How to prep for Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

With Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC just around the corner, it’s highly important that you are well-prepared to tackle the challenges in Land of Shadow. So to help you out, here’s everything you need to do before the Elden Ring DLC drops.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdree is not only set in an entirely different timeline than the original game but also has a completely different catalog of enemies, bosses, weapons, and areas. With so many new challenges inbound, it’s important for your character to be adequately prepared.

To make sure that you are ready to head into the Land of Shadow, there are a few steps to take care of, so here’s everything you need to do before playing Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

How to prepare for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Here are 6 important things to help you prepare for Shadow of the Erdtree:

Defeat Mohg and Radahn

During an interview with Famitsu, Hidetaka Miyazaki confirmed that you’ll need to beat Mohg, Lord of Blood, and Starscourge Radahn to access Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. The Omen demi-god can be found within Mohgwyn Palace, while Radahn is a mandatory boss fight if you are progressing Ranni’s questline.

To start the expansion, the Tarnished will need to come in contact with the withered arm hanging out of the cocoon in Mohg’s boss arena, at the Cocoon of the Empyrean Site of Grace. With the DLC centered around Miquella the Kind, it makes sense that the starting point will be the cocoon of his captivity.

To encounter Radahn, make sure that you have started Ranni’s questline which involves finding the underground city of Nokron. Once you have found the coordinates alongside Blaidd, you will be asked to defeat him by heading into the Radahn festival in Redmane Castle.

Similarly, to encounter Mogh, you’ll have to progress through White Mask Varre’s questline (or take the portal in the Consecrated Snowfield). Keep in mind that Mogh is a rather difficult boss fight, so if you are on your first run, it’s advised to level up a bit before fighting him.

Upgrade at least to level 120

The recommended levels for Elden Ring’s late-game is between 120-150. Naturally, your Tarnished should fall somewhere in that range before starting Shadow of the Erdree. If you are on an NG+ run, your character should already be that level, but make sure that you continue leveling up as much as you can.

Shadow of the Erdtree will have a different leveling system compared to the base game, and the difficulty spike will also be quite noticeable as well, as confirmed by Miyazaki in Famitsu’s interview. So make sure that you are well prepared.

No matter the stat your build is based around, it’s ideal to have at least 60 Vigor. In case you’re looking to gain levels quickly, check out our Rune Farming guide.

Collect the best Talismans

Talismans in Elden Ring provide bonuses that supplement your build and help manage your weight among other things. Although the DLC will of course have new Talismans for you to collect, having the best of them at the beginning of your journey in Land of Shadow is quite essential.

The best Talismans are also quite versatile and gel seamlessly with your play style. Our picks for the most essential Talismans you need to have include Great-Jar’s Arsenal, Crimson Amber Medallion +2, Erdtree’s Favor +2, Golden Scarab, and the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman.

Make sure to unlock all four Talisman slots, which require you to defeat both Margit and Godfrey.

Scale up your weapons

It’s important to max out the upgrades for all the weapons that you use. By the time you’re ready to take on Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, you’ll likely have settled on a build and your preferred set of weapons.

Once the upgrades are done, try testing out the weapons in late-game areas. If you find yourself melting through foes, you should be in a solid spot for the DLC.

As for upgrade materials, make sure to gather all the Smithing and Somberstone Bell Bearings in the game. They’ll effectively give you an infinite source for base weapon upgrade materials. It’s also worth collecting all the Whetstone Knives in the game, giving you the option to change your weapon’s affinity and transform your build.

Top up your Flasks

It’s ideal to have as many Flasks as possible, and for that, you’ll need to gather Golden Seeds. To increase the potency of each Flask, you’ll need to stock up on Sacred Tears and upgrade them. Both items can be found throughout the Lands Between. The maximum charge for a flask is 14 and its potency can be upgraded to +12.

A single swig from your Flask in Elden Ring can be the difference between life and death. The consumable can immediately restore your confidence as you patiently stalk the boss that has bested you for hours and it can also give you a bit of leeway to run away from a chasing pack of enemies. So, make sure that you’re carrying the maximum amount of Flasks.

Try out different builds

It’s difficult to part with the build you’ve completed Elden Ring using. But it’s also worth trying out a new setup with different weapons to judge which one’s more effective. With Shadow of the Erdree still weeks away, this is as good a time as any to jump out of your comfort zone and try out different playstyles.

If you’re primarily a melee player who pools points in STR/DEX, perhaps it’s time to go the INT/FAI route and see if the various Incantations and Spells can outperform the Greatswords in your arsenal.

The easiest way to change your stats is by heading to Rennala at the Raya Lucaria Grand Library and re-specing your character using a Larval Tear.

Those were our recommendations to help you prepare for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. As mentioned earlier, focusing on builds and weapons is one of the most important aspects before heading on to the DLC, so make sure that you have covered those points.