Summary
The final boss ofElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreewas initially supposed to talk, according to some newly uncovered dialogue lines that were cut from the DLC. Although the lines themselves don’t reveal any new information, their mere existence would have potentially changed the way in which theShadow of the Erdtreestory is interpreted by some fans were they actually included in the expansion.
Major Elden Ring: SOTE spoilers ahead.
Although thefight against a revived Radahn at the end ofShadow of the Erdtreeis as stress-inducing asElden Ringclashes get, many players were disappointed with some of its presentational aspects. One of the chief complaints among the fandom is that Radahn is mute throughout the encounter, with Miquella being the one who does all the talking.
But that wasn’t always the plan, according to some newly datamined Radahn dialogue that just emerged online. Specifically, Reddit user LaMi_1 discovered that thefinalShadow of the Erdtreebossoriginally had at least three lines of dialogue, whose IDs indicate that they were meant to be uttered one after another. The cut content would have seen the general introduce himself with a straightforward “I am Radahn,” before describing himself as “born of red-maned Radagon, and Rennala of the Full Moon.” He’d conclude by proclaiming he is “a lion bred for battle.”
Radahn’s Cut Dialogue Would Have Potentially Made Miquella Look Naive
On the surface, these lines wouldn’t have revealed any new information because Radahn’s family tree has been a well-established part oftheElden Ringlorelong beforeShadow of the Erdtreewas even in the works. But the final part of the monologue appears to be at odds with the description of the Remembrance of a God and a Lord, the consumable that players obtain after defeating the final DLC boss. Although the item states that Miquella saw “kindness” in Radahn, the third cut line serves as a reminder that he’s first and foremost a murder machine. Were it included in the game, it would have cast a lot of doubt on Miquella’s childhood impression of Radahn, suggesting his view of his half-brother might have been naive.
I am Radahn. Born of red-maned Radagon, and Rennala of the Full Moon. A lion bred for battle.
Having Radahn Speak in Shadow of the Erdtree Might Have Challenged Brainwashing Theories
Another thing that this brief monologue would have changed is the potential interpretation of Radahn’s motivations at the end ofShadow of the Erdtree. Although many players were unhappy with his muteness, it did serve to imply that Miquella brainwashed him after ascending to godhood. Having him speak would have given a greater impression of him retaining some agency after being brought back from the dead. This would have potentially challenged the currently popular theory that he was being mind-controlled by Miquella in the end.
Radahn’s introductory lines aren’t the only content that FromSoftware decided to leave on the cutting room floor while making its latest expansion; some dataminers have also recently uncovered acutElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreecutscene featuring St. Trina.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
