Are you ready to step into the shadows? Elden Ring’s highly anticipated DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, isn’t just a new chapter-it’s a realm locked behind two of the game’s toughest bosses. Before you can follow Miquella into the mysterious Land of Shadow, you’ll need to prove your worth by toppling Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. Only then can you reach the cocoon in Mohgwyn Palace and unlock the secrets that await beyond the Erdtree’s shadow.
In short, you can’t just select Shadow of the Erdtree from an in-game menu – instead, you need to reach a secret area and take down two challenging bosses first.
Our Elden Ring guide will show you how to access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, and some advice on how best to do it.
How to access Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree
To access the Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, you must first defeat two major bosses in the base game: Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. After defeating both, travel to the Cocoon of the Empyrean in Mohgwyn Palace, where you will find a new character, Needle Knight Leda, standing near Miquella’s cocoon. Interact with the withered arm protruding from the cocoon to be transported to the Land of Shadow, the new DLC area. You can only begin the DLC after meeting these requirements, and once inside, you are free to move between the main game and the expansion as you wish.
To access Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, there are two requirements:
- Defeat Radahn
- Get to Mohgwyn Palace and defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood
Once the above two steps are complete, you can then interact with Miquella’s Cocoon – located in Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum, which is where you fight Mohg – to enter the Land of Shadow and start the DLC.
How long does it take to access the Elden Ring DLC?
Accessing the Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, is not immediate-even if you’ve pre-purchased and pre-downloaded the expansion. The DLC officially unlocks at midnight local time on June 21 for most regions on PlayStation and Xbox, while PC players will see a simultaneous global release, with times varying by region (for example, 3pm PT/6pm ET in the US, 11pm BST in the UK). However, before you can enter the new content, you must defeat two key bosses in the main game-Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood-and then interact with the withered arm in Mohgwyn Palace. Depending on your progress in the base game, it could take several hours to reach this point if you haven’t already done so. For those fully prepared, you’ll be able to jump into the DLC as soon as it goes live in your region.
If you’re wondering how demanding the above requirements are, the answer is very, as Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood are mid- to late-game bosses, respectively, and among the most challenging in the game.
Though it’s hard to put an hour count on how long it’ll take to defeat the two bosses, if you’re racing to start the DLC (perhaps after starting new game plus) it should only take five or six hours if you know exactly where to go, and are happy to skip any associated steps or quests to make the bosses themselves easier.
For those just starting fresh and aren’t rushing, realistically you’re looking at anywhere between 30 and 50 hours of playtime before you’re wanting to start the DLC. If you’re in this position, we highly recommend you take your time and enjoy the game naturally – the world of Elden Ring is both vast and difficult, and not only are those the two required bosses themselves a real challenge, but the DLC itself a significant jump up in difficulty. In other words, it’s best to only get started when you’re ready.
Our how to prepare for the DLC has a list of tips to help you get ready, but if want to make the two bosses easier in particular, then consider the following:
- For Radahn, making progress in the Blaidd quest (or Ranni quest, of which shares many of the same steps) will add him as a summon alongside several other NPCs which can make the boss an easier ride. (Know that Alexander will be there even if you don’t start their quest, and so is optional.)
- For Mohg, you need to go out of your way to first get to Mohgwyn Palace, which is accessed fastest through Varré’s questline. For the fight itself, you can get the Purifying Crystal Tear from Yura’s questline, as well as Mohg’s Shackle from the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds (located underneath Leyndell, Royal Capital, and is a key area in Dung Eater’s questline) to give you two key advantages.
What secret steps unlock Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on PC and consoles
Secret Steps to Unlock Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
To access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, you must complete a series of in-game requirements. These steps are the same across all platforms:
1. Defeat Starscourge Radahn
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Radahn is a major boss located in Caelid. You must defeat him before progressing to the DLC.
2. Reach Mohgwyn Palace and Defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood
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Mohg is found in Mohgwyn Palace, a late-game area. You must defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood, to unlock the DLC entrance.
3. Find the Cocoon in Mohgwyn Palace
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After defeating Mohg, proceed to the large cocoon in his boss arena. Here, you’ll find a new NPC, Needle Knight Leda, standing beside the cocoon.
4. Interact with the Withered Arm
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Touch the withered arm protruding from the cocoon. This action will transport you to the Land of Shadow, the new DLC area.
Summary Table
| Step | Requirement/Location |
|---|---|
| Defeat Radahn | Caelid (Redmane Castle) |
| Defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood | Mohgwyn Palace |
| Find the cocoon and NPC | Mohgwyn Palace (boss arena) |
| Touch the withered arm | Cocoon in Mohgwyn Palace |
Additional Notes
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You must have purchased and installed the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on your platform before these steps will work.
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The DLC cannot be accessed from the main menu; it is only available by fulfilling the in-game requirements above.
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Once unlocked, you can freely travel between the base game and the DLC area.
No other secret steps are required-just these boss battles and the specific in-game interaction to unlock the new adventure.
Do I need to defeat Radahn and Mohg before accessing the DLC on PC and consoles
Yes, you must defeat both Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood before you can access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on PC and consoles. These two bosses are required in any playthrough where you want to enter the new DLC content. After defeating them, you can access the DLC by interacting with the cocoon in Mohgwyn Palace where you fought Mohg.
