Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - Are You Prepared?
Jun. 17, 2024Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree – Are You Prepared?
With just one week left until the release ofShadow of the Erdtree, it’s time to ask yourself: are you ready? Is your character prepared? Is your save file set? Are you ready to dive into the DLC? In this article, we’ll discuss how to ensure you’re fully prepared and what steps you should take in the coming week.
This article is meant to help you get ready to tackle on the challenging content coming with theShadow of the Erdtreeexpansion for Elden Ring. You should already be familiar with these tools, but make sure to use ourElden Ring MapandElden Ring Buildsto find everything you need for your run!
First, let’s discusscharacter leveland the recommended level for your character. During the recent play sessions, characters were set at level 150 to play the demo, suggesting that the developers recommend this level for the area. The DLC’s difficulty is comparable to the end game ofElden Ring, similar to areas like theMountaintops of the GiantsorMiquella’s Haligtree. These beginning areas of theDLCwill likely match this difficulty and become more challenging as you progress. Therefore, your character should be around level 150.
Additionally, enemies in the DLC hit significantly harder than those in the base game. TheScadutree Fragments, which increase both your damage protection and output, will gradually reduce the damage you take from enemies. However, initially, without thesefragments, you will take substantial damage from even regular foes. Hence, having a good health pool is crucial at the beginning. Aim for at least 50 or 60vigoror consider using atalismanthat boosts your HP. Do not neglect yourvigor; ensure it is sufficient and that your character level is high enough to manage end game content effectively.
Next, ensure you have a substantial number ofGolden SeedsandSacred Tears, and that you’ve used them atSites of Graceto upgrade both the number and effectiveness of yourflasks. Entering the DLC with too few flasks puts you at a significant disadvantage, regardless of your character level. Even at levels 200 or 250, having only five flasks will make the experience much more difficult. Therefore, it’s crucial to have a good number of flasks that are significantly upgraded, though they don’t need to be maxed out. Personally, I have mine upgraded to about 90-95%, which is sufficient for an average player like me.
To ensure you’re well-prepared, check ourElden Ringmapfor the locations ofGolden SeedsandSacred Tears. If you need a few more before starting the DLC, use the map to easily find and collect them, saving you a lot of time and effort.
Next, you’ll want to obtainTalisman Pouches. You start the game with only one Talisman Slot and unlock more as you progress. Here’s how you get them:
These steps mean you’ll need to be well into the game to have all four Talisman Slots. While you can enter the DLC with fewer slots, having all of them helps, especially if you’re a bit under-leveled or have fewer flasks. Ensure you have all Talisman Slots for the best experience.
If you’re using an existing character that has already completed the game, this won’t be an issue.
Now, consider upgradematerialsandBell Bearings. Ensure yourprimary weapon, whether it’s a melee weapon or talisman, is maxed out to maximize your damage output. Additionally, have a stockpile of upgrade materials ready for any new equipment you find, such as weapons or shields.
Make sure you have collected the necessaryBell Bearingsto purchase upgrade materials. If you can’t remember their locations, check ourwikifor details. It’s a good idea to farm and purchase a surplus of these materials in advance. This way, if you discover a new weapon you want to upgrade quickly, you’ll be prepared.
Being ready with upgrade materials will save you the frustration of having to farm them later. Prepare ahead of time so you can immediately enhance any new gear you find in the DLC.
Next is defeatingStarscourge RadahnandMogh, Lord of Blood, to access the DLC throughMohgwyn Palace. If you haven’t done this yet, you’ll need to before entering the DLC. If your character is near endgame or has already completed the game, you’ve likely already defeated these bosses.
Moghcan be particularly challenging to reach if you don’t follow the invasion route viaWhite Mask Varre’squest line. The details of this quest are on the wiki, so you can refer to it to expedite the process for a new character.
BothRadahnandMoghare among the tougher bosses inElden Ring. If you can defeat them, your build is likely strong enough for the DLC. If you struggle significantly against these bosses, you might also struggle in the DLC. Use these battles as a litmus test to evaluate your build. If you can barely defeatMoghandRadahn, you might need to make adjustments. While learning the movesets of bosses can improve your performance, the ability to handle these fights indicates whether your build is ready for the DLC.
