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It's finally here! And on day 5 after launch, I can say with complete certainty that The shadow of the Erdtree is significantly larger than anyone expected. It also has more content, and the map is much more vertical than The Lands Between.
I've had about 7 hours so far, not much by any standards. But...I have seen a lot, died a lot and learned a lot.
So if you're just starting out, I wanted to share some of my findings. To help you avoid my mistakes.
Get Scadutree Shards and Revered Spirit Ashes without fighting bosses.
Leveling up in the Realm of Shadows isn't the same as in The Between Lands, and all your efforts to reach those high levels, level up those weapons and spiritual ashes, are somewhat redundant.
It's actually a genius move on FromSoftware's part, because the playing field is level in Shadow of the Erdtree. Aside from experience and a setup you're comfortable with, there's not much else you can do to get a head start.
The enemies in Realm of Shadow are much tougher than in the base game. To improve your power, focus on collecting Scadutree Shards and Revered Spirit Ashes. These items significantly increase your damage output and reduce the damage you take, making the DLC much more manageable. Consuming these items at a bonfire grants you a permanent buff.
Scadutree Shard Locations
You can collect 10 Scadutree Shards without facing any bosses. Here's where to find them:
- 2x in the Church of Consolation
- 1x next to the Cross of Grace of the Three Paths
- 1x through the main door Cruz Sitio de Gracia
- 1x He is dropped by a shiny Pot Shadow in a graveyard west of Prospect Town.
- 2x in Ensis Castle before any boss
- 1x at Scaduview Cross Site of Grace
- 1x at the Pillar Path Cross grace site
- 1x in Belurat, Tower Settlement before any boss
Locations of venerated spiritual ashes
Here is where to find the ashes of the revered spirit:
- 1x on a cliff east of Scorched Ruins, just west in front of the Church of Consolation
- 1x in the pond northeast of Prospect Town
- 1x Looted from the altar in Abandoned Ailing Village.
- 2x Looted from Spider Scorpions shortly after entering the Belurat Tower Settlement.
- 2x Inside the Belurat Tower settlement
Early Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Weapon Locations
Do you want to try new weapons from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC? Here are a few you can find early on:
- Backhand Blade (new weapon type): 30 seconds from the first grace, next to a coffin
- Smithscript Dagger (new weapon type): Ruined lava forge shot
- Great Katana (new type of weapon): 1 minute ride from the first grace at the lake next to the dragon (yes, another damn dragon!)
- Milady (new type of weapon): Inside Ensis Castle in a tower chest.
- swift spear: On the road east of Ensis Castle.
- Firespark perfume bottle (new weapon type): In the camps in front of Ensis Castle, in a chest.
- bone bow: In Belurat, tower settlement
Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Initial Progression Tips
NPC quests can be easy to overlook, but they offer a lot of interesting content, story, and equipment. Make sure that:
- Talk in detail to every NPC you meet.
- Read the notes they give you.
- Revisit their locations after entering a castle, talking to another NPC, or defeating a boss.
NPCs often gather around Miquella's crosses and graces, but can move within the locations as their quests progress. Most NPC quests are interconnected, so to experience as much content as possible, she spends time talking to each NPC whenever possible.
Explore The Shadow of the Erdtree
Sure, the lists above eliminate some of the need to explore. But that's a basic list to get you started. There is much to see and much to die for!
Hop on Torrent and take a ride. Try to take on the important things you see, see if they add up.
The shadow of the Erdtree After all, it is an expansion for Elden Ring. And we know that in these games, dying is a critical factor in learning and improving.
Have fun, misty.
If you want to purchase the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC for yourself, go to CDKeys. We may earn commissions through any purchases made through this link. And if you need help with other games, check out more our useful guides.
