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When you first arrive in the Shadow Realm through the portal at Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum inElden Ring, you may be overwhelmed by the grand scale of the new region, to the point where it may feel like an entirely new game. With no clear path indicated, due to the openness of the land before you, using a strategic and practical progression route will make exploring the DLC more manageable.
As you venture your way through, you will come across many dungeons of varying difficulty inShadow of the Erdtree, home to all sorts of main bosses aside from the field bosses that roam the land. It is essential to progress in order of regional difficulty, keeping your Scadutree Blessings adequately upgraded so that you can perform optimally in combat while exploring.
10 Tips If You’re Finding Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Too Hard
To take on Elden Ring’s notoriously challenging DLC, there are many ways to prepare, skills to learn, and items to use that make it more manageable.
Gravesite Plain
Furnace Golem, Blackgaol Knight, Ghostflame Dragon
Upon entering the Shadow Land for the first time, players will arrive inMap: Gravesite Plain, a very large region of the DLC that may initially seem overwhelming. From here, you can takemany different routes to explore the rest of the realmand fight all kinds of enemies and bosses that lurk in the landscape.
While this is the lowest-level area of the DLC, it is still arguably more dangerous than the higher-level regions of the base game, so players shouldn’t underestimate the abilities of the opponents they can find here.
From here, you can head Northwest to Belurat, Tower Settlement, where you will face your firstFurnace Golem inElden Ring, along the way. Moreover, if you go west from Scorched Ruins Site of Grace, you will eventually come to theWestern Gravesite Mausoleum, where you can face the formidableBlackgaol Knight.
Lastly, while there are multiple, you will face theGhostflame Dragon Gravesite Plainboss near ‘Greatbridge, North’ Site of Grace on the way to the next recommended region, Belurat, Tower Settlement.
Belurat, Tower Settlement
Divine Beast Dancing Lion, Fire Knight Queelign
Belurat, Tower Settlementis a tough earlyLegacy DungeoninElden Ringdue to its complex maze-like structure and the varied debilitating enemies that patrol its grounds. Before exploring here, it isrecommended to be at level 2-3for your Scadutree Blessing.
Located in the northwest region of Gravesite Plain, it is infested with Spider-Scorpions, Shadow Undead, and Horned Warriors that are difficult to take down. Moreover, you may evenexplore the depths of its underground sewer systemto find a poison swamp with a terrifying high-level enemy waiting to ambush you.
On the way to the final boss, players will even face an invitation from Fire Knight Queelign, who is considerably difficult to take down but must be done forHornsentGrandam’s side quest.
After clearing your way through, you will eventually face the deadlyDivine Beast Dancing Lion inElden Ring, a huge multi-phase boss and likely thefirst main boss you face in the DLC. This encounter is not an easy fight, so make sure you adequately prepare to continue your journey past Belurat.
Ellac River
Ulcerated Tree Spirit, Furnace Golem
Although there are other routes in sight that you may take, Ellac River is a great area to explore after the first dungeon, as itlies beneath Gravesite Plain. It can only be accessed by heading east of the ‘Castle Front’ Site of Grace and following the path of the lowest elevation.
Moreover, it is recommended to go here for those who want to find and use aPerfume Bottle, specifically theLightning Perfume Bottle build inElden Ring, one of the most powerful weapons in the game, especially for Faith players.
Upon reaching theriver beside Castle Ensis, head through the cave, past the giant Miranda Flower, to find yourself in Ellac River. This area is a great place to explore as it is not the most difficult region in the DLC in terms of enemies or even bosses.
You can always challenge theUlcerated Tree Spirit inElden Ringlurking here, but this field boss shouldn’t be too much of a problem, especially as these can be encountered in the base game.
The main reason for traversing this area after Belurat, Tower Settlement, is that itacts as a gateway to the next best region to explore, the Cerulean Coast, found in the south. Be mindful of the Furnace Golem that guards its entrance, and either use Torrent to bypass it or attack it usingHefty Furnace Potthrowable item.
Cerulean Coast
Dancer Of Ranah, Ghostflame Dragon
When you reach Cerulean Coast, ideally at level 3-4 Scadutree Blessing, you will find that it isonly mildly more difficult than the Gravesite Plain region, with a few bosses to note. There are also many other regions you can get to from here, which is ideal for your progression route.
For example, on the southern peninsula, you can access the Stone Coffin Fissure or the Finger Ruins of Rhia on the beach. However, these regions should be returned later for your optimal walkthrough of the DLC.
To gain a useful weapon, take up a fight against Dancer Of Ranah, who isfound on an island to the west, using the cave from the nearest shore. You will obtain theDancing Blade of Ranahby defeating her, which is great for melee fighters. Moreover, you will find anotherGhostflame Dragon inElden Ring, resting on a small island on the southeast side.
