It's also possible that what we are seeing here is the original burning of the Erdtree. There's multiple clues that the Erdtree we see in Elden Ring is mostly a phantom tree grafted over the stump of the original tree. Melina, for example, appears to have already been burned. We also see a mountain of ash in the capital, and at least one NPC indicates that he can't see the tree. The light the tree gives off is almost identical to the grace ember light, and we know that this light isn't visible to anyone not blessed with grace.

I’ve seen many videos about the DLC today and so far yours is the best.

There are also parallels between Miquella's creations (needles) and the spirit calling bell's design. When Ranni 'disguised' as Renna gives us the bell she tells us that this was a gift from "Torrent's previous master". The steed whistle also has elements that very much look like something made by Miquella. This leads me to believe that Miquella was Torrent's original owner. Also of note: Torrent has horns (often viewed as a cursed thing) and I am unsure whether Marika would be willing to claim the steed based on that fact alone. I think Miquella the far more likely candidate based on this info. As a note there is also some good lore that leads one into thinking that possibly Torrent is a young Ancestral spirit.

I think it’s Miquella. If you look at Miquella in the cutscene from the beginning of the game, he has loops in his hair. The strange person has those same exact loops. Though I am confused how Torrent is related to Miquella. Who knows, I’m excited for it either way!

To me it looks like the Erd tree is being strangled by another tree. Possibly the Halig Tree. Which I believe was Miquella's dream. Ronnie also said Torrent had another master prior to us which she had been in contact with. To me Ronnie and Miquella's Goals align quite nicely

it is important to notice what is not on the image: No Leyndell, no Moutaintops, no Gelmir, nothing that resembles landmarks of the Lands Between. I love the grafting theory, but something tells me that it is going to be somewhat in Miquela's dream. Also, the tombstones and burial icons ("crosses") are related to the graveyards where "those who live in death" appear, which is also related to Miquela and Godwyn. I Cant wait for the Lore nerds to dissecate the lore in this image! XD

Did anyone ever manage to establish what connection Ranni and Melina(or Ranni and Torrent) have? Ranni gives you a gift "from Torrent's former master", but IIRC there's never any indication of what master she's talking of, and she never mentions Torrent again.

I really hope that is miquella; It looks almost exactly like him, from the images and the statues, since he REALLY feels like a big loose end. And moreover I really hope it's NOT Marika. I do love radagon, but I like him as a seperate character, and I like Marika too. But I feel like she has Enough story elements already, and that's before we get into theories. It is theorised that she was the real architect of the night of the black knives, SHE shattered the elden ring, SHE was the vesself of the elden ring SHE Was radagon and even people have said theories that she is the Dusk-eyed queen (Which I dont agree with) I think there is Almost too much wrapped up with Marika, and it would pain me if the DLC is just more about her. But that is just my oppinion, I; of course, wouldn't hold it against anyone for hoping or thinking it is her :)

There was a recent video from the Tarnished Archaeologist where he talked about the Omen and how life with horns and wings and other aspects of the crucible are shunned because they are signs of the ancient rootstock of the Greattree slowly taking over the grafted scion (the Erdtree). When I see this image, I see the Erdtree being cannibalized by its own rootstock. We may be looking at the very fate portended by the birth of the Omen.

The name "Shadow of the Erdtree" also brings to mind the relationship between Marika/Maliketh and Ranni/Blaidd - now this is admittedly pretty out there but I wonder if the Erdtree itself has a sort of shadow, that The Greater Will/Two Fingers saw the Erdtree itself as somehow betraying the Golden Order, and the tree's Shadow is what we are seeing seemingly overtake it. Sentient Trees, idk lol. The lack of recognizable landmarks calls into question whether or not this is even the Lands Between, and with the image of Miquella it would make a ton of sense if this was actually inside Miquella's dream. I love the idea of a parallel narrative going on inside his mind while the events of the main story play out. Tragic as all hell but this is Fromsoftware after all!

The endless wheat field imagery recalls the scene from gladiator which was supposed to represent the afterlife. Wheat is a symbol of fertility, bounty and resurrection. The black and gold look to me like death blight which could still be playing with that idea of death. The rider looks to be riding side saddle which was made fashionable by women, which could clue us into the gender of the character. These must be ruined temples scattered across the land. All I know for certain is that this image covers a vast area, from fields to mountains. hyped!

The colors made me think of death blight. Makes me think, did't Miquella have some connection to an eclipse? A big shadow?

On the idea that this game needs to have a DLC pushed out soon, I would like to remind everyone that I think this game was delayed like one or two times just because they wanted to make certain that the game was polished enough that it would be enjoyable as a player. Just let them take their time with this because fromsoft makes a very particular kind of cake so to speak, and it will be a terrible cake if you take it out of the oven too early.

