Highlights

  • A hint of Malenia in the Elden Ring DLC trailer sparks speculation about her role in the expansion's narrative.
  • An alternate version of Malenia may appear in DLC, possibly in a dream or alternate dimension.
  • The DLC may address Miquella's goal of curing Malenia's affliction, hinting at a deeper connection in the story.

Speculation continues to swirl about Elden Ring's upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC following the release of its official trailer, which offers the first real look at the expansion. While some questions, like whether the DLC will involve Miquella, were answered by the trailer, there are several others that were left unanswered, and some things became even more confusing. That said, the trailer features some hints that may suggest the involvement of another iconic character in the DLC: Malenia.

As she is so closely connected to Miquella, many may have already assumed that Malenia will appear in Shadow of the Erdtree to some extent. Adding her to the mix comes with some complications, though, chief among them being her possible death at the hands of the player-character. Potential narrative complications aside, Malenia doesn't make an explicit appearance in the trailer, nor has she been mentioned by FromSoftware in any of the expansion's promotional material. Still, there's a chance that Elden Ring players haven't seen the last of this character.

Elden Ring Leyndell Royal Capital
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A Character Who Looks Like Malenia Can Be Seen in the Shadow of the Erdtree Trailer

Although the trailer for Shadow of the Erdtree focuses on Messmer and the many new locations and enemies coming with the expansion, there is one short moment that seems like a clear reference to Malenia; in the last minute of the trailer, a few seconds are shown of what appears to be a battle between the Tarnished and a hostile NPC in a red dress and shimmering red hair, wielding two swords and fighting in a manner that is highly reminiscent of Malenia's boss encounter. This inclusion seems to clearly be connected to Malenia, although its unassuming presentation, along with a few other key details about the NPC that looks like her, raise some questions.

An Alternate Version of Malenia May Appear In Shadow of the Erdtree

There is evidence to suggest that Shadow of the Erdtree's setting is something akin to a dream or alternate dimension, possibly one that has been constructed by Miquella. If this is indeed the case, then perhaps the "Malenia" seen in the DLC's trailer is not actually the character players encounter in the real game, but a different version of her that exists within the confines of Miquella's mind. This idea is supported by the differences in appearance between the character models: Shadow of the Erdtree Malenia doesn't appear to be affected by scarlet rot, and has all of her limbs intact. Her iconic red hair is also worn in a different style, and she is wearing a dress rather than armor.

Miquella's main goal is to rid Malenia's scarlet rot affliction, so if the Shadow of the Erdtree setting is a conjuration of the former's mind, then perhaps this is his vision of what he wishes for his sister: he wants her to be free of her illness and reverted to a healthier physical state. Alternatively, this could be what Malenia looked like when she was younger, before her disease took her arm, legs, and eyesight. The Malenia look-alike in the trailer seems to have a smaller stature than her base game counterpart, which supports this second theory. Either of these interpretations would also explain her attire; she either doesn't need to fight anymore or hasn't yet begun to fight.

Though not much is known about Shadow of the Erdtree's narrative at this point, it's almost certain to at least reference Malenia in some significant capacity. With Miquella playing an important role, it would be challenging not to loop Malenia into the story in some way, and with the DLC potentially taking place outside the base reality of Elden Ring, the feared warrior's appearance seems even more likely.