There was already much speculation that Miquella would be a big part of the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC story, which proved to be correct. However, the reveal of Messmer the Impaler took fans by surprise. While Miquella got plenty of nods in the base game, Messmer seems to be a completely new character, which has us wondering exactly who he is and what his motivations are.
Who is Messmer the Impaler in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree?
Very little was revealed about Messmer in the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree trailer. However, we can speculate on his role based on some information we have from the base game.
The trailer makes it seem as though Messmer will be the primary antagonist of the DLC and is pictured sitting on a throne similar to the one we see near the Eldtree in Leyndell. So, Messmer is likely the Lord of the Land of Shadow and a demigod in his own right.
Messmer’s red hair gives us a big clue as to his lineage—most of Radagon’s children, including Radahn, Rykard, and Malenia, sport red hair. We know, thanks to an IGN interview with Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki, that Marika visited the Land of Shadow, and it’s possible that she gave birth to Messmer there. He also says that the Land of Shadow has become physically disconnected from the Lands Between, which means Messmer may have been trapped there for one reason or another.
However, the two snakes Messmer is shown with bring to mind Praetor Rykard. So, Messmer may be his son. Alternatively, he could be a regenerated Rykard. Despite his defeat, his body remained in his chamber in the bowels of Mt. Gelmir and seemed to be regenerating. Perhaps he found a way to the Land of Shadow where he could heal away from the prying eyes of the new Elden Lord.
Unfortunately, we won’t know Messmer’s origins for sure until the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is released on June 21, 2024.
