Highlights

  • The showdown with Messmer in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree may rival the difficulty of the base game's infamous boss, Malenia, who undoubtedly arose as one of the base game's most arduous encounters.

Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is less than four months away, and it promises to bring with it more of FromSoftware's infamously difficult boss encounters. The recent gameplay trailer showcased several of these, but one in particular has caught the community's attention. A new character, titled Messmer the Impaler, seems to be the expansion's central antagonist. If the footage shown so far is anything to go by, the showdown with him could prove to surpass the base game's toughest encounter, that of Malenia, Blade of Miquella.

Elden Ring's base game contains a staggering number of bosses. Of all these encounters, though, it's widely accepted that Malenia stands head and shoulders above the others in terms of raw difficulty. A combination of devastating speed, power, and a varied suite of attacks, make her a force to be reckoned with. When the game initially launched, her difficulty divided the fanbase a little, with some feeling that the challenge was borderline unfair.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree's Lion Enemies Are Huge
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Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree's Lion Enemies Are Huge

A new enemy resembling a lion was spotted in the first Shadow of the Erdtree trailer and it might mean big things for Elden Ring’s lore.

Messmer the Impaler Could Be Elden Ring's New Malenia

Several factors during Malenia's boss fight, such as her regaining health upon attacking, regardless of whether the player blocks or not, or the infamous Waterfowl attack, which is almost impossible to dodge, led some to claim that this was not a particularly well-designed or balanced fight. Malenia aside, though, Elden Ring's other bosses vary wildly in difficulty and the game's open-ended nature means that most challenges can simply be bypassed altogether, or eventually overcome, once the player is sufficiently over-leveled and chooses to return. For hardcore Soulslike veterans, then, the next big challenge can't come soon enough, and Messmer may well fit the bill.

The Messmer Encounter Could Be One of Elden Ring's Most Memorable Boss Fights

The gameplay trailer shows off several of Messmer's key features, including his flame-red hair and eyes, which could be a further indication of his connection to Malenia, and possibly Radagon. A long, red snake can be seen draped around his neck, which may also point to a link with Rykard, one of Elden Ring's demigods. Footage of the player fighting Messmer is also shown, and he seems to be a highly skilled fighter who will no doubt cause the player no shortage of problems. He is seen wielding a huge, flaming lance, which emits large flames and can also pick the player up with a powerful grasp.

Messmer appears, on the surface at least, to be on the same standing as several of Elden Ring 's other key antagonists and yet it remains to be seen exactly how he fits into the story.

With over 10 new bosses for players to encounter, Shadow of the Erdtree promises to deliver more of Elden Ring's rewarding combat, world-building, and memorable boss fights. Players will be hoping that the encounter with Messmer the Impaler eventually eclipses the one with the legendary Malenia, Blade of Miquella, but hopefully with a battle that is less divisive in how unfair it appears while still being cinematic and noteworthy long after the DLC launches in June.