Do you think you could do a character analysis of Elden Ring? Like what did you think about Godrick the Grafted?
One of the true joys of FromSoft's boss design is how well they communicate through gameplay as much as by lore, which is typically far more minimalist and delivered almost solely through item descriptions. That reminds me of the classic RPG days, where all lore was delivered through textboxes as a matter of practicality. Some of the funniest bits of classic gaming could be found in item boxes, like the description of the Golden Pantaloons in the original Baldur's Gate. FromSoft does a lot of communication through visual, non-verbal storytelling in boss movesets, from the goofy humor that you see in the introduction of the Gaping Dragon in the original Dark Souls to Morgott's regal demeanor when you finally face him at the food of the Erdtree in Elden Ring.
Godrick is the weakest of the Shardbearers in Elden Ring. He the only one who is not a direct son of Marika (due to the whole Marika/Radagon dual nature), he is a distant ancestor drawing from Godwyn the Golden's line, one of the most beloved of Marika's children. Godrick is quite keen to trumpet his legacy as heir to Godwyn and Godfrey. He proudly exclaims: "I am the Lord of all that is Golden. I command thee kneel!" Gold was the traditional color of royalty, as the rare and valuable metal signified the power and prestige of those who wore it. Godrick clings to his royal pedigree as a security blanket, but at every turn, the game does not hesitate to display his weakness and falseness. His healthbar proclaims him "Godrick the Grafted" not "Godrick the Golden," as he pretends himself to be. Only Morgott, who has his own hangups, refers to him as the Golden (and the one sword grave, which may have been carved on Morgott/Margit's orders). Whenever he shows up in the backstory, he's "the runt of the litter," and constantly beaten and humiliated by his cousins. He hides to flee Leyendell rather than face Morgott with the Mimic Veil, He hides from Radahn in Stormveil, then insults Malenia only to be beaten badly in a fight and beg for his life. No one respects him, not Kenneth Haight, not Gostoc his possible bastard son (the Gostoc/Godrick plotline is cut content, so its canon is dubious). Even his Great Rune emphasizes his weakness, as mechanically, Godrick's Great Rune is only useful at lower levels, before you hit the soft caps of mechanical progress where another rune might provide more concrete benefit, and the benefits equal to that of Castle Morne's legendary Grafted Greatsword Ash of War, Oath of Vengeance.
Godrick's epithet continues to emphasize his weakness. He is named "the Grafted" for his practice of grafting the limbs of other Tarnished on himself. Lacking power of his own, he hopes to take it from others rather than improve his own skills, as that would risk himself and risk conflict with Radahn to the east or Rennala to the north. The fact that Rennala, broken in Raya Luceria, does not command her armies, can still keep Godrick in Stormveil Castle further shows his weakness - the Carian Knights were not only equals of the golden champions of Radagon, but they seem to be able to handle or at least intimidate Godrick's much-diluted blood. Godrick didn't even develop grafting on his own, that was developed by Godefroy, who was captured by Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff. At every turn, Godrick is shown to be weak and incapable, the least of all the lessers, and draws only the least to him. Those who willingly give themselves up to be grafted, certainly, but the gameplay does this as well. His Lordsworn are the weakest, their Tree-and-Beast surcoat tell how faded they are. Even the dragon, who Godrick proclaims as a true-born heir is wrong. True dragons in Elden Ring possess stone scales, four wings, and four legs. This minor dragon only has two wings and lacks the stone coloration of Lannsseax, it is merely a minor offshoot, much like Godrick himself.
His moveset emphasizes this as well. His rolls are big and clumsy, far less adept than Margit the Fell Omen, the boss who we need to fight in order to reach Stormveil Castle. Godrick has multiple arms writhing on his back but they don't wield weapons. He wields two greataxes but Margit swung his holy Giant-Crusher hammer with greater speed and skill, showing that he is weaker than Morgott's lieutenant (it's actually Morgott, but a first-time character doesn't know that). The flames that he conjures when he cuts off his own hand in desperation to graft the dragon head are likewise scattershot - he does not create magma to deny terrain the way the Magma Wyrms do. All of this emphasizes Godrick's weakness, but also his envy. He aspires to heights that he lacks the capacity or capability to achieve on his own and hopes to bypass that by stealing the strength of others. Just as stealing the Mimic Veil though, all it does is prevent his defeat, it does nothing to strengthen him. Notably, envy is held as a sin because it's holder does nothing to improve themselves on their own, to earn that which they desire. To be envious is to be covetous, to desire to take rather than earn. One of the chief reasons why envy is a sin is that it denies worth to others, as Dante says that it is: "a desire to deprive other men of theirs." Envy is not just greed, but the idea that those who have what they have do not deserve it no matter what, it is for the envious sinner to possess. Godrick possesses countless hands but cannot use them to grasp anything, highlighting his impotence.
And so, Godrick is defined by weakness that he cannot break out of cowardice. Margit protects him from interlopers to Stormveil largely to prevent the rise of a greater foe, though he bears regard for all descendants of Marika not afflicted by the Omen Curse. This is the only regard that any of his family has for him - pity. Malenia spares him only after he begs, Margit only patronizingly protects him to prevent someone with actual skill rising to take the Elden Ring by claiming two shards. Godrick refuses to make something of himself, to challenge Rennala, Rykard, or Radahn and earn two shards to challenge Morgott. He wishes to return on rays of gold, to prove himself worthy of the legacy of Godfrey and Godwyn, yet all he ends up being is the first step on the road that the Tarnished, who bears no godly blood, to gain in power. And unlike Godrick, the Tarnished puts in the effort. He or she dies, countless times (unless you're one of those no death/no damage guys, but that isn't the standard play experience) but learns from each attempt. Like the Chosen Undead in Dark Souls presents an eternal opportunity to learn as long as you don't go Hollow, each death is a learning experience, enabled through Marika's removal of Destined Death from the Elden Ring. Godrick doesn't put in the work, he'd much prefer to just graft more Tarnished. This too, is reinforced by gameplay - you can level grind but will quickly reach a peak, and success is enabled far more by learning the attacks of each boss and their countermeasures. The Tarnished doesn't succeed by mindlessly grinding Vitality and hoping you have enough HP to trade blow for blow with the boss, but by using the correct Ashes of War, rolling at the correct time, and leveling your equipment. When the Tarnished defeats Godrick, they've beat a foe that switches between physical and fire damage, one who telegraphs his attacks to teach proper rolling instead of panic rolling, and of adapting to mistakes and changing boss movesets. When the Tarnished beats Godrick, the game is saying: "Congratulations, you have learned the mechanics, now let's escalate the pressure in the next zone; I hope you have fun in the Lakes of Liurnia, where elemental damage is more common, swarming is more common, and some stuff just doesn't seem fair at all."
Godrick is thus, in the final insult, the last tutorial boss. Morgott teaches you that you can hit the bricks and explore the Lands Between for better equipment, upgrades, and runes to level up, or even to look for items and exploits via the shackle you buy from Patches. Godrick is the final exam of the tutorial. You've successfully gone through a legacy dungeon, you have the chance to summon Nepheli provided you explored the castle as you're supposed to do. Use intelligent rolls, keep your head in the game, and you'll find that you've more than earned your victory, Tarnished.
Thanks for the question, Anon.
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