10 Most Important Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Characters, According To Their Lore (2024)

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreefeatures new and old characters, alongside plenty of lore that expands on the already rich in-game universe. However, a lot of the lore in the DLC adds to the existing characters and their motives, which can change the Tarnished's perception of them. Because of that, some of the most important characters in the DLC are also important in the base game.

[Warning: Spoilers for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.]

The hardest part of narrowing down the most important characters based on lore is that so many characters in Shadow of the Erdtree have rich stories. Therefore, this ranking has an element of opinion, looking at which character's lore is important to the plot and helps shape the Lands Between. Among all the characters involved in the story of Shadow of the Erdtree, a few rise above the others to be bigger players in either Marika's past in the Realm of Shadow, or Miquella's arrival and journey there.

10 Mohg Might've Kidnapped Miquella While Under His Influence

Mohg appears in the Realm of Shadow, but not in a normal way. Although only his body makes an appearance, there are multiple revelations about him that shift his story that the Tarnished knows from the base game. Additionally, he played a big role in opening a pathway to the Realm of Shadow, and this feat wouldn't likely have been possible without him.

From the base game, the Tarnished knows that Mohg kidnapped Miquella while he was cocooned in the Haligtree. However, it looks like this might've been planned by Miquella from the start, and he used it as a way to not only get to the Realm of Shadow himself, but provide a way for others to follow him there. On top of that, it's not clear if Mohg played his role of his own will, or if he was under the influence of Miquella’s power.

9 Uncovering St. Trina's True Identity

Shadow of the Erdtree confirms what many players already guessed about St. Trina: she's the same person as Miquella. Their relationship is like Marika and Radagon, where they share a single soul but can occupy two bodies, and it looks like Trina is the part of Miquella that earned him his kind reputation. This time, she makes an appearance in the Realm of Shadow and provides information about Miquella.

Saint Trina is found in the location where Miquella abandoned his love, and she actually requests that the Tarnished kill Miquella. This isn't done out of anger or hatred, but because she believes that becoming a god will shackle Miquella, and that it won't be the answer he wants. She recognizes that Miquella is trying to do what he thinks is right, but that it won't have the outcome he anticipates. If she's the embodiment of his kindness, then he wouldn't be the great ruler others might hope for without her.

8 Romina Brings New Information About Scarlet Rot

Romina, Saint of the Bud, is found in the Church of the Bud, and it seems like she played an important role in the spread of Scarlet Rot, and possibly its creation. At the very least, it seems like she's the person behind the Scarlet Rot having a religion based around it. However, looking at item descriptions brings up the possibility that she's responsible for the current version of Scarlet Rot, especially with her information reading, "After the church was burned to the ground, Romina discovered a twisted divine element, which she weaved into the baleful scarlet rot."

From the base game, it's known that the Outer God of Rot is sealed under the Lake of Rot, which seems like the most likely source of the twisted divine element that Romina found. Since Romina weaved what was likely the original form of the god's rot into Scarlet Rot, then it makes sense that she'd be seen as a saint in that religion. However, it would also mean that she's responsible for Malenia's affliction, Caelid's inoculation of Scarlet Rot, and the many deaths in the Lands Between that occurred from the Rot.

7 The Hornsent Ignited Marika's Cruelty

In the Lands Between, the Hornsent are called Omen and seen as evil creatures, and the reason behind that is revealed in Shadow of the Erdtree. Although there's an NPC named Hornsent in the DLC, the Hornsent who are important to lore would be the race that he was part of, before Marika and Messmer wiped them out. After learning about what the Hornsent did when they had power in the Lands Between, it's not surprising that Marika held a grudge towards them, going as far as imprisoning her own children for having Omen traits.

Marika was from a shaman village, and the flesh of the people living there was said to meld well with other flesh. This led to them being tortured by the Hornsent and stuffed into Jars for the purpose of creating Jar Saints. Witnessing this cruelty could've motivated Marika's desire for godhood, and her own cruelty was unleashed when she returned home to bless her village, but nobody was left alive there. Naturally, the cycle of hate and war never seems to end in Elden Ring.

6 Midra Was Punished For His Connection To The Frenzied Flame

Midra is an optional boss, and there are only a few bits of information given about him, which makes it difficult to piece together his story. However, there are enough hints between item descriptions, NPC lines, and the appearance of Midra's Manse to create a viable guess at some important events in his life. It seems like the most important traits of Midra center around his use of the Frenzied Flame. His interaction with the Flame alone would've been enough to lead to his state of punishment, since the Hornsent despised the Frenzied Flame.

One detail that plays a large role in Midra's story is the presence of Aged Ones around his location. It's known that the Aged Ones are servants of the Frenzied Flame from the Aged One's Exultation talisman description, and it's known that Midra touched one of the Aged Ones, which is stated on a torn diary page. Using these pieces of information, it can be assumed that his interaction with an Aged One connected Midra to the Frenzied Flame, which would then melt his eyes and lead to him fighting to not become the Lord of Frenzied Flame.

