Lance McDonald, a seasoned FromSoftware dataminer, has uncovered a previously unseen Elden Ring cutscene featuring Miquella the Kind. This work-in-progress scene depicts Miquella planting the Haligtree-later the backdrop for the infamous Malenia boss fight-and watering it with his own blood. The setting is a modified version of Malenia’s boss room, firmly linking Miquella, Malenia, and the Haligtree’s origins.
The cutscene uses the same Miquella character model seen in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. The voice acting is likely Naomi McDonald, who also voiced Miquella in the DLC, though here her delivery is softer and more childlike. McDonald is known for her versatility, having voiced Stone Trader Chloanne in Dark Souls 2 and Johnny the Godling in The Witcher 3.
Why This Matters for Elden Ring Fans
For lore enthusiasts and completionists, this cutscene offers fresh insight into Miquella’s motivations and the Haligtree’s origins. The dialogue, extracted from Elden Ring’s files, is classic FromSoft: “Young seedling, young seedling, grow larger, stronger. My dear twin, accept this gift, a gift of abundance. My last drop of dew. Let all things flourish, whether graceful or malign. If thou coveteth the throne, impress my vision upon thine heart. In the new world of thine making, all things will flourish, whether graceful or malign.”
This scene would have played when players received part of the Dectus Medallion from Gideon Ofnir at Roundtable Hold, serving as a teaser for the Haligtree subplot. It fills a missing piece for those obsessed with Elden Ring’s complex lore-especially the ties between Miquella, Malenia, and the fate of the Haligtree.
Deeper DLC Connections
The cutscene foreshadows key moments from Shadow of the Erdtree: Miquella’s kneeling pose, the empty throne, and his cryptic address to both Malenia and the player. The repeated phrase “graceful and malign” suggests a duality in Miquella’s vision-perhaps a utopian ideal that later takes a darker turn, as the DLC reveals.
For lore buffs, the mention of “abundance” is significant. Years ago, dataminers uncovered a cut weapon called the Abundance and Decay Twinblade, directly linked to Miquella’s scrapped content. That weapon’s model was eventually reworked into Euporia in Shadow of the Erdtree, confirming how FromSoftware recycles and evolves its ideas.
What Players Should Know
This discovery doesn’t affect gameplay but offers fans a clearer picture of Miquella’s original character arc-one that was more benevolent and hopeful before the DLC’s darker narrative. It also highlights how much content is cut or reshaped before release, showcasing the depth of FromSoftware’s worldbuilding.
Speculation: The cutscene’s focus on “abundance” and the recurring “graceful or malign” line might hint at scrapped storylines or alternate endings that never made the final cut. For now, it’s another tantalizing glimpse into what might have been-and a treat for anyone still unraveling the mysteries of the Lands Between.
The bottom line
- Datamined cutscene sheds new light on Miquella, the Haligtree, and Shadow of the Erdtree’s story threads.
- No gameplay changes, but lore fans get a fresh look at Elden Ring’s hidden depths.