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

Name	Type	Region	Runes
Abductor Virgins	Great Boss	Mt. Gelmir	10,000
Adan, Thief of Fire	Evergaol Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	3,800
Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader	Evergaol Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	80,000
Ancestor Spirit	Great Boss	Siofra River	13,000
Ancient Dragon Lansseax	Great Boss	Altus Plateau	60,000
Ancient Dragon Senessax	Great Boss	Jagged Peak	200,000
Ancient Dragon-Man	Dungeon Boss	Gravesite Plain	130,000
Ancient Hero of Zamor	Evergaol Boss	Weeping Peninsula, Altus Plateau	5,400
Astel, Naturalborn of the Void	Legendary Boss	Lake of Rot	80,000
Astel, Stars of Darkness	Dungeon Boss	Consecrated Snowfield	120,000
Battlemage Hugues	Evergaol Boss	Caelid	7,800
Bayle the Dread	Legendary Boss	Jagged Peak	490,000
Beastman of Farum Azula	Dungeon Boss	Limgrave, Greyoll's Dragonbarrow	1,000
Bell Bearing Hunter	Field Boss	Limgrave, Liurnia of the Lakes
Black Blade Kindred	Great Boss	Greyoll's Dragonbarrow, Forbidden Lands	88,000
Black Knife Assassin	Dungeon Boss	Limgrave, Liurnia of the Lakes	1,600
Black Knight Edredd	Field Boss	Scadu Altus	80,000
Black Knight Garrew	Field Boss	Gravesite Plain	80,000
Bloodhound Knight	Dungeon Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	3,600
Bloodhound Knight Darriwil	Evergaol Boss	Limgrave	1,900
Bols, Carian Knight	Evergaol Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	4,600
Borealis the Freezing Fog	Great Boss	Mountaintops of the Giants	100,000
Cemetery Shade	Dungeon Boss	Weeping Peninsula, Liurnia of the Lakes	2,200
Chief Bloodfiend	Dungeon Boss	Gravesite Plain	80,000
Cleanrot Knight	Dungeon Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes, Caelid
Commander Gaius	Legendary Boss	Scaduview	230,000
Commander Niall	Great Boss	Mountaintops of the Giants	90,000
Commander O'Neil	Great Boss	Caelid	12,000
Count Ymir, Mother of Fingers	Great Boss	Scadu Altus
Crucible Knight	Evergaol Boss	Limgrave, Caelid	2,100
Crucible Knight Siluria	Great Boss	Deeproot Depths	25,000
Crystalian	Dungeon Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes, Altus Plateau	3,000
Curseblade Labirith	Dungeon Boss	Scadu Altus	100,000
Dancer of Ranah	Dungeon Boss	Cerulean Coast
Death Knight	Dungeon Boss	Gravesite Plain, Rauh Base
Death Rite Bird	Field Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes, Caelid	7,800
Deathbird	Field Boss	Limgrave, Weeping Peninsula	2,800
Decaying Ekzykes	Great Boss	Caelid	38,000
Demi-Human Chiefs	Dungeon Boss	Limgrave	1,200
Demi-Human Queen Gilika	Field Boss	Altus Plateau	8,500
Demi-Human Queen Maggie	Field Boss	Mt. Gelmir	13,000
Demi-Human Queen Margot	Dungeon Boss	Mt. Gelmir	11,000
Demi-Human Queen Marigga	Field Boss	Cerulean Coast	100,000
Demi-Human Swordmaster Onze	Dungeon Boss	Gravesite Plain	80,000
Divine Beast Dancing Lion	Legendary Boss	Gravesite Plain, Ancient Ruins of Rauh
Draconic Tree Sentinel	Field Boss	Altus Plateau, Crumbling Farum Azula	50,000
Dragonkin Soldier	Field Boss	Siofra River, Lake of Rot	16,000
Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella	Great Boss	Ainsel River	12,000
Dragonlord Placidusax	Legendary Boss	Crumbling Farum Azula	280,000
Dryleaf Dane	Field Boss	Scadu Altus
Elden Beast	Legendary Boss	Leyndell, Ashen Capital	500,000
Elemer of the Briar	Great Boss	Altus Plateau	24,000
Erdtree Avatar	Field Boss	Weeping Peninsula, Liurnia of the Lakes	3,600
Erdtree Burial Watchdog	Dungeon Boss	Limgrave, Weeping Peninsula	1,300
Esgar, Priest of Blood	Dungeon Boss	Leyndell, Royal Capital	30,000
Fallingstar Beast	Dungeon Boss	Caelid, Altus Plateau	7,600
Fell Twins	Field Boss	Leyndell, Royal Capital	29,000
Fia's Champions	Field Boss	Deeproot Depths	40,000
Fire Giant	Legendary Boss	Mountaintops of the Giants	180,000
Flying Dragon Agheel	Great Boss	Limgrave	5,000
Flying Dragon Greyll	Great Boss	Greyoll's Dragonbarrow	80,000
Frenzied Duelist	Dungeon Boss	Caelid	6,700
Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast	Field Boss	Mt. Gelmir	21,000
Ghostflame Dragon	Field Boss	Gravesite Plain, Scadu Altus
Glintstone Dragon Adula	Great Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	120,000
Glintstone Dragon Smarag	Great Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	14,000
Godefroy the Grafted	Evergaol Boss	Altus Plateau	26,000
Godfrey, First Elden Lord	Legendary Boss	Leyndell, Ashen Capital	300,000
Godfrey, First Elden Lord (Golden Shade)	Great Boss	Leyndell, Royal Capital	80,000
Godrick the Grafted	Legendary Boss	Limgrave	20,000
Godskin Apostle	Great Boss	Altus Plateau, Greyoll's Dragonbarrow	14,000
Godskin Duo	Great Boss	Crumbling Farum Azula	170,000
Godskin Noble	Great Boss	Mt. Gelmir, Liurnia of the Lakes	50,000
Golden Hippopotamus	Great Boss	Shadow Keep	200,000
Grafted Scion	Field Boss	Limgrave, Liurnia of the Lakes	3,200
Grave Warden Duelist	Dungeon Boss	Limgrave, Altus Plateau	1,700
Great Wyrm Theodorix	Great Boss	Consecrated Snowfield	180,000
Guardian Golem	Dungeon Boss	Limgrave	1,700
Jagged Peak Drake	Field Boss	Foot of the Jagged Peak, Jagged Peak
Jori, Elder Inquisitor	Dungeon Boss	Scadu Altus	260,000
Kindred of Rot	Dungeon Boss	Mt. Gelmir	10,000
Knight of the Solitary Gaol	Dungeon Boss	Gravesite Plain	70,000
Lamenter	Dungeon Boss	Charo's Hidden Grave	160,000
Leonine Misbegotten	Great Boss	Weeping Peninsula	3,800
Lichdragon Fortissax	Legendary Boss	Deeproot Depths	90,000
Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree	Great Boss	Miquella's Haligtree	200,000
Mad Pumpkin Head	Field Boss	Limgrave, Caelid	1,100
Magma Wyrm	Dungeon Boss	Caelid, Mt. Gelmir	7,500
Magma Wyrm Makar	Great Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	24,000
Malenia, Blade of Miquella	Legendary Boss	Miquella's Haligtree	480,000
Maliketh, the Black Blade	Legendary Boss	Crumbling Farum Azula	220,000
Margit, the Fell Omen	Great Boss	Limgrave, Altus Plateau	12,000
Messmer the Impaler	Legendary Boss	Shadow Keep	400,000
Metyr, Mother of Fingers	Legendary Boss	Scadu Altus	420,000
Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame	Legendary Boss	Abyssal Woods	410,000
Mimic Tear	Great Boss	Nokron, Eternal City, Consecrated Snowfield
