One of the most iconic aspects of the Elder Scrolls series is its vast pantheon of gods and Daedra, all of which have played a significant role in the history of Tamriel at various points throughout the Elder Scrolls franchise. From major players like Akatosh to less-powerful beings such as Peryite, the Nine Divines and sixteen Elder Scrolls Daedric Princes are arguably among the series' most recognizable characters in the eyes of most Elder Scrolls fans. It helps that each has made consistent returns through almost all of the franchise's mainline games and spinoffs. At this point, though, there are several gods and Daedra who may have made a few too many appearances, and their time in the spotlight can afford to be given to less-developed figures in the pantheon instead. Which of The Elder Scrolls' most overused characters should take a step back in the upcoming Elder Scrolls 6?
As far as screentime goes, the Daedric Princes likely have more than just about any other Elder Scrolls character thanks to their recurring roles in every game from Daggerfall to The Elder Scrolls Online. Several of these Daedra have additionally gone on to star in individual questlines or DLC, such as Nocturnal's role in Skyrim's thieves guild questline or Hermaeus Mora's involvement in the Dragonborn expansion. Although the Nine Divines are just as significant, their role tends to be more downplayed, as these gods are incapable of physical involvement with the world of Tamriel. That said, there are a few exceptions, such as the Avatar of Akatosh's appearance at the ending of Oblivion's main questline.
For the time being, little is known of Elder Scrolls 6's primary storyline or even the broader strokes of the game's narrative. Although Elder Scrolls fans have theorized about many different potential settings from Hammerfell to High Rock, Bethesda has yet to offer any confirmation one way or another, and it isn't even clear when exactly in the Elder Scrolls timeline the next installment of the franchise will be set. While it does seem likely that Elder Scrolls 6 will follow Skyrim chronologically, the specifics are unknown. According to Bethesda director Todd Howard, Elder Scrolls 6 is still in its early design stages and will probably remain that way until after the Fall 2022 release of Bethesda's space-based RPG Starfield, meaning there's plenty of time for long-time followers of the series to speculate how the Elder Scrolls formula could shift moving forward. One major change could be implemented by decreasing the screentime of objectively overused characters and allowing more minor deities to shine.
Sheogorath Gets Too Much Elder Scrolls Attention Already
Perhaps the most frequently-appearing Daedric Prince in the series, Sheogorath has seen major involvement in multiple spinoffs as well as mainline Elder Scrolls games. He first gained significance in Oblivion's Shivering Isles DLC and subsequently made comebacks with a large role in Elder Scrolls Online's mages guild questline, a full story in the online card game Elder Scrolls Legends, and a recurring cameo appearance in the mobile title Elder Scrolls Blades. Sheogorath has become an uncontested fan favorite over the years, to such an extent that it's improbable he won't appear in some shape or form come The Elder Scrolls 6. That said, given how much Elder Scrolls fans already know about his lore, the next game in the series would perhaps be better off letting him take a step back and allowing more overlooked Elder Scrolls Daedric Princes to shine instead.
Elder Scrolls 6 Should Focus Less On Mara
Mara is often considered to be the Goddess of Love in the pantheon of the Nine Divines, and in Skyrim, she serves as a symbol associated with marriage. Players must don an Amulet of Mara to be considered as a potential marriage candidate, and the ceremony takes place at the Temple of Mara located in Riften. Although like the other Divines, she doesn't physically appear in any form other than that of a statue, Mara has been mentioned in every mainline Elder Scrolls game and receives more focus than most of the other Divines, particularly in Skyrim.
If The Elder Scrolls 6 chooses to overhaul and improve Skyrim's often underwhelming marriage mechanics, the series could perhaps distance the practice from being associated with Mara, allowing room for more unique cultural interpretations of marriage to emerge instead. One other Aedra that could possibly be explored as an example is Stendarr, the Vigilants of whom appear throughout Skyrim on a seemingly eternal quest to purge Tamriel of Daedric influence and could stand to play a larger role than that of just minor randomly-encountered NPCs.
Molag Bal Shouldn't Be Elder Scrolls 6's Main Antagonist
Molag Bal oversees the sphere of domination and enslavement of mortals and as such plays an antagonistic role in much of Tamriel's history. Notably, he served as the primary antagonist of The Elder Scrolls Online and has various quests that can be completed in Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. He's also often considered to be the father of vampirism in The Elder Scrolls. Like Mehrunes Dagon, the primary antagonist of Oblivion, his actions on Nirn tend to lean mostly towards outright chaos and destruction thanks to his gamble for power over mortals. As such, it can at times feel as though his involvement in the series is repetitive and less nuanced than cunning Daedra like Hermaeus Mora. There isn't much of a compelling reason to give him additional focus in The Elder Scrolls 6.
Everyone's Sick Of Hearing About Skyrim's Talos
Although Talos is one of the more complex gods in the pantheon of the Nine Divines, particularly given his status as a former mortal, his hefty amount of focus in Skyrim makes him a weak candidate to receive a large role in The Elder Scrolls 6. Skyrim's civil war between the Imperials and Stormcloaks was in part started over the Thalmor's outlaw on Talos worship, and there is a multitude of statues dedicated to Talos that can be found throughout the game's map. Although it seems probable that he will continue to have at least some form of relevance, especially if the conflict between the Aldmeri Dominion and the Empire continues in The Elder Scrolls 6, he's probably received enough hard focus for most fans to be ready for something new.
Mehrunes Dagon Might Be The Most Overused Daedric Prince In The Elder Scrolls
Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of Destruction, has served as an antagonistic force in multiple Elder Scrolls games, including Oblivion, Blackspire, and the Elder Scrolls Online chapter Blackwood. Like Sheogorath, he's arguably one of the most well-known Elder Scrolls Daedric Princes both in-universe and among fans of the Elder Scrolls series, and as such, it can at times feel as though there isn't much left to discover when it comes to his interactions with Tamriel. He's a relatively uninspired choice as far as antagonists go, and similarly to Azura, has played such a major role in a mainline game's primary storyline that he no longer needs the screentime The Elder Scrolls 6 would provide him. Overall, the main focus in The Elder Scrolls 6 should go towards Daedra and Aedra who haven't been extensively explored already, allowing players to finally delve into some of the more shadowed lore of the Elder Scrolls series.