Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Complete Walkthrough

The world of Elden Ring has grown even larger, darker, and more challenging with the arrival of Shadow of the Erdtree, FromSoftware’s highly anticipated DLC expansion. Packed with sprawling new regions, fearsome bosses, hidden secrets, powerful weapons, and deep lore revelations, this expansion offers an unforgettable adventure for both seasoned Tarnished and newcomers seeking their next great challenge.

Whether you’re stepping into the mysterious Realm of Shadow for the first time or aiming to uncover every secret the DLC has to offer, this complete walkthrough will guide you through every major area, questline, dungeon, boss encounter, and collectible. From essential preparation tips and recommended progression routes to strategies for defeating the expansion’s toughest enemies, you’ll find everything you need to conquer the dangers that await beyond the Erdtree.

Prepare your strongest build, summon your courage, and venture into one of the most ambitious expansions ever created. This Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Complete Walkthrough will help you navigate every step of the journey and ensure that no treasure, quest, or legendary battle is left undiscovered.

What Is Shadow of the Erdtree DLC About

Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only major expansion for Elden Ring, developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco. It sends players into the Land of Shadow, a hidden realm that exists beneath the Erdtree itself, tied to the story of Miquella the Empyrean and the god he sought to create.

The narrative centers on Miquella’s attempt to forge a new order by shedding his own divinity and luring followers into his shadow realm. Players follow his trail through five interconnected regions, uncovering the history of Marika, the Crucible, and the ancient wars that shaped the Lands Between. The story expands significantly on lore that the base game only hinted at, particularly around Messmer the Impaler and the fate of the Shadowfolk.

The expansion adds:

• Five new major regions with full open-world exploration
• Over 10 new legacy dungeons and catacombs
• Eight new weapon categories, including the hand-to-hand combat arts
• More than 100 new weapons, spells, and ashes of war
• A new power-scaling system using Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes

Where Do I Start Shadow of the Erdtree

To start Shadow of the Erdtree, players must interact with Miquella’s withered arm in Mohgwyn Palace after defeating Mohg, Lord of Blood. This teleports the character directly into the DLC’s opening area, the Gravesite Plain.

Prerequisites checklist:

• Defeat Starscourge Radahn at Redmane Castle (required to unlock Mohgwyn Palace via questline or secret path)
• Defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood in Mohgwyn Palace
• Interact with the golden arm emerging from Mohg’s cocoon at the center of the boss arena

If you haven’t reached Mohgwyn Palace yet, the fastest route is through Varre’s questline, which opens a direct portal early in the game. Alternatively, the Haligtree secret path becomes available later.

Common mistake: Many players try to enter the DLC at level 100 to 120. While technically possible, the scaling gap makes early areas punishing. Aim for 150+ before crossing over.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Recommended Level and Preparation

The recommended level for Shadow of the Erdtree is 150 to 180, with weapon upgrades at +20 somber or +24 standard. Below level 130, most players will find even standard enemies deal disproportionate damage.

Beyond character level, Scadutree Fragments are the real scaling mechanic inside the DLC. These collectible items permanently increase your attack power and damage negation within the Land of Shadow. The system has 20 blessing levels, and reaching level 10 to 12 before fighting Messmer makes a significant difference.

Preparation checklist before entering:

• Stock 10 or more Larval Tears if you plan to respec for a DLC-specific build
• Bring a ranged option (bow, incantation, or sorcery) for flying enemies
• Equip a shield or high-poise armor set for the first region
• Unlock the Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche as your spirit ash, both remain strong in the DLC

For build advice tailored to both PvE and endgame content, see this Best Elden Ring Builds 2026 guide.

Can I Do Shadow of the Erdtree Before Finishing the Base Game

No. Shadow of the Erdtree cannot be started before defeating both Mohg, Lord of Blood and Starscourge Radahn. These are hard gates, not soft recommendations.

