Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Most Gruesome Boss Had A Tragic Life

Soulsborne games are almost as famous for their tragic stories as their difficulty, and is no exception. The Tarnished are probably used to watching their favorite NPCs meet an untimely end after completing their quests and there isn't a lot of hope as far as many characters are concerned. Not only does this apply to friendly NPCs, it also applies to the many bosses that are put in the Tarnished's way. Just because they need to be slain for the sake of the game doesn't mean there isn't a tragedy behind it.

[Warning: Minor spoilers for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.]

is perhaps more tragic than the base game with some of its characters. The horrors inflicted on the Land of Shadow, especially on the Hornsent, are but one example of this, and much of this can be seen through the many bosses added in the expansion. Messmer's exile after the war he was forced to wage in his mother's name, Metyr being abandoned by the Greater Will, and Romina being a victim of Messmer's crusade are all examples of this, but none suffer more than Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame.

Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is a victory lap for FromSoftware, bringing in elements from past games without losing what made it special.

As far as the bosses of are concerned, Midra is unique in that he starts off as almost harmless and reasonably pathetic, before playing a gruesome cutscene to properly start the boss fight. Although body horror and self-mutilation aren't uncommon in with the Fire Giant boss ripping off its own leg as an example, Midra pulling his own head off is something else entirely. Thankfully, the game fades to black before the head is detached from the rest of the body.

Self-mutilation seems to be a theme with bosses. Godrick chops off one of his many arms, Messmer takes out one of his eyes, the Fire Giant rips off his leg, and Midra pulls his own head off.

By the time the Tarnished comes across Midra, his house is in ruins, his servants and wife have been killed, and he