Summary
The gigantic burning enemy fromElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeis partially composed of corpses of people that appear to have died in agony. This horrifying detail about the upcomingElden Ringexpansion was recently highlighted by Bandai Namco as part of its marketing efforts centered on the DLC.
The first and ostensibly only expansion for the hit RPG was officially announced in February 2023. A year later, FromSoftware finallytreatedElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeto a release date, confirming that the DLC is scheduled to drop on June 21. That information was presented at the end of a lengthy gameplay reveal trailer, which showcased many locations and enemies from the upcoming expansion.
Among that bunch was a giant walking burning effigy, which can be seen between the 70- and 75-second mark. The officialElden RingTwitter account has recently offered fans a closer look at this imposing creature in the form of a new promotional screenshot. The image depicts the monster from the side, drawing attention to dozens of charred corpses protruding from its cage-like limbs. The horrific detail was already spotted by some observant fans analyzing thishugeShadow of the Erdtreeenemyfollowing the DLC’s gameplay reveal trailer.
Giant Shadow of the Erdtree Enemy May Be Inspired by Wicker Men
The monster’s overall design suggests that the burning creature is based on a wicker man, a type of large straw-plaited statue purported to have been used for human sacrifices by Celtic druids. Although many modern historians are skeptical about the accuracy of these claims, which mostly originate from Greco-Roman sources who consistently tried painting Celtic pagans as savages, the myth itself made its way to modern popular culture by the way of the1973 British folk horror classicThe Wicker Man.
Givenhow muchElden Ringdraws from Celtic mythology, the notion of its upcoming expansion introducing yet another enemy based on this collection of myths appears to be well within the realm of possibility. FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki referred to the monster as a “war machine” in one recent interview, suggesting it may have been built during The Shattering, or some older conflict in the Lands Between. Severed giant heads can also be seen hanging from its waist in the February trailer, but aren’t clearly visible in this newly shared image.
Given how many elements from theShadow of the Erdtreetrailer appear to be considered blasphemous by the Golden Order, it seems plausible that the giant wicker man also fits that description. That train of thought indicates that the monster is possibly connected to either the Frenzied Flame or the Fell God, both of which are deities associated with fire and opposed to Marika’s order in the game’s lore.
Elden Ring
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
