How to Prepare for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC - Elden Ring Guide - IGN (2024)

The Shadow of the Erdtree is the one and only DLC expansion planned for Elden Ring, and will take you to a brand new area, complete with new weapons, bosses, and much more. While the trailer indicates that all you need to do to access the new DLC is to defeat Mogh, Lord of Blood, there's much more you can do prepare yourself. Below you'll find a guide to get you geared and ready to take on Elden Ring's greatest challenge.

• Jump to A Section
• New Game vs New Game Plus
• Level Recommendation
• Main Boss Requirements
  • Radahn
  • Mogh
• Preparing Your Character
  • Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears
  • Talismans
  • Spirit Ashes
  • Consumables
• Preparing for New Gear
  • Smithing Stones
  • Glovewort
  • Larval Tears
  • Rune Farming

New Game vs. New Game Plus

The first thing you'll need to decide when preparing is whether you want to approach the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on a fresh character, or one that has completed the game and started New Game+ one or more times.

Ultimately, the choice is up to you on what you'd prefer, and how much extra work you want to put into preparing your character, but here's a few pros and cons to keep in mind:

• By starting a fresh New Game character for the DLC, you can develop a fun new playstyle that you can grow into while you clear the necessary parts of the game to get ready for the DLC. This can even be seen as a challenge as you focus on gathering the essentials during your playthrough, rather than having access to a character with every single item possible.

• A fresh character can have the advantage of being able to stockpile a large amount of items of limited quantity - including remembrances, dragon smithing stones, and glovewort that might have been used already in a New Game+ run.

• A New Game+ character is usually better equipped to immediately jump into the DLC since you'll likely have almost every item you need on hand, and can easily travel around the map to claim anything you're missing. However, each time you start New Game+, enemies will become that much more difficult, which can also effect how strong the DLC area enemies are your first time through.

• New Game+ characters are more likely to be high enough level that you can use a Larval Tear to rebirth and respec into practically any build you can think of. This allows you to quickly adapt to unexpected challenges in the DLC, rather than trying to steer toward one or two builds when making a fresh character.

What Level Should You Be for Shadow of the Erdtree

For characters who have not reached New Game+ yet, reaching an appropriate level to have a better chance of meeting the new challenges of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is important. Given that the DLC can be accessed after defeating a boss near the very end of the game, it's likely that your character will want to be strong enough to take on end-game challenges.

We recommend that characters should likely be at least Level 100 to Level 150 to properly prepare for the challenges of the DLC. Most players who have reached the final boss of Elden Ring usually find themselves around Level 100 or higher depending on the challenges you face, so it's likely that having that many points allocated in various stats will give you a good fighting chance.

Story and Boss Requirements

According to the developers, there are only two main shardbearer bosses that must be defeated to access the DLC: Starscourge Radahn, and Mogh, Lord of Blood. While you're encouraged to take on other bosses (and starting a fresh character you'll be highly encouraged to take on much more bosses), only these two are absolutely required.

Defeating Radahn

Starscourge Radhan is the demigod shardbearer boss found in the Wailing Dunes of Caelid, a boss you must defeat as part of the Festival at Redmane Castle. This boss is a bit unorthodox, given to his massive size and sheer attack power, but you'll be able to continually summon other NPC participants of the festival.

• See our Complete Radhan Boss Guide Here!

If fighting him on a New Game character, it's highly recommended that you undertake Blaidd's Questline starting in East Limgrave (leading into Ranni's Questline in Liurnia) so that you can summon him during the fight. Undertaking Ranni's Questline will also cause Redmane Castle to empty of enemies, making the approach to Radahn that much easier.

Another potential warrior to add is Alexander the Iron Fist, who you can find in Limgrave by freeing him from a ditch. He can also appear in Gael Tunnel, but it's not necessary to find and speak to him here.

Defeating Mogh

Mogh, Lord of Blood, is a very late-game boss who resides in Moghwyn Palace, a secret underground area that is very tricky to get to. There are two methods you can approach Moghwyn Palace, depending on your character level and if you're playing New Game Plus or not.

