Summary
WithElden Ring’sShadow of the Erdtree DLC right around the corner, fans are busy poring over everything that’s already been revealed from the upcoming expansion. Of all the creatures, bosses, and NPCs shown off so far, one in particular has captured gamers’ attention: a silly-looking blue worm.
From eldritch lion-faced wizards snapping at the player, to immense iron baskets stomping across grassy plains and masses of swollen bones riding emaciated horses through stygian catacombs, it’s clear thatElden Ring’s upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is shaping up to have a set of enemy designs as strange and inventive as the base game. But it’s one peculiar creature, revealed in promo images on theElden Ringwebsite shortly after the trailer dropped, that has truly caught fans' attention.
Loveable Sort Ahead
Revealed in a screenshot on theElden Ringwebsite, a number of fans quickly found a place in their hearts for a large glowing worm. Rising up from the forest floor like a garden eel and surrounded by strange bioluminescent flowers, the ethereal creature’s tiny vestigial arms and empty, alien stare give it an otherworldly absurdity. Wide eyed, open mouthed, an expression of perpetual surprise fixed on its face, the ghostly worm immediately inspired a wave of fan art, and many gamers have already added the newly beloved creature to their list ofElden Ringcharacters the player should avoid killing.
Elden Ring’s Glowing Worm Could Be Friend or Foe
Though many fans have speculated that the worm may simply be another garden-variety enemy, or a docile animal with no interest in attacking the player, others have wondered if the worm is a strange new NPC—its face being reminiscent of the Doors of Pharros fromDark Souls 2. Others still have speculated that the creature could be a mini boss, longer and more terrifying below the ground than it seems on the surface. With fans eager to figure out the spectral worm’s lore and ecology, some have even speculated that it may be connected in some way to the Lookout Stones found aroundElden Ring’s Evergaols, cemeteries and landmarks.
Many fans have been quick to point out that the eerie glowing worm is reminiscent of the Mexican mole lizard, a strange evolutionary offshoot existing only in Mexico. Defying classification as a lizard or a snake, the strange pink creatures are an interesting source of inspiration for anElden Ringenemy. The use of an animal which genetically split off into its own strange clade may be an attempt to further reinforce the idea thatShadow of the Erdtree’s Land of Shadowis distinct and disconnected fromElden Ring’s Lands Between, having broken away aeons prior and undergone its own narrative and evolutionary development, isolated from the surrounding territories.
Speaking at Fan Fest 2024, Hidetaka Miyazaki confirmed that the Land of Shadow exists far away from The Lands Between and will require ‘a warp of sorts’ to reach. He also stated that the enemy designs in the DLC will directly tie into the lore of the Land of Shadow.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is Still Shrouded in Mystery
Really, nobody knows anything about the strange glowing worm showcased in the promotional images, and that’s probably a good thing. One ofthe best things about FromSoftware’s gamesis the sense of discovery that comes with exploring the developer’s intricately designed worlds and interacting with the games' quixotic casts of characters. It’s a testament to the studio’s commitment to player discovery that, despite releasing a trailer showcasing a number of enemies, spells and locations—and releasing a collection of high-resolution images for players to pore over and dissect—fans are still left mostly in the dark as to the plot, world, and themes ofElden Ring’s upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
It remains to be seen whether Shadow of the Erdtree’s strange glowing worm will remain weird and adorable, or if the much-loved ‘friend-shaped’ creature will reveal terrifying hidden depths and become one ofElden Ring’smost feared enemies. Regardless, it’s safe to say that fans are excited to dive in and explore the world beyond The Lands Between.
Elden Ring
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
