Messmer the Impaler Location and How to Beat | Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree｜Game8 (2024)

Messmer the Impaler is a Remembrance boss inside the Specimen Storehouse in the Shadow Keep in Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree. Read on to learn more about Messmer the Impaler including his location, stats, drops, and how to beat him.

Messmer the Impaler Location

Found in the Shadow Keep

Messmer the Impaler is found at the end of the Shadow Keep's Specimen Storehouse Legacy Dungeon in the Land of Shadow. Make your way to the top of the tower and go through all the floors of the Shadow Keep and fight Messmer at the tower's last room.

Messmer the Impaler Drops and Info

Messmer the Impaler Details
Runes	400000
Drops	・Remembrance of the Impaler ・Messmer's Kindling
Spirit Summons?	Spirit Ashes Allowed
Gold Summons?	・Hornsent Grandam

How to Beat Messmer the Impaler

Increase Your Fire Resistance

You can prepare for the Messmer fight by increasing your Fire Resistance since a lot of his attacks are fire-based. Bringing consumables like Fireproof Dried Liver or using buffs like Flame, Protect Me will help you in this fight, immensely.

For an even better advantage, consider getting the Flamedrake Talisman +3 from the Fort of Reprimand in Scadu Altus. This powerful fire damage negation talisman can prevent you from getting one or two-shotted during the Messmer fight, easily.

Flamedrake Talisman +3 Location

Use Cold Damage to Burst and Slow Messmer

Messmer is susceptible to frostbite, and slowing him down may make dodging his lengthy and long-reaching combos easier for you. Consider using Freezing Grease or the Chilling Mist Ash of War to infuse your weapon with cold damage to increase your damage and dodge windows against Messmer.

Where to Get Chilling Mist

Dodge into Messmer's Attacks

The very first thing to keep in mind when starting to fight Messmer is the flame infusion on his attacks. Aside from visually impairing you, several of his flame-infused attacks will also throw flames forward from the actual swing, which will catch you if you roll backwards. Fight the habit to retreat, learn his timings, and roll forward.

This will be particularly important for spellcasters or ranged characters, as Messmer is capable of quickly closing the gap on you no matter how far you are, which means ranged players are at a disadvantage unless they use summons to taunt Messmer.

Learn Both his Fast and Delayed Moves

Messmer is capable of mixing up any of his combos that begin with him igniting his hands, which become hard to deal with as he likes to do both fast and delayed finishing attacks, and sometimes has moves with delayed explosions. Do not rush to attack him until his combo is finished.

Easy to Roll Through his Mid-Air Combo

One of Messmer's most threatening-looking combos is when he leaps into the air to thrust you repeatedly before slamming down with a delayed explosion. Do not panic by rolling backward or repeatedly.

All you need to do is roll forward once when he first lunges and swings at you and when he starts thrusting you. Stay close, walk under and around him as he delays his slam, then only roll after he slams the ground to i-frame the delayed explosion.

Dodge his Grab at the Last Second

Messmer has a grab move, marked by him stretching out his ignited hand and running towards you, that will annihilate your health bar if it hits. He will catch you if you dodge too early, so dodge at the very last second, as he's already in front of you, to avoid the grab.

Delayed Thrust Combo

There's one particular combo variation wherein he drags his spear along the ground before his finishing thrust that is particularly good to learn, as it is the most distinct and delayed from the rest of his fire combos.

Always Activate Lock On

Messmer's mobility is high, and he will constantly move laterally and vertically in both of his phases. Be sure to activate your Lock On to avoid losing track of Messmer's position and his current attack.

Messmer's Phase 2 Summons Serpents

After you you deplete Messmer's HP to about 50%, he will change into Base Serpent Messmer. He will retain and use the combos from his first phase, while adding in new combos and moves where he summons serpents to strike you from range.

These serpents won't drastically change his original combos, so you just have to focus on adding his new moves to your memory.

Move and Roll Sideways during his Serpent Combo

Base Serpent Messmer's Serpent Combo is his longest attack string. Run away as soon as Messmer starts summoning the ooze. Then, dodge the two initial consecutive serpents. Delay your third and fourth rolls. Quickly dodge the fifth serpent, then delay your last roll if needed for Messmer's finisher.

Continuously moving and rolling sideways is the best approach here not just for the serpents, but to also mess up the tracking of Messmer's finishing attack.

Elden Ring Related Guides

List of All Bosses

DLC Bosses

Main Bosses

Optional Bosses

Mini-Bosses

Hostile NPCs and Invaders