Summary
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreefails to live up to one of its earliest promises. The DLC is, in every sense of the word, expansive. It builds on thelore ofElden Ring’s most important charactersand minor figures alike, creating a whole new chapter to the story. While it’s not totallycentral to theElden Ringstory,it contains a multitude of important reveals and essential contextthat completely redefines much of the base game. In that way, it’s everything it was cracked up to be.
[Warning: This article contains a minor spoiler forShadow of the Erdtree’s ending.]
Butthe earliest reveal forShadow of the Erdtreefeatured an image that, for all intents and purposes, has never been explained. As innocuous as it seems at first glance, it raises infinite questions about the Tarnished’s closest companion, and one of the most mysterious, yet important figures inElden RingandShadow of the Erdtree’s shared pantheon. And yet, none of it is ever described, explained, or even addressed in either the base game or its DLC.
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Why Was Miquella Riding Torrent In Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Reveal?
Elden Ring Never Explains This Image
The first concept art revealed forElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreefeatured an image of what appears to be Miquella riding Torrent, butMiquella and Torrent are never seen or described together in-game. Although the figure’s golden hair sparked speculation about their identity, with many assuming it was Marika, the particular length and braiding, along with the white clothing, matches Miquella’s appearance in the DLC. Many also assumed the horned horse pictured was Torrent, as no other such creature appears anywhere inElden Ring.
Various horses appear elsewhere inElden Ringand its DLC, but Torrent is the only one to have goat-like horns.
So,it seemed likeShadow of the Erdtreewould explore some definitive connection between Torrent and Miquella, but for one reason or another, it didn’t. Both Miquella and Torrent appear in the DLC, although in vastly different capacities. There’s nothing to even imply they ever met, let alone that Miquella might have ridden Torrent on his journey across the Land of Shadow, as he appears to be doing in the image. As revealing as the DLC is, that’s more than a bit disappointing, especially considering how precious little lore around Torrent already exists in canon.
Elden Ring’s Torrent Is One Big Missed Opportunity
But The DLC’s Concept Art Hints At A Lore Connection
It’s a shame thatShadow of the Erdtreedoesn’t include a deeper explanation of Torrent’s lore, as there’s so little about Torrent in the base game to go off. However, taking what is known about Torrent in conjunction with this concept image,it is possible to infer some things aboutElden Ring’s spectral steed - even if doing so leaves major questions unanswered. Starting at the beginning,Melinagives the Tarnished aSpectral Steed Whistlethe first time she meets them. However, she’s careful to point out that she’s not simply giving the horse away - Torrent chooses the Tarnished to claim the Elden Ring, even before Melina, as she acknowledges after they defeat Godrick. So,while Torrent is clearly on Melina’s side, it’s pretty clear that he has a mind, conscience, and preference of his own.
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One of the few other characters to acknowledge Torrent by name isRanni the Witch. Shortly after the Tarnished first meets her at the Church of Elleh, Ranni will reveal that she’s heard tell of them riding a spectral steed. She refers to Torrent by name, and even gives the Tarnished a gift said to be from “Torrent’s former master” - theSpirit Calling Bell, which allows them to summonSpirit Ashes inElden Ring. Here, Ranni reveals two important tidbits of lore: first,that Torrent once had another master, whom Ranni knew; and second, that master had a vested interest in seeing the Tarnished succeed.
So, the player is left to wonder who Torrent’s former master was, butShadow of the Erdtree’s concept art may hold an essential clue. The image above seems to imply thatMiquella was Torrent’s former master, which is easy to square with everything else known about the two of them. At the end ofElden Ring’s DLC, Miquella reveals that he and the Tarnished basically have the same goal: to end the Golden Order’s tyranny, and usher in a new era.
Perhaps he sent Torrent back to the Lands Between while he was busy in the Land of Shadow, where the spectral steed was able to sniff out a Tarnished to ally with their cause. Butwhen that same Tarnished began to follow in Miquella’s footsteps and posed a threat to his plan, Miquella was forced to step in, explaining his cause and offering a final opportunity to forge an alliance before attempting to forcibly charm and/or kill them.
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So, while the DLC itself doesn’t reveal anything new about Torrent specifically, the hints may have been there all along. The hints to suggest a connection between Miquella and Torrent are subtle, obscure, and ambivalent - but then again, what in FromSoft lore isn’t? InElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeas ever, it’s up to the player to connect the dots.
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.
