Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC: Unveiling the Faces Behind the Masks

A dataminer has peeled back the layers of mystery surrounding some of Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC's most fearsome NPCs, revealing the character models hidden beneath their intimidating armor. While some models are relatively simple, others boast intricate details that beautifully complement their in-game lore.

Elden Ring's intricate lore is a significant draw for players, rivaling even the game's challenging gameplay. Much of this lore is subtly woven into the game's design, with dataminers often uncovering deeper narrative threads. Recent discoveries include the model beneath the armor of the terrifying Divine Beast Dancing Lion boss. This latest effort expands on that, revealing more hidden character details from the expansion.

YouTuber and dataminer Zullie the Witch has released a video showcasing these previously unseen NPC models. The level of detail FromSoftware incorporated into each character is remarkable, showcasing the developer's dedication, even for features hidden from the player's view. The raw appearance of many NPCs has captivated fans, with some, like Moore's design, closely matching player expectations.

Player Reactions to Unveiled NPC Models

Redmane Freyja's model is particularly noteworthy, showing facial scarring consistent with Scarlet Rot—a detail perfectly aligned with her in-game story. This level of detail is impressive, given its invisibility during normal gameplay. Intriguingly, players have noted a striking resemblance between Tanith (from Volcano Manor) and the Dancer of Ranah, a fitting similarity considering Tanith's past as a dancer.

However, some surprises emerged. Hornsent, for example, lacks horns in their model. The dataminer suggests this omission was likely due to the need for a completely unique character model to incorporate them. Fans have countered that given the DLC's new hairstyle options, horn customization should have been included.