Summary
A strange encounter inElden Ring:Shadow of the Erdtreereveals just how much detail went into crafting the story of Messmer’s army. The main focus of the DLC is on the devastation left in Messmer’s wake - players arrive inElden Ring’s DLC mapto find the Land of Shadow thoroughly razed, torn apart by the Impaler’s advancement. The player comes upon ruined battlefields after the fact, and is left to piece together the nature and course of the conflict on their own.
From a certain cliff on the eastern side of the Ellac Greatbridge, players may notice a strange scene across the way:a small force of soldiers, embroiled in a dramatic last stand against a group of Bloodfiend giants. The player doesn’t have to do anything to provoke this - the two seem locked in an eternal struggle for dominance. It’s not entirely clear why, but if the player is willing to get a little closer and stick around for the outcome, they’ll learn these are common soldiers in Messmer’s army. But what that really means isn’t totally clear.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Review
Screen Rant’s Chris Teuton reviews Elden Ring’s highly-anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC ahead of its launch on August 16, 2025.
Why Messmer’s Army Is Fighting The Giants In Elden Ring’s DLC
Theories About An Unexplained Shadow Of The Erdtree Encounter
First and foremost, the equipment dropped by these soldiers of Messmer makes it clear that they’re “common soldiers” - things like Common Soldier Greaves, Common Soldier Helmets, et cetera. These set them apart from the fancier soldiers of Messmer, located a short distance away, taking potshots at passers-by with a fiery ballista from a tented camp at the foot of the Ellac Greatbridge. Sothere’s clearly a chain of command in Messmer’s army, and the lower-ranked soldiers are made to do more treacherous tasks. It could be that the higher-ranked officers are allowed to take refuge in a cushy camp, while commoners are made to fight for space in the monster-ridden lands just beyond.
It also seems thatMessmer’s soldiers just target monsters wherever they find them, aiming to rid the Land of Shadow from all creatures, human and monster, that would stand in their way. Players can find their camps under attack by dragons elsewhere in the DLC. In conjunction with the separation of classes in his army, this detail portrays Messmer as an even bigger villain than ever before. His commitment to destruction is absolute, and his superiority complex seems to have spread throughout his followers.
While thestory ofElden Ring’s DLCdoes reveal a lot more about Messmer, the exact machinations and internal politics of his army aren’t quite known. Still, they make a formidable fighting force, and a worthy enemy inShadow of the Erdtree. It only suggests there are still some mysteries left for players to solve inElden Ring.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of “The Shattering.” “The Shattering” occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.