Fromsoft DLC always has some time travel aspect or at least locations with a deep connection to the core past events. DS1, Bloodborne, and DS3 all had DLC that gave extra context to the major events of these games and I don't think Elden Ring will be any different.

I've thought for a long time now that Miquella was the former master so I took this image as confirmation. We know Torrent is an ancestral spirit based on his basic anatomy and his double jump. The whistle is golden and resistant to frenzied flame which leads me to thinking unalloyed gold. In Nokron we find an ancestral spirit infant's skull guarded. Around it are a plethora of nascent butterflies. We know from the golden epitaph sword that Miquella once wished a true death for his brother and we know from castle sol that he also wanted his brother to return. I think he found in his research how to make Torrent capable of traversing the open world and manifesting in the physical realm. This would be a promising step toward finding a way for Godwyn to return from the dead. We don't know the color of his eyes, but I think he could also be the individual spoken of by Hewg when he referred to a prior spirit tuner with eyes like Roderika's. This would provide skills for use of spirit calling bells I think.

Supposing this is Miquella, it wouldn't have to be either a sequel or prequel would it? It could be a completely parallel narrative taking place in a dream of his for all we know

This is the most interesting take I heard so far. I always wondered why a portion of the tree isn't gold. This DLC could be a prequel and we would see how a young Marika came in contact with the Elden Beast.

I’m so hyped!!! ❤❤❤

You should check out the Prince of Death Scepter. It is made of sullied amber, which would explain the black looking tree, the sickly golden sap (sullied amber), and the souls of the dead overcast looking at the tree itself. The grass reminds me of a golden dream of elysium fields, reminiscent of Miquella. My guess is there won't be a clear picture, rather an amalgam of hopes and a future that never passed. More questions than answers. If I could make a fan-made weapon it would've been the Sullied Amber Spear a great spear that scales of INT/FTH and has a low deathblight tick, it's weapon art would plunge to make roots grow from the ground with tiny insects coming from them.

The idea that Miquella was the erstwhile owner of Torrent kinda blew my mind! That means he was on good terms with Ranni, as he entrusted her with the spirit summoning bell to pass on to us at the very beginning of our journey in the Lands Between! I knew Saint Trina(Miquella) was quite a character and we can see his works and the effects of his decisions in the game, but I never thought we were so closely linked with him via Torrent. I can't wait for this expansion! The hype is UNREEEEAAAAALLLLL!!!!! Btw, what does expansion really mean? Is it just a word being used interchangeably with DLC or is there a greater meaning to it? Is its length on par or comparable with ER? Am I reading too much into their choice of words?

2:15 Those are very similar to the markers in the swamp in Dark Souls III.

If you look at marinas hair it’s one long braid, on the art of Mogh carrying miquella he has the same exact hair

No, i hadn't already seen it ! Thank you, internet stranger !

TFW your gardening experience becomes relevant to analyze a upcoming DLC

The hair of Miquella from the opening looks Very similar to the hair in that pic...

The spectral crosses look like the broach Godrick wears

the spectral grave markers are very similars to the one found in farron swamp in ds3, the proper graves are the same of those found in ds3's ringed city (one is also findable in castle morne in er)

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! YEAH BABY THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!!!!

I wonder if the erd tree is burnt down and the original great tree is regrowing and consuming the erd tree that parasited it. Excited for DLC, now I just have to beat the main game.

thanks for posting

Your voice is so soothing I could listen to you talk to me about my worst upcoming tragedy and thoroughly enjoy it

If this takes place after we burned the Erdtree, it makes me wonder if we will be able to choose how it was burned, or if we will import a save. Basically, did we use ourselves as kindling or Melina? If we did use ourselves as kindling, did we use the needle to still block the Lord of Chaos? Or if this takes place before we burned the Erdtree, are we seeing Miquella get his idea and origins for the Haligtree? Like, maybe he’s riding to gather sap to create a base for his tree. So many questions

New sub here. Great video! I know it makes more sense to you that it's Marika but to me, if it's Miquella, it seems this could be a dreamworld of him, as others have pointed out. Maybe we will need to revisit his cacoon in Mohgyn's Palace to somehow enter this world. And it almost seems as if in this world, the Erdtree is being consumed by Death Blight. Or something along those lines. Not sure honestly! In which case, I would love to see and learn more of Godwyn. Anyway, we'll see what it all is and hopefully soon.

The moment i saw it i went: MIQUELLA! It looks entirely like him. The stature is of a prepubescent child, which is what he is. His locks are of his mother’s but it definitively is not her. Its also stated that its a dreamscape right? I hope we can enter miq’s dream. A lot of ppl were convinced once he got ripped out of the haligtree that he died hence the unresponsiveness, but i believe hes still dreaming. Hopefully this time we get to see the inside of his mind, if this is a man of a gold heart or a twisted mind

The turned down ghost semi-circle stakes reminded me immediately of Cleanrot Knight scythes, however up close they look a bit different.

i think its miquellas dream. and the erdtree is smothered by godwyns deathroot stuff in this dream. would make sense that miquella can move freely in his dream and also the "ashy" stuff you mentioned could be the death flys that surround death blighted people

I like how nobody can decide if this is a sequel or prequel.

