Summary
WhileElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeprovides information about character motivations and events in the past, it also raises additional questions that are left unanswered. Even without concrete answers to every lingering question, there’s no shortage of fuel for theories that offer possible explanations. However, following Miquella through the Land of Shadow brings up an unusual question: how does he have a body that allows him to leave behind traces of himself to prepare for godhood when his physical body is supposed to be inside the cocoon that’s found in Mohg’s boss room?
The focus inShadow of the Erdtreeis on Miquella as he works towards completing the Rite of Divinity and ascending to godhood, just like his mother, Marika.He believes that he can rule without making the same mistakes as Marika, and he desires to start an Age of Compassion as a replacement for the Golden Order. But he’s taking measures to separate himself from his connections to the Golden Order, and that might seem a bit drastic given the lengths he goes to in order to leave his lineage behind, even going as far as abandoning his love in the form of his split identity, St. Trina.
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Miquella’s Body Is Allegedly In The Cocoon In Mohgwyn Palace
It Allows Passage To The Land Of Shadow
Given the information about Miquella in the base game, he shouldn’t have a body in the Land of Shadow. The topic of bodies inElden Ringgets confusing in general, since one soul can be split into two bodies, like Marika and Radagon being the same person, but having occupied two separate bodies in the past. However,Miquella’s body is allegedly the shriveled corpse in his cocoon, which is still lifeless and present in the Lands Between as he travels through the Land of Shadow. It also seems to offer a pathway for others to follow him to this new location.
Physical bodies hold great importance inElden Ring; see Ranni destroying her original body, Godrick grafting limbs onto himself to grow in strength, or Godwyn’s soulless body becoming the twisted Prince of Death after the Night of Black Knives.
This makes it strange that he’s able to leave behind physical pieces of himself working towards his ascension. Since the Tarnished cango to Miquella’s Crossesand find parts of his body like an eye or an arm,he must have a physical body while in the Land of Shadow. But if it’s truly Miquella’s body in the cocoon from the Haligtree, he shouldn’t have a body in the Land of Shadow, considering it’s still part of the Lands Between. The Shadow Realm is sealed off, but seemingly not an alternate reality. There’s no reason that Miquella should suddenly have a new body in this location.
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How Miquella Could Have A Physical Body In The Land Of Shadow
Not The First Base Game Revelation From The DLC
Shadow of the ErdtreechangesElden Ringby revealing new information that challenges what the Tarnished knows from their time in the Lands Between. For example, the Tarnished finds Metyr, Mother of Fingers, and learns that the Greater Will is far less interested in the Lands Between than they were led to believe in the base game. As a result, it wouldn’t be out of the question ifother pieces of information that the Tarnished has from the Lands Between aren’t entirely accurate, and that could include the identity of the body in Miquella’s Cocoon, because there’s no confirmation that Miquella is inside it.
Although the Tarnished is told that Miquella put himself in a cocoon and was then taken away by Mohg,the unveiling of Miquella’s scheming nature means that information about him can’t be taken at face value. If Miquella’s real plan never included the Haligtree being successful in becoming a replacement for the Erdtree, he wouldn’t have a reason to put himself in the cocoon. Considering how powerful his ability to charm others is – especially with the help of his Great Rune – he could’ve convinced somebody else to go inside the cocoon and open the path to the Land of Shadow, which seems to have been his real goal.
Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Most Important Character Isn’t Even In The Story
The most important NPC for your journey in Shadow of the Erdtree isn’t part of the DLC’s story at all and won’t be found in the Land of Shadow.
Given how intricate the story and details ofElden Ringare, Miquella having two physical bodies with no explanation seems like a large oversight. Therefore, it feels likely that either the Tarnished doesn’t have all the information about Miquella, his cocoon, and the Haligtree, or the Land of Shadow has more secrets regarding how the nature of physics works in that location. If an answer to this strange puzzle is tucked within the Land of Shadows, it has yet to be uncovered by the Tarnished inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree’s influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges.