Miquellan Loyalists	Legendary Boss	Enir-Ilim
Miranda the Blighted Bloom	Dungeon Boss	Weeping Peninsula	2,100
Misbegotten Crusader	Dungeon Boss	Consecrated Snowfield	93,000
Mohg, Lord of Blood	Legendary Boss	Mohgwyn Palace	420,000
Mohg, the Omen	Great Boss	Leyndell, Royal Capital	100,000
Morgott, the Omen King	Legendary Boss	Leyndell, Royal Capital	120,000
Necromancer Garris	Dungeon Boss	Altus Plateau	9,000
Night's Cavalry	Field Boss	Limgrave, Weeping Peninsula	2,400
Nox Swordstress & Nox Monk	Field Boss	Caelid	6,400
Omenkiller	Field Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	4,900
Onyx Lord	Evergaol Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes, Altus Plateau	3,600
Patches	Dungeon Boss	Limgrave	800
Perfumer Tricia & Misbegotten Warrior	Dungeon Boss	Altus Plateau	9,400
Promised Consort Radahn	Legendary Boss	Enir-Ilim	500,000
Putrescent Knight	Legendary Boss	Cerulean Coast	220,000
Putrid Avatar	Field Boss	Caelid, Greyoll's Dragonbarrow	9,600
Putrid Crystalian Trio	Dungeon Boss	Caelid	7,100
Putrid Grave Warden Duelist	Dungeon Boss	Consecrated Snowfield	78,000
Putrid Tree Spirit	Dungeon Boss	Caelid, Lake of Rot	64,000
Radagon of the Golden Order	Legendary Boss	Leyndell, Ashen Capital
Rakshasa	Dungeon Boss	Scadu Altus	90,000
Ralva the Great Red Bear	Field Boss	Scadu Altus	180,000
Red Bear	Great Boss	Rauh Base	80,000
Red Wolf of Radagon	Great Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	14,000
Red Wolf of the Champion	Dungeon Boss	Mt. Gelmir	21,000
Regal Ancestor Spirit	Legendary Boss	Siofra River	24,000
Rellana, Twin Moon Knight	Legendary Boss	Gravesite Plain	240,000
Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon	Legendary Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	40,000
Romina, Saint of the Bud	Legendary Boss	Ancient Ruins of Rauh	380,000
Roundtable Knight Vyke	Evergaol Boss	Mountaintops of the Giants	75,000
Royal Knight Loretta	Great Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	10,000
Royal Revenant	Field Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes	3,100
Rugalea the Great Red Bear	Field Boss	Rauh Base	210,000
Runebear	Dungeon Boss	Weeping Peninsula	2,600
Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy	Legendary Boss	Mt. Gelmir	130,000
Sanguine Noble	Field Boss	Altus Plateau	8,800
Scadutree Avatar	Legendary Boss	Scaduview	260,000
Scaly Misbegotten	Dungeon Boss	Weeping Peninsula	2,000
Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing	Great Boss	Leyndell, Ashen Capital	150,000
Soldier of Godrick	Dungeon Boss	Limgrave	400
Spirit-Caller Snail	Dungeon Boss	Liurnia of the Lakes, Mountaintops of the Giants	3,000
Starscourge Radahn	Legendary Boss	Caelid	70,000
Stonedigger Troll	Dungeon Boss	Limgrave, Altus Plateau	1,800
Tibia Mariner	Field Boss	Limgrave, Liurnia of the Lakes	2,400
Tree Sentinel	Field Boss	Limgrave, Altus Plateau	3,200
Ulcerated Tree Spirit	Dungeon Boss	Limgrave, Mt. Gelmir	15,000
Valiant Gargoyles	Great Boss	Nokron, Eternal City, Altus Plateau	30,000
Wormface	Field Boss	Altus Plateau, Mt. Gelmir	10,000