Elden Ring’s DLC Story Trailer Reveals the Birth of the Erdtree

TL;DR

  • Radagon’s betrayal and sacrifice created the Erdtree using golden grace from a mysterious victim
  • Messmer leads a genocidal campaign targeting those with Omen horns and powerful guardians
  • The Shadow Realm appears connected to the Erdtree through a portal-like golden gateway
  • Players must ally with Miquella’s followers to end Messmer’s tyranny in the DLC
  • Strategic preparation and lore understanding are crucial for surviving the new challenges

The highly anticipated Elden Ring expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, has generated massive excitement within the gaming community as its launch approaches. FromSoftware recently unveiled a story trailer with minimal advance notice, creating immediate buzz among dedicated fans. Like previous FromSoftware reveals, this trailer presents enigmatic imagery and cryptic narration that demands careful analysis. Our examination seeks to decode every significant moment to construct a coherent narrative framework for the DLC’s backstory.

Radagon Creating the Erdtree
Image Courtesy: Elden Ring DLC Trailer

The trailer’s opening sequence depicts a figure possessing lengthy golden hair and adorned with golden bracelets, extracting a luminous golden substance from a corpse and elevating it before two enormous mounds of deceased individuals. This visual introduction establishes the foundational mythology of the expansion.

Miquella the Kind’s narration references the Beginning, mentioning Seduction and Betrayal as pivotal events that produced Gold and consequently spawned Shadow. This poetic language suggests a causal relationship between these metaphysical concepts.

Radagon or Marika Pulling Something Golden from a dead womb
Image Courtesy: Elden Ring DLC Trailer

The golden-haired individual strongly resembles Queen Marika based on physical appearance and jewelry. However, the figure’s masculine build suggests this might actually represent Radagon before his hair transformation to crimson.

Assuming this identification proves accurate, the voiceover describing “The seduction and betrayal, an affair from which the Gold arose” likely indicates Radagon engaged in an illicit relationship with the deceased individual shown initially. Following his treachery, he potentially eliminated both the mother and their offspring, then utilized the golden essence from her reproductive organ (or possibly the child) to establish the Erdtree’s foundation.

Subsequently, we observe the two colossal corpse formations, with each side displaying ominous stormy skies, while the central area reveals a brilliant golden atmosphere, strongly implying an interdimensional gateway.

Creation of the ErdtreeEntry to Erdtree in Elden Ring

Parallels between the corpse mounds and Erdtree foundation

Strategic Insight: Understanding this creation mythology may reveal vulnerability points in the Erdtree’s structure. The sacrificial nature of its origin suggests it could possess inherent weaknesses related to its traumatic birth.

The narrative then shifts to introduce Messmer, a formidable antagonist conducting brutal military campaigns against populated centers. His forces specifically target individuals bearing Omen horns, executing them through impalement – a particularly cruel method of elimination.

Mesmer Burning the Lion Enemy
Image Courtesy: Elden Ring DLC Trailer

Messmer demonstrates his destructive capabilities by incinerating a lion-like guardian creature, suggesting he confronts not just humanoid opponents but also powerful mythical beasts.

Mesmer Impaling the Omens
Image Courtesy: Elden Ring DLC Trailer

The systematic persecution of Omen-horned individuals indicates Messmer operates under a specific ideological or theological framework that deems these traits unacceptable.

Common Pitfall: Players may underestimate Messmer’s tactical intelligence, assuming he’s merely a brute force antagonist. His targeted campaigns suggest sophisticated strategic planning.

The visual parallels between the corpse mounds from the creation sequence and the Erdtree’s base structure imply a deeper connection between the tree’s origin and Messmer’s crusade. This might represent a purification campaign aimed at reinforcing the Erdtree’s power through additional sacrifices.

Creation of the ErdtreeEntry to Erdtree in Elden Ring

Parallels between the corpse mounds and Erdtree foundation

Advanced Tactics: Experienced players should note that Messmer’s fire-based attacks likely have specific counter-strategies. Preparing fire-resistant gear and understanding attack patterns will be essential for survival.

Within the expansion narrative, participants must venture into the Shadow Realm accompanied by Miquella’s remaining disciples to terminate Messmer’s oppressive rule. This alliance suggests Miquella represents an opposing faction with different philosophical approaches to the Erdtree’s power.

The journey into the Shadow Realm likely involves navigating the golden portal-like gateway observed between the corpse mounds, suggesting this realm exists in a parallel dimension connected to the Erdtree.

Preparation Checklist:

  • Research Miquella’s lore in the base game to understand faction motivations
  • Acquire fire-resistant equipment and consumables before confronting Messmer
  • Study Omen-related lore to comprehend why they’re specifically targeted
  • Practice combat against aggressive, fast-moving enemies to prepare for Messmer’s forces
  • Explore areas beneath the Erdtree in the main game to familiarize yourself with similar environments

Time Investment: Based on FromSoftware’s DLC history, completing the main storyline could require 15-20 hours, with 100% completion potentially demanding 30-40 hours for thorough exploration.

The metaphysical relationship between Gold and Shadow mentioned in the narration likely represents a fundamental duality that players must understand to navigate the expansion’s challenges successfully.

Mechanics Deep Dive: The Erdtree’s creation through sacrifice suggests its power might be vulnerable to similar sacrificial mechanics. Players should be prepared for potential ritual-based gameplay elements.

For comprehensive preparation, consult our Complete Guide to master fundamental gameplay systems. Understanding character builds through our Class Guide will help optimize your approach to the expansion’s challenges. Additionally, our Weapons Unlock guide provides essential combat preparation.

Action Checklist

  • Review Miquella’s existing lore and relationships in the base game
  • Acquire fire-resistant talismans and armor sets from main game areas
  • Practice combat against fast, aggressive enemies in later game areas
  • Study Omen enemy patterns and weaknesses in the main game
  • Explore underground areas and catacombs to prepare for Shadow Realm navigation

No reproduction without permission:Tsp Game Club » Elden Ring’s DLC Story Trailer Reveals the Birth of the Erdtree Unraveling Elden Ring's DLC lore: Erdtree origins and Messmer's tyranny explained