Is Shadow of the Erdtree TOO HARD? How to Manage Elden Ring Difficulty
Jun. 30, 2024Is Shadow of the Erdtree TOO HARD? How to Manage Elden Ring Difficulty
In thisShadow of the ErdtreeGuide, we’re going to discuss the game’s difficulty—a hot topic right now. WithCalibration Patch 1.12.2just released, the game has become slightly easier, especially for new players. While the changes aren’t drastic, they do make a noticeable difference. In this guide, I’ll cover these updates, explore additional ways to ease your gameplay experience and share my thoughts on the overall difficulty ofShadow of the Erdtree.
The curve for damage increase and damage reduction withScadutree Fragmentsis now stronger at the beginning. Before, it was linear, with incremental increases of 5% per level. Now, using just twoScadutree Fragmentsincreases your damage dealt by 10%, a substantial jump from the previous 5%. At level 3 ofScadutree Fragments, you now deal 125% damage, whereas before, you would need to be at level 5 to reach that. At level 7, you now deal 150% damage, compared to the previous 135%.
This calibration seems to be based on data showing that players struggled significantly at the beginning of the DLC. From my pre-release experience, I can attest that the game is quite challenging when you first start. Enemies hit incredibly hard,bossesare tougher, and the learning curve is steep. Once you adapt and tweak yourbuild, it becomes manageable. However, it’s easy to see why players, even those who felt prepared, might struggle initially inShadow of the Erdtree.
Overall, I think this change was a smart move. While it may not solve all the balancing issues in the DLC, it is definitely a step in the right direction. It’s unusual forFromSoftwareto adjust based on player feedback; they typically rely on data they gather for their balancing patches rather than directly listening to the masses. This departure from the norm is interesting to see.
TheScadutree Fragmentsystem used to balance theShadow of the Erdtreearea works but isn’t perfect. As mentioned in ourreview, character progression in this DLC feels heavily tied to gatheringScadutree Fragmentsrather than finding new gear,Ashes of War,weapons, ortalismans. These elements are crucial to your build, but without collectingScadutree Fragments, even the best weapons and spells can feel ineffective against certain bosses. This shifts the focus of progression.
The intention was likely to ensure that all equipment gathered in the DLC remains viable outside of it without making the base game too easy with overpowered gear.FromSoftware’sdesign philosophy aims to make every weapon viable, as seen inour weapon series. They avoid the typical RPG progression from weaker to stronger weapons (e.g., Iron Sword to Silver Sword to Gold Sword) because doing so would imbalance the base game.
This system works to some extent, though it may not be the ideal solution. Balancing powerful DLC items for use in the base game without overpowering it is a tough challenge. Creating a perfect system is nearly impossible—either you end up with items that dominate the base game or a progression system in the DLC that feels suboptimal. Nonetheless, the current system is a compromise that allows DLC items to be used in the base game while maintaining some level of challenge.
Every boss in the DLC is quite challenging. While the reused ones are less difficult, there are still numerous tough encounters. For new players, this can be overwhelming. However, there are a few strategies beyond picking upScadutree Fragmentsthat can help. By the way, we have the locations of allScadutree Fragmentson thewiki, and many are relatively easy to gather. If you’re struggling in an area, consider riding around to collect these fragments to make your journey smoother.
Another key strategy is leveling up. Many players, including myself, have builds around level 150, as this has been the meta inElden Ringfor a while. However, I believe the meta in the DLC will likely increase to around 175 or 200. If you haven’t been leveling up, start doing so. Ensure yourvigoris at least 55 or 60, asvigorbenefits drop off significantly past 60, so there’s no need to go higher.
Continue to level your damage-dealing stats and look for weapons with good multi-stat scaling.Elden Ringfeatures many weapons that never reach their full potential in one playthrough but excel inNew Game Plus, where you can gain more stats. The DLC effectively acts as aNew Game Plus, allowing you to fight tougher enemies and gain more levels. Look out for weapons that scale well with multiple stats to maximize your damage.
By collectingScadutree Fragments, leveling up appropriately, and choosing the right weapons, you can better manage the challenges presented in the DLC. This preparation can make a significant difference in your overall experience.
Conversely, you might want to avoid weapons with onlysingle-stat scalingor those with poorsecondary stat scaling, like an E rating. As you reach higher levels, it’s crucial to keep increasing your damage to keep up with the DLC’s challenges. For example, if you have a weapon that only scales withdexterityand you max outdexterityat 80, gaining only 10 more attack rating up to 99 isn’t efficient. This setup won’t optimize your build for higher levels like 200.
Instead, look forweaponsthat scale with multiple stats, such asdexterityandstrength. Even if strength has a lower scaling thandexterity, increasing yourstrengthto 50 after maxing out dexterity at 80 will still yield more damage. There are many weapons with excellent multi-stat scaling, so if you’re struggling, consider switching to one of these options. If you’re not having trouble, then sticking with your current weapon is fine. But for those finding it tough, changing to a weapon with better stat scaling can make a significant difference.
Lastly, I believetalismansare crucial for increasing your strength in the DLC. There are many new talismans that boost damage, and they can be stacked with others like theShard of AlexanderorRotten Winged Sword Insignia. For example, the newSmithing Talismanenhances thrown weapon attacks, and these can be further boosted by theAxe Talismanif the weapons use charged attacks. This double-stacking can significantly increase your damage output. Similarly,Rellana’s Cameoincreases damage if you hold a stance for a second or two, and stacking it with Shard of Alexander can enhance your damage even more. Leveraging these talismans effectively is a great way to maximize your damage.
Before wrapping up, I want to share my thoughts on the DLC’s difficulty. During pre-release testing, I managed to complete the DLC with minimal changes to my build. I only swapped a talisman and changed myAsh of WarfromLion’s ClawtoSavage Lion’s Claw. I didn’t level up and relied on myMimic Tearsummon to get through most bosses. Despite being pressed for time, I found that having a decent build made the bosses manageable.
FromSoftwaregames often hinge on player knowledge. Thewikisare popular because they compile essential information that players might not discover on their own, even after thousands of hours of gameplay. I have nearly 2,500 hours inElden Ringand still learn new things daily, often from community contributions to the wiki. This collective knowledge can significantly reduce the game’s difficulty. For example, knowing that a specific boss is weak to bleed can make that encounter much easier if your build exploits that weakness. Similarly, discovering a consumable item that works exceptionally well against a boss can turn a previously unbeatable challenge into a straightforward fight.
There are numerous elements inElden RingandFromSoftwaregames that can make initial impressions of difficulty misleading. As more information becomes available over the next month or two, players will likely find ways to “cheese” many of the bosses, just like in the base game. Overall, I’m pleased with the changesFromSoftwarehas implemented. It’s too early to definitively state whetherElden Ringis too difficult. As a Souls veteran, I find the difficulty just about right. Other experienced players might feel it’s borderline too hard, but still within acceptable limits. If you can beatSekiro, this shouldn’t feel harder, especially sinceSekirolacked the option for co-op assistance. InElden Ring, you can have other players with well-developed builds help you with tough bosses. In Sekiro, victory required mastering the mechanics without any external help.
Another important aspect to consider is the summoning system. Players can place their summon sign down, get summoned to help others with a boss, and use these opportunities to learn boss mechanics without risking their own character. This is a valuable learning tool that shouldn’t be overlooked.
So that wraps up our guide onCalibration Patch 1.12.2. I hope you all are enjoying the DLC. I want to hear your thoughts on this patch. How do you find the difficulty of theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC? Is it too hard, just right, or too easy? Share your opinions in the comments below!
Castielle
Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.
