Summary
It’s no secret that Hidetaka Miyazaki is a huge fan of the Berserk manga series,which he has referenced heavily throughout most of his titles. And, inElden Ring’sfirst and only expansion,Shadow of the Erdtree, you may find tremendous nods and references to the late Kentaro Miura’s magnum opus.
Whether it comes in the form of armor, weapons, or a boss design, Shadow of the Erdtree does an excellent job of carrying Miura’s legacy forward without going overboard or making it feel cheap or out of place. While there is no proper Berserk RPG, Elden Ring is as close as it gets, and we love it for that reason.
7The Erdtree
One of the most significant plot points and setpieces in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is, well, the Erdtree, an enormous tree that towers to the heavens, providing life and luster. In the expansion, it is seen withering away, having its Gold Resin pour out from it as its shine diminishes.
Berserk also has a great tree that extends to the heavens. It is known as the Great Helix Tree because it intertwines two separate trees, bringing the Physical and Astral Worlds together. This, coincidentally, seems to also be the case in the expansion, as this tree appears to belong to Miquella’s realm, signifying two completely different realms interacting with one another in Elden Ring, just like in Berserk!
6Rellana’s Armor Set
Next up is Rellana’s incredible armor set, which features crescent moons, an excellent clean silver color scheme, and an astonishing design overall.It’s also crucial to state that she is known as the Twin Moon Knight,as her armor looks exceptionally similar to that of Locus' in Berserk.
Locus is the Moonlight Knight in Berserk and wears an armor set that also has crescent moons on it and a sleek silver finish to it. He also dawns a blue cape, which Rellana’s armor also makes a nod to via the lapis-lazuli blue cloth that drapes over and around its right side. While not identical, there’s no argument that this was clearly inspired by Locus' armor!
5Solitude Armor Set
From here, we have the Solitude Armor Set in Shadow of the Erdtree,which can be acquired relatively early on and is clearly just Guts' Berserker Armor.Everything aside from the helmet is spot on, making it our new favorite set in the game, especially if you pair it with the Greatsword.
The spiked shoulders, long-flowing black cape, and even its sheer bulkiness are the Berserker Armor to a tee. It’s like they ripped it straight from the manga and tossed it directly into the expansion. And, hey, we’re not complaining one bit!
4Greatsword Of Solitude
Are you looking for a weapon to pair with the Solitude Armor Set? Well, luckily for you, the same boss that drops that armor also drops the Greatsword of Solitude, which is pretty much just Guts' Dragonslayer sword from the manga.
Pairing this beast of a weapon with your newly acquired armor will provide you with the best Guts cosplay in Elden Ring, which almost seems fitting as the horrors and challenges that await you in the expansion are on par with the abominations and grotesqueness you’d find in Berserk!
3Repeating Crossbow
Another common weapon in Guts' arsenal throughout Berserk is his Repeater Crossbow, enabling him to launch a volley of arrows at his opposition at immense speeds, making it a deadly tool for thinning out hordes of enemies.
And, despite looking completely different, the Repeating Crossbow is now in Elden Ring via its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, allowing you to launch a volley of arrows at incoming targets, just like Guts. Putting this as your secondary while wielding the Greatsword of Solitude and the Solitude Armor Set will basically turn you into Guts. All you need is a Cannon Arm…
2Furnace Golems
A new enemy type in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is the Furnace Golems,which are these large titan-like structures made of branches and people, perpetually set on fire and roaming around various regions.
Of course, while not looking much alike, this is a reference to the Wicker Man in Berserk, a towering, perpetually burning human effigy with humans locked inside, providing the fuel and life force of the Wicker Man. This seems a bit familiar, doesn’t it? Nonetheless, these things are cool in both Berserk and Shadow of the Erdtree!
1Messmer, The Impaler
Lastly, we have Messmer, The Impaler, who dawns a helmet with dragon wings on its side and a serpent on the top, along with his bright red hair flowing freely from underneath it. Messmer’s design is top-notch, but it also references one of the best villains in Berserk, Grunbeld.
Grunbeld’s design also has him wear a dragon-themed helmet, complete with wings on the side and a dragon on top. He also has bright red hair to tie it all together. Furthermore, there is a twist for both of these villains that plays out pretty similarly in the game and the manga, further emphasizing how much Messmer’s design is based on Grunbeld!
