The long wait for all Tarnished has come to an end. The one and only DLC for Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree has arrived, with a new Land of Shadow to conquer, new bosses to defeat, and new mysteries to uncover.
We have been traversing the Land of Shadows for several days now and we can say that it is the most difficult game from FromSoftware to date, and we know you will need a helping hand. In this guide, we will help you survive the Shadow of the Erdtree and become the new Elden Lord.
8. Don’t Shy Away From New In-Game Items
While the base game already had a ton of consumable items that improve your character, Shadow of the Erdtree builds up on it. The new Scadutree Fragments are scattered collectibles that unlock Scadutree Blessing, a buff that increases your character’s stats, such as power and damage negation.
- To activate the blessing, visit a Site of Grace and select the new “Shadow Realm Blessing” option. The number of Scadutree Fragments needed for each blessing level increases as you collect more.
Thankfully, many fragments are located near Sites of Grace marked by Miquella’s Cross. But keep your eyes peeled while exploring – there are plenty more hidden throughout the world.
7. Make Sure You Check Every Nook and Cranny, Forward, Backward, Up, or Down
Unlike Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree has a massive secret to it. The whole new dimension, verticality. The Land of Shadows is a multi-layered realm and if you get to a seemingly impassable cliff, there is a path and an entire hidden area behind it with powerful items, crafting materials, and shortcuts to previously inaccessible areas. Don’t be afraid to fall down or jump higher, there is something on every side, Shadow of the Erdtree isn’t just about dodging forward and backward.
6. Don’t Rely on Your Previous Elden Ring Build
What you thought was OP in the base game, now it is not. Despite being over 100th level into the game, your go-to build will feel obsolete. It is time to upgrade your character. There are more than 100 new weapons, smithing stones, and Larval Tears. You will be rather busy exploring new builds that are more suited for new enemies. New weapons come with higher damage and with even more items that serve as upgrades, it is no secret that starting fresh is a better option.
5. Enable the New Inventory Management UI
Important to note that this setting is disabled by default, but you will find it easy in the settings menu and activate it. The new option in Shadow of the Erdtree makes inventory management a breeze. When enabled it marks newly acquired items with an exclamation point in your inventory.
Furthermore, this option adds a dedicated ‘Recently Found’ tab to your inventory. It is self-explanatory, as the particular tab displays items that you have acquired just recently.
4. Tips and Tricks are Hidden in the Lore
To survive in the Shadow Realm, you need to understand it. Your best bet is to seek out four key figures for this, Freyja, Ansbach, Moore, and Hornsent, who you will find at various Sites of Grace. These NPCs will give you secrets of the world you need to know, including mechanics and lore. You will find out about forgotten locations that will lead you to items that will help you improve your character.
- Three-Path Cross: Head north from the Scorched Ruins to your first Miquella’s Cross. Here, you’ll encounter Freyja and Hornsent. Engage in conversation and offer your aid in their quest to locate all of Miquella’s Crosses.
- Main Gate Cross: Pass through the large stone archway and locate Ansbach and Moore at the second Miquella’s Cross. Exhaust all dialogue options with them as well. Don’t forget to explore Moore’s wares – he’s one of the few merchants you’ll find in the Erdtree.
3. Pick Your Fights
Just like in the Lands Between, the Shadow Realm of Elden Ring throws challenging bosses your way. But there is no need to fight the toughest ones immediately. Like other soulslike games, you can write your own story and progress at your own pace. Don’t let Rellana, Twin Moon Knight tarnish you immediately, father some Scadutree Fragments and other in-game items, level up, and only then return to the fight that felt overwhelming on your first try. There is a place and time for everything.
2. Familiarize with Old Controls and New Map Markers
We can all agree that Shadow of the Erdtree is a difficult one. However, some in-game options make the struggle easier. All you knew from Elden Ring translates to the expansion.
- Quick Access Menu: If you need to swap flasks, summon spirits, or call Torrent for a quick ride? That’s the secondary menu accessed by holding Triangle (Y). Use the D-pad to navigate and select your desired item.
- Sprinting: Hold Circle (B) to activate your trusty steed’s sprint and cover ground quickly.
The Shadow Realm boasts a complex, multi-layered landscape. What appears as a dead end might conceal a hidden path or secret area. Luckily, Elden Ring has map markers, pins, and stamps that can help you track your position. Do not shy away from pinging your location. That is how you will know where you have been and you will be able to retrace your steps and find any secret locations you might have missed.
1. Shadow of the Erdtree Has 100 New Weapons, Some are Good, Use Them
Shadow of the Erdtree has a whole new arsenal of weapons including weapon types that aren’t in the base game. After 30 hours in, here is a list of beginner-friendly options you can try for yourself:
- Backhand Blade
- Smithscript Dagger
- Great Katana
- Milady
- Swift Spear
- Fire Spark Perfume Bottle
- Bone Bow
All these weapons are obtainable quite easily and rather early into the Shadow of the Erdtree. Some offer new combat art, like Milady, while Katana is there for all the enthusiasts of the popular weapon.
This is all you need to know once you jump into the Land of Shadow. Do not shy away from all the new stuff the game throws at you. While challenging at times, with this help, you will traverse it quite easily. Moreover, there is a mod that makes you invincible.
