Elden Ring’s “snake” strings are the new “dog” turtles 

Elden Ring players have a knack for drawing attention to the strangest things. Whether it be a protruding bar from the ground or waterfalls with nothing behind them, you can be certain someone has left a witty message for others to read. With the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, a new meme is on the rise: one of “snake” strings. 

As players make their way west from Shadow Keep, they will pass through a giant elevated rampart that houses various enemies. Before taking the lift that leads to the Rauh Ruins region, players will come across multiple highly-rated messages that warn of “snakes” in the vicinity. But instead of limbless reptiles preparing for an ambush, all that lies in wait are several pieces of very inanimate string.  

Unlike the crafting material of the same name, the strings in this area cannot be picked up or interacted with; they exist solely for decorative purposes. They may have some lore tied to them, however, as the rampart houses barrels and supplies that could have been delivered to and from Shadow Keep. The frequency of these messages is quite surprising as this is by far the only area in Elden Ring that plays host to the meme. 

This isn’t the first time Elden Ring players have used messages to lead others astray. Some of the most infamous Elden Ring messages revolve around calling in-game turtles “dogs,” and can be found wherever the passive animals are located. Due to the massage system’s limited vocabulary, communication tends to be a bit more creative. Different message templates are available, as are conjunctions and gestures. These “snake” strings are just one of the newest fads that have taken the Land of Shadow by storm.