Messmer the Impaler is one of the most challenging bosses in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. To win against him, you will need to use a combination of Spirit Ashes, elemental imbuements, and strategic planning.
Messmer’s swift and punishing attack patterns make this fight particularly intense. Here’s a detailed guide on how to overcome this dangerous enemy, including his weaknesses and preparation tips.
Messmer the Impaler’s Location in Elden Ring DLC
Messmer the Impaler is located in the Dark Chamber, the highest room in the Specimen Storeroom within Shadow Keep. As a compulsory boss in the DLC, you must come across him to progress.
If you need more preparation time, you can exit Shadow Keep through the Watering Hole or the western gate to gather more weapons and upgrade materials.
Messmer’s Weaknesses and Preparation
Messmer the Impaler is vulnerable to Bleed and Frostbite, making these elements important for your strategy. To make use of these weaknesses effectively, you should prepare the following:
- Mimic Tear: Fully upgraded, this Spirit Ash will imitate your actions and help exploit Messmer’s weaknesses.
- Ash of War with Cold Imbuement: Use Divine Beast Frost Stomp or Ghostflame Call to inject your weapon with cold.
- GlintstoneIcecrag and Sorcery Staff: Make sure your staff has S-rank sorcery scaling.
- Secondary Weapon: A weapon that deals heavy physical damage can also be important.
Stacking Frostbite or Bleed is crucial. Your Mimic Tear will focus on using the cold-infused weapon or spells, targeting Messmer’s weaknesses. This allows you to either support with similar attacks or deal additional magic or physical damage.
Alternative Spirit Ash Summons
- Dung Eater Puppet: Effective for inflicting Bleed.
- Ancient Dragon Florissax: If it is there, she can evade attacks well and cover a broad area with her skills.
If your Revered Spirit Ash level is below seven, most Spirit Ashes other than Mimic Tear won’t last long. For melee strategies, use strong weapons to break Messmer’s poise and employ the Stonebarb Cracked Tear in your Mixed Physik for stance-breaking.
Recommended Sorceries and Incantations
Sorceries:
- GlintstoneIcecrag
- Adula’s Moonblade
- Ranni’s Dark Moon
- Zamor Ice Storm
Incantations:
- Frozen Lightning Spear
Aspect of the Crucible:
- Thorns
Equip the Radagon’s Icon talisman for faster casting, and the Two-Headed Turtle talisman for better stamina management. Summon the Hornsent NPC for additional help, though his combat effectiveness is limited.
Messmer the Impaler Boss Fight
Phase 1
- Messmer begins with a powerful aerial attack. Dodge his starting slam and the ensuing explosion. Summon your Spirit Ash immediately after dodging. Run to the other side of the arena to divert his attention to your summon.
Messmer’s attack patterns include:
- Basic Spear Combo: A forward slash followed by a backhand slash. Dodge these attacks by moving forward or sideways.
- Flaming Thrusts and Slashes: Wide and far-reaching, dodge sideways to avoid.
- Aerial Combo: Duck ahead to evade the early strike and subsequent spear flurry. The final slam triggers smaller spear eruptions; time your duck similarly to the initial explosion.
Phase 2
- Messmer starts with next aerial slam, now with a larger explosion radius. He changes between his regular spear attacks and transforming into a giant shadow snake.
Snake attacks include:
- Snake Rush: The snake targets you and rushes across the gaming area. Run in any direction to avoid damage.
- Shadow Pool Burst: Messmer transforms into a shadow pool and bursts out. Duck away and prepare to counterattack.
In both phases, capitalize on detailed windows of weakness after heavy combos and snake transformations. Avoid overcommitting to attacks, as Messmer’s swift counters can be deadly.
Conclusion
- Make sure that your Scadutree level is at least 10.
- Use a Rune Arc and Fireproof Pickled Liver before the war.
- Maintain a safety balance of evasion and offense.
Upon winning against Messmer the Impaler, you will receive the Remembrance of the Impaler, which can be exchanged for his sphere or the incantation that summons his flaming orb. Also, you will obtain a flame to clear away shadows. Exit Shadow Keep with the western gate to continue your journey.
Also read: Elden Ring Seamless Co-op Mod Guide: Transforming Multiplayer in Elden Ring