5 Metyr Brings The Most Depressing Lore Revelations

Metyr was able to understand the Greater Will, but she fell to the Lands Between and was unhinged and focused on attempting to understand reality by looking beyond the world to the Greater Will. However, the Greater Will hadn't been an active god in a long time, and Metyr was essentially abandoned by it to try seeking a message from it that she'd never receive. Because the Greater Will wants life to spread, Metyr birthed creatures, the Two Fingers among them.

The existence and lore of Metyr implies that thecharacters following the Greater Will's orders were actually following Metyr's orders. Additionally, the Two Fingers used Empyreans because they – like Metyr – can reach into the cosmos, and they're trying to find a godly mother, having been abandoned by their current mother who doesn't care about them and instead focuses on communicating with the Greater Will. It looks like the characters who distrust the Fingers and the Greater Will are more justified than previously believed.

4 Radahn Makes A Vow With Miquella & Malenia

Radahn makes an unexpected appearance as the final boss of Shadow of the Erdtree, and reveals himself to be Miquella's consort, which was the result of a vow made between him and the twins. Unfortunately, Miquella needed to fulfill the requirements to ascend to godhood, and that meant that he shoved Radahn's soul into Mohg's body. It isn't clear how the rite for the Gate of Divinity works, but it looks like Miquella was preparing for his ascension long ago, which is also shown in the final cutscene.

This revelation makes the battle between Malenia and Radahn a bit different. Why they had to fight for the vow is unknown, although Malenia might've thought that her Scarlet Rot would kill Radahn at that time, instead of the Tarnished doing so later. In which case, she would've set him up to be reborn in the Realm of Shadow because of Miquella's plan. However, this reason for their fight resulted in a lot of deaths and the spread of Scarlet Rot, which seems like it would go against Miquella's values regarding compassion and gentleness.

3 Marika Remains At The Center Of The Story

Marika might not appear in Shadow of the Erdtree physically, but her past can’t be separated from the story of Elden Ring and the Realm of Shadow. Not only does the Tarnished learn more about Marika before her ascension to godhood, they also gather hints that might point to her knowing she was being used by the Fingers much earlier than previously suspected. They even get a bit of insight into the atrocities committed for the sake of power (and vengeance), and that Marika once showed some compassion before committing atrocities.

Even before being imprisoned in the Erdtree, Marika didn't have a great fate. People from her village were killed by the Hornsent for the purpose of being made into Jar Saints. She ascended to godhood and wanted to use her power to help her village, but it was wiped out by the time she returned. With the extra information, her actions as Queen Marika in the Lands Between start to make more sense, particularly her choice to remove death from the land. It also makes her reign feel somber, since it came at a great cost.

2 Messmer Might Have The Most Humanity In Elden Ring

Naturally, Messmer the Impaler is one of the most important characters when it comes to the lore of Shadow of the Erdtree, and there's a reason that he starred in the trailers and art for the DLC. Messmer, as guessed before the DLC was released, is another demigod child of Marika. However, he was born with a serpent in him, which Marika feared and sealed for his safety. It seems they had a good relationship in the past, since Messmer helped Marika purge the Hornsent, and she gave him Blessings of Marika to heal him.

Messmer shows his emotions, and he has a lot of devotion towards Marika as his mother. He respects her, but it's clear that he also has some internal struggles when it comes to trying to understand the choices that she's made. During her early days as a god, Messmer must have been among her most reliable allies, and he would've helped shape the Lands Between because of that. As a result, it probably stung that Marika would then hide him in the Realm of Shadow, even if it was for his own good.

1 Miquella Is The Reason For The DLC

Miquella is the core of Shadow of the Erdtree. He's the reason that the Tarnished can enter the Realm of Shadow, and it's his followers who guide them through the main quests while filling them in on the history of the location. Like many other characters, Miquella makes the Tarnished consider if the ends really justify the means, especially since Miquella has to give up everything to ascend to godhood, which includes aspects that are central to his being, such as his rune and St. Trina.

Although he claims he wants to create an Age of Compassion, Miquella's actions don't support that idea. He chose a consort who lives for war, and he gave up his love when he removed St. Trina from his being. Additionally, he relies on his power to handle the Tarnished, compelling them to join him instead of fighting against him. Overall, it seems like the Age of Compassion would have been achieved through brutal means.

The Realm of Shadow adds depth to the Lands Between, and it provides a unique look into the past of this universe that's otherwise invisible since it was sealed away. Under the illusion of an Order, characters continue seeking power to shape the future of the land to fit their ideals, but it never plays out the way they want. For the most part, there are no happy endings to be had for those who seek power in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

9/ 10

Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree's influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges​.