Summary
- Messmer's fire manipulation hints at connections to existing Elden Ring characters, potentially tying in to Mohg's Bloodflame magic.
- Shadow of the Erdtree promises lore revelations with Messmer's introduction and possible ties to Radagon and the Golden Order.
- Theories abound about Messmer's lineage, drawing parallels to Mohg and the Omen, suggesting deeper story implications to come.
Shadow of the Erdtree has finally been officially revealed after nearly two years since the launch of Elden Ring’s base game, but its June release date still leaves room for months of speculation ahead. There have been numerous theories regarding the inclusion of Miquella that have turned out to be true, but few could have expected the major importance of a brand-new character. With an addition to the demigods of Elden Ring’s pantheon possibly coming in the form of Messmer, the abilities this upcoming boss has been shown to use may already hint at his ties to the existing lore.
Messmer is the biggest new mystery of Shadow of the Erdtree, but this is largely due to the fact he bears resemblances to several different key Elden Ring characters. Shadow of the Erdtree’s Land of Shadow setting appears to be a separate world from The Lands Between in the vein of previous FromSoftware DLCs like Bloodborne’s The Old Hunters. Moreover, hints at Messmer’s connections to Radagon and the Golden Order imply that the lore surrounding him could also come with similar lore revelations. Until another trailer or the expansion’s full release arrives, there is one aspect of this new character that could indicate his association with some of Elden Ring’s most enigmatic figures.
Elden Ring Theory Points to Big Connection Between Malenia, Messmer, and Miquella
A fan refutes a widely accepted Elden Ring theory and explains the connection between Malenia, Messmer, and Miquella in Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
The Combination of Existing Elden Ring Elements in Messmer's Introduction
A Surprising Subversion of the Expected Miquella Reveal
Ever since the announcement of Shadow of the Erdtree, it was predicted that Miquella would play a key role following the mysterious nature of his lore found within the base game. The seemingly unfinished business of the benevolent, allegedly manipulative character’s Haligtree and plans regarding Godwyn left the door open for what Shadow of the Erdtree’s reveal trailer may have now confirmed.
That said, few players likely saw the emphasis on someone as sinister as Messmer coming. Miquella, seemingly the focus of the DLC, has been stated to embody an ethereal sense of youthful purity in all of his forms thus far, but Messmer has now taken center stage with multiple motifs of traditionally evil imagery that may still be connected to Miquella instead.
Flames Appear to be Messmer's Signature Magic
He may be accompanied by snakes and wield an intimidating spear, but Messmer’s primary power seems to be his manipulation of a unique form of fire. Given the presence of what seems to be a boss with similarities to the Fire Giant, there’s a chance that this usage of flames could be some kind of power that was taken from them and used by Messmer to set Elden Ring's Land of Shadow ablaze. Apart from that theory, however, several Elden Ring players have already drawn a connection to the character Mohg’s own use of what is known as Bloodflame, a form of magic exclusively connected to the scheming Omen son of Marika.
The Significance of Bloodflame and Mohg's Formless Mother in Elden Ring
The Dark Machinations of Mohgwyn Palace
The underground Mohgwyn Palace region in Elden Ring is a challenging zone that contains one of the game’s most obscure and disturbing bits of lore through its Remembrance boss, Blood Lord Mohg. As many have come to understand with much analysis of the game’s lore, this is the location where Mohg, cast out from the Golden Order due to his Omen status and far more bitter than his brother Morgott, attempts to execute a plan to take Miquella as his Empyrean and ascend to the Elden Throne with the power of an entity known as the Formless Mother.
While Shadow of the Erdtree has now recontextualized this entire situation, the Blood Lord’s connection to a mysterious Outer God could finally be explored through Messmer.
The Formless Mother's Presence as One of The Land Between's Outer Gods
A unique patron only associated with Elden Ring’s Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear weapon and Bloodflame Incantations, the Formless Mother is a being that was previously left ambiguous apart from the power she is shown to grant Mohg. The power of Bloodflame combines its namesakes to create a substance that can create chaos in the battle with the Lord of the Blood, and its origins are apparently the gruesome cutting and bleeding of the Formless Mother’s intangible body itself being manifested.
There is a greater association with blood that this Outer God of The Lands Between has been speculated to have among players that see parallels with Bloodborne's own Formless Oedon, but the reveal of Messmer's ability to use fire magic could serve to represent the relationships between existing characters in multiple different ways.
Messmer's Fire Manipulation May Already Connect Mohg and Miquella in Shadow of the Erdtree
Theories About Messmer's Lineage Draw Parallels to Mohg and the Omen
It's undeniable that connections could be made between Messmer's snake motif and Rykard, especially considering the Lord of Blasphemy's fondness for Magma Sorcery, but hints at ties to Mohg seem to make even more sense. It's unknown whether he is another child of Marika and Radagon, or possibly of Rykard himself, but it's almost certain that Messmer has been hidden away and denied his place within his family similarly to the Owen twins.
The Deeper Impact of Mohgwyn Palace's Boss Room
The usage of what could be Bloodflame seems to strengthen Messmer's potential ties to Mohg, but their relation may go beyond even the borrowing of magic. A theory has pointed out that the arm seen dangling from the cocoon in Mohg's arena looks much more like that of Messmer's than how Miquella's design in Elden Ring has been shown otherwise, opening up an entire slew of potential scenarios which could have set up the events of Shadow of the Erdtree, or vice versa.
Whether Messmer is an alternate form of Miquella created through the corruption of Bloodflame, the product of an unholy union between Mohg and the Empyrean, or an actual new entity altogether, his actual place in Elden Ring's extremely hyped DLC is likely to play an important role in finally bringing the game's lore full circle.
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. And BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.
George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- How Long To Beat
- 58 Hours
- Metascore
- 96
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
