Quick facts
| Location | Top of Shadow Keep |
| Nearest Site of Grace | Dark Chamber Entrance |
| Required? | Required |
| HP (NG) | 38,981 |
| Runes (NG) | 400,000 |
| Drops | Remembrance of the Impaler, Messmer’s Kindling |
| Weak to | Slash, Frostbite |
| Resists | Fire (40%), Holy (40% in phase 1, 0% in phase 2), other damage 20%; moderate Poison, Scarlet Rot and Hemorrhage resistance |
| Immune to | Sleep, Madness |
| Phase 2 | At 50% HP |
| NPC summons | Hornsent and Swordhand of Night Jolan (questline dependent) |
Messmer the Impaler: overview
Messmer the Impaler is one of the main story bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree, the DLC expansion of Elden Ring. Found deep within Shadow Keep, he is mandatory for progression and considered one of the most aggressive encounters in the DLC.
He combines relentless spear combos with devastating fire-based attacks and transforms into a serpent-infused second phase that significantly increases the pressure.
Boss Stats
- Location: top of Shadow Keep (Dark Chamber Entrance grace)
- Type: Demigod
- HP: 38,981
- Runes Reward: ~400,000
- Remembrance: Remembrance of the Impaler
- Difficulty Rating: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱ 8/10
Messmer is widely considered one of the hardest bosses in the DLC, second only to the final encounter.
Recommended Level & Preparation
- Recommended Level: 140+
- Comfortable Level: 150+
- Scadutree Blessing: +10 or higher strongly recommended
- Vigor: 55–60 minimum advised
Entering under-leveled will make Phase 2 extremely punishing due to high burst damage.
Weaknesses & Resistances
Resistant To:
- Fire damage
- Moderate resistance to physical damage
Weak To:
- Slash damage (katanas, curved swords)
- Not Holy: he resists it in phase 1 (40%)
- Bleed buildup
- Frostbite buildup
Avoid fire-infused builds — they significantly reduce your overall damage output.
Phase 1 Strategy
Messmer uses his spear with extremely fast chained combos. His main danger comes from delayed thrusts and explosive fire eruptions.
Key Attacks:
- Multi-hit spear combo
- Fire sweep explosion
- Aerial dive thrust
- Ground flame eruption
How to Counter:
- Roll INTO spear thrusts, not away
- Stay mid-range to bait punishable attacks
- After aerial dive, you get a safe punish window
- Don’t greed — his combo extensions are unpredictable
Phase 2 – Serpent Transformation
At roughly 50% HP, Messmer transforms into a serpent-empowered form.
This phase increases:
- Speed
- Area denial
- Combo length
- Tracking ability
New Dangers:
- Serpent lunges
- Flame serpent AoE
- Large arena coverage attacks
Strategy:
- Stay close to his body to avoid wide serpent swings
- When he coils upward, prepare for AoE
- Use Spirit Ash to create breathing room
This phase is significantly harder due to pressure and reduced healing windows.
Best Builds to Beat Messmer
🗡️ Melee Build
- Rivers of Blood
- Bleed Katanas
- Keen or Heavy affinity weapons
- Mimic Tear +10
❄️ Frost Build
- Dual Cold weapons
- Apply Frostbite then swap to Bleed for burst damage
✨ Faith Build
- Bleed or frost incantations
- Holy only helps in phase 2
- Avoid fire incantations
🛡️ Talismans
- Fire damage negation talisman
- Damage boosting talisman
- HP boosting talisman
Easiest Way to Beat Messmer (Quick Summary)
- Use Bleed or Frost.
- Avoid Fire builds.
- Bring Mimic Tear +10.
- Roll toward spear thrusts.
- Play safe during serpent phase.
Rewards
Defeating Messmer grants:
- Remembrance of the Impaler
- Messmer’s Kindling (direct drop)
- ~400,000 Runes
The Remembrance can be exchanged for powerful weapons tied to his flame abilities.
Difficulty Analysis (Why 8/10?)
✔ Extremely aggressive AI
✔ High burst damage
✔ Minimal healing windows
✔ Strong phase 2 scaling
However, once patterns are learned, the fight becomes manageable — which prevents it from being a full 10/10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Messmer harder than Radahn?
No. Promised Consort Radahn is generally considered harder.
What is Messmer weak to?
Slash weapons and Frostbite. Bleed works, but he resists it a little; Holy only helps in phase 2.
Can you summon for Messmer?
Yes. Spirit Ashes and co-op are available.
Is Messmer mandatory?
Yes, he is required for story progression.
How many Elden Ring bosses have you beaten?
See your full list. MyGamerCv reads your Steam achievements and shows every Souls-like boss you have actually defeated, with a score, a rank and a shareable card. It is free and there is no sign-up.
Stuck on another boss? Browse all Elden Ring boss guides.
Further reading: Messmer the Impaler on the Fextralife Elden Ring wiki.