Messmer the Impaler
| Messmer the Impaler | |
|---|---|
| Type | Legendary Boss |
| Region | Shadow Keep |
| Runes | 400,000 |
| Weak To | Frostbite, Holy (phase two) |
| Required | Yes |
Messmer the Impaler is a legendary boss in Elden Ring. It comes from the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
Messmer the Impaler is Queen Marika's son and the leader of the crusade against the hornsent. He waits in the great hall of the Shadow Keep, wielding a long spear and his own hated flame. Halfway through the fight he tears out his eye and unleashes the serpent within. His defeat is required to move on in the Realm of Shadow.
Lore
Messmer is a towering, long-limbed demigod with a massive spear. A red serpent coils around his body, and his black helm is crowned with two intertwined winged serpents. A seal of grace sits where one of his eyes should be.
Messmer was a son of Queen Marika. A malevolent snake writhed within him, so his mother plucked out his eye and set a seal of grace in its place. Then, out of fear, she hid her child away in the Realm of Shadow.
Marika charged Messmer with purging the hornsent, who did not bear the light of grace. He burned their tower settlements and slew their divine beasts. He bore a vision of fire that he despised, yet it never stopped burning.
Where to find Messmer the Impaler Location?
Shadow Keep, in the great hall beyond the Dark Chamber Entrance (Dark Chamber Entrance Site of Grace)
Messmer the Impaler map location:
Map credit by Map Genie.
Weaknesses
| Weak To | Frostbite, Holy (phase two) |
|---|---|
| Immune | Sleep, Madness |
| Parry | Yes |
Phases
- Phase 1: Messmer fights with his flaming spear, leaps and fire spells.
- Phase 2: at half health he tears out his eye and becomes Base Serpent Messmer, adding serpent attacks to his old moveset.
Attacks
- Opening fireball and leap: he hurls fire and leaps in. A roll as white smoke gathers around him avoids the landing, and a second roll avoids the explosion.
- Flaming Spear Lunge: he leaps and thrusts his burning spear. A sideways roll avoids it.
- Spear combos: long-reaching sweeps and thrusts. Staying close limits the reach advantage.
- Fire spells: flame bursts at range. Fire protection softens them.
- Serpent attacks: in phase two serpents lunge out with his strikes. Rolling sideways during the serpent combo avoids them.
Tactics
- Raise fire protection with Fireproof Dried Liver, Flame, Protect Me and the Flamedrake Talisman +3.
- Rush to the Hornsent or Swordhand of Night Jolan summon sign inside the arena right away.
- Stay close, because his spear and spells are strongest at range.
- Break his stance with heavy attacks after each string.
- Use frost to slow him and add burst damage.
- In phase two, switch to holy damage and roll sideways from his serpent combo.
Best Builds
Frost weapon
Frostbite gives burst damage and slows his long combos.
| Gear | Ash of War: Chilling Mist, Freezing Grease |
|---|
Bleed weapon
Bleed weapons such as Rivers of Blood and the Reduvia deal heavy damage.
| Gear | Rivers of Blood, Reduvia |
|---|
Fire defense buffs
Flame, Protect Me and the Flamedrake Talisman keep his fire from one-shotting the player.
| Gear | Flame, Protect Me, Flamedrake Talisman |
|---|
Rime Ronin Build
| Class | Any |
|---|---|
| Focus | Dexterity |
| Main Stats | Dexterity & Intelligence |
| Other Stats | Vigor |
| Requires | 22 Dexterity, 18 Strength |
| Weapon | Nagakiba & Black Bow |
| Armor | Zamor Set or any that allows |
| Talismans | Rotten Winged Sword Insignia (or Winged Sword Insignia ), Millicent's Prosthesis, Bull-Goat's Talisman and Shard of Alexander |
| Skills | Chilling Mist |
| Flasks | Mostly HP |
Sanguine Samurai Build
| Class | Any |
|---|---|
| Level | 150 |
| Focus | Dexterity, Arcane |
| Main Stats | Arcane & Dexterity |
| Other Stats | Vigor & Mind |
| Requires | 20 Arcane, 18 Dexterity, 16 Strength, 15 Faith |
| Weapon | Rivers of Blood, Sacrificial Axe, and Dragon Communion Seal |
| Armor | White Mask or Okina Mask, and any armor that allows |
| Talismans | Lord of Blood's Exultation, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Carian Filigreed Crest, Shard of Alexander, and Green Turtle Talisman |
| Skills | Corpse Piler |
| Spells | Flame Grant me Strength |
| Flasks | Mostly HP, some FP |
Flying Mantis Build
| Class | Vagabond |
|---|---|
| Main Stats | Vigor, Endurance & Dexterity. |
| Other Stats | Faith |
| Requires | 17 Strength, 17 Faith, 14 Dexterity |
| Weapon | Grave Scythe in main hand, Scythe in off-hand |
| Armor | White Mask, Raptor's Black Feathers, heaviest armor that lets. |
| Talismans | Claw Talisman. Others to taste: Radagon's Soreseal, Erdtree's Favor, Lord of Blood's Exultation, Green Turtle Talisman, Bull-Goat's Talisman. |
| Skills | Ash of War: Chilling Mist with Keen affinity on main hand, Ash of War: Hoarfrost Stomp with Frost affinity on offhand. |
| Spells | Black Flame Blade |
| Flasks | 1 Cerulean, rest Crimson |
Summons
- Spirit Ashes allowed
- NPC: Hornsent
- NPC: Swordhand of Night Jolan
Drops
Defeating it grants 400,000 runes.
| Name | Image |
|---|---|
| Remembrance of the Impaler | 
|
| Messmer's Kindling | 
|
Notes
- Three parries are needed to break his stance.
- Only one of the Hornsent or Jolán can be summoned in a single attempt.
- Messmer's Kindling is needed to burn the sealing tree.
All Bosses
The table below lists all Bosses in Elden Ring.