Highlights
- Dragons in Genshin Impact and Elden Ring have complex lore and ancient origins, making them key figures in shaping their respective universes.
- Genshin Impact's dragons, known as Vishaps, vary in appearance based on their elemental attributes, while Elden Ring's dragons are descendants of Ancient Dragons with two wings and legs.
- Dragons in both games have faced significant conflicts in their history, with the Archon War in Genshin Impact and the war with the Ancient Dragons in Elden Ring, resulting in their fall from grace.
Fantasy isn't truly complete without its apex creature, the dragon, and the fearsome flying beast makes its appearance in multiple flagship franchises across cinema and video games. In fantasy adventure video games, dragons hold a prominent place in the lore of their respective universes, and Genshin Impact and Elden Ring have represented them excellently in a unique fashion. The lore behind the mythical winged serpent in Genshin Impact is rich and complex, from powerful Dragonlords to hybrid gods. The Homecoming story quest reveals the bulk of the dragon's storyline, telling players the race was once Sumeru's dominant power until a cataclysmic event all but wiped them out, leaving Nahida's family as the last surviving scion of this ancient people.
Elden Ring is similarly enshrouded in dragon lore - from the Ancient Dragons that once ruled over The Lands Between to the dragon cult and the lesser dragons that currently roam Elden Ring's world. Dragons in both universes have ancient origins predating the current world. Once dominant species, they have both faced significant conflicts. In ancient times, dragons reigned as the dominant species in Teyvat under the rule of the Seven Sovereigns, led by the mighty Dragon King Nibelung. However, their reign was challenged by the arrival of the Primordial One, which marked the beginning of the Archon War in Genshin Impact. The Primordial One eventually emerged victorious, reshaping the world for humanity's benefit, also forcing some dragons like the Bathysmal Vishaps to flee to the oceans.
Genshin Impact and Elden Ring's Dragons Have Fallen From Grace
Genshin Impact's dragons are powerful beings known as Vishaps in their juvenile form. They vary in appearance, reflecting their associated element's attributes. For example, the Earth Dragon Azhdaha has rough stone skin, while Dvalin, the Wind Dragon, has a sleek and svelte appearance. In Elden Ring, dragons are descendants of the Ancient Dragons - specifically the great Greyoll. They lack the command of lightning and stone scales of their ancestors and have two wings and legs instead of four.
In The Lands Between, before the Age of the Erdtree, the Ancient Dragons held dominion over the world. The Greater Will, which later influenced the Lands Between, engaged in a war with the Ancient Dragons, resulting in Marika's dynasty gaining power. This war had significant effects on the landscape, and remnants such as gravel stones, can still be found when roaming the map. Today's dragons, descendants of their ancient kin, pale in comparison to their forebears and are naturally feeble. However, the dragons have not lost their hold on the people of Elden Ring, and the alluring yet perilous practice of Dragon Communion, once embraced by the Dragon cult, continues to hold a primal appeal to certain warriors, despite the inherent risk of transforming into wyrms.
Dragons' elemental affiliations in Genshin Impact influence their abilities and interactions with ley lines. Geovishaps, a type of Vishap, also demonstrate a unique elemental affinity by drawing energy from ley lines. On the other hand, lightning is symbolic in the dragons' tale in Elden Ring. Dragonkin soldiers employ frozen lightning, while Ancient Dragons were once masters of Red Lightning. Notably, Godwyn of the Golden Order wields Golden Lightning, but the presence of Red Lightning is inconsistent with the Golden Order and raises intriguing questions about its potential connection to an Outer God beyond the Greater Will.
Dragons hold a compelling allure in both Genshin Impact and Elden Ring, representing creatures of immense power and significance in their respective universes. Their ancient origins, elemental affiliations, and influence on the lore make them key figures in shaping the destinies of Teyvat and the Lands Between. While each game uniquely portrays dragons, their similarities and symbolic roles make them captivating entities in the vast tapestries of their worlds' narratives.
Genshin Impact is now available on Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5. A Switch version is in development.
