For a long time, Elden Ring intentionally kept its story mysterious, letting players discover details by reading item descriptions, exploring the game world, and listening to bits of conversation. This approach sparked a huge number of fan theories, with players trying to figure out why characters acted as they did and how the game’s world was put together.
The release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has given more weight to many fan theories. While the DLC doesn’t directly confirm everything, it offers enough clues and background information to move some theories from simple speculation to something very close to accepted lore.
The Two Fingers Never Communicated With The Greater Will
It Was All A Lie
Ever since the game first came out, players have wondered if the Two Fingers truly speak for the Greater Will. Their advice often seems slow, unclear, or even conflicting, leading many to believe they’re not receiving direct guidance, but rather offering their own interpretations.
The new Shadow of the Erdtree expansion revealed a surprising backstory with the optional boss, Metyr, Mother of Fingers. She’s the original of all the Two Fingers characters in the game, but she was cut off from the Greater Will long before the Lands Between were impacted. Because of this, none of the Two Fingers were ever able to connect with the Greater Will.
The Golden Order Were Not The First Guardians Of The Erdtree
Marika Took A Lot From The Hornsent
Before the new downloadable content was released, many players believed the current rules of the world, known as the Golden Order, had replaced a previous, older system connected to the Erdtree. This idea came from confusing details in the world’s history and the existence of cultures that appeared to predate the Golden Order. What’s more, many magical spells originally thought to be from the Golden Order now seem to originate from even older beliefs.
The new expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, reinforces the idea that the Erdtree hasn’t always been governed by the Golden Order. The game hints at older civilizations and beliefs that existed before the Order, suggesting they were actually replaced and forgotten when the Golden Order took control, particularly concerning the Hornsent. This changes how we see the Erdtree – it’s not a constant, unchanging symbol, but something that has been influenced and reshaped by different powers throughout history.
Miquella Was the Greatest Of The Demigods
Ranni’s Only Equal
Even though Miquella wasn’t featured much in the original game, many believed he was the most powerful of all the demigods. His strong reputation, the impact he had on others, and the loyalty he earned hinted at a power that went beyond simply fighting well.
The new DLC significantly raises Miquella’s importance. His actions, goals, and the sheer scope of his plans establish him as a central figure in the Lands Between. He’s no longer just a helpless character; instead, he’s revealed as a key player shaping major events. While deciding who is ‘greatest’ is up to each player, Shadow of the Erdtree demonstrates that Miquella’s long-term impact is equal to, or even greater than, other demigods. Plus, his boss fight is the most challenging in the entire game, even if you’re using powerful equipment.
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Melina Is Marika’s Offspring
And Possibly The Gloam-Eyed Queen
One of the biggest mysteries in Elden Ring has been figuring out who Melina really is. A lot of players thought she might be connected to Queen Marika the Eternal, perhaps as her daughter or even as a being Marika created to carry out her plans.
While not directly stated, Shadow of the Erdtree highlights a fascinating connection. The expansion features a tree in Marika’s homeland that strongly resembles the one Melina conjures when she accompanies you. This suggests Melina’s role is more significant than simply being a shardbearer.
Considering Mesmer’s enigmatic sister, that missing piece of the puzzle feels perfectly suited for Melina. Both Mesmer and Melina appear to have been lost to the history of the Lands Between, making them seem like forgotten children of a once-powerful goddess.
Miquella Has More Than One Aspect
St. Trina Was Already Present In The Base Game
Fans of Elden Ring have developed an interesting theory about the character Miquella. They believe he might not be one single person, but instead exist as multiple different forms or personalities. This idea comes from clues in the game that link Miquella to things like changing shape, having a dual nature, and being in altered states.
Similar to Marika, Miquella was once a complete being with a separate half, known as St. Trina. However, while Marika remained whole, Miquella separates from this other half in the new DLC. Despite this separation, it’s been definitively confirmed they were originally one entity, making this one of the few fan theories proven true.
Miquella Orchestrated His Own Abduction
Malenia Was Nothing More Than A Pawn
Before the release of the DLC, some players theorized that Miquella may have allowed Mohg, Lord of Blood, to abduct him. They believed Miquella was intelligent and far-sighted enough to anticipate the event and potentially even cooperate with it, rather than being simply taken by force.
It seems Miquella orchestrated not only his own kidnapping, but also the battle between Malenia and Radahn, Radahn’s death, and even Radahn’s return as the Promised Consort. Essentially, he was pulling the strings behind most of the major bosses in Elden Ring, with one key exception. The only thing he didn’t foresee was a Tarnished player becoming Elden Lord.
It’s unfortunate that many of these characters don’t have control over their own destinies, especially considering some of them deserved a better outcome. The only small comfort is that Miquella’s plans also ultimately fail.
The World Contains Overlapping Realities
Not Just The Shadow Realm
Even before the new content came out, a lot of us fans thought the world of the game, the Lands Between, wasn’t just one solid place. There were ghosts running around, areas that seemed to change, and things on the map that just didn’t quite fit together, which made it feel like there was something bigger and more complicated going on with the world’s structure.
The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion proves the idea that the world of Elden Ring isn’t just one place. It introduces the Realm of Shadow, which isn’t a faraway land, but a hidden layer connected to the Erdtree itself. This implies that different realities exist alongside each other, subtly connecting and overlapping. Instead of a single world, the Lands Between feels like a complex network of spaces all shaped by the power of the gods.
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2026-05-01 03:36