While Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC was a success overall, as it gave players a lot of new content to explore, many players felt cheated by the developers after experiencing the DLC, as it did not live up to its promises.
During the promotion, the developers said that Shadow of the Erdtree included a lot of important revelations and basic backgrounds from the base game, and completely redefined most of the base game. But this is not the case.
This article will list a few examples of developers “cheating” players, hoping that late DLCs can be improved.
The Earliest Trailer Image
In the earliest trailer image of Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Miquella was riding Torrent. However, after players completed the entire DLC’s quests and main storyline, they found that Miquella and Torrent had never appeared or been described together in the game.
Although the figure in the picture only has a back view, based on the special length and braids, as well as the white clothing, it is roughly Miquella. The white wildebeest is also believed to be Torrent, because no other such creature appears in the base game of Elden Ring.
Therefore, many players will think that some clear connection between Torrent and Miquella will be explored in Shadow of the Erdtree, but in the actual game content, it has not yet. Although Miquella and Torrent both appear in the DLC, their identities are completely different.
There is also no indication that they have been seen before, let alone Miquella will ride Torrent through Shadow Land, as shown in the picture. Although the DLC is very interesting in terms of new content, this will still disappoint some players, because there is also less explanation about Torrent in the base game, making it more mysterious.
Very Little About Torrent
As mentioned earlier, there is no further explanation of Torrent’s lore in Shadow of the Erdtree, and a brief explanation in the base game, which makes players know nothing about Torrent’s mystery.
However, based on the concept of art in the trailer, we can infer something about this Elden Ring’s spectral steed. At the beginning, Melina gave them a Spectral Steed Whistle when she first met the Tarnished to summon Torrent.
But her mind is more than just a simple gift, because before meeting Melina, Torrent had already chosen Tarnished to help him seize the Elden Ring. In the final storyline of the DLC, Melina admitted this after defeating Godrick.
So, although Torrent seems to be on Melina’s side, it already has its own thoughts, conscience, and preferences to help him make the right decision.
Witch Ranni is one of the few NPCs who knows Torrent’s name, both in the base game and in the DLC. When you talk to Ranni after Tarnished is first in Church of Elleh, she will reveal Torrent’s name to you.
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During the conversation, she will hear that the enemies are riding a spectral steed, which triggers Torrent’s name, and will give Tarnished a gift said to be from Torrent’s previous owner - Spirit Calling Bell. This item will allow you to summon Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring.
In addition to this, Ranni will tell you two important pieces of information: the first is that Torrent once had an owner, and Ranni knows him. The second is that if you can find that owner, it will only benefit Tarnished’s success.
But when the same Tarnished begin to follow Miquella's soldiers, posing a threat to them, Miquella is forced to join, becoming the enemy you need to fight in the game, and will provide you with a tons of Elden Ring Runes and the ultimate weapon.
In the concept art of Shadow of the Erdtree - the teaser image, it may be hinted that Miquella is Torrent’s previous owner. At the end of Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Miquella will tell you that she and Tarnished have the same goal - to end Golden Order’s tyranny and usher in a new era.
Many players will guess that when Torrent was running around Land of Shadow, he left his former master in Lands Between, and could find Tarnished by smell and form an alliance in Land of Shadow.
But when the same Tarnished began to follow Miquella’s soldiers and posed a threat to it, Miquella was forced to join and become the enemy you need to fight in the game. In these hints, the connection between Miquella and Torrent has always been subtle, vague, and contradictory.
But I believe that players who often come into contact with FromSoft’s series of games should have become accustomed to this kind of vague and contradictory legend, and are accustomed to relying on these discontinuous points to piece together the complete storyline.
In Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, there are still many mysterious things waiting for you to explore, and I hope to see you in Land of Shadow!
