After much anticipation, the wait is finally over. We’ve been given a glimpse of the highly anticipated DLC for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and it appears to be incredibly vast. In the 3-minute trailer, we’re treated to formidable bosses, mesmerizing magic, and a plethora of content that warrants closer examination. Let’s delve straight into it.
Unraveling The Mystery Of Miquella: A Key Quest In Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC
The central puzzle in Elden Ring’s primary narrative revolves around the fate of Miquella, Malenia’s twin brother and a demigod condemned to perpetual childhood.
In the main storyline, Miquella was discovered within Mohgwyn Palace, nestled in a cocoon intended for his maturation into adulthood. While Mohg’s boss encounter hints at Miquella’s demise, additional lore fragments suggest that he remains in a state of dormancy. The unveiling of the first Shadow of the Erdtree artwork, featuring Miquella on a spiritual deed, hints at the quest to unravel the enigma surrounding this missing kin.
The trailer commences with a depiction of Miquella’s cocoon still positioned upon Mohgwyn Palace’s altar, with Miquella’s arm extending from the cocoon in a deathly manner, indicating his continued slumber.
Gateway To The Shadow Realm: Accessing Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC
In previous FromSoftware titles, accessing DLC typically involves direct integration into the game world, whether through interaction with a painting or uncovering a concealed cave.
Miquella’s Cocoon appears to serve as a probable entry point to the DLC. Additionally, a voice heard at the trailer’s conclusion urges viewers to “touch the withered arm and journey to the realm of shadow.”
Considering the lore surrounding Miquella’s soul potentially residing in the land of dreams, delving into his subconscious may serve as the gateway to this shadowy realm. This setup appears to provide a seamless transition to access the new DLC areas.
Erdtree & Haligtree
The Erdtree stands as Elden Ring’s most prominent landmark, a colossal golden tree dominating the landscape of the Lands Between.
Symbolizing the Elden Ring’s blessing, its radiant glow embodies the golden order established by Queen Marika. Depending on the chosen ending of the main campaign, the Erdtree’s appearance can vary significantly, reflecting the current state of the Lands Between and its ruler.
Yet, there exists another significant tree within Elden Ring, closely linked with Miquella – the Haligtree, situated far to the north where Malenia resides. There’s a suspicion that the tree depicted in the trailer might indeed be the Haligtree.
Although the Erdtree is rooted in Leyndell, the city is absent from this shot, and the twisted Y-shape of the tree bears closer resemblance to the Haligtree – a sanctuary Miquella endeavored to cultivate, distancing it from the influence of the golden order and the Erdtree.
This possibly explains the title of the DLC, “Shadow of the Erdtree,” hinting at Miquella’s endeavors and his eventual failure to nurture a tree independent of the Erdtree. Despite its significance, the tree appears lifeless, oozing a golden fluid. The reasons behind its state remain obscure, but it’s anticipated that the narrative of “Shadow of the Erdtree” will shed light on the cause and the profound consequences of its condition.
What Is Land Of Dreams?
While the concept of the Land of Dreams has been mentioned in Elden Ring, it’s plausible that it isn’t an alternative dimension but rather a depiction of the Lands Between’s history.
FromSoftware frequently incorporates time travel into its DLCs, transporting players back in time as seen in Dark Souls’s Artorias of the Abyss and Bloodborne’s nightmare version of the past in The Old Hunters. Additionally, Dark Souls 3’s The Ringed City projected players into the future.
If this pattern persists in Elden Ring, the Shadow of the Erdtree potentially being set in the past could clarify certain details glimpsed later in the trailer.
New Characters & Equipment In Shadow Of The Erdtree
In a brief sequence, we catch glimpses of new characters, likely, and notably, some fresh Elden Ring items, like armor sets that players may encounter in the DLC.
The first showcases a knight’s armor, somewhat reminiscent of the Carian Knight set, featuring a cape and a distinctive sharp crescent detail atop the helmet. Following this is another character adorned in armor, sporting a Roman legion-esque ensemble, albeit with a helmet resembling a face and topped with a plume.
Interestingly, many of the armor sets in Elden Ring featuring a plumed helmet motif are worn by enemies aligned with specific demigods, such as the Gelmir Knight Set associated with soldiers serving Ryckard and the Godric Knight set. Could this armor be linked to a follower of the enigmatic demigod introduced later in the trailer?
Lastly, we encounter two additional characters: a knight hunched over a clay pot and a mysterious masked figure reclining in a dark purple flower field.
The Enigma Of Queen Rennala
Within Elden Ring, one of the factions is the Carian Royal Family, overseen by Queen Rennala, along with their mystical Academy of Raya Lucaria.
The latest character, seated regally in an unoccupied hall, undeniably shares resemblances with Rennala — from their fair complexion to their lavish attire. However, should our hypothesis that Shadow of the Erdtree unfolds in the past hold true, this individual might even represent a youthful iteration of Rennala herself.
Portrait Of Nobility: Unveiling Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Royal Lineage
At its core, Elden Ring narrates a saga of familial strife among nobility. Given the aristocratic penchant for self-portraiture, players can stumble upon depictions of these siblings throughout Elden Ring, notably within Volcano Manor where paintings of Rykard and Radahn abound.
