Elden Ring’s first and only expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, is the largest DLC FromSoftware has ever created. It adds a brand-new continent called the Realm of Shadow, more than 100 new weapons, dozens of new bosses, and an entirely separate progression system that redefines how you build power inside the DLC area.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is set in a hidden land connected to Miquella’s golden cocoon, accessible only after defeating Mohg, Lord of Blood. The story explores the origins of the Erdtree itself, while introducing new factions, gods, and horrors that rival anything in the base game.
To access Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, you must defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, then interact with Miquella’s severed arm inside Mohg’s arena. Once inside the Realm of Shadow, your base stats still matter, but the Scadutree Blessing system is the primary source of power scaling throughout the expansion. Collecting Scadutree Fragments and upgrading your blessing level is the single most important thing you can do before tackling the hardest bosses.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree: What Is New in the DLC
The Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is not a small story mission. It is a full-scale expansion that functions as a continent unto itself, with distinct biomes, legacy dungeons, and a vertical map design that surpasses even the base game in terms of complexity.
New Content Overview
The DLC introduces the following major additions:
- 100+ New Weapons: Including new weapon categories and improved versions of fan-favorite archetypes
- 20+ New Incantations and Sorceries
- 8 New Legacy Dungeons: Each with its own atmosphere and boss structure
- 62 Total Bosses: 7 main story bosses plus dozens of optional encounters
- Scadutree Fragment System: A DLC-exclusive power progression track
- New NPC Questlines tied to the lore of the Realm of Shadow
Regions Inside the Realm of Shadow
The Realm of Shadow is divided into several interconnected regions that expand significantly as you progress:
- Gravesite Plain: The entry zone, relatively open and forgiving
- Scadu Altus: A mid-game plateau with legacy dungeon access
- Shadow Keep: A major legacy dungeon tied to Messmer the Impaler
- Abyssal Woods: A late-game horror zone housing Midra’s Manse
- Enir-Ilim: The final area of the DLC, where the climax takes place
Exploration rewards in each region include Scadutree Fragments, new weapons, and NPC encounter triggers. Furthermore, the Realm of Shadow is significantly more dense with hidden content than Limgrave or Liurnia in the base game.
How to Access Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
Not every player is ready to enter the DLC the moment they start thinking about it. Two specific main-game prerequisites block the entrance, and skipping either one locks you out of the Realm of Shadow entirely.
Prerequisites to Enter the Realm of Shadow
Before you can enter the expansion, you must:
- Defeat Starscourge Radahn at Redmane Castle in Caelid (or the version accessed via Ranni’s quest)
- Defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood in his palace (accessed through the Consecrated Snowfield or via the Pureblood Knight’s Medal from White Mask Varré’s questline)
- Interact with Miquella’s Withered Arm inside Mohg’s boss arena after the fight ends
If you have not completed Mohg’s fight, you will need to do so regardless of your character level. There is no shortcut to reach the expansion entry point.
Recommended Level and Preparation
Entering Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree at a low level is possible but painful. Community consensus suggests:
| Preparation | Recommended Target |
|---|---|
| Character Level | 150+ for comfortable experience |
| Weapon Upgrade Level | +24 or higher for main weapon |
| Scadutree Blessing Level | Reach level 5 before major boss attempts |
| Flask Upgrades | Max Sacred Flask charges before entering |
Additionally, completing as much of the base game as possible before entering the DLC will give you access to Spirit Ashes, max flasks, and gear that makes the early sections of the Realm of Shadow far less punishing.
Scadutree Blessings: The Hidden Power System
The Scadutree Blessing system is the most important mechanic unique to the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Unlike base-game rune leveling, this system is specifically calibrated for the DLC’s difficulty curve.
How Scadutree Blessings Work
Scadutree Fragments are collectible items scattered throughout the Realm of Shadow. Offering them at any Site of Grace inside the DLC upgrades your Scadutree Blessing level, which provides:
- +4% bonus damage per blessing level
- +2% damage negation per blessing level
At level 15, your damage output and survivability are meaningfully boosted. A boss that feels like a 9 out of 10 in difficulty at blessing level 0 can become a 5 out of 10 after farming enough fragments. This system is designed to reward thorough exploration over brute-force leveling.
How to Find Scadutree Fragments Fast
Fragments are found throughout the Realm of Shadow in the following ways:
- Dropped by specific enemy types unique to the DLC region
- Placed in chests inside legacy dungeons and smaller catacombs
- Found at the base of small golden Erdtrees scattered across the open world
- Rewarded for defeating certain optional bosses and field mini-bosses
- Given as rewards by specific NPCs during questlines
There are 50 Scadutree Fragments in total across the DLC. Prioritizing exploration early and checking every catacomb and dungeon is the fastest path to a competitive blessing level.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Bosses: Key Encounters
With 62 bosses in the DLC, not every encounter requires the same level of preparation. However, the main story bosses and a handful of optional fights stand out as the defining challenges of the expansion.
Main Bosses and What to Expect
These are the key story bosses you will face in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree:
- Divine Beast Dancing Lion: The first major boss. A lightning and snow-based creature with sweeping AoE attacks. Using an NPC summon (Redmane Freyja) available outside the entrance is highly recommended.
- Rellana, Twin Moon Knight: A powerful sorcerer-knight with fast, unpredictable combo strings. Staying close and punishing her recovery windows is more effective than trying to play at range.
