In Elden Ring, Miquella's Haligtree is not somewhere gamers are required to journey to in order to beat the game, but it is a very significant place in the Lands Between. Not only that, but it is home to Elden Ring's most difficult boss, Malenia. Within the trees canopy and roots is a lot of Misbegotten, and outside the tree itself, there many Albinaurics can be found.
The Haligtree has a lot of lore, as it is a tree much like the significant Erdtree in the game. It is also deeply connected to the demigod twins, Miquella and Malenia. Like much lore in Elden Ring, the story of the Haligtree is tragic. It was built with a purpose but ultimately failed to achieve its plans.
The Haligtree's Story
To understand the Haligtree's purpose is to know about Malenia and Miquella, the twin demigods birthed by Marika and Radagon. Both were born with unique bodies, as Malenia was inflicted with Scarlet Rot and Miquella could not age past childhood. As siblings, they were very close. Malenia loved her brother enough to call herself his blade, and it is theorized that she fought for shards of the Elden Ring not for herself, but for him so that he could become the new Elden Lord.
Miquella wanted to find a cure for both his and Malenia's birth defects. He sought a cure for Scarlet Rot, and it is hinted that once he learned that even the Greater Will itself could not help Malenia, he lost faith in the Golden Order. Fans believe it is around then that he began to create his own Erdtree separate from the Greater Will, the Haligtree. He created unalloyed gold to ward off the effects of Outer Gods and Scarlet Rot.
The Haligtree began as a sapling in the city of Elphael, and Miquella watered it with his own blood. He did this because he was Empyrean, and believed Empyrean blood may have the ability to create an Erdtree. As it grew to the Haligtree, Miquella attracted loyal followed who also were not fit for the Greater Will's plan. This included the Misbegotten and the Albinaurics. To them, the Haligtree became a Promised Land.
Not only does Miquella hope the Haligtree would help his sister, but also himself. He embedded himself into the tree's base in the hopes that he would grow with it and not be stuck as a child, but his plan never came to fruition. In his long sleep, his half-brother Mohg kidnaped him in the hopes that he could raise the demigod to a full one and become his consort. Around the same time, Malenia was gravely hurt in her battle against Radahn and was brought to the Haligtree. She never learned about what happened to Miquella and waited for him at the Haligtree's base, where he was supposed to be. Without Miquella to keep it alive, the Haligtree began to decay.
A Deeper Look Into The Haligtree's Purpose
Since Miquella is a character surrounded by mystery, the purpose of the Haligtree is a topic that fans still debate about. Most agree that the Haligtree was an attempt to create another Erdtree that did not obey the Greater Will. This is evidenced by many factors. The fact that Albinaurics and Misbegotten are all over the Haligtree and try to journey to it is evidence, as they are deemed unworthy of Grace by the Greater Will. They likely go to the Haligtree in the hope of being looked after by its soldiers and Miquella, and not being attacked by the Golden Order. Another piece of evidence is the lack of Miquella and Malenia's shadows. Every Empyrean, like Marika and Ranni, is known to have a shadow. Miquella and Malenia's are likely missing because they disobeyed the Greater Will and had to kill or imprison their shadows, who go berserk (like Blaidd) if their master disobeys the Golden Order.
With the Haligtree's supposed purpose being to serve as a new Erdtree, a lot of theories have risen up in the fan community. One is the possibility that Miquella was told to make the Haligtree by Marika herself, as a popular theory suggests that Marika was not loyal to the Greater Will and made many attempts to break its influence in the Lands Between. Her own children, particularly Miquella and Malenia (who she technically made by herself), may have been one such attempt to escape its grasp. Another question that relates to the Haligtree is how loyal its followers really were. It has been noted from the Bewitching Branch item text that Miquella had an ability to make others adore him. That ability may be part of why the Haligtree attracted so many, and this may also be why Malenia called him the "most fearsome Empyrean of all."
Elden Ring is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.