Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree: Who is Messmer the Impaler?

The Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree trailer introduced us to a new enemy in the Elden Ring DLC: Messmer the Impaler. But who is he?

Messmer the Impaler made his mark in the first trailer for Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree. While many Elden Ring players were expecting Miquella to be the DLC’s big bad, it looks like this character will actually be the main enemy. Messmer’s appearance, his name, and his striking resemblance to the creature inside the egg in Mohg’s lair, are striking. Also, comments from creator Hidetaka Miyazaki give us clues about who Messmer is in the game.

However, we won’t know for sure until the expansion releases in June. Until then, let’s try to piece together everything we know about Messmer the Impaler, and why the new Lord of Elden in the Underworld will be in conflict with him. Of course, spoilers below for all things Elden Ring.

Something terrible is about to awaken.

Messmer the Impaler: DLC Shadow of the Earthtree de Elden Ring

At first glance, Messmer the Impaler is the new big bad and possibly the final boss of the Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree. The character appears to be in conflict with protagonist Tarni and has a connection to the new Land of Shadow region that players will be able to explore.

The character is also related to Miquella, the demigod brother of Malenia who was captured by Mohg. Forced to sleep in an egg, it is fed on blood for hundreds of years. He ends up transforming into a twisted parody of his former self. There is speculation that Miquella and Messmer are the same person, but this has never been confirmed.

However, Messmer’s striking resemblance to the creature inside the egg in Mohg’s lair is undeniable. We particularly notice the arm which is identical. Could it be that Messmer was trapped in the egg instead of Miquella? And he’s the twisted creature Mohg created instead? It’s certainly possible, especially if Miquella escaped Mohg’s clutches and traveled to the Shadowlands.

Messmer could have taken Miquella’s place willingly, or he could have been tricked by the demigod. Either way, Messmer is not happy, and is probably looking to become Lord of Elden in your place. It has been more or less confirmed by Miyazaki that Messmer is a demigod. Just like Mohg, Miquella, Malenia, and the others. He also seems to be a forgotten (or abandoned) child of Marika and Radagon. His bright red hair is also a clue that he is one of their descendants.

The character’s name also refers to Vlad the Impaler. So this suggests that Messmer might also be a bloodthirsty tyrant. He can be seen sitting on a throne similar to the Throne of Elden in the trailer. Speaking about the character, in an interview with IGN, Miyayaki said:

“There was this keyart where you see Mesmer sitting in this throne-like chair, and people who have played the game may recognize this throne as one of the ones in the boss room where you fight Morgott. And this represents the thrones at the base of the Erdtree. This is meant to symbolize that Mesmer is on equal footing with those other demigods and children of Marika who sat around those thrones and held the halls of the Erdtree.”

We can’t wait to learn more about Messmer the Impaler. We will be sure to update this article and keep you informed. In the meantime, don’t miss any Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree news by following the Gaming section of our site.