Shadow of the Erdtree is the largest and most challenging DLC FromSoftware has ever created. It adds an entirely new open-world map, over 100 new weapons, 8 new weapon categories, and bosses that make the base game’s hardest encounters look manageable. This guide covers everything you need to know before entering the Land of Shadow and how to survive once you’re there.
For optimal PC performance settings, check our Elden Ring best settings for RTX 3060 guide.
How to Access Shadow of the Erdtree
You cannot simply walk into the DLC. Two mandatory boss kills are required:
- Starscourge Radahn — The festival boss in Redmane Castle, Caelid. This is a main-story requirement, so most players will have defeated him already.
- Mohg, Lord of Blood — An optional endgame boss located in Mohgwyn Palace, an underground area. This is the barrier most players haven’t cleared.
After defeating both bosses: Travel to Mohg’s boss arena. A withered arm protrudes from the cocoon at the back of the room. Interact with it to be transported to the Land of Shadow.
Shortcut to Mohgwyn Palace: You don’t need to reach the Consecrated Snowfield to access Mohg. Complete White Mask Varre’s questline in Liurnia of the Lakes. He gives you the Pureblood Knight’s Medal, which teleports you directly to Mohgwyn Palace. This can be done relatively early in the game, potentially before even reaching the capital.
Recommended Level and Gear
Shadow of the Erdtree is balanced around endgame-ready characters. Going in underleveled will result in an extremely punishing experience, even by FromSoftware standards.
- Character level: 150+ recommended. 120 is possible but very difficult. Players below 100 will struggle significantly even with optimal play.
- Weapon upgrade: +24 or +25 standard weapons, +9 or +10 Somber weapons. The DLC does contain upgrade materials, but enemies are balanced around max or near-max weapons.
- Vigor: 40 is the absolute minimum. Ideally 45-60. The DLC bosses hit extremely hard, and the standard endgame Vigor of 40 feels low here. Many attacks will one-shot or two-shot characters with less than 45 Vigor even after Scadutree Blessings.
Don’t rush in. If you haven’t beaten Mohg comfortably, you are not ready for Shadow of the Erdtree. Mohg is essentially the DLC’s entry exam — if he feels impossible, level up and upgrade your weapons before entering the Land of Shadow.
Scadutree Fragments — The Most Important System in the DLC
Scadutree Fragments are the DLC’s unique progression mechanic, and understanding them is the single most important thing in this guide. They are collectible items found throughout the Land of Shadow that permanently increase your Scadutree Blessing level.
What they do: Each blessing level increases the damage you deal and reduces the damage you take within the DLC only. At maximum blessing level 20, you deal 80% more damage and receive 40% less damage. This is an enormous difference — a boss that two-shots you at Blessing 0 becomes a manageable four-shot at Blessing 15+.
Fragment costs per blessing level:
- Level 1: 1 fragment
- Levels 2-9: 2 fragments each (16 total for this range)
- Levels 10-20: 3 fragments each (33 total for this range)
- Total: 50 Scadutree Fragments for maximum Blessing 20
Key tip: Scadutree Fragments are your number one priority. Explore thoroughly before fighting bosses. Many players hit a wall against a boss only to discover they missed 5-10 fragments in earlier areas. Going back to explore and raise your blessing level is almost always the correct strategy when you feel stuck.
Fragments are found in churches, at the bases of Miquella’s crosses (small golden crosses scattered throughout the map), given by NPCs, and hidden in dungeons. Check every glowing item at a cross — most of them are fragments.
Exploration Route — Recommended Path
The Land of Shadow is open, but this route follows the intended difficulty curve:
- Gravesite Plain — Your starting area. Explore thoroughly, collect fragments, and get your bearings. The enemies here are the DLC’s easiest.
- Belurat, Tower Settlement — The first legacy dungeon. A winding town leading to a boss. Moderate difficulty relative to the DLC.
- Ellac River / Castle Ensis — Continue east and north. Castle Ensis is the second legacy dungeon, guarded by Rellana, Twin Moon Knight. She is weak to lightning damage — equip lightning grease or a lightning-infused weapon.
- Shadow Keep — The central fortress and the DLC’s largest legacy dungeon. Multiple paths, hidden rooms, and a critical boss. Explore every floor.
- Cerulean Coast / Rauh Base — Branch paths that open after Shadow Keep. Both contain important fragments, weapons, and side bosses.