• See our Complete Mogh Boss Guide Here!

The first method is to find Varre in Liurnia at the Rose Church, and undertake his quest to invade players three times in PvP (You do not have to win). Doing so will earn you an item that teleports you into Moghwyn Palace - but this is not recommended for low level characters.

The second method is to reach the Consecrated Snowfield far to the north of Leyndell the Capital, via a secret lift on the road to the Mountaintops of the Giants (you'll need two medallion halves - one from Albus the Albinauric hiding in a pot in Liurnia, and found at the end of Castle Sol in the Mountainops of the Giants.

Once in the snowfield region, you can find a secret Sending Gate teleporter along the central western border of the region that takes you to Moghwyn Palace.

As a high level boss, Mogh can be tricky to defeat for New Game characters, but there are a few tricks to help give you an edge. Like Margit, Mogh has a Shackle that can stun him for a short period, and it can be found in the Subterranean Shunning Grounds beneath Leyndell (via the sewers). Once in the underground area, fall to the bottom of a large room full of pipes to find it guarded by Giant Crayfish.

Another trick to surviving his "Nihil" blood loss attack is by using the Purifying Crystal Tear, held by Eleonora the Violet Bloody Finger. She will appear in the Altus Plateau's Second Church of Marika (which may require advancing the Bloody Finger Hunter Yura's questline).

While these are the only requirements to access the DLC, and no story or questline elements from the base game will affect the Shadow of the Erdtree Area (or vice versa), it's highly recommended that you complete questlines and defeat bosses that appear to be related to the DLC, which include Milicent's Questline, and defeating Malenia, Blade of Miquella in the northern Haligtree.

Preparing Your Character

If you're playing as a character who hasn't seen and done everything there is to do in Elden Ring several times over, there's a good chance you might be missing out on some crucial upgrades or gear to bolster your character before entering the Shadow of the Erdtree.

With that in mind, there are a few crucial things to consider getting to make sure your character is at the top of their game no matter what your build is: Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears for your HP and FP flasks, Talismans, Spirit Ashes, and Powerful Consumables.

Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears

• Golden Seeds are imperative for any character to increase the amount of Flask charges you can divy up between your Flask of Crimson Tears (HP) and Cerulean Tears (FP). They can usually be found at the base of small glowing trees, or gained by defeating powerful Tree Spirits. Check out our Golden Seed Locations Guide and Checklists to track them all down!

• Sacred Tears are equally as important, as collecting them will increase how much your Flask will replenish your HP and FP. Similar to the Golden Seeds, you can almost always find a Sacred Tear at any of the various churches scattered around the Lands Between. Check out our Sacred Tear Locations Guide and Checklists to find every last one.

Powerful Talismans

Talismans are the passive accessories you can equip (up to four once you find all three Talisman Pouches), and can help you in many different ways. Even if you're not sure what dangers lurk in the Shadow of the Erdtree, there's a few powerful talismans that are sure to be of use no matter what you may face. Our top picks include:

• The Great-Jar's Arsenal - greatly increases your equip-load, can be found by summoning and defeating three Great Jar Knights in front of the Great Jar in northern Caelid by the Colosseum.
• Assassin's Cerulean Dagger / Assassin's Crimson Dagger - Restores either HP or FP upon successful critical hits. The Crimson Dagger can be found in West Limgrave's Deathtouched Catacombs, while the Cerulean Dagger is in Liurnia's Black Knife Catacombs.
• Ancestral Spirit's Horn / Taker's Cameo - Will restore either HP or FP upon defeating any enemy (including docile animals). The Ancestral Spirit's Horn can be exchanged for the Regal Ancestor's Remembrance after defeating it in Nokron, while the Taker's Camero is awarded by Tanith at the Volcano Manor for a third assassination contract to kill Juno Hoslow in the Mountaintops of the Giants.
• Crimson Amber Medallion - Raises your maximum health by 6%, to which the +2 variant will raise it by 8%. The +2 medallion can be found in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds by dropping through a golden sewer grate after defeating Maliketh and returning to Leyndell, Ashen Capital.
• Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman - Reduces all physical damage taken by a whopping 20%. It can be found at Miquella's Haligtree in the Consecrated Snowfield, by following the branches from the Drainage Channel to drop into a chapel from the roof.
• Erdtree's Favor - Increases both your maximum health, stamina, and equip-load, with the +2 variant increasing the stats by 4%, 9.5%, and 8% respectively. The highest tier of the talisman can be found in Leyndell, Ashen Capital after defeating Maliketh by searching the far east side of the ruined capital on a large branch where it is guarded by three Ulcerated Tree Spirits.
• Winged Sword Insignia - A talisman that increases attack power from 3 to 10% during sustained attacks. It can be found in Liurnia's Stillwater Cave dungeon after defeating the boss.

