{"id":859034,"date":"2025-12-15T20:52:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T20:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/urn:uuid:f50645cc-d17c-4041-b6ba-b295bc015a0e"},"modified":"2025-12-15T20:52:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T20:52:14","slug":"elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree hands-on report"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"\">The Land of Shadow is calling.<\/p>\n<p>After a more-than-two-year wait, we\u2019re weeks away from the launch of Shadow of the Erdtree, the enormous DLC for Elden Ring. FromSoftware hasn\u2019t spent those years basking the accolades their first open-world adventure received; instead, they\u2019ve been hard at work on this, their biggest and most ambitious expansion ever.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>When I recently got a chance to go hands-on with Shadow of the Erdtree, even the tiny slice I saw made it easy to remember why Elden Ring is so beloved. Rise, Tarnished, and hear of the things I saw.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video wp-video-392646\"><video autoplay controls loop muted src=\"https:\/\/blog.playstation.com\/uploads\/2024\/06\/48115009f25e2f245b5011c5f8808af099e5deac.mp4\" playsinline><\/video><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We\u2019re not in Limgrave anymore<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\">Shadow of the Erdtree takes place in an entirely new region, known as the Land of Shadow, and is accessed by touching the mummified arm found in Mohgwyn Palace in the base game. It\u2019s here that Miquella, the oft-mentioned but never-seen character from the main game, traveled to in the game\u2019s lore.<\/p>\n<p>The section I explored opened with a sprawling meadow filled with gravestones and shadowy spirits. In the distance, I could clearly see what lay ahead of me: a vast settlement, an expansive castle, and a dark woodland looming on the horizon. Above all, an enormous tree stood, charred and gnarled, in stark contrast to the golden tree seen across the main game\u2019s landscape.<\/p>\n<p>While regions in the original game often glowed with autumnal warmth, this region&#8217;s dried grass and dying shrubs felt ancient and blighted. The dungeon and fortress I explored\u2014Belurat Tower Settlement and Castle Ensis\u2014were claustrophobic and folded over on themselves. They were filled with winding paths and concealed shortcuts, opening to reveal routes back to Sites of Grace. I fought through flooded cellars, lava-filled chasms, and forests alive with an eerie blue glow.<\/p>\n<p>Fresh yet familiar, The Land of Shadow feels like a natural extension to The Lands Between, and FromSoftware\u2019s mastery of level design is displayed here in glorious form.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video wp-video-392647\"><video autoplay controls loop muted src=\"https:\/\/blog.playstation.com\/uploads\/2024\/06\/178ff3780e30ca7343bf55b3b25d541df8da9b1e.mp4\" playsinline><\/video><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">New opponents await<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\">It wouldn\u2019t be a FromSoftware update without fresh foes to face, and in that regard, Shadow of the Erdtree comes out swinging. The first enemy I faced dove down to attack me from atop a pillar and quickly sent me back to the Site of Grace. After that, I faced hatchet-wielding ghosts, death sorcery-breathing birds, and knights more lethal than anything I had encountered before. Gigantic, flaming brazier-like beasts flung brimstone in my direction mere moments after I started my journey, setting the scene for the rest of my time there.<\/p>\n<p>And then there are bosses. Shadow of the Erdtee will feature 10+ full bosses and additional side bosses. Some are required to progress the story, and others can be challenged when you feel up to it.<\/p>\n<p>I faced two of these. The first, the Devine Beast Dancing Lion, is found in Belurat Tower Settlement and felt like that classic FromSoftware early game skill check. The grotesque beast leaped across the arena to attack, using a mixture of elemental abilities to keep me on my toes before crushing my poor sorcerer between its teeth again and again.<\/p>\n<p>The second was the magic-wielding Twin Moon Knight, one of the guardians of Castle Ensis, who used a distinctive double full moon attack that filled the entire arena with magic blasts. This devastating ability was challenging to avoid and threw me into the air before slamming me back down to earth, often with lethal force. And if the double moon doesn\u2019t get you, their one-two combo of pyro and glintstone-infused blades will.<\/p>\n<p>One consistent thing between every enemy I faced was their speed and agility. Without exception, the inhabitants of the Land of Shadow felt lethal even from a distance due to their ability to sprint, leap, and spin through the air to reach me. Enemies move <em>fast<\/em>. It\u2019s hard to say if this is unique to the area I explored, but players should be prepared to get <em>very<\/em> familiar with that dodge button.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video wp-video-392648\"><video autoplay controls loop muted src=\"https:\/\/blog.playstation.com\/uploads\/2024\/06\/69396fcf4eefc57f884b9a58d65dfe0062b07ce9.mp4\" playsinline><\/video><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rebuild your armory<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\">Shadow of the Erdtree will introduce around one hundred new weapons for players to discover. From the start, I chose a Greatsword-sized katana, which caused fire damage when it made contact, and a battle shield featuring large metal spikes on the edge, turning this protective item into an offensive tool.<\/p>\n<p>Players can also discover eight brand-new weapon types. The details on many of these types were being kept under wraps for now, but I was given access to one: Martial Arts.<\/p>\n<p>This new category allowed me to go into combat bare-handed, swinging heavy punches and slamming kicks into my opponents. Just like other weapon types, Martial Arts can be assigned a Skill to suit your playstyle, and mine saw me taking a leaf from some of the bosses\u2019 books by leaping through the air and landing a flurry of kicks on my enemies.