3 Things You Should Do As Soon As You Start Shadow Of The Erdtree

Shadow of the Erdtree is out, and it has quickly become one of the highest-rated DLCs of all time. While players will likely have started their journey into the Shadow Realm, for those still getting ready, it’s important to keep certain things in mind so you have a smooth playthrough. Some of these things are related to simply stocking up on your upgrade materials.

But there are some new mechanics that players should be aware of as well. Most notably, there is an optional collectible that players will want to explore and collect as soon as they can. These are spread across the map, and exploring a bit before you dive into battle can help you out a ton. This is because these fragments are a part of the DLC’s new power progression system. Here are the key things to keep in mind.

Explore The Map To Find Scadutree Fragments

As I mentioned earlier, you’ll want a couple of these fragments handy before you tackle any of the bosses. Especially the ones found in the first Legacy Dungeon, Belurat, Tower Settlement. Unsurprisingly, the enemies hit really hard. In some cases can take away entire chunks of your health bar with a single attack. Because of this, it’s best to explore a bit and discover these fragments before engaging in any serious combat.

The locations of the Scadutree fragments are always fixed, and the Elden Ring wiki page has provided a complete list of all the early locations where these are found. While you don’t have to go out of your way to collect every single one, it’s recommended to get as many as you can. This is because the DLC comes with its own unique progression system. So your previous level really won’t have much of an impact on your power anymore.

Stock Up On Upgrade Materials

One of the coolest things about the DLC is that it provides players with tons of epic new weapons to try out. These weapons can help dramatically change your gameplay since players will get the chance to use some types that previously did not exist in the game. However, to be able to use them effectively, you’ll need to upgrade them quite a bit.

For that, it’s best to stock up on upgrade materials before you venture into the Shadow Realm. Doing so will help to prevent going back and forth to the old world as you hunt down more Smithing Stones. It’s recommended to pick up the Bell Bearings, so you have an infinite supply of Smithing Stones available at the Roundtable Hold. And in case you haven’t gotten around to collecting these, you’ll need to kill some of the bosses from the original game to get them.

Head West For An Easier Time

In iconic Elden Ring fashion, players are thrust into a large new area without being told much of anything. However, you’ll soon discover that you’re looking for Miquella, and that he’s left behind crosses on the ground that serve as his footsteps. At a certain point, you’ll be tasked to head in two separate directions, both of which have Miquella’s crosses.

For players who want an easier time, going West is recommended, as that is where you’ll encounter the first Legacy Dungeon, Belurat, Tower Settlement. This is considerably easier than the alternative: Castle Ensis. While you’ll eventually have to do both, starting off with the easier one seems like the more logical approach. Lorewise, it also makes sense to tackle this one first. 

Ultimately, as with any Elden Ring content, it’s ultimately up to the player to decide how they want to navigate through the Lands Between. And anyone who wants to dive headfirst into danger and have a really fun, yet grueling time, going directly toward Castle Ensis can be a unique challenge. In any case, as long as you’re stocked up on upgrade materials and collecting your Scadutree fragments, you should be good.