Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Preparation Guide

As the Tarnished prepare to step once more into the haunting world of Elden Ring, the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC promises a dark and sprawling new adventure filled with formidable bosses, mysterious lore, and powerful new gear. With its release set for June 21, 2024, now is the time to sharpen your weapons, strategize your character build, and master the path to the Land of Shadow-where the fate of the Erdtree and the Golden Order awaits your discovery.

Shadow of the Erdtree is set to be absolutely massive; according to director Hidetaka Miyazaki, the addition will be approximately the size of Elden Ring’s starting area, Limgrave. In other words, you’ll have a lot to dig into come June 21, including finding out what happened to the game’s most mysterious demigod – but only if you’re prepared for it.

If you’re not sure how to prepare for the expansion or simply haven’t played the base game in ages, don’t worry. Here’s everything you need to do in Elden Ring before Shadow of the Erdtree.

Defeat Radahn and Mohg to gain access

To gain access to Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, you must first defeat two key bosses: Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. After defeating these formidable foes, head to Mohgwyn Palace where you will find a cocoon with a withered arm. Interacting with this arm will transport you to the new DLC area, unlocking the expansion content. This sequence is essential to start your journey in the Shadow of the Erdtree and explore its new challenges and locations.

While you don’t have to beat the game to take on Shadow of the Erdtree, you do need to attain a certain amount of progress before you can jump in. FromSoftware has said that the upcoming content will exist on a brand-new map that’s separate from the main game.

To start the DLC, you need to defeat Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, the latter of whom is guarding Miquella’s egg, which serves as the entry point to the expansion.

After all, we know that Mohg has kidnapped Miquella, one of the main protagonists of the DLC. In the base game, Miquella is housed in an egg that you can interact with once you beat Mohg. Currently, the mummy-like remains don’t do anything, but Shadow of the Erdtree’s single trailer shows Miquella’s egg seemingly coming to life.

Beyond its lore importance, there are plenty of other reasons to visit Mohg’s palace before the DLC drops. For one thing, the cliffside area preceding the blood-soaked map features one of the best rune farming spots in the game, thanks to a group of Albinaurics who drop a startling amount of XP. Likely, Mohg was using them as fodder for his blood god. If you stock up on items that boost your Runes, like the Gold Pickled Fowl Foot and the Gold Scarab talisman, you can use these enemies to power-level in no time.

It’s possible to gain dozens of levels in minutes if you farm the enemies repeatedly. Fortunately, you can fast travel to the start of the level once you kill the Albinaurics to force the game to respawn them all. Make sure to snipe the bird roaming the blood lake that’s visible from the cliff – it can’t really hurt you, and it’s a great source of XP as well.

Catch up on Miquella’s lore

Miquella, known as “Miquella the Kind,” is a central figure in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. He is an Empyrean, the son of Queen Marika and Radagon, and the twin brother of Malenia, together called the Twin Prodigies. Despite his divine lineage, Miquella is cursed with eternal youth and has removed himself from the world in the mysterious Land of Shadow. His story is deeply intertwined with themes of sacrifice, ambition, and tragedy, as he sought to become a god and create a gentler world. Throughout the DLC, players uncover the complex promises and conflicts involving Miquella, his relationship with Radahn, and the devastating impact of Malenia’s scarlet rot. Understanding Miquella’s lore is key to grasping the full narrative and emotional weight of the expansion.

Miquella is mentioned heavily throughout Elden Ring, but you never actually see or speak to the fair-headed Empyryan. And like most Souls games, all the storytelling is fairly subtle, so it’s entirely possible to not know what’s going on with Miquella – or to miss the smaller details that will likely be fleshed out in the DLC. Watching lore videos (like the one above from the popular FromSoftware content creator VaatiVidya) is a good way of remedying this issue.

Explore Volcano Manor

Volcano Manor is a key location to explore when preparing for Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. This manor, home to the demigod Ryckard who betrayed the Golden Order, ties closely to the DLC’s themes of blasphemy and the destruction of the Erdtree. Visiting Volcano Manor offers players valuable lore insights and connections to the main antagonist’s path, making it an intriguing and important area to investigate before diving into the new content.

One of the major themes for Shadow of the Erdtree seems to be blasphemy. The Erdtree, after all, is associated with light, and you’ll be wading in the shadows, potentially after the Erdtree’s destruction. The main antagonist of the DLC appears to be connected to snakes, which the base game repeatedly associates with enemies of the faith.

Chances seem high, then, that Shadow of the Erdtree will make some callbacks to Volcano Manor. The manor is home to Ryckard, a demigod who betrayed the Golden Order by allowing himself to be devoured by a powerful snake. It seems that Shadow of the Erdtree’s big bad follows a similar path; in the trailer, he asks an unnamed mother if she would truly sanction someone as accursed as he is. While the jury’s out on whether or not this villain is actually another Miquella half-sibling who fell out of favor with his family, Volcano Manor’s tie to blasphemous snakes is enough reason to check it out. We may be dealing with the same outer god in the DLC.

