WhileElden Ringkeeps its fans busy with plenty to do even after the main story has been completed, fans still have some new content to look forward to in the future. FromSoftware has already announced a rather large expansion pass in the form of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, but not much info has been given other than its name and an accompanying illustration that has only made fans speculate as to what this expansion will contain. While theTarnished’s Spirit Steed, Torrent, is easily recognizable, the person riding him could be either Miquella or Marika.
However,Elden Ringfans may be spending their time reasonably drawing whatever clues they can from the illustration shared with FromSoftware’s announcement, but they might miss one of the biggest hints of all as they do so. While many theorists have their guesses over it there may be a chance that the name for the expansion is more simple than players expect. Shadow of the Erdtree could very well deal with the concepts of the Shadowbound Beasts.
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Shadow of the Erdtree Could Focus on the Empyrean’s Shadows
InElden Ring, there are two characters players will meet that they will find out are special, as they serve a key role tied to other NPCs who in turn are connected closely to the game’s most important events. These two characters areMaliketh the Black Blade, and Blaidd the Half-Wolf. What ties these two together is their duty as a shadow to important god-like figures, assigned to them by the Two Fingers. Just like the other prominentElden Ringcharacters, Maliketh and Blaidd have plenty of lore behind them, yet, there are a few plot threads that might be intentionally left hanging for now.
Maliketh and Blaidd do enjoy their time in the limelight, but the biggest question that comes up regarding them is just how they were granted toMarika and Ranni, respectively, and just how they’re related to them to where they could be called their brothers. While it’s understood that the shadows are tailor-made for the Empyrean they serve, and Blaidd declares himself part of Ranni’s being, the familiar terms and flowery language that only vaguely go into what shadows truly are may leave fans asking for more, and that is where the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC may deliver.
The Potential Truth in Shadow of the Erdtree
In order to understand shadowbound beasts and Baleful Shadows better, it would make sense if FromSoftware filled in the blanks inElden Ring’slore and showed fans just how shadows are granted and how they’re born. Seeing this process could help fans gain greater context into how the shadows operate, especially when it comes toBlaidd’s rebellion inElden Ringagainst the Two Fingers which created him. There’s also potential in showing how a Baleful Shadow is born, as well. However, there are not many windows for FromSoftware to show this part of the story.
There is one big fan theory surrounding the Shadow of Erdtree DLC that could make this possible, though. Due to how FromSoftware seems to constantly make time travel, specifically going back into the past of its stories, a trend with its expansion packs. Due to this, some fans believe that the DLC will deal with Queen Marika and the empty spaces of her own story, which means there could be a chance that fans might get to watch Maliketh be made to be Marika’s shadow. Whatever route FromSoftware decides to take,Elden Ring’sDLC could make the game even greaterby answering old mysteries in its lore, and following Marika may be the best way to give several answers all at once.
Elden Ringis available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
