Before the player-created Tarnished mended the world or the world was destroyed in one of the many possible endings for Elden Ring, the Lands Between were home to a great number of intelligent beings, both inside and outside of their borders. The lore that preceded Elden Ring contains references to a number of intelligent characters who appear throughout the story.

Some of these characters demonstrate their great power through their intellect rather than how good they are at rolling or parrying attacks, or if they can solo Malenia, as the proverb goes, the pen is mightier than the sword. This is how they demonstrate their great power.

Godfrey, First Elden Lord
As the Tarnished work toward their goal of becoming the next Lord of Elden, they should study the Elden Lords who came before them to get a sense of how powerful they can become. Godfrey did not always hold the title of the First Elden Lord, but it was because of his composure and his desire to quell the violent urges that he made the decision to become the iconic Elden Lord that players meet much later in the game. This decision was made when Godfrey was trying to quell the violent urges within himself.

Godfrey descended from the Badlands leader Hoarah Loux, who was Godfrey's ancestor. Although Godfrey is known for his physical strength, this does not make him any less intelligent, as evidenced by the fact that he is searching for someone who is capable of surpassing him and assuming his throne. To acknowledge the possibility that there are people more accomplished than oneself is an indication of true intellectual capacity.

Radagon Of The Golden Order
There is a purpose behind why the God boss of Elden Ring, Radagon of the Golden Order, is so challenging. Not only is Radagon on a quest that he will not allow anyone to stop him from, but he has also spent years of his life dedicated to the study of sorcery and incantations, a feat that does not allow for someone piling points into strength to wield ridiculously large swords. Radagon has spent his life dedicated to the study of sorcery and incantations, and he will not allow anyone to stop him from completing his quest.

There is a good reason why Radagon is considered to be one of the most intelligent characters in the lore of the Elden Ring. His determination to mend the Elden Ring after it was shattered demonstrates that he is a man of commitment and will. He is not going to let any Tarnished or Spirit Ash derail what he views as the way to a better tomorrow.

The Sorceress Ranni
Ranni welcomes the player with an intellectual dialect and presents a quest line that is full of enigmas, mysteries, and opportunities for achievement. Ranni has an ultimate goal, which the player is tasked with deciphering; however, if she is to have disciples and minions who are willing to commit themselves to her requests, that goal must be reasonable.

The fact that Ranni was able to save her own life by faking her own death by fusing her soul with that of a doll is perhaps the most fascinating aspect of her story. Because this doll has such a high level of intelligence and because she wants to explore a new world, she has asked a Tarnished to accompany her.

Mohg, The Lord Of Blood and Shadow
Mohg embraced the blood of the cursed Omen, and as a result, he found that he mastered the magic of the blood flame. This may have been due to his intelligence, or it may have been due to his madness. In contrast to his brother Morgott, Mohg prefers to remain hidden so that he can concentrate on increasing his power and learning any spells that might assist him in becoming a true Empyrean.

Mohg places a significant emphasis on magical abilities and other skills that could prove fatal to the player. Mohg's intellect has him believe that his mission involves kidnapping Miquella and bringing her up to godhood so that he can have her as his consort and advance in the birthplace of his dynasty.

Dung Eater
Dung Eater is a true and despicable killer who does not deserve any fame or recognition for the foul deeds he has committed or the cruel and unspeakable torture he has inflicted upon the world. In spite of this, it would be foolish to deny that Dung Eater is intelligent and not nearly as dimwitted as his attire or ensnarement would lead one to believe.

The Dung Eater takes great pride in proclaiming that he is a genuine threat to the living and that he is a scourge upon them. Dung Eater is a foul being that resides in Elden Ring and has the goal of making the world a worse place. This intelligent and cunning character has twisted plans for all living things.

Rennala, the Queen Of The Totally Luminous Moon
Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon is one of the Legendary Bosses that can be encountered in Elden Ring. Players will learn this information about Rennala after inspecting the Queen's Crescent Crown after it has been defeated. Rennala was the leader of the Carian royal family as well as the Academy of Raya Lucaria. Rennala's dedication to the students of the academy is demonstrated by the manner in which they defend her while she is battling the boss. Rennala is not only an intellectual prodigy but also a scholar, and the fact that she is able to possess what can only be described as the powers of the moon merits a ranking all on its own. Rennala, on the other hand, becomes mentally unstable as a direct result of the amber egg, which she protects and carries around with her.

The Magnificent Golden Mask
There is a rationale behind why people consider Goldmask to be a noble character. Goldmask is tainted, but he has risen above the viciousness of his namesake to become a great scholar. He is also someone who possesses the intellect and forbearance to see the approaching guidance of Grace. Goldmask, also known as "The Ever-Brilliant," may appear to be a little off his rocker, what with his lack of clothes and strange sunflower mask; however, this demonstrates that his faith is more important to him than his outward appearance.

Even though Goldmask does not make use of his words, the contributions that his actions and his mind make to the Elden Ring lore are among the most significant. Goldmask pursued the Golden Order and sought its perfection through the mending of the shattered Elden Ring. Goldmask believed that the Golden Order would bestow the Lands Between with a brand new sense of peace and intellect.

Gideon Ofnir
It should come as no surprise that Gideon, who is known as the All-Knowing and who is a profound source of knowledge for all things both in and out of the Lands Between, is the leader of the Roundtable Hold. Gideon's knowledge extends to everything. Gideon spends all of his time in his office at the Roundtable Hold, which is filled with books, and he is constantly reading and engaging with the ideas that are presented in those books.

Gideon is possibly the most intelligent and knowledgeable character in the game; he can answer any question a player might have about the game's world. Gideon is an excellent source of information for a wide variety of topics, but he is particularly useful for assisting the player-created Tarnished in locating the shard bearers who are hidden away in more remote areas.