Shadow of the Erdtree... As in the Empyrean tree's very own, giant, loyal doggo?!

I’ve heard the golden stuff is sap from the erdtree. But given the atmosphere of the surrounding landscape it could just as well be a certain dead prince’s goldilocks

The gravestones with the circle are similar to what you use to "marry" Anri in Dark Souls 3

Those phantom circle crests(turned down) looks similar to Cleanrot Knight weapons that they use to attack with Miquella's Ring of Light AoW.

Its probably revolving Miquella cut questline to giver Godwyn a proper death and fight the deathroot that is spreading

If this is the Erdtree it’s before Leyndel capital has been built.

Genuinely hoping that this is Miquella. There is so much on everyone else but Miquella seems to be/have been a much bigger part of the lore than they have given us thus far. To me this looks like the Haligtree choking out the Erdtree and I'm wondering if that golden sap-like stuff dripping out is what has revitalized the landscape in the foreground. I'm hoping that we are going to be able to see Miquellas dream. It would also fit with the cut content where we are collecting dream dust stuff. Miquella's lore just seems so important and I feel like that would be far more interesting than revisiting Marika's lore again though I do still have questions about her and Radagon.

That sorta looks more Like the Haligtree no? Cuz it's called "Shadow of the Erd Tree" so my idea would be: It is the direct fallout of your choices through the game (if they deem the canon ending of the game to be just claiming the title of elden lord and thats that) or, perhaps, we saw the weird time loop with Farum Azula, this takes place in the past somehow?

It must be little Miquella. Those braids. And that golden headband is the same one he wore in the Mohg abduction artwork. And he's wearing white. Marika wears a different, more delicate sort of headgear and seems to prefer black and gold for her clothing. Even her shadow, Maliketh, wears black and gold armour.

Whoa big news, would have loved to get a bigger peak behind the curtain, but i am excited nonetheless

All the speculation is fun, feels like pre-release of the base game. But what strikes me so much here is just how fucking gorgeous the image is. I mean, god. I want to walk into that image.

YEA BOI! We living in a good timeline!

This image is so perfectly ambiguous as to whether it's a snapshot of the past or the future that I have to believe it's intentional!

Watch Marika be Miquella too, lol. Goldmask is gonna blow a gasket.

🎉

Tbh i didnt even think of it being Marika instead of Miquella until i watched your video, i think you might be right but it would be interesting if this dlc did reveal a connection between Miquella and Torrent it definitely would throw off some previous theories if it was Miquella who had a connection to Torrent and might even open up some interesting theories about maybe multiple demigods plotted together to overthrow the Elden Beast/ Greater Will.

At 2:19 you know them from the swamp in ds3

Even tho this is titled shadow of rhe *erdtree,* assuming that's instead the haligtree, there's a landmass to the north of it you can see in game. Maybe that's the reason there aint no familiar landmarks here?

Betting we will fight the prince of death then have to make a hard choice at the end.

I would prefer a prequel, and Marika. I don't think the character is an enemy. I think we will get more information about the foundation of the world, and even about Melina.

'the erd tree looks ashy' Erd tree: now y u gotta be throwin' out mean words like that! *Pumps more lotion*

I think it's the Badlands that Marika spoke of~ "With thine eyes dimmed, ye will be driven from the Lands Between. Ye will wage war in a land afar, where ye will live, and die. Then, after thy death, I will give back what i once claimed. Return to the Lands Between, wage war, and brandish the Elden Ring."

Nice!!!!!

I genuinely wish its Miquella. But its fine if its actually Marika tho... Because at some point, at least for me, i still dont know what makes Marika started to Doubt her Golden Order. So this DLC could explore that aspect of the "Dark Side" of the Erdtree, that in the end led to the event of The Shattering... And for Ranni to have the Bell of Torrent and that assassination of Godwyn, Became a catalyst for War. All of this ties close with Marika. Its all just make sense.

Alternative idea is that it could be the Helphen, ties into the twin tree symbols that you see on some shields. Basically you see it after dying in battle. But I think it’s likely Miquella watching on as his Haligtree is dying. Torrent’s summoning ring looks like it may be unalloyed gold.

I know it is Miquella. The timeline could be fuzzy it could be a prequel or sequel

Still waiting on that dredges video.

I want a Great Tree ending to the game.

