One Brutally Hard Elden Ring DLC Boss Is Inspired By Equally Violent History & Terrifying Mythology

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FromSoftware’s has continued to capture positive attention since its release in 2022, and its new DLC has reignited that sentiment. has received sterling reviews for enhancing the already weighty base game with hours of additional content, deepening the game's lore and characters. Additionally, the expansion comes packed with over 70 new weapons, 30 new armor sets, andnew bosses that are as compelling (and difficult) as ever.

At first glance, a game like gets attention for its level of difficulty, and while there is certainly an audience for that genre, immersing oneself in the game’s intricate mythology can be time-consuming, and even overwhelming for some. The game grounds its world building by borrowing from various real mythologies from around the globe. Hallmarks of Norse, Celtic, and Greek legends, among many others, can be found woven throughout the entirety of the game’s story and character designs. Messmer the Impaler, one of the bosses introduced in the DLC, embodies many of these borrowed mythologies.

Get one look at Messmer, and some of the inspirations behind the character's design are easy to see. Most obvious, perhaps, are Messmer’s similarities to one of history’s most feared rulers, Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad Dracula. Even Pope Pius II’s own legate was quoted describing Vlad as having a “.” Translated from Romanian, the name “Dracula” means “son of the dragon.” Messmer has striking, dragon-like eyes that evoke this connection to the real historical figure's association with dragons and serpentine creatures. Intentional or not, Messmer’s spear and fire serpent draw clear parallels to Vlad.

Aside from his great spear and serpent, Messmer wields fire magic with devastating results, an attribute that keenly aligns him with several global deities and legends. In the pantheon of Norse mythology is a figure named Surtr, a fire giant of immense destructive power who destroys the world with flame. A similar description can be applied to Messmer,