Shadow of the Erdtree Should Dive Into Elden Ring’s Creepiest Faction

Elden Ring‘s Shadow of the Erdtree is on the way, and with it, new lore and stories within Miyazaki and Martin’s twisted, confounding universe. The expansion will be introducing new major players like the enigmatic Messmer, who is seemingly connected to the rest of Elden Ring‘s pantheon of godly figures, but it should also build on other characters and concepts. It’s clear the DLC will shed more light on Miquella, Marika, and perhaps others like Mohg, Radagon, and St. Trina, but there is one group that is overdue for some more context: the Godskins.

Most Elden Ring players will be familiar with the Godskin enemy type. They come in two varieties, the plump Godskin Noble and the lanky Godskin Apostle, but both are equally intimidating, lethal, and, in many ways, unnerving. As their titles imply, they don robes made from milky white patches of skin, with haunting faces sewn into the smooth, fleshy fabric. They wield the power of the Black Flame and also appear to have some shapeshifting abilities, making them formidable foes. But despite their striking character designs, not much is known about these Godskin NPCs, and they may yet play a key role in the broader Elden Ring story.

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Elden Ring: Every Major Fan Theory About Shadow of the Erdtree’s Messmer Explained

Very little has been revealed about Messmer, the apparent villain of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree, but that hasn’t stopped fan speculation.

Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree Can ‘Flesh’ Out the Godskins

What Elden Ring Reveals About the Godskins

Elden Ring doesn’t feature any quests or major areas based on the Godskins, but these beings are nevertheless suggested to be significant threats, not just to the player, but to the demigods as well. Godskins serve the mysterious Gloam-Eyed Queen, an Empyrean who has cared for them since their infancy, swaddling them in cloth made from soft, sewn-together skin. The Gloam-Eyed Queen harnessed the power of Destined Death through Black Flame magic, the latter of which she passed down to her Godskin servants.

Destined Death, also known as the Rune of Death, is part of the Elden Ring, which is a representation of the laws of nature and reality. Destined Death is the facet of reality that encapsulates death, bringing this ultimate fate to every living being. Maliketh, serving Queen Marika, sealed away the Rune of Death, restricting the power of Black Flame magic and fundamentally altering how death functions in The Lands Between. Since the Gloam-Eyed Queen is a servant of Destined Death, she is naturally at odds with Marika and her demigod kin, who are now immortal due to tampering with the Rune of Death. The Godskins play an important role in the conflict between these queens, though their full influence and history is a bit muddy.

What Shadow of the Erdtree Can Reveal About the Godskins

It’s not unlikely that Shadow of the Erdtree will reincorporate Godskins in some form, as the sect is far from clearly defined in the base game, with players left to guess at the particulars of their goals and, by extension, the status of the Gloam-Eyed Queen. The DLC could also answer a number of other questions about the nature of Godskins, such as whether they are humans, where they come from, and how they are born.

The Godskins could be after Miquella, as he is one of the most powerful living demigods. This would make them a major antagonistic force in the expansion and prove that they are actively attempting to bring Destined Death to Marika’s family. If they reprise their role as bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree, then it would be a good opportunity for the DLC to pull back the curtain on their lore and current role in the Elden Ring story.

Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set in a world co-created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of the influential Dark Souls video game series, and George R.R. Martin, the author of the best-selling fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. This collaboration between two renowned creators has resulted in FromSoftware’s largest game to date, filled with danger and discovery at every turn. Hidetaka Miyazaki, president and game director of FromSoftware, has a history of directing highly acclaimed games in franchises such as Armored Core and Dark Souls.

Released

February 25, 2022

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op , Online Multiplayer

Engine

Proprietary

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

How Long To Beat

58 Hours

Metascore

96

Platforms That Support Crossplay

PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

PS Plus Availability

N/A