<\/p>\n<p>Fighting barehanded might seem like madness in this kind of world, but I found it remarkably effective. The blunt impact of the blows made it easier to break enemies\u2019 stance, leaving them open to a quick and deadly finisher. Martial Arts was a joy to use, and if the other new categories are even half as fun to play with, Tarnished are in for a treat with the new weapon types.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped is-style-splide-carousel wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"ps-image-modal__wrapper \">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"392651\" src=\"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-392651\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report-8.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report-9.jpg 1536w, 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https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report-21.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report-22.jpg 512w, https:\/\/blog.playstation.com\/tachyon\/2024\/06\/78f6f7f668facaebd798097b9e6fe4ccd1760533.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&amp;zoom=0.25 256w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1440px) 1200px, (min-width: 960px) 80vw, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n<p> <button class=\"ps-image-modal__trigger\" type=\"button\" > <span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> View and download image <\/span> <\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ps-image-modal ps-image-modal--hidden\" role=\"dialog\" hidden tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"ps-image-modal-heading-1\"\n> <\/p>\n<div role=\"document\">\n<h2 class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"ps-image-modal-heading-1\"> Download the image <\/h2>\n<p> <button class=\"ps-image-modal__close\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close icon--white\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" focusable=\"false\" version=\"1.1\"> <title>close<\/title><g class=\"icon-primary-color\" fill=\"#DEDEDE\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M1.496 17L0 15.447l6.951-6.946L0 1.552 1.496 0 10 8.501z\"\/><path d=\"M15.504 0L17 1.553l-6.951 6.946L17 15.448 15.504 17 7 8.499z\"\/><\/g>\t<\/svg> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/p>\n<figure class=\"ps-image-modal__content\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ps-image-modal__image\" src=\"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" > <\/p>\n<div class=\"ps-image-modal__footer\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/arcader.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report-7.jpg\" class=\"ps-image-modal__download\" download=\"\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--download icon--white\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" focusable=\"false\" version=\"1.1\"> <path d=\"M8.43 1.3c0-.72.58-1.3 1.3-1.3.72 0 1.3.58 1.3 1.3 0 .72-.58 1.3-1.3 1.3-.72 0-1.3-.59-1.3-1.3zm0 5.19c0-.72.58-1.3 1.3-1.3.72 0 1.3.58 1.3 1.3 0 .72-.58 1.3-1.3 1.3-.72 0-1.3-.58-1.3-1.3zm3.74 5.55c-.78 1.35-1.78 3.08-2.55 4.42-.78-1.35-1.78-3.08-2.55-4.42h5.1zm1.53-1.76H4L9.61 20l5.61-9.72H13.7z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" class=\"icon-primary-color\"\/>\t<\/svg> Download this image <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bolster yourself with Grace<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\">Shadow of the Erdtree introduces a new system, called Shadow Realm Blessing, to help level the playing field a little. Intrepid explorers are offered the chance to find and use a new consumable to apply a stackable buff that negates some incoming damage and increases the damage you cause to opponents in the Land of Shadow.<\/p>\n<p>This consumable, Scadutree Fragments, are rare, but can be found littered across the world if you look carefully enough. Useable only at Sites of Grace, the amount needed for the next level of buff increases after each use, but seeking them out could make your journey slightly less harrowing. Of course, if you prefer a tougher challenge, the use of the Scadutree Fragments is entirely optional, and the buff has no effect outside of the Land of Shadow.<\/p>\n<p>Shadow of the Erdtree is shaping up to be a worthy expansion to FromSoftware\u2019s now-legendary adventure. If you\u2019ve been away from Elden Ring for some time, jumping into this new region will feel comfortingly familiar, but even for veterans, there is plenty to uncover.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.playstation.com\/games\/elden-ring\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree\/\">Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree<\/a> launches on June 21 for PS5 and PS4, and requires the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.playstation.com\/games\/elden-ring\/\">Elden Ring base game<\/a> to play.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.playstation.com\/2024\/06\/04\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Land of Shadow is calling. After a more-than-two-year wait, we\u2019re weeks away from the launch of Shadow of the Erdtree, the enormous DLC for Elden Ring. FromSoftware hasn\u2019t spent those years basking the accolades their first open-world adventure received; instead, they\u2019ve been hard at work on this, their biggest and most ambitious expansion ever.&nbsp; When I recently got a chance to go hands-on with Shadow of the Erdtree, even the tiny slice I saw made it easy to remember why Elden Ring is so beloved. Rise, Tarnished, and hear of the things I saw. We\u2019re not in Limgrave anymore Shadow of the Erdtree takes place in an entirely new region, known as the Land of Shadow, and is accessed by touching the mummified arm&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"excerpt-more\"><a class=\"blog-excerpt button\" href=\"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-hands-on-report\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":859035,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[316],"tags":[964,965,44,45,12333],"class_list":["post-859034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-official-playstation","tag-elden-ring","tag-fromsoftware","tag-ps4","tag-ps5","tag-shadow-of-the-erdtree"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree hands-on 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