- Abyssal Woods / Jagged Peak — Late-game areas with significantly higher difficulty. The Abyssal Woods features stealth-focused gameplay against enemies that cannot be killed conventionally.
- Enir-Ilim — The final area and the path to the DLC’s last boss. Do not enter until your Scadutree Blessing is at or near maximum.
New Weapon Types
Shadow of the Erdtree adds 8 entirely new weapon categories, each with unique movesets and playstyles:
- Great Katanas — Slower, heavier katanas with devastating charged attacks. Excellent stagger potential.
- Light Greatswords — Faster greatswords that sacrifice raw damage for fluid combo chains. The most popular new weapon type among players.
- Beast Claws — Fist-type weapons that scale with Strength and Faith. Unique ground-slam attacks.
- Hand-to-Hand Arts — Pure unarmed combat with martial arts movesets. Scales with Dexterity.
- Backhand Blades — Reverse-grip daggers with rapid slashing combos and built-in dodge attacks.
- Throwing Blades — Ranged melee weapons that can be thrown and recalled. Hybrid melee/ranged playstyle.
- Perfume Bottles — AoE support weapons that spray elemental effects. Scale with Dexterity and a secondary stat depending on the element.
- Thrusting Shields — Shields that double as offensive weapons, allowing simultaneous blocking and attacking.
Every new weapon type is viable for completing the DLC. Experiment freely and find what fits your playstyle.
Spirit Ashes in the DLC
The DLC introduces Revered Spirit Ashes, a new upgrade material that lets you upgrade Spirit Ashes beyond their normal +10 cap. These upgraded ashes are significantly more powerful and only available within the DLC.
Top Spirit Ash picks for the DLC:
- Mimic Tear — Still the most versatile summon. Copies your build, uses your items, and benefits from your Scadutree Blessing level.
- Jolan and Anna — A DLC-exclusive summon. Two fighters that deal heavy damage and draw boss aggro effectively.
- Taylew the Golem — An extremely tanky summon that excels at surviving long boss fights, giving you more windows to heal and attack.
Post-launch patches have buffed Spirit Ash survivability across the board, so even ashes that felt weak at launch are now more viable.
Hardest Bosses — What to Expect
Shadow of the Erdtree contains some of the hardest bosses in FromSoftware’s entire catalog:
- Promised Consort Radahn — The final boss. Widely considered the hardest boss in FromSoftware history. Two phases, both devastating. Post-launch patches have nerfed his damage slightly and adjusted some attack timings, but he remains brutally difficult. Maximize your Scadutree Blessing before attempting him.
- Messmer the Impaler — The DLC’s central antagonist. Fast, aggressive, and relentless. His fire attacks cover enormous areas. Learning his combos is essential — you cannot brute-force this fight.
- Rellana, Twin Moon Knight — The gatekeeper boss of Castle Ensis. Dual-wields a magic sword and a fire sword with devastating combo strings. Weak to lightning damage.
If you are stuck: Before anything else, check your Scadutree Blessing level. If it is below 10-12 for mid-game bosses or below 15-18 for late-game bosses, go back and find more fragments. The damage reduction from blessings is the difference between impossible and manageable.
Co-op and Multiplayer
Co-op in Shadow of the Erdtree works identically to the base game. Use Furlcalling Finger Remedies to see summon signs, or interact with summoning pool statues (gold effigies) to be matched with nearby players. Both the host and any summoned cooperators must own the DLC to play DLC content together.
Summoning pools are plentiful throughout the DLC, especially near boss fog walls. If you are struggling with a boss, check the summoning pool before the fight — the DLC’s player base remains very active.
Quick Tips / TL;DR
- Beat Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood to access the DLC. Use Varre’s quest for a shortcut to Mohg.
- Be level 150+ with +25 weapons and 45+ Vigor before entering
- Scadutree Fragments are your number one priority. Explore before fighting bosses. Max blessing = +80% damage dealt, -40% damage received
- Follow the exploration route: Gravesite Plain > Belurat > Castle Ensis > Shadow Keep > Coast/Rauh > Abyssal Woods > Enir-Ilim
- Rellana is weak to lightning. Equip lightning grease for a significant advantage.
- Upgrade Spirit Ashes with Revered Spirit Ashes (DLC only) for a major power boost
- If you feel stuck, you probably need more Scadutree Fragments, not more levels
- Co-op requires DLC ownership for all players. Use summoning pools near boss doors.
- Promised Consort Radahn is the hardest boss in FromSoftware history — max your blessing level first
