FromSoftware's Elden Ring took the gaming world by storm in early 2022, bringing an epic open-world action-RPG that seamlessly blended the developer's signature Souls-like challenging gameplay with a vast, detailed fantasy world for players to explore. More than a year later, fans of Elden Ring are finally getting their hands on the game's first major downloadable content expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.
Like previous Souls-like DLC offerings, Shadow of the Erdtree promises to deliver the additional punishing yet rewarding challenge that has become FromSoftware's signature. Based on early player reports, the DLC largely succeeds in that regard, offering up new brutal boss battles and dangerous environments for players to explore, you can get more Wonderful story, Elden Ring runes and Elden Ring Legendary items.
However, Shadow of the Erdtree's difficulty does seem a little unbalanced at times, calling to mind some of the pacing issues that plagued the base Elden Ring experience. While many of the new encounters are fairly challenging, requiring careful observation, precise timing, and a willingness to learn from repeated failure, other areas and enemy groups may be relatively straightforward for seasoned Souls veterans.
Bleeding Builds Still Dominate
One area where Shadow of the Erdtree feels a little too familiar is the continued dominance of bleeding character builds. Much like in Elden Ring's core campaign, players who invest heavily in arcane stats and bleeding weapons like the Hound's Fang will find themselves at a significant advantage over other playstyles.
The new DLC introduces a number of fearsome adversaries who are extremely vulnerable to bleeding damage, making a focused bleeding build one of the most effective ways to carve a path through the challenges of the expansion. While this playstyle is by no means a mandatory requirement for success, it does feel like the path of least resistance in many encounters.
Likewise, the trusty Mimic Tear soul summon remains a powerful ally in Shadow of the Erdtree, able to absorb damage and deal it in equal measure. Keeping a fully upgraded Mimic Tear in your back pocket can provide a valuable safety net for the DLC's toughest boss fights, allowing players to learn attack patterns and try different strategies.
Branching Paths and New Mysteries to Solve
That being said, the DLC does introduce some new twists and surprises that help differentiate it from the core Elden Ring experience. The new area players will explore is called the Eternal City and features a more labyrinthine, interconnected level design that encourages careful exploration and rewards careful players who are willing to take the time to uncover all the secrets.
In true Souls style, Shadow of the Erdtree's story is shrouded in mystery, and players are tasked with piecing together the backstories and motivations of the new characters through item descriptions, environmental storytelling, and subtle dialogue. This sense of exploration and the thrill of slowly unraveling the DLC's greater mysteries is a big draw for Souls fans.
Additionally, the DLC introduces several new combat encounters and boss fights that breathe new life into familiar Souls-like gameplay mechanics. One of the early highlights is a fight against a pair of lightning tree avatars, which forces players to position and time themselves carefully to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Overall, Shadow of the Erdtree looks to offer the kind of challenging, atmospheric Souls-like experience that Elden Ring fans have come to expect from FromSoftware. While it may not be as game-changing as the base game, the DLC still offers a wealth of new content for players to enjoy.
Long-time Souls-like fans will likely find a lot to enjoy here, especially those who enjoy the thrill of overcoming punishing boss battles and uncovering the secrets of mysterious new corners of the Lands Between. However, players hoping for a major shake-up of the Elden Ring formula may find the DLC's difficulty curve and build viability a little too familiar at times.
Nonetheless, Shadow of the Erdtree is a welcome return to the world of Elden Ring, bringing more of the engaging worldbuilding, atmospheric exploration, and unforgiving combat that made the base game so popular. For those eager to brave the challenges of the Lands Between once again, the DLC represents a solid, if not particularly revolutionary, expansion of the Elden Ring experience. Our dedicated team of Elden Ring experts crafts every item and service to the highest standards. With fast, discreet delivery and industry-leading customer support, you can trust MMOexp to deliver an Elden Ring experience of a lifetime.
MMOexp Elden Ring Team