Discover how Messmer’s self-killing bug occurs, exploit strategies, and avoid common mistakes in Elden Ring’s DLC
The Messmer Glitch Explained
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion contains an unusual programming anomaly where the formidable boss Messmer the Impaler occasionally eliminates himself during combat encounters. This bizarre behavior transforms one of the DLC’s most demanding battles into an unexpected victory for players.
The Shadow of the Erdtree downloadable content presents numerous exceptionally challenging boss encounters, ranging from the acrobatic Divine Beast Dancing Lion to the chaotic Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame. Each confrontation tests player skills through unique mechanics and attack patterns.
Messmer’s confrontation ranks among the expansion’s most difficult tests, featuring a demanding two-stage battle where the second phase introduces a massive serpent transformation that drastically alters the combat dynamics and arena utilization.
Phase Two Transformation Risks
While countless players have endured extensive trial-and-error sessions against this formidable foe, some have achieved victory through sheer chance. As demonstrated by multiple player reports, Messmer can inadvertently cause his own demise by tumbling off the combat platform during specific transformation sequences.
Reddit user X1Reaper1X documented their final moments in the Messmer encounter, capturing footage where the boss’s serpent manifestation abruptly plummets off the battlefield resulting in immediate defeat. This created an unexpectedly straightforward victory as visible in their shared recording:
Understandably, the community questions why the arena’s supposed “invisible boundary walls” failed to prevent this occurrence. The glitch suggests potential flaws in the collision detection system during phase transitions.
Strategic insight: Position Messmer near the arena perimeter during his health threshold transitions to potentially trigger this bug. However, this requires careful spacing to avoid his lethal grab attacks that often accompany phase changes.
Online vs Solo Encounter Theories
Some members of the Elden Ring community speculate the Messmer anomaly might represent an online-specific programming error, as numerous documented clips and player accounts involve summoned companions.
“This occurred during my session as another player’s summoned ally,” states one representative comment.
“The pattern suggests some variety of network-related bug since every documented instance I’ve witnessed included phantom companions,” observed another community member.
However, solitary players have complicated this hypothesis by asserting they’ve similarly experienced the glitch. Consequently, Messmer’s positioning near the battlefield boundary during his second phase transformation appears to be the primary trigger for this programming oversight.
Common mistake: Assuming this bug only occurs online. Solo players should remain aware of positioning during phase transitions to either exploit or avoid this behavior based on their preferences.
Strategic Exploitation & Prevention
“Based on player observations, when Messmer positions himself near the edge before initiating his serpent transformation, he frequently plummets to his demise,” one community member explained in the discussion thread.
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Regardless of the specific circumstances, Elden Ring participants possess multiple approaches to overcome Messmer—at minimum until this programming oversight receives attention in an upcoming game update.
Optimization tip: Advanced players can manipulate boss positioning by controlling their own location relative to arena boundaries. Messmer’s AI typically mirrors player positioning, allowing strategic placement to either trigger or avoid the edge bug based on your preferred challenge level.
Future consideration: FromSoftware typically addresses such significant bugs within 2-4 weeks of widespread reporting. Players seeking legitimate victories should complete this encounter promptly, while those struggling may benefit from waiting for potential fixes that could adjust the boss’s difficulty.
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Elden Ring DLC’s Messmer boss kills himself due to weird bug Discover how Messmer's self-killing bug occurs, exploit strategies, and avoid common mistakes in Elden Ring's DLC