Powerful Spirit Ash Summons

Taking along a formidable Spirit Ash summon with you to the Shadow of the Erdtree area can be extremely helpful to your survival, and it's important you pick a Spirit Ash that compliments your playstyle. Some ashes summon a small group to harass, others can summon a sturdy fighter, evasive allies, or ranged support. While there are many to choose from, our top picks include:

• Mimic Tear - A summoned spirit that becomes an exact copy of you, right down to your currently equipped items, you can even swap your gear after summoning it to give it specific advantages that differ from yours. You can find it in Nokron, Eternal City in Night's Sacred Ground, behind a barrier unlocked by an Imp Statue.
• Black Knife Tiche - An extremely dangerous and nimble assassin, summoning her will take a lot of FP, but her blackflame blade attacks can deal incredible damage with little warning. To get the spirit ashes, you'll need to defeat her mother, Black Knife Alecto, who is imprisoned in the Ringleader's Evergaol atop the Moonlight Altar area in western Liurnia. This area can only be accessed via the Deep Ansel River Well at the end of the Lake of Rot and defeating Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.
• Latenna the Albinuaric - A great ranged support spirit that can fire rapid arrows at range, but needs to be kept out of the spotlight due to her inability to evade enemies. You'll gain her spirit ashes by undertaking Latenna's Quest that starts with finding Albus in the Village of Albinaurics, and then finding Latenna at the other side of Lakeside Crystal Cave in southwestern Liurnia.
• Greatshield Soldiers - A group of five greatshield-bearing minions with extremely high defense and poise, they can easily swarm enemies to keep them locked down, and can often soak up a lot of damage while you reposition yourself. You can find their spirit ashes deep within Nokron, Eternal City in a graveyard to the south.

Powerful Consumables

Finally, having a good variety of Consumables that can give your character an advantage in almost any scenario are best stockpiled in advance so you won't have to worry about having to leave the Shadow of the Erdtree area to find more. We recommend getting the following items:

• Rune Arcs - These special and rare items will activate the power of your equipped Great Rune, and can raise your stats, offense, or defense by a great deal that last until you die. Though hard to find, certain merchants will sell them - like the one north of Bellum Church in East Liurnia, another just outside Leyndell in the Capital Outskirts at a high shack, one hiding in the Western Mountaintops of the Giants on a ledge below the Stargazer Ruins, and a final merchant in the darkened mausoleum of the Moghwyn Palace. You can also gain them by cooperating to kill bosses or defeat enemies in PvP!

• Boiled Prawns and Boiled Crabs - Upon finding the shady merchant known as Big Boggart in Liurnia, you can purchase Boiled Prawns from him that increase your physical damage negation for a short period. By doing his questline with Rya and following him to the Capital Outskirts, you can buy Boiled Crabs as well that increase damage negation by a whopping 20%! Just make sure you don't advance the Dung Eater's Questline or he'll be killed!
• Boluses - Medicinal items like the Neutralizing, Stanching, Preserving, Thawfrost, and Stimulating Boluses can help remedy a good variety of status effects, which can be especially useful if you either don't use magic to cure, or don't want to waste the FP. The best way to get as many as you need is by killing a Bell-Bearing Hunter that appears at the aforementioned Merchant Shack in the Capital Outskirts, who drops a Medicine Peddler's Bell Bearing you can give to the Twin Maiden Husks.

