You Should Start Playing Elden Ring Again Now, Not When Shadow Of The Erdtree Releases (2024)

As Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC draws closer to its release date, players should be considering replaying the game now, as opposed to picking it back up right when the DLC drops. Over a year since the time of its initial reveal, Shadow of the Erdtree has finally been shown off in more detail, with a recent trailer giving first-time looks at new weapons, enemies, bosses, and areas. With Elden Ring (and FromSoftware games in general) being renowned for its difficulty, however, players who haven't touched the game since launch may want to re-familiarize themselves.

Judging by the trend of past Soulsborne games, Shadow of Erdtree won't be pulling any punches in terms of length or difficulty - DLC in other FromSoftware games has consistently contained some of the hardest content in the series, like Artorias of The Abyss's Manus or The Old Hunters' Orphan of Kos. And while most fans of FromSoftware's games wouldn't want it any other way, it does present a problem for out-of-practice players to jump back in at the launch of the DLC and immediately be faced with the hardest content that the game has to offer.

Base Elden Ring Will Prepare Players For The DLC

Shadow Of The Erdtree Releases June 21, 2024

With the presumed difficulty of Shadow of the Erdtree and the general length of the base game, players should jump back into the Elden Ring now to re-familiarize themselves, as opposed to waiting until the DLC's release. As easily the longest of FromSoftware's games to date, with an expansive open world and some of the most difficult bosses in any Soulsborne game, beating Elden Ring is a hefty undertaking - even repeat playthroughs can end up taking upwards of 100 hours, depending on the level of completion.

Moreover, even players who aren't looking to completely beat the game before Shadow of the Erdtree still have plenty to get through, as to start the DLC, players need to have defeated both Mogh and Radahn in their current playthrough. While Radahn can be fought fairly early in the game, Mohg is a considerably later (and, for many players, more difficult) boss, locked behind Moghwyn Palace, a secret, optional area that's only accessible near the end of the game, after players have defeated Morgott in Leyndell.

Aside from the factors like familiarity with mechanics or player character power, however, players taking the time to re-familiarize themselves with Elden Ring's world and lore will probably get more out of the DLC as well. Shadow of the Erdtree has been shown to carry heavy associations with some of the more obscure aspects of Elden Ring's lore, with Miquella, an underutilized figure in the base game, showing up prominently in the DLC's promotional material, alongside a new lore-relevant boss, Messmer the Impaler.

While the lore of Elden Ring is dense, and can be difficult to fully make sense of, taking the time to replay the game can help players remember more about the world as a whole. The Land of Shadows, which will be the DLC's main focus, will probably have connections to the lore of the base game, and will likely expand on some of the biggest mysteries in the lore, even outside those pertaining to Miquella. Moreover, the DLC could grant access to a new ending, which may not be available to characters that have already defeated the final boss.

How To Prepare For Shadow Of The Erdtree

Base Game Builds & Mods To Try Before The DLC

Replaying the base game now, well ahead of the DLC's June release date, will also give players the opportunity to try different builds and make different choices. With a variety of new weapons and spells confirmed to be included in Shadow of the Erdtree, every type of build will likely get at least some new toys to play with. Having multiple characters on multiple different builds ready to start the DLC when it launches will give players the widest possible selection of options, and allow for quicker repeat playthroughs of just the DLC content.

On a first playthrough of Shadow of the Erdtree, for example, players won't know which weapons are available, or where they're located, and a weapon or spell that appeals to a player may not fit their current character's build. Having multiple characters ready to start DLC, though, gives more opportunities for players to pick up tools that interest them early in repeat playthroughs, and then play through the rest of the game with those tools, instead of missing them or only running into them later on.

Additionally, any Elden Ring players who might want to look at modded playthroughs, such as those using Seamless Co-Op by LukeYui, or overhaul mods like The Convergence from AronTheBaron, or Kirnifr's Elden Ring Reforged (all on Nexus Mods), will want to complete them before Shadow of the Erdtree comes out. Once the DLC releases, many of the game's larger mods will likely take a relatively long time to be updated and account for the DLC content, and some mods may break entirely until updated by their creators. Mods like Elden Ring Remastered can provide a different or enhanced experience, and may temporarily break after the DLC's release.

While players wait for Shadow of the Erdtree to release, it's a good idea to play through the base game again. For those who haven't touched Elden Ring since launch, it will re-familiarize them with the game's mechanics and lore, and provide good practice for what are almost certain to be some crushingly difficult bosses in the DLC. As the release of Shadow of the Erdtree draws closer, anyone looking to replay the base game of Elden Ring should be starting as soon as possible.

Sources: LukeYui/Nexus Mods, AronTheBaron/Nexus Mods, Kirnifr/Nexus Mods

Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of "The Shattering." "The Shattering" occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.

RPG

Action

Platform(s)

PS5 , Xbox One , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC

Released

February 25, 2022

Developer(s)

From Software

Publisher(s)

Bandai Namco Entertainment , From Software

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence