Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Summary
FromSoftware’sElden Ringhas remain to capture confirming attention since its sacking in 2022 , and its newShadow of the ErdtreeDLC has reignited that sentiment . Shadow of the Erdtreehas received sterling reviewsfor enhancing the already weighty base plot with hour of additional content , deepening the game ’s lore and characters . to boot , theShadow of the Erdtreeexpansion comes take with over 70 new weapon , 30 novel armour Set , andnew bosses that are as compelling ( and difficult ) as ever .
At first glimpse , a game likeElden Ringgets tending for its level of difficulty , and while there is sure an audience for that writing style , immersing oneself in the game ’s intricate mythology can be fourth dimension - consuming , and even consuming for some . The plot grounds its world building by borrowing from various actual mythologies from around the globe . Hallmarks of Norse , Celtic , and Greek legend , among many others , can be establish woven throughout the entirety of the secret plan ’s tale and character designs . Messmer the Impaler , one of the bosses introduced in theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC , embody many of these borrowed mythologies .
Messmer The Impaler Reflects Many Real-World Legends & History
Vlad Dracula Is Perhaps The World’s Most Famous “Impaler”
Get one look at Messmer , and some of the inspiration behind the character ’s design are easy to see . Most obvious , perhaps , are Messmer ’s similarity to one of account ’s most feared ruler , Vlad the Impaler , also make love as Vlad Dracula . Even Pope Pius II ’s own official emissary was quoted line Vlad as having a “ moth-eaten and awful appearance . ” Translated from Romanian , the name “ Dracula ” mean “ son of the flying dragon . ” Messmer has striking , dragon - like eye that evoke this connection to the real diachronic figure ’s affiliation with dragons and snaky creature . Intentional or not , Messmer ’s fizgig and fire serpent describe clear parallels to Vlad .
Aside from his great gig and snake , Messmer manage fire magic with devastating results , an attribute that keenly aligns him with several global deities and legends . In the pantheon of Norse mythology is a figure named Surtr , a flack giant of immense destructive power who destroys the world with flaming . A similar description can be apply to Messmer , a hulk figure who harnesses flame magic to vanquish his foes , the most deadly being his Fire Grab plan of attack . fervour is core to Messmer ’s design , with his flaming - red hair and cloak , which further match the red snake that slithers across his body .
Surtr ’s influence onElden Ringcan be felt even more in the al-Qa’ida game’sFire Giant boss , which must be vote down before the Tarnished can cut the Erdtree , ruin a symbol of the world as it ’s known under Marika ’s Golden Order .
Messmer Was Likely Inspired By Myths Outside Of Europe As Well
Certain Japanese Yokai May Be Reflected In Messmer’s Design
The yokai of Nipponese folklore have inspired characters across all media , and hints of famous yokai can be get hold in Messmer ’s conception as well . One of the most significant is Kasha , a demonic fire entity who is often portrayed as take in cat - similar features , but can also be humanoid or even resemble a chariot . Most often , they are depicted as derive to Earth to collect the souls of the bedamn , dragging them to hell as penalization for a extraordinary liveliness . In some way , this is reflect in Messmer ’s hate for the Tarnished , those who fell from grace after losing connection to the Erdtree .
Messmer also digest some resemblance to the Orochi of Nipponese mythology , eight - headed snake entities of unbelievable sizing , sodding with fervid cherry eye . Much like Surtr , these creatures also symbolize topsy-turvydom and wipeout . The iconography of the serpent is closely tied to Messmer ’s backstory , as it ’s enounce he was born with a serpent inside of him , one he refers to as the “ abyssal serpent . ” midway through his boss competitiveness , Messmer takes on his Base Serpent Messmer form .
Part of what makesElden Ringsuch an immersive experience is how well it borrows these various legend from the real world and uses them to produce something original and fascinating to explore . Any character with the nickname “ Impaler ” will plainly be compare to the real Vlad Dracula of Romania , but these comparisons are merely Earth’s surface spirit level . Likewise , nearly every acculturation has myths regarding snake entities , be they epic or nefarious . The creators ofElden Ringhave masterfully woven the iconography of various mythologies and made something completely unexampled . Shadow of the Erdtreeis the culmination of this cunning world - building .
Players embark into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to face young biomes , keep , and redoubtable bosses . Guided by the enigmatic Miquella , they face the terrific Messmer the Impaler and bring out the black secret shroud beneath the Erdtree ’s influence , featuring raw weapons , magic , and challenges.
Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree’s influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges.
