In a heartwarming display of familial support and gamer camaraderie, an Elden Ring enthusiast recently celebrated their nephew's monumental achievement in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion with a custom-made cake worthy of the Lands Between itself. The feat? Defeating the formidable DLC boss, Messmer the Impaler, under a set of self-imposed, grueling restrictions that would make even the most seasoned Tarnished hesitate. This gesture highlights not just a personal victory, but the enduring, creative spirit of a community still deeply engaged with FromSoftware's masterpiece years after its initial release.

The story, shared on Reddit by user WeeklyVariation6431, details a unique pact: the nephew, named Odin, would only earn the celebratory dessert by conquering Messmer without the aid of armor or spirit summons. Imagine facing one of the expansion's most pivotal and fiery antagonists with such a handicap? The cake itself became a delicious testament to this hard-won victory. Its design was meticulously crafted to mirror the boss's hellish arena, featuring:

• Fiery Decor: Flames and spikes reminiscent of Messmer's domain.

• Miniature Sculptures: Icing renditions of both Messmer the Impaler and his two-headed companion, The Abyssal Serpent.

• The Scoreboard: The triumphant tally, "Messmer: 140" and "Odin: 1," permanently etched in frosting.

The community's reaction was swift and celebratory. Redditors flooded the post with praise, humorously noting that the cake-baking family member was "a better family member than Marika was to Messmer." Others applauded the player's fittingly mythic name, Odin, suggesting it deserved extra points. The post also revealed a deeper backstory—the original poster had solicited cake design ideas from the community in early September, indicating just how long and arduous this particular battle had been for the determined nephew. This wasn't a fleeting challenge; it was a campaign.

Why Is Messmer Such a Formidable Foe?

To understand the scale of this achievement, one must consider Messmer's role in Shadow of the Erdtree. As a mandatory boss residing in the Shadow Keep, he is a central figure in the DLC's lore and one of its most significant skill checks. His moveset is a punishing combination of:

• Devastating Fire Magic: Waves of flame that punish positioning errors.

• The Abyssal Serpent: A two-headed spectral companion that adds unpredictable, sweeping attacks.

• Aggressive Melee Combos: Closing the distance for a melee fight is a high-risk endeavor.

Defeating him is crucial for progression, rewarding players with the Messmer’s Kindling key item and the Remembrance of the Impaler. But doing so without armor—which drastically reduces damage negation—and without spirit summons to draw aggro transforms the fight from a tough challenge into a brutal test of precision, timing, and endurance. How many attempts did it take to learn every dodge roll, every punish window, under such unforgiving conditions?

The Everlasting Legacy of Elden Ring

This cake saga is more than a cute family story; it's a microcosm of the Elden Ring phenomenon as it stands in 2026. Years after its 2022 launch and the 2024 DLC release, the community continues to find new ways to engage, challenge themselves, and celebrate shared experiences. Players are still:

Community Activity	Example from Recent Years
Discovering New Tactics	Finding overpowered uses for items like Spritestones.
Creating Personal Challenges	Imposing restrictions like "no armor" runs against major bosses.
Uncovering Hidden Lore	Piecing together the deeper stories of characters like Messmer.
Celebrating Milestones	Turning in-game victories into real-world celebrations.

As several fans on Reddit predicted, Odin's journey might not be over. The promise of another cake likely awaits after facing the expansion's final boss, Promised Consort Radahn—a prospect that surely adds delicious motivation to continue the trek through the Land of Shadow. In the end, this story underscores a fundamental truth about the Soulslike community: the greatest rewards often come not from the game itself, but from the shared struggle, the personal triumphs, and the creative ways we choose to honor them. After all, what better way to commemorate a victory over a demigod than with a sweet, spikey, and fiery confection? 🎂⚔️🔥