Summary
TheElden Ringcommunity has seen a massive revitalization ahead of the highly-anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expansion set to release in June 2024.Elden Ringfans have been waiting for this expansion for more than two years since the game’s original release, so the expectations for Shadow of the Erdtree are very high. However, the DLC’s rumored difficulty might end up making Shadow of the Erdtree more divisive than some might expect, with the potential to alienate certain groups of players.
While many players will likely be eager to jump right into the new content when Shadow of the Erdtree releases, it might end up taking a while for them to reach it. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has confirmed that players will be required to defeat bothMohg, Lord of Bloodand Starscourge Radahn, two of the most difficult bosses in the game, in order to access the DLC. Locking access to the DLC behind two difficult bosses might be controversial among players, with longtime likely players being prepared for the challenge, while players who started a new run of the game might be frustrated that they can’t access the DLC sooner.
Shadow of the Erdtree Might Give Veteran Players the Challenge They’ve Been Looking For
From what has been shown ofShadow of the Erdtree, it appears as though the expansion will be building upon the aspects ofElden Ringthat made the base game so beloved. Part of what madeElden Ringso critically acclaimed were the unique ways the game crafted challenging enemy encounters for players to navigate. Players hoping to see even more of these types of challenges will likely be happy with the way Shadow of the Erdtree looks to be upping the difficulty over the base game and won’t have a problem accessing the new content.
With the new boss,Messmer the Impaler, looking like they might rival the difficulty of Malenia, it’s clear that Shadow of the Erdtree is intended for experiencedElden Ringplayers. Seasoned veterans and those who’ve already beaten the main game should have no problem accessing the DLC since they will likely have already beaten Mohg and Radahn and are ready for the new challenges that await them. However, those just starting theirElden Ringadventure or restarting in anticipation of the DLC might be put off by how long it can take to reach the point in the game where they can defeat these two bosses.
New Players Might Have a Hard Time Getting Into Shadow of the Erdtree
Locking access to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC behind Mohg and Radahn is a smart way to ensure players will be strong enough to face the challenges of the expansion, but it could end up being disappointing for players looking to jump into the DLC from the start. Both Mohg and Radahn require players to be fairly high-leveled to stand a chance at defeating them, meaning players will likely need to sink a decent chunk of time intoElden Ring’s base game before they are ready for their battles. For new players jumping intoElden Ringbecause of the DLC’s hype, or those who are restarting the game for the DLC, it might take a while before they can enjoy the DLC content.
Another issue locking the DLC behind these bosses might create is the limitations placed on new build types that will become available with Shadow of the Erdtree’s added gear. At the point most players are ready to face Mohg and Radahn, they will likely already have the build they are going to be using set in stone, potentially making the new weapons accessible in the DLC irrelevant by the time they can access them. Players can go toRennala at Raya Lucaria to respec their character, but it might not be worth completely changing their build and play style by that point in the game.
