The Lands Between has seen many intelligent beings within and outside of them, whether that is before the player-created Tarnished mended, or destroyed the world in one of the many endings for Elden Ring. These intelligent characters are present throughout Elden Ring and the lore that came before it.
As the saying goes, the pen is mightier than the sword, and some of these characters, exhibit their great power through their intellect, rather than how good they are at rolling or parrying attacks, or if they can solo Malenia.
8 Godfrey, First Elden Lord
As the Tarnished aspire to be the newest Elden Lord, they should look to the first to see how powerful they can become. Godfrey did not always have his title of the First Elden Lord, but it was within his calmness and desire to quell the violent urges that he committed himself to be the iconic Elden Lord that players encounter far later into the game.
Godfrey’s origin was Hoarah Loux, a chieftain of the Badlands. Although Godfrey is known for his physical strength, it does not make him any less smart, as he seeks one that could overtake him, and take his crown. It takes a true intellect to realize that there can exist those better than one's self.
7 Radagon Of The Golden Order
The God boss of Elden Ring, Radagon of the Golden Order is difficult for a reason. Not only is Radagon on a quest that he will not allow anyone to stop him from, but he has spent years of his life dedicated to the study of sorcery and incantations, a feat that doesn’t allow for someone piling points into strength to wield ridiculously sized swords.
Radagon is one of the smartest characters in the Elden Ring lore, and for good reason. His dedication to repairing the Elden Ring after its shattering proves that he is a man of commitment and will and won't allow any Tarnished and Spirit Ash to interrupt what he sees as the path to a greater tomorrow.
6 Ranni The Witch
Ranni embraces the player with an intellectual dialect and poses a quest line filled with riddles, intrigue, and achievement. Ranni has an ultimate goal that the player must decipher, yet, it must be a fair goal if she has disciples and minions that will commit themselves to her requests.
Perhaps the most interesting part of Ranni is how she cheated death and managed to bind her soul to that of a doll. There’s a great level of intellect within the body of this doll, and a new world that she seeks, hence the request of a Tarnished to follow her.
5 Mohg, Lord Of Blood
Whether it is intelligence or madness, Mohg embraced the accursed Omen's blood and found himself mastering that of the blood flame magic. Mohg is not like his brother Morgott and instead hides away to focus on his power and any spells that could help him to become a true Empyrean.
Mohg focuses heavily on magic and the abilities that could be fatal to the player. Mohg’s intellect has his mission involve the kidnapping and raising of Miquella, raising them into godhood so that Mohg may be his consort, and advance in the birthplace of his dynasty.
4 Dung Eater
A true and bleak killer, Dung Eater deserves no fame or recognition for his foul deeds and his cruel, unspeakable torture of the world. Nevertheless, it is ignorant to deny that Dung Eater is smart, and not as stupid as his outfit, or entrapment implies.
The Dung Eater is a true scourge upon the living, a statement that he proudly proclaims. Dung Eater is a foul being in Elden Ring and seeks to make the world a worse place, a smart character with twisted designs for all living things.
3 Rennala, Queen Of The Full Moon
One of the Legend Bosses in Elden Ring is Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon. Upon inspecting the defeated Queen’s Crescent Crown, players will discover that Rennala was the head of the Academy of Raya Lucaria and the Carian royal family. Rennala’s commitment to the students of the academy is shown by how they protect her during her boss fight.
Not only is Rennala a genius and a scholar, but her ability to possess what seems to be the powers of the moon is worthy of a ranking in itself. However, Rennala falters due to the amber egg, something she cradles, and causes a broken mind unto herself.
2 The Noble Goldmask
There’s a reason that Goldmask is referred to as noble. Goldmask is Tarnished but has riven above the cruelty of his namesake to become a great scholar and one that has the intellect and forbearing to see the coming guidance of Grace. “The Ever-Brilliant” Goldmask may seem a tad far gone, with his lack of clothes and strange sunflower mask, but it all shows how his faith is above his appearance.
Goldmask may not use his words, but his actions and his mind are one of the greatest gifts to the Elden Ring lore. Goldmask pursued the Golden Order, and sought its perfection with the mending of the shattered Elden Ring, an order that would provide a new sense of peace and intellect to the Lands Between.
1 Gideon Ofnir
Gideon is known as the All-Knowing, and as a profound source of knowledge for all things both in and out of the Lands Between, it is no surprise that Gideon is the leader of the Roundtable Hold. Gideon is always in his office at the Roundtable Hold, surrounded by books, constantly reading and engaging with the words contained within them.
Perhaps no character is smarter or more knowledgeable than Gideon, who can tell the player everything they want to know. Gideon is a great source of knowledge for plenty of things, especially in helping the player-created Tarnished to locate the shard bearers that are more secluded and secret.