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

Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC features some truly terrifying NPCs. A recent datamine, however, has shed light on the surprisingly detailed character models hidden beneath their intimidating armor. While some models are relatively simple, others boast fascinating features that deeply resonate with their established lore.

The intricate lore of Elden Ring, a hallmark of the Soulsborne series, is often pieced together from in-game clues and further dissected by dedicated dataminers. Following the revelation of the Divine Beast Dancing Lion boss's hidden model, YouTuber and dataminer Zullie the Witch has now unveiled the unarmored appearances of several other NPCs from the expansion.

Zullie's video showcases the remarkable detail FromSoftware incorporated into these characters, even in aspects invisible during normal gameplay. The raw appearance of many NPCs has captivated fans, with Moore's model, for example, receiving praise for perfectly matching player expectations.

Detailed Character Models Impress Fans

Redmane Freyja's model is particularly noteworthy, displaying facial scarring consistent with the effects of Scarlet Rot – a detail appreciated by players who never see it in-game. Furthermore, the striking resemblance between Tanith (from Volcano Manor) and the Dancer of Ranah has been highlighted, a fitting parallel given Tanith's past as a dancer.

However, some unexpected findings also emerged. Hornsent, for instance, lacks the horns suggested by their name. The dataminer suggests this omission might be due to the need for a completely unique model. This has led fans to suggest that future expansions should include horn customization options, complementing the new hairstyles already introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree.