Highlights

  • Shadow of the Erdtree DLC continues the story, exploring Empyreans, Outer Gods, and The Golden Order.
  • Messmer, a new character, is linked to Radagon and Marika, and potentially serves The Golden Order.
  • Messmer's role in the story may involve being Miquella's shadow, connected to The Greater Will and the Golden Lineage, though this is purely speculation.

The trailer for Shadow of the Erdtree, the highly anticipated DLC for Elden Ring, has finally arrived, and has unveiled a number of details about the expansion, including a never-before-seen character: Messmer the Impaler. Just like essentially everything else in the Shadow of the Erdtree trailer, details surrounding Messmer are fairly sparse, though there is still more than enough to analyze.

As Elden Ring fans have long suspected, Shadow of the Erdtree will continue the story of Miquella and, by extension, likely shed light on broader concepts like the Empyreans, the Outer Gods, and The Golden Order. The trailer for Shadow of the Erdtree is rich in relevant and interpretable detail, giving audiences a clear look at the environment, narrative, enemy types, and new characters that will be prominent in the expansion. However, as is FromSoftware's custom, every answer comes with a new set of questions, and Messmer, who appears to be a major antagonist of the DLC, is one of the biggest unknown quantities, as he is never so much as mentioned in the base game.

The Case For Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC To Have a Runebear Equivalent
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The Case For Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC To Have a Runebear Equivalent

Many Elden Ring players shudder at the mention of its Runebears, so Shadow of the Erdtree should come up with an infamous enemy of its own.

Messmer Is Connected to Several Important Elden Ring Characters and Concepts

Messmer, Radagon, and The Golden Order Could All Be Linked

Messmer bears a striking resemblance to Radagon, father of Ranni, Radahn, Rykard, Miquella, and Malenia. Since there is no trace of him in the base game, it's unlikely that Messmer is one of Radagon's children, but he could be related to him in a more spiritual or metaphysical way. For instance, he could have been born of some form of magic, making him more of a symbolic son or brother, rather than a literal one. Identity is a major theme of Elden Ring, tying directly into the game's main twist about Radagon and Marika, so it's possible that the DLC is incorporating a similar narrative manuever with Messmer.

It looks like Messmer's design may incorporate elements from various characters, with his snake being a potential tie to Rykard and his helmet bearing a resemblance to Malenia's.

Additionally, Messmer probably serves The Golden Order in some way. An unidentified character in the trailer says "[t]hose stripped of the Grace of Gold shall all meet death in the embrace of Messmer's flame." This line of dialog seems to suggest that Messmer is an agent of the "Grace of Gold," which is most likely a reference to The Golden Order. This dialog, combined with Messmer's physical similarities with Radagon and his offspring, positions him as a character fighting to preserve the Erdtree and the desires of The Greater Will. This would also explain Messmer's opposition to the Tarnished, who is ostensibly working against the Erdtree and Radagon.

Messmer's Role In Elden Ring's Story

The Golden Order is associated with light and shuns anything that falls outside the Erdtree's grace. In the trailer, a character who is implied to be Messmer, or at least related to Messmer, states "Mother, wouldst thou truly Lordship sanction, in one so bereft of light?" This could either be referring to the Tarnished or Mohg, who is attempting to become King Consort by elevating Miquella to Godhood. "Mother," in this context, may either be Marika or the Formless Mother, an Outer God whose intentions are yet unclear.

Messmer's appearance, the name of the DLC, and his possible connection to The Golden Order could imply that he is Miquella's shadow—something that Elden Ring fans have speculated about for quite some time now. Of course, there are some issues with this theory, such as the existing lore that suggests Miquella may not be wholly aligned with The Golden Order. However, given the available information, it's highly likely that Messmer will be directly related to The Greater Will and the Golden Lineage that stems from Radagon and Marika, making him a key player in Elden Ring's story.