• Golden Vow - While not technically a consumable, this extremely handy buff will increase your attack and damage negation, and can stack with the Boiled Prawns or Crabs. You can find it as the Ash of War: Golden Vow to equip on almost any weapon (like a spare you can pull out before a fight) by defeating a Godrick Knight above the Deathtouched Catacombs in West Limgrave. You can also get the Golden Vow Faith Incantation itself for a bigger buff, which is found at a small shack on the road between the Altus Plateau and Mt Gelmir past the Bridge of Iniquity - where the Tarnished-Eater Anastasia will invade you.

Preparing for DLC Gear and Items

Ensuring your Character is ready to delve into the Shadow of the Erdtree is only half the battle, it can also help you to be ready to make use of all of the new DLC items you may find - the most important ones being new Weapons and Spirit Ash Summons. With 8 brand new weapon types confirmed, and likely lots of new weapons for existing types, there's a good chance you'll want to make use of them as soon as you can. To do so, you'll need to be ready to upgrade them with Smithing Stones, and Somber Smithing Stones.

Smithing Stones and Miner's Bell Bearings

Rather than spending precious time trying to hunt down 12 of each smithing stone to reach weapon +24, or 1 of each somber smithing stone to reach +9 you can instead track down each of the Miner's Bell Bearings. These special Bell Bearings can be given to the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold to purchase an unlimited quantity of the smithing stones the bearings unlock. There are 5 regular Smithing Bearings, and 4 Somber Bearings to collect:

• Smithing Stones 1 and 2 can be bought after gaining the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell Bearing 1, which is gained from defeating the Crystalian boss at the bottom of the Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel - located along the cliffs to the northeast of Raya Lucaria itself in Liurnia.
• Somber Smithing Stones 1 and 2 are unlocked from the Somberstone Miner's Bell Bearing 1, which is found in Caelid's Sellia Crystal Tunnel at the edge of the Swamp of Aeonia (where you get teleported to if you open the trap chest in Limgrave's Dragonburnt Ruins). Defeat the Fallingstar Beast boss at the top of the tunnel to earn it.
• Smithing Stones 3 and 4 are locked behind the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell 2, which can be found in the Altus Plateau's Capital Outskirts along the southern edge of the moat around Leyndell. Here you'll find the Sealed Tunnel where a chest down a passage on the right holds the item.
• Somber Smithing Stones 3 and 4 are unlocked from the Somberstone Miner's Bell 2, which requires you to defeat the Crystalian Duo bosses located in the Altus Tunnel just below the Minor Erdtree in the Altus Plateau.
• Smithing Stones 5 and 6 come from the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell 3, and you can find it to the east, located by the entrance to the Mountaintops of the Giants. Upon reaching the Zamor Ruins just past the Lift of Rold, search the place for an underground room with the chest.
• Somber Smithing Stones 5 and 6 are gained from the Somberstone Miner's Bell 3, which is found just outside the First Church of Marika that is located on the very eastern edge of the Mountaintops of the Giants, along the southern tip of the giant frozen lake.
• Smithing Stones 7 and 8 are gained from the final Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell 4, which you'll find as you progress the Main Story and reach Crumbling Farum Azula, which will pit you against the Godskin Duo bosses who drop it upon death.
• Somber Smithing Stones 7 and 8 are unlocked via the Somberstone Miner's Bell 4, which you can find by the Tempest-Facing Balcony in Crumbing Farum Azula.
• Somber Smithing Stone 9 is only unlocked from the final Somberstone Minder's Bell 5, also located in Farum Azula, which is found down a lift right before you reach the Beside the Greatbridge Site of Grace.

