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WhenElden Ringlaunched in early 2022, it quickly became one of the biggest games of that year and FromSoftware’s most successful title so far. Now, more than two years later, a brand-new expansion calledThe Shadow of the Erdtreehas breathed life back into the game as it introduces a fresh map to explore that is full of fascinating secrets and dangerous enemies.
The Shadow of the Erdtree provides you with an opportunity to revisit the world of Elden Ring and includes more than a handful of new weapons, talismans, and, of course, bosses to discover. Despite the scale and ambition of the expansion, it might not be for everyone. If you’re on the fence about picking up the Shadow of the Erdtree, this guide will help you figure out whether it’s worth it or if you should avoid it like Scarlet Rot.
Review
Elden Ring set an incredibly high bar for whatever came after it, and fortunately, Shadow of the Erdtree meets those expectations and even surpasses some of the original content and ideas from the base game. James Troughton, an executive editor for TheGamer, covered the expansion and gave it a 5/5 in their “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Review - Ties the Knot on a Decade of Soulslikes” review.
Praising the level design, art direction, and mesmerizing narrative, Troughton describes Shadow of the Erdtree asa reflection of FromSoftware’s long journey to this point and refers to the expansion as the developers' magnum opus. “As we climb its mountains, slay its dragons, and conquer its castle keep, this long-awaited expansion reveals itself as a celebration of FromSoftware’s own decade-long journey of rare failures and frequent triumphs.”
One of the most interesting aspects of Shadow of the Erdtree is itsunique leveling system, which is necessary to invest in if you want to stand a chance against most of the bosses. It doesn’t matter how strong or invincible you thought you were at the end of the base game, you’ll need to explore the Land of Shadow and find Scadutree fragments to strengthen how much damage you deal to a foe and reduce the amount of damage you receive from them.
Despite going in at level 160 and firmly in the endgame, I still felt a sense of growth, something that often stagnates by the time you beat a soulslike, let alone begin its expansions. I could feel my character getting stronger as I uncovered the map, taking less damage and hitting much, much harder.
Elden Ring is occasionally confusing, especially if you’re trying to piece together the story or figure out where to go next for a side quest. Shadow of the Erdtree remedies this withclearer storytelling and a better sense of telling you what to do. “Shadow of the Erdtree is the most intuitive FromSoftware experience yet. The main story is surprisingly simple to follow, as each site of grace clearly points you to the next along a straightforward path while barriers directly tell you what items you need to progress, until eventually you come face-to-face with the finale. Istumbledinto the ending because it was that easy to find.”
As with most FromSoftware titles, one of the best elements of the game is the community that works together to share secrets and unravel the narrative. Whether it’s sharing truthful notes about a hidden weapon or tricking someone into jumping onto something that immediately collapses under their weight, working with or against strangers in this harsh world is just as essential as difficult bosses or bonfires.
Ultimately, Troughton considersShadow of the Erdtree to be a masterpiece, and despite being a shorter experience than Elden Ring, they believe that the expansion is an improvement in almost every way imaginable. “The map might be smaller, but it’s denser and far more detailed, using verticality to loop areas back in on themselves and fill each region to the brim with interesting discoveries…it’s incredibly rewarding because, instead of stumbling on variations of the same caves and catacombs, you’re unraveling more of the world and seeing completely new sides of places you thought you’d mastered.”
Time Expenditure
There are plenty of variables that could interfere with how much time you put into the Shadow of the Erdtree, such as how many times you die and how much you want to explore every nook and cranny. If you are focused enough to only completethe main story without dabbling in anything else,it should take you approximately 22 hours.
If you decide to knock out the main story and all the side quests,you should expect to spend roughly 36 hours in the Land of Shadow.If you’re a completionist who wants to collect every item and discover everything there is to see, expect to spend somewherebetween 45–50 hours with the expansion before you roll credits.
Cost
The Shadow of the Erdtree is available to purchase either physically or digitally based on your preferences. You can buy it individually and as a bundle with the base game for the PlayStation, Xbox, or PC.
On its own, Shadow of the Erdtree willcost you $39.99 USD. There is also a premium version of the expansion thatincludes a digital artbook and the OST for $49.99 USD.
If you don’t own Elden Ring yet, it might be best to purchase the Shadow of the Erdtree edition, whichgives you both the base game and the expansion for $79.99 USD. There is a deluxe edition of this bundle thatincludes the digital artbooks and OSTs for both titles for $99.99 USD.
Finally, if you want a physical edition of Shadow of the Erdtree, there is a collector’s edition that includesa voucher for the expansion, a Messmer the Impaler figure, a 40-page artbook, and the digital soundtrack for $249.99 USD.
What Players Are Saying
I’m going to push against the grain here and say that Shadow of the Erdtree is more of the same, both good and bad. Exploration continues to be Elden Ring’s strongsuit here. The Land of Shadow is an absolute masterclass in environmental design, both in style and structure. The use of verticality and vistas to guide players through the open world is nothing short of incredible. This is some of FromSoftware’s best work and takes me right back to Elden Ring’s launch.
Unfortunately, the same issues that ailed the base game are still present here. NPC quests are still vague and downright nonsensical. The camera continues to struggle against larger bosses. PC technical performance is still subpar. Worst of all, FromSoft’s boss design continues to push the boundaries on what’s fair.
Outside of some truly incredible fights (shoutout to Bayle and Messmer), this DLC’s pantheon of bosses range from mediocre to straight up unfair. The final boss in particular is so difficult that many are resorting to cheese builds to stand a chance. FromSoftware is seemingly now balancing their bosses around the PvE meta, a strange decision that I hope doesn’t set a new precedent for future titles. Plan your character accordingly before jumping in. (edited)
Prepare For Pain - Matt Mckeown
Fromsoftware haven’t held back with Shadow Of The Erdtree and it shows. Despite a few bugbears with bosses, the DLC is an enjoyable pseudo-sequel with all the hallmarks, fights, weird weapons, and memes from the main game that made it great.
Highly recommended for Elden Lords looking for a hard-as-nails mini-campaign. But for the love of Miquella The Kind, make sure you go in with the right build.