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Plus, Volcano Manor features a string of unusual quests where you hunt down other Tarnished. Not only can Volcano Manor get you in the right mindset for what you’re about to see in Shadow of the Erdtree, it’s a great change of pace from the rest of the game – provided, of course, you’re willing to be a little evil.

Complete optional dungeons

Shadow of the Erdtree features 15 optional dungeons scattered across the new Land of Shadow, each offering unique challenges and rewards. These dungeons, including four Nameless Mausoleums, are filled with formidable minibosses and valuable loot such as weapons and Spirit Ashes. Exploring and completing these optional dungeons not only provides powerful gear but also deepens your understanding of the DLC’s lore and world. Notable dungeons like Belurat Gaol and Bonny Gaol test your combat skills and offer significant rewards, making them essential for thorough preparation before tackling the main story content of the expansion.

You’ll also want to take on dungeons that aren’t on the game’s golden path, like Castle Sol – an area that’s entirely themed around the eclipse that’s taken over in Shadow of the Erdtree. There, you’ll learn a bit about Miquella’s followers and their apparent attempt to resurrect him, tidbits that will likely make a return in the expansion.

Just be warned: Castle Sol is one of the toughest areas in the game. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself visiting Mohg’s palace to beef your character up first, because even the basic enemies in this area are intense.

Get the best gear

To get the best gear for Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, focus on equipping weapons, armor, talismans, and Spirit Ashes that enhance your survivability and exploit enemy weaknesses. Key weapons like Bloodhound’s Fang, Rivers of Blood, and the Great Katana offer strong offensive capabilities, while armor sets such as the Fire Knight Set provide excellent resistances and poise. Talismans like the Crimson Amber Medallion and Haligdrake Talisman boost your HP and holy damage negation, crucial for surviving the DLC’s tough encounters. Additionally, using grease items to apply elemental damage and summoning fast, aggressive Spirit Ashes can help manage the more challenging bosses and enemies in the Land of Shadow.

What classifies as “best” will depend heavily on what build you’re running and your play preferences, but we have a few suggestions for you.

For Intelligence builds, the Rock Sling sorcery and its anti-gravity properties pair wonderfully with things like the Moonveil Katana or Wing of Astel. (For the former, check out our guide on how to get the Moonveil Katana.)
Strength builds have a bevy of options, but I’m fond of the Great Stars, which heals you with every hit, though the classic Greatsword is also a good bet.
Faith devotees are in agreement that the best weapon is the Blasphemous Blade, a greatsword that can deal additional fire damage.
Dexterity builds, meanwhile, have two strong options that are available near the start of the game: Bloodhounds Fang and Uchigatana.
Those of you trying out an Arcane build might want to check out the Naginata, which can pair well with bleed effects, or the Star Fists.

As for armor, your choices will depend on your weight class of choice. If you gravitate toward light armor, you’ll be happy with choices like the Godskin Noble set or the Ronin set, both of which have strong stats. If you use medium armor, look into the Gelmir Knight set, or a Knight set in general. And if you prefer heavy armor, you can use what’s considered one of the most broken pieces of gear in the game: the Bull-Goat set, gear so powerful that it’s a mainstay in PVP.

Granted, weapons and armor aren’t the only things you can equip in Elden Ring – but for everything else, it really depends on how you like to play. One thing that’s true for everyone, though: the Mimic Tear, which populates a CPU version of your character, kicks ass.

And if you’re really looking to get powerful as quickly as possible, consult our Elden Ring rune farming guide.

Defeat Malenia

Malenia, Blade of Miquella, is widely regarded as one of the toughest bosses in Elden Ring, residing at the bottom of Miquella’s Haligtree in the secret Legacy Dungeon Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. She is notorious for her aggressive combat style, powerful combos, and the unique mechanic of regaining health with every successful hit she lands. To defeat Malenia, players should be at least Level 130 and prepare by summoning fast or tanky Spirit Ashes like Black Knife Tiche or Ancient Dragonknight Kristoff to help stagger and tank her attacks. Equipping items that prevent Scarlet Rot and mastering her moveset to dodge effectively are crucial strategies. Overcoming Malenia not only rewards valuable items but also provides essential lore insights, making her defeat a key milestone before venturing into the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

You’ll definitely want to defeat Malenia, the optional boss who resides in Miquella’s hidden kingdom. While Malenia is notoriously difficult, she’s also Miquella’s twin, so you’ll want to soak in as much as you can about her. The trailer also features a water dancer who looks suspiciously like the character mentioned in Malenia-related gear.

That said, she’s one of the toughest bosses in the game; most players save her for the latter segments of their playthroughs for good reason. If you’re struggling, our guide on how to defeat Malenia in Elden Ring can help.

