Summary
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreehas finally been released, and as expected of a FromSoftware game, it doesn’t hold back when it comes to difficulty. At first glance, it’s much harder than the base game, but there’s a bit of nuance to this shift in difficulty. It has a different style from the base game, and the scaling is more similar toSekiroinstead. Buttrying to compare the difficulty of the DLC to the base game isn’t an easy task, considering that both the boss stats and scaling changed for the DLC.
Shadow of the Erdtreebrings the Tarnished to a new realm, the Land of Shadow, and that means that there are new buffs to help the Tarnished on their quest. Although a change in power boosts can make the game’s difficulty feel easier or harder, that’s not the only element that needs to be taken into consideration to compare the DLC to the base game. Other factors need to be addressed as well, such as boss fights in both areas and the items the Tarnished might come across during their journey.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Review - FromSoft’s Greatest Hits
Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is a victory lap for FromSoftware, bringing in elements from past games without losing what made it special.
Shadow Of The Erdtree Ramps Up The Difficulty
Even The Strongest Tarnished Struggle
Many of the Tarnished who undertake the new challenges brought by the Land of Shadow have already become Elden Lord. However,even these seasoned fighters find that the level of difficulty that comes withShadow of the Erdtreeis tough to prepare for, despite being able to have the best gear from the base game. As a result, the DLC appears to be much more difficult than the base game, at least at first glance. But the actual answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no, and that’s due to the new blessing system in the Land of Shadow.
Scadutree Blessings Are Key To Overcoming Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Difficulty
Use Scadutree Fragments To Boost Damage & Damage Negation
Although the difficulty spikes between the base game andShadow of the Erdtree, the DLC introduces a system that makes a massive difference in the Tarnished’s survival ability in the Realm of Shadow: the Scadutree Blessing.The Scadutree Blessing is empowered by Scadutree Fragments, which are consumable items that the Tarnished comes across as they explore the Realm of Shadow. Once the Tarnished picks up one or more Scadutree Fragments, they can be consumed while resting at a Site of Grace. The Scadutree Blessing is a great boost to the Tarnished’s survivability in the Realm of Shadow, and it’s only active while inShadow of the Erdtree’s map.
There are a total of 50Scadutree Fragments inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Each fragment, when consumed, empowersthe Scadutree Blessing, which increases damage done and damage negated. This means that gathering those fragments is the key to getting through the tough enemies and seemingly devastating bosses found in the Realm of Shadow. Once the Tarnished begins to consume the Scadutree Fragments, the difference in difficulty between the DLC and the base game narrows, making it closer to the same level. So, the DLC might be harder at first, but it doesn’t mean that it stays that way.
Much like the base game’s Golden Seeds, subsequent levels of the Scadutree Blessing requires progressively more Scadutree Fragments.
What Is The Scadutree & Its Blessing?
The Mysteries Of The Land Of Shadow
Right now, there’s not a clear answer as to what the Scadutree is and why fragments of it are so powerful, or how this tree might – or might not – be related to the Erdtree and the Lands Between. Somespeculation suggests that the fragments could be similar to the Erdtree’s sap, which no longer drips from the Erdtree in the Lands Between. However, a Blessed Dew Talisman found in the base game provides information about it, stating that people believed the sap would drip forever, but it didn’t, and the tree became an object of faith rather than an abundant source of this valuable material.
Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Is Hiding A Point Of No Return
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree may surprise some unsuspecting players when they suddenly reach a point of no return without any prior warning.
Since the talisman restores health over time, it’s likely that the actual sap was more powerful.Perhaps its effects would’ve been on par with the Scadutree Fragments, but with the sap having long since vanished, there’s no way to tell if this speculation has merit. At the current moment, this idea is nothing more than an interesting observation.
The answer to whetherShadow of the Erdtreeis more difficult than the base game is both yes and no. Entering the Realm of Shadow for the first time is a brutal experience, but there are ways to help tone down the viciousness of those aggressive new enemies. The key to bringing down the difficulty lies in Scadutree Fragments inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree’s influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges.
