It is an unspoken given amongstFromSoftwarefans that the real end game content for the studio’s games is how good a player character looks. The term “Fashion Souls” is appropriate, considering the lengths some players go to make their character’s armor and weapons complement each other aesthetically. A build born from such a concept might not be the best gameplay-wise givengames likeDark Soulsare so difficult, but it does draw the eyes of other players.
With Fashion Souls being such a big thing inFromSoftwaregames, some players come to wonder why the development studio has never added the ability to trully transmog gear. Transmogrification - defined as the game mechanic which allows players to alter their equipment’s appearance to that of another while still retaining its stats - would fit well in FromSoftware’s RPGs. But because of one certain feature, games likeElden RingandDark Souls 3might never give players the option to truly tailor their gear’s appearance to their liking.
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Armor and Weapons In FromSoftware Games Have Limitless Aesthetic Potential
Whether it be drab Hunter armors like the Black Church Set and Charred Hunter Set fromBloodborneor the many fantastical and colorful attires ofElden Ringsuch as the Goldmask’s Set and Radahn’s Lion Armor, most FromSoftware games give players a ton of options when it comes to outfitting their characters. The same goes for weapons.The Moonlight Greatsword is so iconicthat it has made various appearances in different FromSoftware games. While wearing or wielding these items might not always be ideal for a specific character (some items require players to reach certain attribute thresholds to use them effectively), they can still look good provided players match them up with other appropriate items.
To give an example, anElden Ringmage build that uses the blue Moonlight Greatsword would stand out more if it was paired with the Blue Cloth Vest or the Raya Lucarian Sorcerer Set. While the light blue color of the Blue Cloth Vest matches the hue of the greatsword,the lore implications of the Raya Lucarian Sorcerer Setmake it a better fit. Using the latter attire would not only be appreciated by those who love how it looks, but also by players who delve intoElden Ring’s lore.
Other Players Are Why Transmog Can Never Be A Thing In Typical FromSoftware RPGs
Sadly, it is because of other players that games likeElden RingandDark Soulscan never have true transmog options. Apart from taking pictures and videos of mods in the game in offline mode (modding disables the online features ofmost FromSoftware games), changing the physical appearance of weapons and gear isn’t allowed. This is because doing so negatively impacts the games. While cooperative PVE is fine since players are fighting against A.I. opponents, PVP is a different story.
The appearance of a character tells players so much about how they play. Players wearingheavy armor like the Havel’s SetfromDark Soulsusually have high physical damage resistances and reduced mobility. Likewise, a blood-based weapon inBloodbornelike the Chikage tells players to be wary of the wielder’s Bloodtinge-based attacks. By changing the appearance of a weapon or armor, players can mask their abilities during a fight. While this might be acceptable within the context of normal invasions, a lot of FromSoftware games have communities that are built on fair duels between players.
There are certain mechanics in FromSoftware games that dip into aesthetic changes. Sorceries like Hidden Weapon inDark Soulshelp players mask their loadouts from other players to get the drop on them.Elden Ringhas an Alter featurethat lets players add or remove certain elements of their attire to better suit their appearance.Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicehas full transmog features that were added post-launch that allow players to change the main protagonist Wolf to another character entirely. But due toSekiro: Shadows Die Twicehaving no PVP or PVE components, this is an exception rather than a rule. Full transmog features may never be implemented in FromSoftware games with PVE and PVP components, but this won’t stop players from modding the game or mixing and matching unique weapon and gear sets to get the best looks possible.
Elden Ringis available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
