How to Defeat Messmer the Impaler in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

After journeying into the Shadow Lands to find Miquella, you will eventually confront its tyrannical leader. The upcoming battle against Messmer the Impaler will not be easy, but we will provide a detailed explanation on how to defeat him below.

Despite the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree trailers portraying Messmer the Impaler as a merciless tyrant and the primary antagonist of the DLC, it is unexpected that you will face such a pivotal figure so early on. Nonetheless, the fiery demigod now stands in your way and must be defeated in order for you to reach your objective. Here is a guide on how to extinguish his malevolent flame.

Messmer the Impaler is the ruler of the Shadow Lands.

Messmer the Impaler’s location

The top floor of the Shadow Keep’s Specimen Storehouse is where you will find Messmer, the boss of the expansion’s third Legacy Dungeon, waiting for you in his Dark Chamber.

The Dark Chamber Entrance is located in the Site of Grace outside of his arena.

After taking a break at the Grace, make your way to Messmer’s Dark Chamber for the final confrontation with the ruler of the Shadow Lands.

Messmer the impaler location — FromSoftware

Tips for Defeating Messmer the Impaler

To prepare for the upcoming battle, we highly recommend equipping protective items against fire damage, such as the Flamedrake Talisman, before it commences. Since Messmer is known for using fire attacks, this talisman could greatly benefit you during the battle.

We discovered that Messmer was much more difficult than any previous boss in Shadow of the Erdtree. Therefore, it is important to locate Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ash to boost your stats before facing him.

If you’re having difficulty raising Messmer’s health above 50%, it may be necessary to increase your stats by finding more of these items in the wild.

Messmer is not happy to see his lands invaded by followers of the Erdtree.

Phase 1

Following an exchange of scintillating and revealing words, the battle will commence. Messmer, living up to his moniker “The Impaler,”will attack you with his lengthy spear. Then, he will summon a ball of fire and hurl it at you from above.

Although it can be easily avoided, the main threat is not from the homing attack, but from the AOE flame that spreads across the ground when the ball lands. Make sure to roll out of the splash zone and take advantage of Messmer’s vulnerability after he drops. If attacking is not an option, position yourself to counter his next move.

To effectively utilize a summon, such as the mimic, activate it immediately upon entering the gate and quickly evade its first attack . After successfully avoiding the flame burst AoE, you can either heal (if you used the mimic) or unleash some attacks.

It is probable that his next assault will consist of rapid strikes, which he may or may not combine with fire damage. You have the option to either block these attacks or roll to the side, and then roll forward to flank him and strike his vulnerable side. However, it is important not to be too greedy with your attacks, as he will likely recover and jab at you once again.

Messmer is known for his devastating grab animation, which has the potential to instantly kill his opponent. He charges at his target with flames engulfing his hand. Instead of panicking and rolling away, it is important to keep a cool head and quickly move out of harm’s way. In fact, if timed correctly, you may even be able to counter his attack while he is left grasping at nothing.

Your summoned spirits or NPC allies are at a higher risk of being defeated by this attack, potentially resulting in a one-hit knockout. However, what we found most irritating is that when Messmer is performing this move, he becomes invulnerable. Instead of futilely attacking him, prioritize healing or buffing yourself while disregarding the well-being of your AI companion.

One of his most lethal tactics involves throwing crimson powder into the air and setting it ablaze, creating a formidable wall of fire. While this can cause significant harm upon impact, the true threat lies in his rapid jabs that he unleashes while hidden behind this fiery barrier. It is advisable to evade or dodge behind him to avoid this attack and gain an opportunity to strike back.

If you time it correctly, you will be able to approach him from behind while he is still recovering from his jabs, allowing you to land a few hits before safely retreating.

Sometimes, he may also perform a different version of this attack by setting the dust on fire and jumping into the air. If he does this, quickly move to the opposite side of the arena and wait for the attack to finish before attempting to strike him. It is crucial to avoid being caught in the explosion when he lands, as players with less than 40 Vigor may suffer instant death.

Messmer is particularly susceptible to skilled practitioners of the art of parry and riposte in his first phase. A well-executed riposte attack can stagger him, providing an opportunity to deal significant damage.

Messmer the Impaler fight — FromSoftware

Bring some protection against fire when fighting Messmer.

Phase 2: Messmer Serpent Base

Following a particularly unpleasant cutscene, Messmer will reveal his true form as Base Serpent Messmer, initiating the start of the second phase of the battle.

Messmer is currently experiencing anger after having previously underestimated a lowly Tarnished. As a result, he will now become significantly more aggressive and resolute in his efforts to eliminate the threat you present. He will retain several of his attacks from Phase 1, but will execute them with greater speed and fluidity, making it difficult to keep up with his rapid onslaught.

After observing the boss’s pattern, we discovered that rolling towards it was an effective strategy. This allowed us to avoid its attacks and counterattack while it was vulnerable. However, when the boss summoned dark clouds around itself, it was a sign that it was about to use its snake-like lunge attack. We learned to either block this attack or quickly roll to the side, as it was incredibly swift.

In addition to its teleportation abilities, he can also use this smoke attack to disappear and strike from below. If you see him vanish in a burst of black smoke, simply run towards him and quickly turn around to attack when his attack misses. He is susceptible during this animation and we were able to inflict significant damage by using bleed attacks, especially when our Mimic Tear joined in on the attack.

In the end, he will command a great multitude of snakes, causing the sensation that they are all around. It can be fatal to frantically dodge in this situation. Instead, it is more prudent to locate a secure area and remain stationary until the onslaught concludes. Afterwards, take advantage of the opportunity to strike Messmer before he moves on to his next attack.

The positive aspect is that in his second form, Messmer is a larger target, making it easier to hit him. Even though Messmer is a formidable fighter, he lacks a significant amount of health compared to other bosses, resulting in a relatively shorter and more manageable battle.

Non-Player Character Allies

Hornsent can be called upon for this battle, but his summoning symbol can be located within the arena while the fight is underway, instead of being positioned outside of the boss gate.

Messmer the Impaler Rewards

After being killed, Messmer drops the following items.

400,000 Runes
Remembrance of the Impaler

The Remembrance can still be exchanged with Enia, even though she has passed away, at the Roundtable Hold. This trade allows for the acquisition of either the Spear of the Impaler or Messmer’s Orb, which is a powerful fire spell belonging to Enia.

Are you about to start playing Shadow of the Erdtree? Take a look at our thoughts on the expansion after extensively exploring the Shadow Lands.