Mohg is a late-game boss located in a hidden area of the Consecrated Snowfield. Radahn is a mid-to-late game boss in Caelid. Both must be defeated on the same playthrough, and neither can be bypassed through co-op or other workarounds.

Edge case: If you are playing in New Game Plus, you can access the DLC earlier in the cycle since Mohg and Radahn respawn and can be defeated again. However, the DLC’s difficulty scales with NG+ modifiers, so this doesn’t make it easier.

Shadow of the Erdtree Boss Order Walkthrough

The Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC complete walkthrough follows a loose but recommended boss progression. Unlike the base game, the DLC has a clearer critical path because certain bosses gate access to later regions.

Recommended main boss order:

Order	Boss	Location	Notes
1	Divine Beast Dancing Lion	Belurat, Tower Settlement	First legacy dungeon boss
2	Rellana, Twin Moon Knight	Castle Ensis	Unlocks Scadu Altus
3	Messmer the Impaler	Shadow Keep	Central story boss
4	Romina, Saint of the Bud	Ancient Ruins of Rauh	Opens path to Enir-Ilim
5	Metyr, Mother of Fingers	Cathedral of Manus Metyr	Optional but story-relevant
6	Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame	Midra’s Manse	Optional, excellent loot
7	Bayle the Dread	Dragon’s Pit	Optional, hardest dragon fight
8	Promised Consort Radahn	Enir-Ilim	Final boss, required

Optional bosses like Bayle the Dread and Midra are not required for completion but drop some of the best weapons and remembrances in the expansion.

How to Beat Messmer the Impaler in Shadow of the Erdtree

Messmer the Impaler is the central story boss of Shadow of the Erdtree and one of the most technically demanding fights in the expansion. He fights in two phases: a fast, spear-based phase one, and a serpent-fire phase two that adds large area-of-effect attacks.

Phase 1 strategy:

• Stay close and slightly to his left (your right) to avoid most spear combos
• Punish after his three-hit thrust combo, which has a clear recovery window
• Bleed and frost both proc well in this phase due to his high HP pool
• Avoid using fire-based attacks or incantations; he absorbs fire damage

Phase 2 strategy:

• The serpent emergence attack is telegraphed by a long wind-up; roll toward him, not away
• His flame pillars track slowly, so lateral movement avoids them cleanly
• Spirit ashes are most useful here to split aggro during the longer combos
• Keep Boiled Prawn or Pickled Turtle Neck consumables ready for poise support

Common mistake: Players who dodge backward during Messmer’s spear combos consistently get caught by follow-up thrusts. Forward-rolling through his attacks is significantly safer.

Best Build for Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

The best builds for Shadow of the Erdtree in 2026 favor high-poise weapons, bleed stacking, or strength-faith hybrids that can leverage the new Erdtree-adjacent incantations. Pure sorcery builds remain viable but require more Scadutree Fragment investment to compensate for the DLC’s aggressive enemy design.

Top three performing builds:

1. Bleed Arcane (Rivers of Blood or Backhand Blade): Arcane at 60, paired with the new Backhand Blade weapon art. Bleed procs fast on most DLC bosses and the Arcane scaling on new weapons is strong.
2. Strength/Faith (Greatsword + Erdtree Incantations): High poise, strong sustain through healing incantations, and the new Dane’s Footwork ash of war adds mobility. Works well for players who prefer a slower, reactive style.
3. Dexterity/Bleed (Milady or Bloodfiend’s Arm): Fast attack speed, good critical hit damage, and the new Milady weapon has one of the highest DPS ceilings in the DLC when fully upgraded.

For a broader look at top-performing builds across multiple game modes, the Best Builds in Black Myth Wukong 2026 guide offers useful cross-reference points for action RPG build philosophy.

Shadow of the Erdtree All Secret Areas and Hidden Items

The Land of Shadow contains dozens of hidden areas that are easy to miss on a first playthrough. The most important secrets involve Scadutree Fragments, Revered Spirit Ashes, and the questlines for NPCs like Thiollier, Moore, and Leda.

