Summary
The launch ofElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is approaching, and fans are already busy theory crafting about what it could include.Elden Ringwas already such a massive, densely packed game that the addition of a whole other region to the game will likely add on hours of new content to explore, with secrets and hidden lore scattered throughout. Several new categories of weapons have already been confirmed, and Shadow of the Erdtree’s trailer has already revealed a number of the expansion’s enemies as well. There’s no doubt that it’s going to be huge when it launches, despite just being DLC.
A lingering question is whatnew story elements Shadow of the Erdtree will bringtoElden Ring, as FromSoftware has kept that mostly under wraps. The Tarnished will apparently be following Miquella’s disembodied spirit to the “Land of Shadow,” a mysterious place obscured by the Erdtree. Messmer the Impaler will be waiting there, likely serving as this expansion’s climactic boss battle. However, there are reasons to expect that Messmer will not be the final trial in the DLC, andElden Ring’s own finale is one of them.
Elden Ring’s DLC Bosses Should Be Full of Surprises
FromSoftware almost never advertises the final boss of its games and DLC upfront. The Soul of Cinder appearing onDark Souls 3’s cover was the exception that proves the rule, and still caught players off guard due to how much it resembles a generic Ashen One.Dark Souls 1used Artorias’ image and name for its Artorias of the Abyss promotional art, andBloodbornerepeated this with The Old Hunters’ artwork featuring Lady Maria. At this point, there’s no reason toexpectElden Ringto abandon this misdirection, and the amount of attention Messmer has received only makes his role more suspect.
Something’s Up With Shadow of the Erdtree’s Messmer
There’s little reason to doubt that Messmer will be another climactic Demigod fight, and possibly positioned at a chokepoint before Shadow of the Erdtree’s last area, as Artorias and Maria were in DLC before him. However, there’s no way of knowing when or how his encounter will play out until players reach him in-game, and there could be a twist to it.Elden Ringgave most of its major bossesat least two highly distinct phases, though suspecting that Messmer should follow suit doesn’t necessarily mean players will be able to predict what, or who, his second phase will bring.
Shadow of the Erdtree’s Demigods Could Work Better Together
If Messmer were to have a joint boss battle, his most fitting partner would be Miquella. A lot of speculation has cropped up over these twoDemigods’ places inElden Ring’s divine family tree, but they resemble two sides of the same coin regardless. Messmer is associated with destruction, while Miquella represents abundance; Messmer is covered with blasphemous symbols, while Miquella subtly opposes the Outer Gods’ influence; and both seem to be leading factions unaligned with the Golden Order. The truth of this will have to wait, but Messmer could easily share a fight with Miquella just like their maybe-mutual father Radagon did with theElden Beast.
How Miquella and Messmer Can Form A Great Elden Ring Boss
Messmer’s encounter would start as a classic FromSoftware DLC fight, as he challenges the player to a tough-as-nails fight against a fellow warrior. He could even be fleshed out with a second phaselike Radagon was duringElden Ring’s final fight. Afterward, Miquella could either possess and transform Messmer’s body, or draw players into a restless slumber where they face his spirit in a spectacle-heavy bout. This could come at the end of the DLC or precede another foe, like Godwyn, the Prince of Death, butElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC would get a free memorable boss out of Messmer and Miquella’s team-up either way.
