and his Omen followers – in addition to being empowered by every player who engages in PvP.
Not as powerful as the Greater Will or even weaker Outer Gods, the influence of the Formless Mother is mostly found around Mohg's subterranean palace, and its plan seems to be a long-term one. Mohg kidnapped his half-brother Miquella, hoping to turn him into a god on the level of Marika and become his consort, which would have immense potential for the Formless Mother to gain a foothold in the Lands Between. However, for now, it is one of the smaller – and more evil – players in their game.
1 The Frenzied Flame Is Destruction Incarnate
The Frenzied Flame is a power wielded by several NPCs and is even capable of being weaponized by the player with several weapons and Incantations. It inflicts the Madness status ailment, and players can find areas corrupted by it dotted around the map, with all of their inhabitants mindless or gone mad. It's one of the more recent Outer Gods, and one created in the Lands Between themselves.
When its people – the Wandering Merchants – were oppressed by Marika's empire to the extent of being buried alive in mass graves, their suffering combined to form the Frenzied Flame. Because of this, it sets itself up as the nemesis of the Greater Will, including its heralds being the 'Three Fingers' in direct mockery. Should the player commune with the Three Fingers, the Frenzied Flame gets its wish of destruction in the 'Lord of Frenzied Flame' ending. The Tarnished looks set to burn the world to ashes with only Melina promising to stand against them.