Key hidden areas and what they contain:

• Bonny Village (Gravesite Plain): Contains a Scadutree Fragment cluster and the start of Moore’s questline
• Darklight Catacombs: Hidden underground dungeon beneath Scadu Altus, accessed through a crumbling floor in the eastern cliffs
• Finger Ruins of Rhia: Located in the far southeast of the map, contains the Fingerprint Grape and lore items for Metyr’s questline
• Shadow Keep Back Gate: A hidden entrance on the north side of Shadow Keep that bypasses most of the dungeon and leads directly to a Scadutree Fragment cache
• Midra’s Manse basement: Requires lighting all candles on the ground floor before a hidden door opens, leading to Midra’s remembrance weapon
• Ancient Ruins of Rauh rooftops: Accessible via a hidden ladder behind the first Site of Grace; contains two Revered Spirit Ashes and a new sorcery

Pro tip: The Scadutree Map fragment, found near the first Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plain, reveals all major Fragment locations on the map. Picking it up immediately saves significant backtracking.

How Long Does Shadow of the Erdtree Take to Complete

Shadow of the Erdtree takes most players 20 to 30 hours to complete the main story path, and 40 to 60 hours for full completion including all optional bosses, dungeons, and NPC questlines.

These estimates assume a level 150+ character with moderate familiarity with FromSoftware boss patterns. New players or those who skip Scadutree Fragments will add 5 to 10 hours due to additional attempts on major bosses.

Time breakdown by playstyle:

Playstyle	Estimated Hours
Main story only	20 to 30 hours
Main story + optional bosses	30 to 40 hours
Full completion (all quests, dungeons, items)	40 to 60 hours
Speed run (optimized route)	4 to 6 hours

Is Shadow of the Erdtree Harder Than the Base Game

Yes, Shadow of the Erdtree is harder than the base game for most players, particularly in its final two bosses. The expansion assumes players have completed the base game and scales enemy aggression, combo length, and damage accordingly.

The difficulty spike is most noticeable in three areas:

• Promised Consort Radahn (final boss) is broadly considered the hardest boss FromSoftware has released, with a two-phase fight that demands near-perfect dodge timing
• Bayle the Dread is the hardest optional boss, featuring faster attacks than the base game’s Placidusax
• Standard enemies in Enir-Ilim (the final area) hit harder than most base game bosses

The Scadutree Blessing system was designed to address this. Players who collect Fragments consistently find the difficulty comparable to late-game base content. Players who ignore Fragments will find it significantly harder.

If you enjoy challenging action games and want to compare difficulty curves across titles, the Gaming Industry Predictions: What Changes Before 2030 article covers how developer difficulty philosophy is shifting across the industry.

Shadow of the Erdtree Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake in Shadow of the Erdtree is ignoring Scadutree Fragments. Without them, the DLC’s damage scaling works against the player regardless of character level or equipment quality.

Other frequent mistakes:

• Rushing to Messmer without exploring Gravesite Plain: At least 8 to 10 Fragments are available before Shadow Keep, and skipping them makes Messmer significantly harder
• Using fire damage against Messmer: He absorbs it; switch to physical, bleed, or frost
• Missing Thiollier’s questline: It requires specific dialogue choices and leads to one of the DLC’s best endings and a unique weapon
• Not upgrading Spirit Ashes: The DLC’s bosses hit spirit ashes hard; bring a fully upgraded summon or they’ll die in phase one
• Ignoring the map fragment: The Scadutree Map is near the starting area and marks Fragment locations; most players walk past it

For players who also enjoy hidden secrets in other open-world games, the Red Dead Redemption 2 Hidden Secrets Full 2026 Guide covers a similar approach to thorough exploration.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Complete Walkthrough: Step-by-Step Region Guide

The full Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC complete walkthrough breaks into five main regions, each with a recommended completion order.