To fully upgrade your regular weapons to +25, or special weapons to +10, you'll need Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, for which you can only find a limited quantity of per playthrough. There are 13 Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, and 8 Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stones, which you can find in the following areas or completing certain questlines:

• Side with Jerren during Sorceress Sellen's Questline
• Give Gurranq 9 Deathroot at the Bestial Sanctuary (or kill him)
• Located in a giant skull south of the Church of Repose in the Mountaintops of the Giants
• Defeat the first dragon in Crumbling Farum Azula
• Located on a floating platform north of the Dragon Temple in Crumbling Farum Azula
• Defeat the dragon summoning lightning in Crumbling Farum Azula
• Complete Nepheli Loux's Questline
• Purchased from Gatekeeper Gostoc at the end of Nepheli's Questline
• Defeat the two Night's Cavalry guarding the moving caravan in the Consecrated Snowfield
• Found inside the Yelough Anix Tunnel in the Consecrated Snowfield
• Located on a corpse along the frozen waterfall above the Great Wrym Theodorix in the Consecrated Snowfield
• Guarded by a Leonine Misbegotten below a statue in Miquella's Haligtree
• Found in a chest after defeating Loretta in Miquella's Haligtree

• Located at a stone gazebo guarded by a dragon raining down lightning in Crumbling Farum Azula.
• Dropped by defeating Anastasia, Tarnished Eater at her third invasion site in the Consecrated Snowfield frozen river
• Complete Latenna's questline by delivering her to Apostate Derelict in the Consecrated Snowfield
• Located in a chest under a large statue in Mohgwyn Palace at the Dynasty Mausoleum
• Located in a chest between columns along a roof, after passing the Prayer Room in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree
• Found on a corpse near the patrolling Putrid Avatar along a ring walkway in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree
• Rewarded by Milicent for completing her questline and defeating Malenia, Blade of Miquella, and inserting the gold needle into Malenia's scarlet flower.
• Found on a corpse near a gargoyle near the giant dragon in Leyndell, Ashen Capital

Glovewort and Picker's Bell Bearings

Just as you can upgrade your weapons with smithing stones, so too can you enhance the power of Spirit Ashes by finding Glovewort to have Roderika enhance a Spirit Ash to +10. Most Spirit Ashes will need Grave Glovewort to improve their power, while certain special or elite Spirit Ashes need Ghost Glovewort instead.

Just like the Smithing Stones, tracking down more Glovewort to stockpile for any new DLC Spirit Ashes can be cumbersome, but finding special Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearings can let you buy unlimited amounts once you turn them into the Twin Maiden Husks:

• Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing 1 can be found in the Wyndham Catacombs located near the southern border between the Altus Plateau and Mt Gelmir, and will be your reward for defeating the Burial Watchdog boss inside.
• Ghost Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing 1 is located underground in Nokron, Eternal City (after you've defeated Radahn). After you drop into the newly opened chasm in Limgrave, head north to reach a large open area with a gazebo that holds the item.
• Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing 2 is located in the Giants' Mountaintop Catacombs high up on a plateau past the Zamor Ruins as you enter the Western Mountaintops of the Giants, and drops after defeating the Ulcerated Tree Spirit within.
• Ghost Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing 2 is also located underground, this time in Nokstella (which you can visit during Ranni's Questline). Head through the upper river to reach the underground city, and then head left at the top of the stairs to enter a building with a chest.
• Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing 3 is over in Crumbling Farum Azula, requiring you to head south from the Crumbling Beast Grave Depths to a large shallow pond guarded by a Wormface.
• Ghost Glovewort Picker's Bell Bearing 3 can only be found far to the north past the secret region of the Consecrated Snowfield, in Miquella's Haligtree (requiring the Secret Haligtree Medallion). Enter the dungeon and continue to the Drainage Channel, and make your way across the branches to find a building to exit right to find a graveyard with the item.