We can augment this collection with another portrait, featuring an elderly man seated with hands folded on his lap, accompanied by a veiled woman shrouded in mystery. As portraits in Elden Ring typically spotlight noble or noteworthy figures, it’s safe to presume these individuals hold pivotal roles within the Lands Between.
Exploring The Past Of Farum Azula
Should the DLC unfold prior to the events depicted in the main game, it implies that numerous deteriorating edifices encountered by players in the present-day timeline of Elden Ring might have been preserved in better states in the past.
Could this formidable fortress resemble the initial appearance of Farum Azula before its eventual decay? Evident architectural features, such as its robust blockwork adorned with archways, along with a swirling vortex above drawing sections of the castle upward, align with the eventual fate of Farum Azula.
Is There A Second Fire Giant In Shadow Of The Erdtree?
Could it be that a second fire giant boss awaits? That’s the logical deduction upon witnessing the emergence of this new titan in the Shadow of the Erdtree trailer.
Players are no strangers to battling the Fire Giant, an imposing behemoth capable of wielding flames. Now, it seems we’ll confront a different challenge in the form of a living furnace, described by Miyazaki as a “dreadful” war weapon housing burning corpses.
Although they sound very scary, if you are willing to buy Elden Ring Runes in advance, you can equip your character very well. In this way, when you meet them, you will be able to do it with ease!
Dreadful Encounters: The Brain-Sucking Foe
I’m unsure of its identity, and I’m not particularly keen on discovering it, but it seems that the upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC will introduce a brain-sucking adversary.
This enemy type aligns with a longstanding tradition of dreadful creatures seen in games such as Demon’s Souls with the Mind-Flayer and Bloodborne with the Brainsucker.
A Key Figure In Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC: Messmer
If there’s a prominent figure in the Shadow of the Erdtree trailer, it’s undoubtedly the enigmatic long-limbed demigod confirmed by Miyazaki to be named “Messmer.”
The striking crimson red hair strongly suggests that this character is likely a progeny of Radagon. However, it remains a mystery whether he shares lineage with Melania and Miquella through Queen Marika, or with Radahn, Rykard, and Ranni through Queen Rennala.
While his name beginning with ‘M’ hints at a connection to Marika, the presence of a snake motif leads me to believe he’s more likely linked to Rykard, or perhaps even represents a younger incarnation of the Lord of Blasphemy himself before his encounter with the great serpent.
It’s important to note that multiple names are not uncommon in Elden Ring, especially among demigods and nobles.
Miyazaki emphasizes that “Messmer is a pivotal figure in the DLC and embodies the significant shadow theme running throughout.” The key artwork depicts Messmer seated on a throne akin to those occupied by demigods at the Erdtree’s base, signifying his parity with these other divine beings
Regardless of his lineage, Messmer seems to challenge the player’s authority, questioning why lordship would be bestowed upon someone devoid of life. This likely serves as a taunt directed towards the player who, in certain endings of the main campaign, ascends to become the Elden Lord by claiming the royal throne in Elden Ring.
Details In The Montage
Midway through the trailer, we’re treated to glimpses of various new weapons and potential gameplay improvements. Among them, there seems to be a set of skills reminiscent of martial arts or pugilism.
Additionally, there are sizable bombs that can be hurled and a substantial repeater crossbow that appears quite practical if acquired. Therefore, if you want to get them or upgrade them faster, you need to work hard to accumulate a lot of Elden Ring Runes.
A montage introduces us to an array of formidable new adversaries, some of whom seem to serve as regional bosses encountered in the wilderness. The swordswoman depicted in the field may belong to the Gaol and there are scenes featuring formidable boar-mounted warriors, a menacing hippopotamus, and an imposing skeleton horseman.
Queen Marika’s Golden Order
In the final moments of the trailer, we witness a scene where a corpse extracts a sword or a fragment from its skull.
Interestingly, the bones of this character jut outward, bearing resemblance to the central portion of the Elden Ring Rune, which symbolizes Queen Marika’s Golden Order.
Could It Be A New Crucible Spell?
During the confrontation with Messmer, the protagonist is depicted sprouting wings and hurling a spear of light.
This seems to be akin to the Aspect of the Crucible Wings spell executed by the adversary Crucible Knights, hinting that players might gain access to this ability in the DLC.
This also means that in Elden Ring’s DLC, players can customize more types of builds. If you crave powerful builds but don’t know how to make them, maybe it is undoubtedly a good choice to buy IGGM Elden Ring Boosting!
Miquella’s Revelation
The concluding scene undoubtedly features Miquella, evident from the character’s characteristic traits of golden hair and pale complexion.
Whatever task they’re undertaking, the tree—whether it’s the Haligtree, the Erdtree, or another significant tree—appears to be in far better condition than depicted at the trailer’s outset, where it seemed decayed and ailing.
Could Miquella be the one behind its rejuvenation? We’ll uncover the truth when Shadow of the Erdtree debuts on June 21st.