Region 1: Gravesite Plain

• Collect the Scadutree Map fragment at the first Site of Grace
• Clear Belurat, Tower Settlement and defeat the Divine Beast Dancing Lion
• Explore Bonny Village and start Moore’s questline
• Collect all accessible Fragments before moving north

Region 2: Scadu Altus

• Access via Castle Ensis after defeating Rellana
• Explore the Moorth Ruins and Highroad Cross for Fragments
• Enter Shadow Keep from the south gate

Region 3: Shadow Keep

• Two main paths: the main gate route and the back gate shortcut
• Defeat Messmer the Impaler to unlock the Scadus Altus upper plateau
• Collect the Iris of Grace from Messmer’s remembrance for questline use

Region 4: Ancient Ruins of Rauh and Abyssal Woods

• Defeat Romina, Saint of the Bud in the ruins
• The Abyssal Woods require turning off your lantern to avoid the Aging Untouchable enemies
• Midra’s Manse is located here; complete the candle puzzle for the full reward

Region 5: Enir-Ilim

• Final area, linear structure
• Defeat Promised Consort Radahn to complete the DLC
• The ending changes based on whether you completed Thiollier’s questline

For players looking to optimize their approach to other demanding games with similar depth, the Best BG3 Builds for Every Class in 2026 guide covers comparable strategic planning for RPG content.

Final Thoughts

The Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC complete walkthrough covers one of the most ambitious expansions in action RPG history, adding 40 to 60 hours of content across five distinct regions, eight required bosses, and a story that reframes much of the base game’s lore. Success in the Land of Shadow comes down to three priorities: collecting Scadutree Fragments consistently, matching your build to the DLC’s aggressive enemy design, and exploring thoroughly before pushing the main path.

Actionable next steps:

1. Confirm you meet the entry requirements (Mohg and Radahn defeated), then enter at level 150 or higher.
2. Pick up the Scadutree Map fragment immediately upon arrival and plan your Fragment route before advancing.
3. Choose a build that handles the DLC’s fast, high-damage bosses: bleed arcane, strength/faith, or dexterity/bleed are the strongest options in 2026.
4. Complete NPC questlines (especially Thiollier’s) before entering Enir-Ilim to access the alternate ending.
5. Use the boss order table in this guide to avoid overleveling optional content while underleveling required fights.

For players who want to refine their character before entering the DLC, the Best Elden Ring Builds 2026: PvP and PvE Guide is the recommended starting point. For those interested in what the broader gaming landscape looks like beyond Elden Ring, the Most Anticipated Games of June 2026 guide covers what’s coming next.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What level should I be for Shadow of the Erdtree?

Level 150 to 180 is the recommended range, with a +20 somber or +24 standard weapon. Below 130, the DLC becomes significantly more punishing even with Scadutree Fragments.

Do I need to finish the base game to play Shadow of the Erdtree?

No, but you must defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood and Starscourge Radahn. You do not need to reach the base game’s final boss.

How many Scadutree Fragments are there in total?

There are 50 Scadutree Fragments in the DLC, providing 20 levels of Scadutree Blessing. Reaching level 12 to 14 is sufficient for most players to clear all content.

Can I summon other players in Shadow of the Erdtree?

Yes. Co-op, PvP invasions, and NPC summons all function normally throughout the DLC, including all boss fights.

What is the best spirit ash for Shadow of the Erdtree?

Mimic Tear and Black Knife Tiche remain top choices. The new Dryleaf Dane spirit ash, found in the DLC, is also strong for its aggressive attack patterns.

How do I access the Abyssal Woods?

The Abyssal Woods are accessed through a hidden cave in the southwest of Scadu Altus, near the Shadow Keep back gate area. Turn off your lantern once inside to avoid alerting the Aging Untouchable enemies.

Is there a point of no return in Shadow of the Erdtree?

Yes. Entering Enir-Ilim locks you into the final stretch. Complete all NPC questlines, particularly Thiollier’s, before proceeding past Romina.