Summary

• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree adds hours of content, new lore, characters, and over 70 weapons, enhancing the base game.
• Messmer the Impaler reflects real-world legends like Vlad Dracula and mythical figures from Norse and Japanese folklore.
• Immersive world-building in Elden Ring intertwines global mythologies to create original, complex characters and storylines.

FromSoftware’s Elden Ring has continued to capture positive attention since its release in 2022, and its new Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has reignited that sentiment. Shadow of the Erdtree has received sterling reviews for enhancing the already weighty base game with hours of additional content, deepening the game's lore and characters. Additionally, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion comes packed with over 70 new weapons, 30 new armor sets, and new bosses that are as compelling (and difficult) as ever.

At first glance, a game like Messmer the Impaler, one of the bosses introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, embodies many of these borrowed mythologies.

Messmer The Impaler Reflects Many Real-World Legends & History

Vlad Dracula Is Perhaps The World's Most Famous “Impaler”

Get one look at Messmer, and some of the inspirations behind the character's design are easy to see. Most obvious, perhaps, are Messmer’s similarities to one of history’s most feared rulers, Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad Dracula. Even Pope Pius II’s own legate was quoted describing Vlad as having a “cold and terrible appearance.” Translated from Romanian, the name “Dracula” means “son of the dragon.” Messmer has striking, dragon-like eyes that evoke this connection to the real historical figure's association with dragons and serpentine creatures. Intentional or not, Messmer’s spear and fire serpent draw clear parallels to Vlad.

Aside from his great spear and serpent, Messmer wields fire magic with devastating results, an attribute that keenly aligns him with several global deities and legends. In the pantheon of Norse mythology is a figure named Surtr, a fire giant of immense destructive power who destroys the world with flame. A similar description can be applied to Messmer, a towering figure who harnesses fire magic to vanquish his foes, the most deadly being his Fire Grab attack. Fire is core to Messmer's design, with his flame-red hair and cloak, which further match the red serpent that slithers across his body.

Surtr's influence on Elden Ring can be felt even more in the base game's Fire Giant boss, which must be defeated before the Tarnished can burn the Erdtree, destroying a symbol of the world as it's known under Marika's Golden Order.

Messmer Was Likely Inspired By Myths Outside Of Europe As Well

Certain Japanese Yokai May Be Reflected In Messmer’s Design

The yokai of Japanese folklore have inspired characters across all media, and hints of famous yokai can be found in Messmer’s design as well. One of the most significant is Kasha, a demonic fire entity who is often portrayed as having cat-like features, but can also be humanoid or even resemble a chariot. Most often, they are depicted as coming to Earth to collect the souls of the damned, dragging them to hell as punishment for a sinful life. In some ways, this is reflected in Messmer’s hatred for the Tarnished, those who fell from grace after losing connection to the Erdtree.

Messmer also bears some resemblance to the Orochi of Japanese mythology, eight-headed snake entities of incredible size, complete with fiery red eyes. Much like Surtr, these creatures also symbolize chaos and destruction. The iconography of the serpent is closely tied to Messmer’s backstory, as it's said he was born with a serpent inside of him, one he refers to as the “abyssal serpent.” Halfway through his boss fight, Messmer takes on his Base Serpent Messmer form.

Part of what makes Elden Ring such an immersive experience is how well it borrows these various legends from the real world and uses them to create something original and fascinating to explore. Any character with the nickname “Impaler” will obviously be compared to the real Vlad Dracula of Romania, but these comparisons are merely surface level. Likewise, nearly every culture has myths regarding snake entities, be they heroic or villainous. The creators of Elden Ring have masterfully woven the iconography of various mythologies and made something completely new. Shadow of the Erdtree is the culmination of this ingenious world-building.