The character creator in Elden Ring is far above and beyond what was available in previous FromSoftware RPGs. From hideous malformations to hilariously accurate Elden Ring renderings of Friends’ Ross Geller, the in-game toolkit allows for an unprecedented amount of variety. One Redditor, however, did more than simply modify their in-game appearance, working to build an entire Darth Maul cosplay replete with a fiery double-bladed weapon.
Posted to the Elden Ring subreddit on March 14, jel5000 showcased some serious dedication, offering up the most precise Star Wars crossover conceivable. The character’s red-and-black face and fearsome yellow eyes are partially concealed beneath a hood, while the rest of his body looks to be cloaked in the Ronin’s set which can be earned by following Bloody Finger Hunter Yura’s questline. Unfortunately, the player must kill Yura to earn the set, though this is perhaps in keeping with Darth Maul’s villainous ways.
The crowning achievement of jel5000’s digital cosplay, however, has to be the inclusion of the twinblade set alight by the Bloodflame Blade incantation. Burning with an intense red aura, the incantation transforms the weapon into a close copy of Darth Maul’s iconic dual-bladed lightsaber, and it also imparts those struck by it with the hemorrhage status effect. Aspiring Sith Lords-to-be may be delighted to know that Elden Ring’s twinblade can be earned early on, as it's hidden in the Dragon-burnt Ruins in Limgrave.
Perhaps the best part of this Darth Maul build is the inclusion of the spinning weapon Ash of War which allows the character to twirl their weapon as a Sith blocking blaster bolts might. When paired with the twinblade, this Ash of War is as effective as it is flashy, and it would easily earn the respect of players encountered during invasions. Yet, it may not impart the same sort of terror as experienced by one unfortunate Elden Ring player who invaded another player’s world only to come upon three ominous nude men.
Sword Dance would make for another excellent Ash of War to add to Darth Maul’s repertoire. Not only does it convey the sort of finesse required of every warrior trained with a lightsaber, but the Ash of War can be used to land Elden Ring’s many otherwise-unmakeable jumps. This may call to mind the admittedly-goofy helicopter move used by the Inquisitors in the Star Wars Rebels television series, but, having survived the events of The Phantom Menace’s finale by unbelievable means, Darth Maul is no stranger to the unconventional.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.