Erosion
Last updated 2026-05-02
Erosion, also known as the curse of time,[1] is a general term that describes the gradual wear that beings undergo over the passage of time. Although it is most commonly associated with mental deterioration, erosion is not limited to memory alone, and can affect multiple aspects of one’s existence, including the physical body, the will, and the spirit.
Erosion does not affect all beings equally: not everyone experiences it at a specific age, nor do all suffer from the same types of erosion.[1][2] Even powerful and long-lived beings, such as gods and elemental dragons, are susceptible to this process, which is part of the natural order imposed by the Heavenly Principles[3] and appears to maintain a possible connection to Istaroth, the Ruler of Time.[1][4][5]
Erosion manifests through the constant flow of the ley lines, which sustain this endless cycle.[6] Because of this, erosion is directly linked to the Irminsul, and it is likely to affect only those beings whose existence is recorded within it.
Kinds of Erosion
Over the long years of his imprisonment, his power has slowly dissipated. He has also become disfigured from the various kinds of erosion he has been subjected to.
Although erosion is often mentioned as a general phenomenon, it does not manifest in a single form. There are multiple kinds of erosion, which may affect a being independently or simultaneously over time.[2]
Mental Erosion
Mental erosion affects memory and consciousness, manifesting primarily as a progressive loss of memories and confusion. As this type of erosion advances, an individual may forget important events, personal bonds, or even decisions they made themselves.
- Azhdaha is the clearest case of mental erosion, having completely succumbed to erosion. Over time, he lost his memories of Morax, Liyue Harbor, his coexistence with humanity, and the fact that he accepted being sealed away.[3]
Physical Erosion
Physical erosion directly affects the body or physical form of an individual. It manifests as deterioration, wear, or bodily deformation over time.
- This type of erosion is explicitly mentioned in relation to the inevitability of physical decay, which led Ei to abandon her original body and replace it with a puppet designed to withstand deterioration.[7][8]
Erosion of the Will
Erosion of the will affects an individual’s determination and inner purpose. Over time, the will may weaken, making it difficult to uphold ideals, decisions, or goals, and leading to the abandonment of what one once pursued.
- Ei explicitly acknowledges the existence of this type of erosion and states that the will she carries within herself cannot be eroded.[6][9]
- An opposing example is Azhdaha, who accepted being sealed by Morax, but as erosion progressed, he lost the reason behind that decision.[3]
Erosion of the Spirit
Erosion of the spirit affects a being’s spiritual existence or soul. This type of erosion can cause a gradual loss of one’s sense of “self,” leading to violent or feral behavior and, in extreme cases, complete madness.
- Ei is another explicit example of erosion of spirit. According to Yae Miko, because the spirit is susceptible to erosion, Ei placed her consciousness inside her sword and meditates endlessly within the Plane of Euthymia in order to preserve her being, remaining free from external disturbances.[7]
- Azhdaha is the most well-known case of this type of erosion. Over time, he lost control of himself and attacked humanity indiscriminately, despite having coexisted with and protected them for a long period.[3]
- Zhongli expresses concern over this same fate, stating that the more powerful a person is, the more dangerous they become under the effects of erosion. He indirectly confirms the Traveler’s suspicions that erosion was the reason he chose to step down from his position as the Geo Archon.[3]
- Dainsleif states that the curse of immortality denies death to those who suffer from it, but that does not mean they will never die. Over time, both body and soul continue to erode until they become nearly nonexistent, even if death is not the form that this erosion takes.[10]
Prevention
Morax shared with us some of his power, to prevent further erosion. But... it was futile. Everything returns to dust. It is the natural order, an unstoppable force.
Two attempts at stalling or circumventing erosion have been mentioned.
The first is Zhongli's attempt to halt Azhdaha's erosion by sharing his powers with Azhdaha, which ultimately failed. According to both Azhdaha and Zhongli, erosion is part of the "natural order" and is "imposed" by the Heavenly Principles.[3]
The second is Ei's creation of the Shogun, an autonomous puppet designed with the explicit purpose of withstanding erosion.[8] Following the losses she sustained during the cataclysm and her ascension to the seat of the Electro Archon, Ei became fixated on "eternity," hoping to preserve Inazuma's prosperity forever. Aware that her spirit was susceptible to erosion, she created the Shogun, who would rule Inazuma in her stead while she secluded herself within the Plane of Euthymia to stave off erosion through meditation.[11] Because Ei believed she could potentially become an enemy of eternity herself, she deliberately made the Shogun's operational rules difficult to change even by herself, as change would not be conducive towards eternity.[12]
Trivia
- It is possible that Kanna Kapatcir was affected by both mental and spiritual erosion, first forgetting her true name and who bestowed it upon her, and later, following Ruu’s sacrifice, descending into madness, destroying Tsurumi Island and its civilization, and ultimately becoming a "monster".[13][14]
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Erosion | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 磨损 Mósǔn | Abrasion |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 磨損 Mósǔn | |
| Japanese | 摩耗 Mamou[15] | Abrasion |
| Korean | 마모 Mamo | Abrasion |
| Spanish | Erosión | Erosion |
| French | Érosion | Erosion |
| Russian | Эрозия Eroziya | Erosion |
| Thai | การสึกกร่อน Kan suek kron | |
| Vietnamese | Sự Mài Mòn | Abrasion |
| German | Erosion | — |
| Indonesian | Erosi | Erosion |
| Portuguese | Erosão | Erosion |
| Turkish | Erozyon | Erosion |
| Italian | Erosione |
Change History
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Event A Lanternlit Ode to the Silver Moon Quest, A Lanternlit Ode to the Silver Moon: Act II: The Realm of Rocks
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Weekly Boss: Azhdaha
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Story Quest, Zhongli, Historia Antiqua Chapter: Act II - No Mere Stone, Part 4: Amidst Chaos, the Rock Is Unmoved
- ↑ Book: Springs of Hidden Jade
As for her, she had no choice but to be trapped within the shell of the starry sky, forced to tarry within this stagnant, foreign land, awaiting her mother's thousand threads, awaiting the erosion of hardy stone [...] - ↑ World Quest, Agnihotra Sutra, Part 3: The Final Chapter
Aranaga: Here, Aranaga's remembrance, is this flower. Cannot blow him away, the Ad Oblivione; cannot destroy him, the device that takes away dreams [...] Yes, the wind that flows forever, the thousand winds that return to one. But, on earth is the stream, and the ubiquitous is the wind. - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Story Quest, Raiden Shogun, Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter: Act II - Transient Dreams, Part 2: Farewell to the Past
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Archon Quest, Chapter II, Act III - Omnipresence Over Mortals, Part 4: The Servant's Path
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Raiden Shogun's Voice-Over: About the Raiden Shogun: Eternity
- ↑ Story Quest, Raiden Shogun, Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter: Act II - Transient Dreams, Part 3: Radiant Sakura
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter II, Act IV - Requiem of the Echoing Depths, Part 2: The Grave of the Guarded
- ↑ Raiden Shogun's Character Story: Character Story 4
- ↑ Story Quest, Raiden Shogun, Imperatrix Umbrosa Chapter: Act I - Reflections of Mortality, Part 1: The Lonesome Euthymia
- ↑ World Quest, Through the Mists: The Sun-Wheel and Mt. Kanna
- ↑ World Quest, Through the Mists: The Sea of Fog and the Rite of the Trees
- ↑ Story Quest, Zhongli, Historia Antiqua Chapter: Act II - No Mere Stone, Part 4: Amidst Chaos, the Rock Is Unmoved (Japanese Voice-Over)
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