- Messmer the Impaler: The central antagonist of the expansion. A fire and serpent-themed boss with an aggressive multi-phase fight. Fire resistance equipment and a strong bleed or frost build significantly reduce the threat level.
- Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame: An optional late-game fight found in Midra’s Manse inside the Abyssal Woods. One of the most visually and mechanically memorable bosses in the entire FromSoftware catalog.
Optional Bosses Worth Hunting
Beyond the main path, several optional encounters reward unique weapons and story context:
- Bayle the Dread: A massive dragon boss considered by many players to be the hardest optional fight in the DLC
- Commander Gaius: A mounted boss that rewards patience and anti-poise strategies
- Ancient Dragon Senessax: A field boss dragon with devastating elemental attacks
Which Edition of Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Should You Buy?
The expansion is available in several different purchase configurations depending on whether you already own the base game.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Edition vs. Deluxe Edition vs. Collector’s Edition
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Edition: Bundles the base game and the DLC expansion together. Ideal for players who do not yet own Elden Ring.
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition: Includes the base game, the DLC, the original game’s Digital Artbook and Soundtrack, and the DLC’s own Digital Artbook and Original Soundtrack.
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Collector’s Edition: The premium physical edition, including a large statue of Messmer, a steelbook case, and all digital content from the Deluxe Edition.
If you already own the base game, purchase only the DLC add-on rather than the bundled editions. All editions provide access to the same in-game content in the Realm of Shadow.
Is Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Worth It?
For players who enjoyed the base game, the DLC is one of the most content-rich expansions available in the action RPG genre. The 62 bosses, 100+ weapons, new areas, and dedicated power progression system provide dozens of hours of new content even for experienced players.
Pro Tips for Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
Pro Tips: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
- Collect Scadutree Fragments before fighting major bosses: Even 5 to 7 blessing levels make a dramatic difference in survivability. Explore each region thoroughly before engaging story bosses.
- Talk to every NPC you encounter: NPCs in the Realm of Shadow provide quest items, hints, and access to hidden areas. Missing NPC interactions early can lock you out of valuable weapons and lore-rich content.
- Use NPC summons at boss entrances: Several major bosses in the expansion have a golden summoning sign or an NPC summon available near their fog wall. Activating these before summoning Spirit Ashes is often the most effective way to split boss aggro.
- Build for Bleed or Frost in the early DLC: These status effects perform well against most early and mid-DLC enemies and bosses. If you are entering underprepared, switching to a Bleed weapon can compensate for lower blessing levels.
- Explore vertically: The Realm of Shadow’s maps are highly vertical. Many hidden areas, fragments, and optional dungeons require going up rather than across. Check cliff edges and ruin structures for hidden ledges and ladders.
Common Mistakes Players Make in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
- Ignoring the Scadutree Blessing system entirely: Many players enter the DLC and immediately try to engage story bosses with 0 or 1 blessing levels. Fix: Spend at least two hours exploring Gravesite Plain and nearby catacombs before engaging Divine Beast Dancing Lion.
- Skipping the NPC Redmane Freyja summon at Divine Beast Dancing Lion: The first major boss is significantly harder without her assistance. Fix: Before approaching the boss entrance, look for the golden NPC summon sign to the left of the fog gate and activate it.
- Entering the DLC immediately after finishing Mohg: The transition point is available the moment Mohg dies, which some players trigger unexpectedly. Fix: Fully prepare your build, flask count, and Spirit Ash upgrades before interacting with the arm in Mohg’s arena.
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Whether you are playing co-op with friends or invading other players in the Realm of Shadow, a stable connection is critical. High ping in Elden Ring causes input delays, summon failures, and desync during multiplayer invasions.
Why Connection Stability Matters in Elden Ring Multiplayer
Every action in an Elden Ring multiplayer session is synced through FromSoftware’s servers. High latency means your attacks register late on the host’s screen, dodges become unreliable, and co-op partners may appear to warp around during intense combat moments.
Additionally, unstable connections during the summoning process can cause repeated summon failures, forcing you to wait through the full summon timer multiple times before entering another player’s world.
How ExitLag Helps Elden Ring Players
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Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree: Full DLC Summary
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is a landmark expansion that expands on every dimension of the base game’s design. The bosses are more varied, the weapons are more creative, and the Scadutree Blessing system rewards explorers who take their time with the new map.
DLC Content at a Glance
- New Region: Realm of Shadow (multiple connected biomes)
- Total Bosses: 62 (7 main story + 55 optional)
- New Weapons: 100+
- New Incantations and Sorceries: 20+
- Power Progression: Scadutree Blessing (50 fragments, max level 20)
- Legacy Dungeons: 8 new major dungeons
Boss Difficulty Quick Reference
| Boss | Difficulty | Key Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Beast Dancing Lion | Medium | Use NPC summon, dodge AoEs |
| Rellana, Twin Moon Knight | Hard | Stay aggressive, punish recovery |
| Messmer the Impaler | Hard | Fire resistance, Bleed/Frost build |
| Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame | Very Hard | Phase 1 patience, Phase 2 aggression |
| Bayle the Dread | Extreme | Dragon-slaying Spirit Ash, anti-elemental build |
With the right preparation and a solid understanding of the Scadutree Blessing system, every boss in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree becomes a fair challenge rather than an insurmountable wall.
All game images used in this blog post belong to FromSoftware and Bandai Namco Entertainment. They are used for informational and educational purposes only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation with the rights holders.
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