Summary
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeadds a new Crystal Tear that lets you deflect attacks like inSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. You’re clearly intended to use it against some of the faster-paced bosses throughout the expansion like Consort Radahn and Messmer, andit can even be used to block Malenia’s infamous Waterfowl Dance, but fans aren’t too happy with how it’s implemented.
Since it’s a Crystal Tear, you have to drink your Flask of Wondrous Physick to activate the effect, and it lasts five minutes. It’s enough for a boss fight, but it does mean sacrificing one of your other Physick properties for what many feel belongs to a talisman anyway.
Talismans are Elden Ring’s version ofDark Soulsrings, increasing damage, spell slots, critical hits, item discovery, etc., or offering conditional bonuses for things like lower equipment load and health. you’re able to use up to four by the end of the game, and they’re permanent improvements so long as you have them equipped.
The Deflecting Hardtear on the other hand is temporary since it’s a Crystal Tear, which can make it a bit difficult to practice with. You have to use the Flask of Wondrous Physick any time you want to give the new mechanic a whirl, which means that you need to rest at a Site of Grace once your five minutes are up to try it again.
Fans Agree That Deflecting Hardtear Should Have A Trade-Off
It’s already incredibly overpowered as a Crystal Tear against bosses, trivialising Malenia’s toughest attack and making Consort Radahn, who many considerone of FromSoftware’s hardest bosses, significantly easier. Especially if you’ve played through and mastered Sekiro already.
So, making it a talisman would be akin to making the entire game permanently easier. Fans suggest that it would need a trade-off like many talismans have, usually in the form of reduced damage negation. Right now, the trade-off is that it only lasts five minutes, so having it as a permanent effect would mean upping the risk if you were to fail a deflection. Increased damage taken certainly fits that criteria.
Myriad posts have cropped up since the DLC launched asking for this to be made a talisman, with many agreeing that it retroactively improves Elden Ring’s combat. That likely won’t happen now, but perhaps we’ll Sekiro-like deflections in whatever FromSoftware has cooking up next as more than just a five-minute boon.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