This leads to the next point: ensuring your build is fully prepared. Make sure you have all thetalismans,spells, orincantationsyou need. Essentially, have everything ready for your build. One crucial recommendation for the DLC is to include a ranged option. Whether you usually play melee or ranged, having at least one ranged attack method is highly advisable.
Many experienced players, myself included, can anticipate enemy positions and easily handle them after hundreds or even thousands of hours of gameplay. However, when exploring a new area, you might encounter enemies in elevated positions or at a distance who can attack you from afar. Without a ranged option, you won’t be able to retaliate effectively. Ensure you have a ranged attack in your arsenal, whether it’sspells, abow, orthrowing items, so you can deal with distant enemies even if your primary build is melee-focused.
Another important point is that builds focusing onstancedamagemight not be as effective early in the DLC. In New Game Plus and subsequent cycles, enemies have larger health pools and deal more damage, making it feel like starting the game anew. Initially, I theorized that stance damage would be a good strategy, but its effectiveness heavily relies on knowing the stance values of bosses.
Thesestancevalues (e.g., 80, 90, 110) allow you to calculate how many hits are needed to stagger a boss using specificAsh of Warorweapon skills. However, this information won’t be available immediately and could take a week or two to gather and update on thewiki. Without this data, stance damage builds might not be fully optimized at the start of the DLC. Bosses may have higher stance values, potentially making this strategy less effective.
This doesn’t mean stance damage builds are bad or won’t work, but you might need to adjust your build once you have more information about the enemies. Be prepared to tweak your approach as you learn how many hits it takes to stagger different enemies.
Another important preparation step is stocking up onLarval Tearsbefore entering the DLC.Larval Tearsallow you to respec your character atRennala. As you encounter new and intriguing weapons in the DLC, you might want to try them out. However, you may not meet the stat requirements or your current build might not be optimized for them. For example, if your points are mainly in intelligence but the new weapon scales with strength, you’ll need to respec to use it effectively.
Ensure you have a good supply ofLarval Tears. You can find their locations on our map or wiki. Having plenty ofLarval Tearson hand will allow you to respec and experiment with new weapons as you find them, ensuring you can adapt your build to take full advantage of the DLC’s offerings. This will help you enjoy the game more and make the most of the new content.
Finally, once you’ve prepared your character for the DLC—reached level 150, collected allGolden Seeds,Sacred Tears,Talismans, upgrade materials, defeated the necessary bosses, and optimized your build—consider backing up your save. Regardless of the platform, having a backup is beneficial.On PC, you can manually copy your save file to a folder on your desktop. For PlayStation, use a USB drive, and for Xbox, follow the console’s backup process.
Backing up your save allows you to replay the DLC without going through the entire game again. Whether you missed something, messed up an NPC quest line, or simply want to experience the DLC with a different build, a save backup lets you start from your prepared point. This saves time and effort, making it easier to enjoy the DLC multiple times.
That concludes our guide on preparing for theElden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree. By now, hopefully, most of you have completed or are nearing completion of these preparations, with just a week remaining or final tasks to wrap up. It would be disappointing to eagerly await the DLC’s release only to realize your character hasn’t defeatedMoghorRadahn, preventing you from diving in right away. Ensure you complete these steps ahead of time so that whenShadow of the Erdtreelaunches, you’re ready to jump straight into the action.
If there are any tips I missed or aspects I overlooked, please share them in the comments. Feel free to ask any questions as well; I’ll do my best to answer them. We have moreElden Ringcontent planned leading up to the DLC’s release on the 21st, so stay tuned. I’m considering various ideas forShadow of the Erdtree DLC content, but if you have suggestions, please share them below. Your feedback is appreciated!
Castielle
Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.
So my build right now is a Faith/Str build that utilizes beastial incantations and the blasphemous blade. Based on what I’ve seen from your and FromSoftwares footage, it looks like Fire damage won’t be nearly as effective in the DLC… Can you confirm this?
For me I need to learn the base game haha!