Beat the game

To beat the game in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, preparation and strategy are key. After defeating major bosses like Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, you unlock access to the new Shadow Land, where the DLC’s challenges await. The DLC features tough enemies and bosses comparable to late-game areas in the base game, so having a character around level 100 to 150 is recommended. Whether you choose to enter the DLC with a fresh character to experience new playstyles or a seasoned one with powerful gear and items, be ready to adapt your tactics. Utilize the unique leveling adjustments within the DLC to balance difficulty and take advantage of key items like Larval Tears for respecs. Careful exploration, mastering boss mechanics, and following questlines will help you overcome the formidable foes and uncover the secrets of the Shadow of the Erdtree.

This might seem obvious, but then again, we’re talking about a Soulslike game. It’s easy to get stuck on a boss somewhere, or to give up before you’ve satisfied the requirements for one of Elden Ring’s esoteric endings. Beyond meeting major characters who might have a role in the expansion, clearing the game may ensure that your character is strong enough to take on whatever new threats Elden Ring throws your way.

Try out new game plus

Trying out New Game Plus (NG+) before diving into Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is a strategic choice for many players. NG+ allows you to start a new journey with your existing character’s levels, weapons, armor, and items, but with tougher enemies and bosses that drop significantly more runes. This mode offers a chance to experience missed quests and rewards from your first playthrough while preparing you for the DLC’s heightened challenges. Playing NG+ can also help you accumulate powerful gear and resources, making the transition to the DLC smoother. However, keep in mind that enemy difficulty scales up each NG+ run, so be ready for a more demanding experience.

New game plus doesn’t have any obvious connection to Shadow of the Erdtree: the mode simply makes the game harder in exchange for bigger rewards, should you survive. But if you’ve already done everything there is to do in Elden Ring, it might not be a bad idea to check NG out: if nothing else, it can help you get back into the groove of the game. We’ve been waiting a long time for Shadow of the Erdtree, which means your muscle memory may need a refresher. The good news is that you’ll keep many of your non-quest related items and runes, so you won’t have to hunt down your preferred gear again.

What key preparations will help me conquer the new bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree

To conquer the new bosses in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, key preparations include:

Character Level and Build: Aim for a character level between 100 and 150 to handle the DLC’s endgame difficulty effectively. Consider whether to use a fresh character for a new playstyle or a New Game+ character with extensive gear and items, as both have pros and cons.
Defeat Required Bosses: Defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, as they are prerequisites to unlocking the DLC content.
Upgrade and Stockpile Resources: Collect Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears to enhance your Flask, and gather powerful talismans, spirit ash summons, and consumables to bolster your survivability and damage output.
Boss-Specific Strategies: Learn boss weaknesses and attack patterns. For example, the Divine Beast Dancing Lion is weak to fire damage, so using fire-based attacks and staying aggressive helps shorten the fight. Against Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, heavy attacks during openings and patient dodging are key.
Use Spirit Ashes and Furnace Visages: Summon powerful spirit ashes to aid in fights, and save Furnace Visages for specific challenging enemies encountered in the DLC.
Prepare for Unique Enemy Mechanics: Some enemies require different approaches; for instance, quickly eliminating shadowy enemies with pots on their heads before they disappear, and thoroughly exploring for Scadutree fragments to enhance your capabilities.
Leveling System Adaptation: Be aware the DLC has a unique leveling system that balances attack power and enemy difficulty, so adapt your strategy as you progress.

Combining these preparations will significantly increase your chances of overcoming the formidable bosses and challenges in Shadow of the Erdtree.

How can I effectively farm powerful Spirit Ash summons for boss fights

To effectively farm powerful Spirit Ash summons for boss fights in Elden Ring, follow these key steps:

Target High-Tier Spirit Ashes: Prioritize acquiring top-tier summons such as Mimic Tear, Black Knife Tiche, and Lhutel the Headless, which are considered S-tier for their tankiness, damage output, and utility in tough boss encounters.
Locate and Defeat Spirit Ash Bosses: Many powerful Spirit Ashes require defeating specific dungeon bosses or completing challenging areas. For example, Lhutel the Headless is obtained by conquering a dungeon where you need a good greatshield to survive the boss fight.
Upgrade Spirit Ashes: Visit Roderika at Roundtable Hold to upgrade your Spirit Ashes using Grave Gloveworts or Ghost Gloveworts, which significantly enhances their combat effectiveness during boss fights.
Farm Runes Efficiently: Use spots like Fort Faroth to farm runes, which you can then spend on leveling up your character and upgrading Spirit Ashes. Be prepared for tough enemies in these areas, but the rune gain is substantial (15-20k per run).
Use Spirit Ashes Strategically: Summon Spirit Ashes to draw boss aggro and provide sustained damage. Summons like Lhutel the Headless can tank hits and attack from range, while Mimic Tear offers high damage but less survivability.
Balance FP and Build: Some powerful Spirit Ashes have high FP costs, so invest points into Mind to maintain summon availability during boss fights.

By focusing on acquiring, upgrading, and strategically deploying these high-tier Spirit Ashes, you can greatly improve your chances of success against Elden Ring’s toughest bosses.