Castle Ensis
Rellana Twin Moon Knight, Moonrithyll Carian Knight
Although you can exploreCastle Ensis inElden Ringearlier if you wish, it is a slightly tougher Legacy Dungeon than Belurat, Tower Settlement, and soplayers should upgrade their Scadutree Blessing to Level 4-5. Fortunately, navigating your way around the castle to the final boss is much easier than Belurat, as it is a fairly straightforward path.
Players should still ensure to thoroughly explore every crevis of the castle, even across the rooftops, to find valuable loot and items. By doing so, you can also fight the Moonrithyll Carian Knight, who drops 3,000 Runes along with theMoonrithyll’s Knight Sword.
The final hurdle in the Dungeon, is the Remembrance boss,Rellana, Twin Moon Knight inElden Ring. For an early boss, and likely only the second main one, she is extremely tough and is extremely deliberate with her moves. you’re able to always summonNeedle Knight Ledafor assistance if you find this fight too challenging. Upon her defeat, you will be able to enter the next region of the DLC,Map: Scadu Altus.
Ralva The Great Red Bear, Furnace Golem
Scau Altus inElden Ringis the next main region ofShadow of the Erdtreeafter Gravesite Plain, presenting itself as a wide-open space full of new structures and plenty of other enemies and bosses. It’s best to enter this region with your Scadutree Blessing at 5-6 to be able to survive the new threats here.
Scadu Altus is split into two sections by the Recluses' River, another region part of the progression route to explore. Players can venture to the eastern half by dropping into a hole in Moorth Ruins and going through Bonny Village.
Make sure to pick up the ‘O Mother’Gesture inElden Ring, found north of the village, as it is required to discover another area later.
There are a few field bosses that roam these lands, including the fierceRalva the Great Red Bear, and another Furnace Golem. Other than that, Scadu Altus is also home to some interesting quests, such as that ofCount Ymir, Mother of Fingers,encountered at the Cathedral of Manus Metyr. More structures worth visiting include the Church of the Crusade, the Ruined Forge of Starfall Past, and the Fort of Reprimand.
Finger Ruins Of Rhia
No Notable Bosses
The Finger Ruins of Rhia is a sight to behold and can only be accessed after visiting Count Ymir at the Cathedral in Scadu Altus. It is also the only region with noElden RingDLC bosses, making it largely empty and void of life. However, manyFingercreepers and Lamprey enemies are present, so it’s still integral to keep your eyes peeled.
This region is accessible via the sandy shore in the Cerulean Coast region and isworth visiting to acquire a few items. Here, you can get your hands on theCrimson Seed Talisman +1, by sounding the Hanging Bell in the middle of the ruins.
Moreover, theFinger-Weaver’s Cookbook [1]can be picked up from Finger-Weaver’s Hovel underneath the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion.
Foot Of The Jagged Peak
Jagged Peak Drake
The Foot of the Jagged Peak is important to visit, as ithouses the Grand Altar Of Dragon Communion. In this location, players can meet the Dragon Communion Priestess, who can provide information about the Dread Dragon, Bayle, who you can fight later in your DLC progression.
This area is a gateway region, only accessible by completing the Dragon’s Pit dungeon in Gravesite Plain, which will bring you to the East side of the Jagged Peak. Near the entrance, you will find yourself against theJagged Peak Drake inElden Ring, a formidable dragon that you should face at Level 5-6 Scadutree Blessing.
Charo’s Hidden Grave
Death Rite Bird, Hippopotamus, Furnace Golem
From the Foot of the Jagged Peak, you canclimb over a dragon corpse from the other side of Dragon’s Pit dungeonto reach Charo’s Hidden Cave, the natural area to explore next. It is a fairly hidden region in the DLC, with many dangerous field bosses that prove challenging.
If you explore at night, you can see theDeath Rite Bird inElden Ring. Otherwise, you will come across the Hippopotamus and Furnace Golems as you ride around the area with Torrent. By crossing over to thenorth side, across the ravine, you can also traverse through Lamenter’s Gaol, a dungeon that many players may miss on their adventures.
Jagged Peak
Ancient Dragon Senessax
The remainder of Jagged Peak is not too tough of an area to explore, except for theformidable dragon fightplayers must face against theAncient Dragon Senessaxnear the summit. Other than this boss, the two other field-boss dragons found here are easier to face in comparison.
This area of Jagged Peak is still worth it for some useful items to acquire, such as Rock Heart, x2Dragon Heart, andIgon’s Greatbow, perfect for anarcher class inElden Ring.
