Why Does Elden Ring's Godfrey Never Use His Sword?

The fight against Godfrey, First Elden Lord has quickly become a favorite among fans of Elden Ring, but some designs of the boss still have some players scratching their heads. One notable piece of intrigue surrounding Godfrey's design is his armor set, which has a unique piece of equipment attached to his hip that he strangely never uses throughout the fight with the Tarnished.

Although Godfrey is most often seen wielding his axe in the two variations found throughout Elden Ring, the boss does carry a sword on his hip that at no point does he see fit to draw and start attacking with. However, considering the way that Godfrey is described through his relative equipment and other items, there is likely a lore reason for why he never draws the weapon throughout the fight.

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The Elden Lord Lives by the Axe

To start with why Godfrey would choose to never draw his sword throughout either fight in Elden Ring, even for a quick attack before putting it back, it is important to note what the axe he wields means to him. As described in the item description for the Axe of Godfrey, this weapon became a symbol for Godfrey's vow to conduct himself in a kingly manner as long as he took up the title of Elden Lord. So, considering that the fight starts against "Godfrey, First Elden Lord," his consistent use of his axe instead of his sword is his continued dedication to his original title and the Golden Lineage that his weapon embodied.

This dedication limiting his combat in Elden Ring to the axe can also be seen in the spectral lion mounted on Godfrey's shoulder. Serosh is more than a neat addition to Godfrey's visual design, but is directly related to the character's need to repress his battle-hungry temperament in order to carry himself as Elden Lord. The fact that Godfrey starts the fight with the axe equipped and Serosh still holding him in line with his vow as Elden Lord means that he is still willing to restrict himself for the sake of properly representing the crown he holds in such high regard.

Additionally, while it isn't directly stated in any armor or weapon description, the sword could have less of a combat utility for Godfrey and could be ceremonial. The hilt of the sword does bear a circular rune at the end, similar to the way that Elden Ring's Golden Order Greatsword bears a reflection of the titular Elden Ring that it was created within. So, while the Axe of Godfrey is a symbol of the golden order and the First Elden Lord's vow, the sword could have been a gift from Marika that acts as a reminder of his place that he wouldn't wield even when abandoning the axe.

Hoarah Loux Wants to Feel Battle with Bear Hands

While all the pomp and circumstance around Godfrey's lordly behavior in Elden Ring makes his aversion to his sword understandable in the first half of the fight, the same does not apply for Hoarah Loux, Warrior in phase two. However, for this phase, the explanation for using his bare hands instead of the sword is much more simple, and falls in line with exactly how over-the-top this character can get. Hoarah Loux simply chooses not to use the sword because he holds a ceaseless lust for battle that draws him to fight with his bear hands.

There could again be a secondary layer, given the ornamental design of Godfrey's sword, that could also avert Hoarah Loux from wanting to fight with his secondary weapon. Given that he has abandoned his axe and killed Serosh by phase two, it is possible that Hoarah Loux doesn't want anything to do with a weapon that might symbolize his connections to Marika. This could either be out of repentance for divesting from kinghood in order to win the fight, or it could be from a resentment that has built up between Godfrey and Marika over time.

Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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