Also similar to the smithing stones, the only way to max out your Spirit Ashes to +10 is by finding and using Great Glovewort. There are only 6 Great Grave Glovewort, and 4 Great Ghost Glovewort that you can find per playthrough:

• Inside the Giant-Conquering Hero's Grave in the Eastern Mountaintops of the Giants, in a room guarded by a large Fire Prelate enemy.
• Inside the Consecrated Snowfield Catacombs, two can be found by defeating the Putrid Grave Warden Duelist Boss.
• Near the lower center of Miquella's Haligtree, found in a large pond filled with scarlet rot.
• In Crumbling Farum Azula, one can be found in the building that's located by the Beast Grave Depths, which you can reach by leaping off the nearby balcony and jump to the red rooftop.
• A second can also be found in Farum Azula, just outside the Dragon Temple by dropping down into a pit and cross a series of floating debris to reach a tomb up a ladder.

• Located at the end of the Ainsel River Well after you've defeated the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella and looted the chest under the giant skeleton.
• Another can be found under a similar giant seated skeleton, this one in Night's Sacred Ground by entering Nokron after defeating Radhan.
• Located inside a chest in a building within Nokstella, Eternal City that you can visit as part of Ranni's Questline. It's located in a narrow room guarded by a Mimic Tear hiding as a giant ball on the ceiling.
• In Moghwyn Palace, located just before the Moghwyn Dynasty Mausoleum's Midpoint, guarded by many shambling corpses.

Larval Tears

Along with getting new spells, or new weapons to upgrade, there's a good chance you'll want to respec your character to adapt to new builds around what you find in Shadow of the Erdtree. It's not yet clear if the DLC will help by introducing other ways to respec, but you can accumulate a few Larval Tears in each playthrough that can be given to Rennala to remake your character.

Larval Tears can be tricky to find, with many of them being found in the Eternal Cities of Nokron and Nokstella. You can also find a few merchants who sell them, like a Wandering Merchants in the Siofra River and Pidia in Caria Manor.

There are also Mimics found in each major region of The Lands Between disguised as ordinary enemies who will morph into much powerful foes, and drop Larval Tears when defeated:

• A Wandering Noble in West Limgrave east of Agheel Lake (transforms into a Runebear).
• A Giant Crayfish in Liurnia near the Rose Church (transforms into a Grafted Scion).
• A Wandering Noble in Caelid among a group of coffins overlooking Redmane Castle (transforms into a Troll).
• A Wandering Noble in the Altus Plateau in some ruins located south and east of the Windmill Village (transforms into a Blade Lion).
• A Flaming Corpse in Mt Gelmir found to the east of the Road of Iniquity by a ruined camp (transforms into a Wormface).
• A Wandering Noble that's half buried in the Consecrated Snowfield, found southeast of the Inner Consecrated Snowfield Site of Grace among two other nobles (transforms into a Runebear).

Rune Farming

Lastly, whether your upgrading weapons, buying new spells, leveling up quickly, or finding new vendors in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, it's good to have a wealth of Runes to draw from either for leveling or purchasing.

Since the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC entrance is in the Moghwyn Palace area, it also makes the best place to farm runes quickly!

This can be done at the Palace Approach Ledge-Road Site of Grace, where you'll teleport into from the Consecrated Snowfield. The ledge road here features a ton of lethargic Albinauric enemies who are dozing about all over the place. You'll likely need a good Area of Effect spell or weapon with a good Ash of War or similar ability to hit several targets at once - the Sacred Relic Sword gained from the Elden Remembrance is often a good pick due to its Wave of Gold ability.

If you don't have a good Area of Effect attack (or want another quick way to get more runes), there's a second option also found on the Palace Approach Ledge. If you turn around to the Northwest, and look out across the lower area far below, you can spot a Giant Crow stalking the shallow waters below. Simply snipe it once with a bow and it will charge towards you, falling off the cliff as it does and dropping around 11k Runes per death!

To expand on this farming, you should also get the Gold Scarab Talisman to increase the rate of gaining Runes by 20%! It can be found in the Abandoned Cave located across a ravine in Caelid by moving along large roots toward Dragonbarrow, and defeat the Cleanrot Knight boss inside.