Elden Ring developer FromSoftware is still dodging any questions fans might have about its upcoming expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. The only news fans have gotten is that it is in development, and FromSoft is hard at work on it. Besides that, fans only have a name and numerous theories to pass the time.
Some theories talk about the location of this DLC, and some talk about the weapons and equipment it might bring. But the most exciting ones are those about its story. Where would they take this story next? Who would players battle as tarnished in Shadow of the Erdtree? Well, there’s one interesting theory that might answer some of these questions.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree might focus on Miquella
Before players even enter the Lands Between, they are introduced to a number of characters that will play an important role in the story of Elden Ring. The most crucial of them are the demigods. Likes of Ranni, Radahn, etc. are doing their own thing when a player enters the field. Then they start fighting all these gods and literally killing them.
They are tasked with following the guidance of grace and seeing where it takes them. It appears something or someone has big plans for their future. Some say it’s the greater will; others say something else. Whatever path they choose, though, they continue meeting and defeating a bunch of bosses.
Once they have combed through most of the significant players in the story of Elden Ring, they meet Mohg. He is an Omen but also a Demigod. He is the one character in this game whose intentions can be called the most twisted of them all. He is the son of Queen Marika. He was born an Omen, which means he was twisted at birth and born with horns on his body. Hence, he was shunned by his parents.
But he wants to rule, and to do so, he needs a demigod with influence to support him. What does he do for that influence? He goes to Miquella’s Haligtree and steals them. They are half-brothers, but Miquella is fragile; it did not grow; it is weak. Hence, his sister swore to protect him, but somehow she misses the kidnapping while she recovers from her war with Radahn.
Now, when players fight Mohg, Miquella is nowhere to be seen. His shell is there in the boss room; a hand can be seen hanging from its crack, but there’s no saying who that might be. No one knows for sure where Miquella is. But one thing that is known for sure is that he is the sole survivor now. Players have literally wiped their family, from mother to their beloved sister, who named herself their blade.
The theory by Modfull_X suggests that players would be entering the dreamworld to meet Miquella. And he might ask the player character’s help in destroying the current Erdtree. After all, Miquella had been perfecting the replacement for Erdtree for a while. Haligtree might not be as big, but it would grow once it came out of the shadow of the Erdtree.
For years, Miquella has spent his precious time trying to build and grow his own tree. He has helped those who needed help and befriended some of the most powerful beings in the world, namely Radagon.
After hearing all this about him, it was odd to not meet him in the game. Now it makes complete sense; he was not in-game because he would be in the DLC.
Miquella is even on the poster, it seems
One big thing that has been discussed rigorously is the poster. The DLC poster was revealed when it was announced a whole year ago. It does a darker version of Lands Between. It also shows Torrent or maybe another similar horse, but it does not look like the player character is riding this horse; everyone seems to think it’s none other than Miquella.
It makes sense too, as they overlook an Erdtree that seems to be rotting. And the figure seems somewhat feminine; it had been evident from the opening cinematic that Miquella has very similar hair and a somewhat feminine build.
Once again, speculations and theories are plentiful on the internet. But they can only confirmed by FromSoftware itself, they would do it whenever they decided to show off the DLC.