Elden Ring is full of unusual characters who carry varying levels of importance. Since Miquella is a key figure in the DLC, according to the trailer and official website, we can begin guessing which 10 characters could return in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring: 10 Characters Who Might Return in Shadow of the Erdtree
10. Rykard
I don’t expect Rykard to show up in person, but I suspect we might see at least a reference to him. The twin snakes that are part of Messmer’s design seem reminiscent of Rykard, considering he let a snake eat him in a bid for power.
It’s also possible that Rykard and Messmer could be siblings, which opens up the opportunity for any of the demigod children to appear in the DLC. That said, I believe that some demigods (like Rykard) have higher odds of returning when we visit the Land of Shadow.
9. Frenzied Flame
The Frenzied Flame is another god like the Greater Will. But since the Greater Will doesn’t seem to have the same level of influence in the Land of Shadow, it’s possible that a different god, like the Frenzied Flame, holds more power here.
Additionally, the trailer shows a woman who looks like a Finger Maiden. She might be one, but for the Three Fingers instead. Another element that could point at the Frenzied Flame ruling this area is Messmer’s use of flames to cleanse the hearts of those he considers sinners. If he’s a main villain, the Frenzied Flame could choose him and give him strength like the Greater Will gave Marika.
8. Hyetta
Hyetta possibly returning follows the same logic as the Frenzied Flame existing in or holding a higher level of influence over the Land of Shadow compared to the Lands Between. Since she wanted to become a Finger Maiden for the Three Fingers, she could end up in this new area through the will of the god she follows. This is all speculation, of course, but the portrait of a Finger Maiden I mentioned earlier could be for the Three Fingers. In that case, Hyetta might find herself in better company in the Land of Shadow.
7. Ranni
Ranni hates the Greater Will. So, if she has a chance to leave for a land where it has less influence, she won’t hesitate to take it. She went as far as plotting an assassination and bringing death back to the Lands Between to get rid of her body since the Greater Will marked her as an Empyrean. Since the DLC webpage describes Miquella as leaving behind all things golden to go to the Land of Shadow, it seems like a location where the Greater Will doesn’t have control. In that case, it’d make perfect sense for Ranni to follow Miquella there.
6. Millicent (& Her Sisters)
Although I focus on Millicent for the sake of readability, what I say applies to her sisters as well. Millicent insists that she’s descended from Malenia. But instead of being a child, it seems more like she was created by Malenia’s Scarlet Rot Bloom, or through a similar process. If she’s searching for Malenia, then she could end up going to the Land of Shadow. This is especially true if she knows that Miquella is there because Malenia is so devoted to her brother. She could assume that if she follows Miquella, she’ll come across Malenia eventually.
5. Roderika
Roderika might seem like a wild guess for a returning character in the DLC. However, one character shown in the trailer looks an awful lot like Roderika. She has the exact same outfit but with a blue hood instead of a red hood.
Since she lost her red hood in the base game, she could have a blue one now. It’s possible that her ability as a Spirit Tuner led her to the Land of Shadow. But her outfit with the blue hood is also available in-game for players, so it could just be an image of the Tarnished. It’s hard to tell without seeing the character’s face if it’s Roderika or the Tarnished, but it’d be interesting to come across her in the DLC.
4. Mohg
Mohg kidnapped Miquella from his place at the base of the Haligtree, so it’s not farfetched for him to follow Miquella to the Land of Shadow as well. The way that death works in the Lands Between isn’t exactly clear, especially after the Night of Black Knives. It wouldn’t be too out there to think that Mohg was able to follow Miquella after death to the Land of Shadow. And considering that Miquella died to enter the Land of Shadow, that could simply be the best method to travel there. We know that Mohg is obsessed with Miquella, so I expect him to find a way to follow after him.
3. Malenia
Malenia is the Blade of Miquella and does her best to support her twin brother. She waits at the base of the Haligtree for him, so if she finds out that he’s in the Land of Shadow, it’s likely that she’d follow after him. But that also opens up the potential that she could be an ally rather than a boss in the DLC. It seems like we’ll be helping Miquella when we enter the Land of Shadow. So, having this brutally powerful woman on our side would be a welcome change of pace.
2. Melina
It looks like there’s a shot of Melina’s boots and the edge of her cloak in the trailer, but they also look a bit different than her standard outfit. However, Melina being in the Land of Shadow and returning in the DLC could be purely for gameplay mechanic reasons. She’s how we level up, after all. So if we can level more in the DLC, then we need her there. Alternatively, we could have a different character for leveling in the Land of Shadow, which might be interesting depending on how this new land works.
1. Miquella
Since Miquella is the way to get to the new area and we see him in the trailer, it’s basically guaranteed that he’s returning in the DLC. He’s only in his cocoon in the main game, so getting to see his abilities and goals in the Land of Shadow should be interesting. It also leads to a lot of questions, like how he traveled to the Land of Shadow. And what’s with the big tree that he was seemingly able to heal? I look forward to digging for answers.
And those are 10 characters that could return in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. I’m excited to explore the lore of a new area. But for now, head to our guides hub for more content like where to find the By My Sword gesture or how Messmer and Miquella might be related.
