Highlights

  • A fan theory connects Malenia, Messmer, and Miquella in Elden Ring DLC, sparking curiosity in the fanbase.
  • The trailer for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC reveals hand-to-hand combat, new characters, and mysteries.
  • Messmer's possible true identity as Miquella and Malenia's brother sparks debate in the Elden Ring community.

An Elden Ring fan theory suggests that there could be a mind-boggling connection between Malenia, Messmer, and Miquella. While Malenia and Miquella are familiar characters to the players who played the base game, the unveiling of Messmer in the trailer of Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has sparked curiosity in the fanbase.

As the case is with most FromSoftware trailers, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree's trailer is surrounded by a lot of ambiguity. From new characters to spells and attacks, fans are eagerly looking forward to what the Land of Shadow has in store for them. One of the most notable aspects has been the return of proper hand-to-hand combat, which has reminded many of the iconic Bone Fist from Dark Souls 2's Crown of the Old Iron King DLC. Amid all that, a fan has come up with a plausible explanation for one of the mysteries in the trailer.

elden ring land of shadow
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As highlighted by Reddit user lauchherz, Messmer might actually be Miquella and Malenia's brother and the third child of Queen Marika the Eternal and Radagon of the Golden Order. This theory originates from the fact that both the siblings Malenia and Miquella have been associated with the Aeonian and Nascent Butterfly, respectively, and Messmer's brief appearance in the trailer aligns quite well with the Smoldering Butterfly.

Messmer Fan Theory Sparks Debate in the Elden Ring Community

The Aeonian Butterfly is associated with the Scarlet Rot, while the Nascent Butterfly is linked to a cocoon, which makes their relationship with Malenia and Miquella quite obvious. The Smoldering Butterfly, whose appearance suggests that it could be connected with fire, was so far thought to be linked to Melina. However, with Messmer summoning fire in the trailer, it is possible that the Smoldering Butterfly could represent him instead. Additionally, Messmer's red hair, reminiscent of Radagon and Malenia, further suggests a familial connection between these characters.

While many have further corroborated the claims by stating that all three names start with the letter "M," others are still more inclined toward the Melina connection. Another interesting point to refute the theory suggests that Messmer's flame looks more like Destined Death than regular fire. Additionally, both Malenia and Miquella are affected by Scarlet Rot and eternal childhood, and Messmer seems to be summoning fire instead. On the contrary, Melina's hands are scarred with burns, which aligns better with the description of the Smoldering Butterfly, considering that it is referred to as the "eternally burning butterfly" in the game.

Whatever the case is, FromSoftware's trailer seems to have stirred up the hype for Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. And just like many other mysteries in the Soulsborne genre, it is very much possible that this remains unsolved and open to interpretation even after the release of the expansion.