Summary

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreesheds new light on characters from the base game. In most cases, revelations about characters in the DLC don’t fundamentally change the character or justify their actions, even if it might result in feeling more sympathy for them. However, there’s one instance where the perception of a character is completely different with the additional lore from the DLC.

In orderto enter the Realm of Shadow, the Tarnished needs to kill two specific bosses: Mohg and Radahn. Then, they’ll be able to speak with Needle Knight Leda and use Miquella’s cocoon to travel to the new area. At first, it seems like killingMohg, Lord of Bloodis due to the placement of Miquella’s cocoon, and he’s simply in the way. However, the reasoning behind Mohg’s death goes far deeper.

A screenshot of Miquella and Mohg in the intro cutscene for Elden Ring.

Mohg’s Role In Elden Ring Paints Him As A Villain

Why Mohg Steals From Miquella

Elden Ringtakes place afterMohg has stolen Miquella’s cocoon from its place in the Haligtree, ending any chance it had of becoming a replacement for the Erdtree that isn’ttied to the Golden Order. Because of those actions, Mohg appears to be a villain, especially when NPCs around the Haligtree talk about Miquella with praise and hope for the future with this new tree. Since Mohg has removed Miquella from the Haligtree, there’s no real option for bringing it to life as the damage is already done. Overall, Mohg looks like the bad guy in this situation.

Shadow Of The Erdtree Makes Mohg A Victim

Mohg Was Used By Miquella At The Haligtree

With additional information being provided byShadow of the Erdtree, it seems thatMohg’s actions were done while he was under the influence of Miquella’s charm, which is known to make the affected love him. In reality, Mohg didn’t interrupt Miquella’s plans by removing his cocoon from the Haligtree.Being taken from the Haligtree was instead part of Miquella’s plan, and it was because of his power that Mohg committed those actions.It was all for the purpose of allowing Miquella to travel to the Realm of Shadow and chase his real goal of ascending to godhood.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - How To Get Dane’s Armor Set (Bloodborne)

Dane’s Armor set in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring resembles gear from Bloodborne, making it something fans of Yharnam will want to get.

But Miquella doesn’t stop using Mohg there. How the Rite of Divinity works isn’t explained in detail at any point, but Miquella must have found information about it, because he knows thathe needs both an empty body and a soul without a body as part of his ascension. Since he’s already using Mohg, he decides to get the required empty body from the husk that’s left when the Tarnished kills Mohg and brings it to the Gate of Divinity.

Miquella’s egg in Mohg’s palace on the left, and the character in the Elden Ring DLC art on the right.

Why Miquella Chose To Use Mohg’s Body

Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Mohq Spoilers Explained

When it comes to a soul for his consort, Miquella likely had a few requirements in mind to pick Radahn as his ideal option. He wants to usher in an Age of Compassion, buthe doesn’t have the strength to enforce it if some of his subjects disagree. Plus, it’s possible that some could resist his charm, since it takes two uses for him to charm the Tarnished in thefinal fight ofElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Radahn loves fighting, so he’d happily enforce an Age of Compassion, and he seems to have agreed to a vow with the twins.

However, when it came to finding a body for Radahn’s soul, Miquella wouldn’t have a lot of options.Malenia’s Scarlet Rot likely disqualified her, and Miquella might not have wanted to kill her in order to use her body. Then, there are demigods like Ranni who discarded her own body, Rykard who let a snake eat him, and Godwyn’s body wasn’t an option due to the partial Rune of Death on it.That made Mohg one of his few options for a body, and since he was already under Miquella’s influence, he ended up being a decent choice.

Character wearing Dane’s Armor Set that looks like a Bloodborne armor in Elden Ring DLC

What Happens To Miquella In Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for Elden Ring explains many details about Miquella the Kind, some of which even predate the events of the base game.

It turns out that Miquella the Kind isn’t as good of a person as he’s made to seem in the Lands Between, and part of that is likely due to his ability to charm people into following him. Now, the DLC reveals what kind of person Miquella truly is, and shows that he’s been putting together this plan for much longer than expected, since he had to not only find a way to the Realm of Shadow, but also prepare the requirements to ascend at the Gate of Divinity. Unfortunately for Mohg, he ended up being a puppet for Miquella’s plans inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

Miquella long golden hair is seen in the center, with Miquella’s arm in a cocoon to the left and the Erdtree to the right.

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​.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Tag Page Cover Art