Do we think this is going to be after the burning? Or a sequel? I wonder if this is inside of Miquela's dream, or Marika's. Most DLC for Fromsofts history presents alternate worlds, usually twisted and corrupted in new and different ways from the usual world. This leads me to believe we will go into a dream or remembrance of Marika or Miquela, and have to relive the actual history of the game in a twisted, nightmarish form... And I mean, we know that Melena is the Gloam Eyed Queen and daughter to Marika by now, right? Like- isn't that considered commonly accepted? If so, it would stand to reason she was given torrent by her mother to find the chosen tarnished who would defeat Radagon and free her from her torment. This includes slaying her very own father... which she knows you will do. Perhaps that's why she's so... distant from you. Unlike the Fire Keeper or Doll... she shows no sign of affection or care... simply that you carry her spirit to the Erdtree and beyond. Anyway, I digress... I feel like this DLC will explore Marika's relationship to Melina- perhaps revealing how she came to inherent the Ancestral Torrent from Marika...

Miquella is riding side-saddle, which is classically a feminine or ladylike style for horseback riding. Maybe the "St. Trina" persona is more prominent than we assumed?

Only Fromsoft could show an image and successfully create hype for a DLC.

1:45 Quelaag suggested it could a tree that was struck by the Elden Star, which would transform a once normal tree into the Erdtree. It looks like the tree sort of exploded and bent over with the impact.

Hello

What if the tarnished is a blond white kid with long hair?

The idea of miquella being raised to be this perfect Child prodigy of a leader… Who goes to sleep in a chrysalis, A cocoon to dream up this perfect utopia, that his Godly family basically raised him to create And you somehow enter this dream, After witnessing a predatory kidnapping of this cocoon And rather than finding it intentionally heavenly and utopian it’s actually very strangely Kinda hellish… And you find him, in the setting of his imperfect design, and he SEES that it failed Though the sleeping, perfect child-God Was utterly positive That what he was going to sleep to create was beautiful If not perfect. And the last thing he gives you is that hidden dialogue the lore dumpers found Which is also Explicitly gorgeous Yet simultaneously, and beautifully poetically enables his own destruction and utter debasement Making this whole horrid show A willing submittal And remember you entered AND exited this dream finding that perfect God-child, the preyed-upon dreamer of this inexplicably ruined utopia of a dream to have been kidnapped and essentially raped In his sleep by his evil step-brother Satan And though you killed him as well, you essentially helped him destroy the messiah Cuz Mohg merely kidnapped and preyed upon a sleeping miquella YOU KILLED Miquella YOU KILLED literal perfection YOU destroyed heaven YOU _________________ Look, idk if that’s what’s coming But it strikes me as possible That some dev in Japan asked the question “What is the most unimaginably evil thing George RR Martin is willing to debase himself to write?” And GRRM gave them back, “Not only aiding and abetting the rape of… But committing the murder of… a sleeping and confused pre-pubescent Jesus mid-molestation” and the team of adult men who made fucking Bloodborne Were aghast with utter disgust. And Miyazaki said the Japanese translation of: “Fuck it Make THAT game” Lol Look In his literature George killed Nearly all the Kennedys In a night Give the man a game, He’ll sexually assault And murder utter human innocence The man’s got a legacy To do Justice ___________ I’m calling it

Yeah I'm leaning towards a young Miquella in a dream or spectral world. But it definitely could be a young Marika before the establishment of the Golden Order. Maybe during the Godskin war? So many possibilities. But that definitely looks like one tree wrapping itself around another. Interesting. I'm just here for all the speculation over the next few months!

1:57 Doesn't that look somewhat like a Church of Marika? if so, I wonder if that indicates it's a sequel dlc

1:10 You're onto something! That golden structure hanging from the tree...might it be the central axis of the Elden Ring? 1:33 The mural on the Erdtree itself might bear us a clue on this matter. Notice the central structure depicted inside the tree and continuing into the Elden Ring on the lower portion of the mural... Thus the DLC image could be depicting the Greater Will's supplanting of the Great Tree.

Miquella makes sense. It's the biggest unfinished story...Marika is done! She's dead along with her alter ego Radagon. If it isn't Miquella I don't understand lol

Hmm they have our steed torrent i wonder why

Shadow of the Erdtree = Haligtree

It takes place in the future the place you are seeing is Nueman we will be sent there by Michala to figure out how it all started. The reason the tree looks that way is because it is burnt. The prince of death was able to corrupted completely, and it’s gonna be up to his brother to cure the prince of death, so a new tree can grow again, it will also confirm that Melanna is in fact Ronnie, a true child of Marika who was adopted by rannalla queen of the moon, and raised as her own. It’s the only way that she could have empyrean status is, if she’s not really Ronaldo’s child, we will be dealing with the aftermath of our choice to burn the erd tree because no matter what ending you get inevitably the Earth tree will burn to nothing