Where To Go First In Shadow Of The Erdtree - Elden Ring DLC

Figuring out where to go first in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree feels a bit overwhelming, much like the base game. FromSoftware drops you in the middle of a vast, open plain and hands you a map with tantalizing symbols that may point to treasure--or a quick game over. Like in the base game, following the beaten path isn’t the best option when you’re just getting started, especially since the first two major bosses are a big step up from what you’re likely used to.

Our guide for where to go first in Shadow of the Erdtree points you toward some key locations with useful items, upgrade materials, armor, and weapons to help make the start of your journey a bit smoother.

You have easy access to four Miquella’s Cross sites around Gravesite Plain and the areas south of Castle Ensis. A Scadutree Fragment sits beside each cross, and you can get enough just from these crosses to raise your Scadutree Level a few times. Even just two or three upgrades makes a big difference in battles against bosses and mobs alike, so it’s worth taking the time to prep before getting into any big scraps.

Make sure to visit the Church of Consecration, as well. You’ll find two Scadutree Fragments at the altar – and a hammer-wielding knight, but you can just ignore him and run away if you want.

If you want more fragments, you can make it halfway through Belurat Tower Settlement and defeat the jar-holding Shade near the walkway where a Horned Knight walks; reach the Miquella’s Cross halfway through Castle Ensis; and defeat the Ulcerated Tree Spirit in Ellac River. Getting these fragments takes longer and puts you in more danger, so bear that in mind.

The Two-Headed Turtle talisman is one of the most important items in Shadow of the Erdtree, even after its opening hours. It’s a buffed-up version of the turtle talisman from the base game, and it increases how quickly your stamina recovers even more than the original talisman. It means you have less downtime in battle while you wait for the meter to refill and can press your attacks harder.

Getting here is a bit of a chore, though. Enter the tunnel near Ruined Lava Forge, and follow it through to the poison swamp. Take a left--ignore all the enemies, as they don’t give enough Runes to be worthwhile--and continue following the path through a dark tunnel and into a cavern with a Site of Grace. Activate that in case of unfortunate mishaps ahead, exit the cavern, and turn right. The path on the left takes you to Cerulean Coast, an important area, but not one you need to reach just yet.

Follow the river north, and keep ignoring enemies. An Ulcerated Tree Spirit will emerge from the water, but you can also ignore it unless you want its Scadutree Fragment. Just be aware that this one hits much harder than its base-game counterparts. Your final destination is the waterfall at the river’s far northern end. Go behind it, and take the talisman from the corpse there.

The Scorched Ruins are the first area you’ll visit if you follow the main road through Gravesite Plain, and it’s a good place to stop and amass thousands of Runes. Slow, weak Shades inhabit the Ruins, and they release about 700 Runes each. That sounds like a piddling amount, but there are a lot of Shades here and on the road just south of the Ruins.

Sure, there are technically a few better places to farm Runes, but this one is practically a danger-free zone, if you discount the rabid mutant dogs. The Site of Grace just outside the settlement makes it even easier to reset and repeat, so if you think your build needs a few extra stat points, here’s a good place to invest some time.

And if you don’t need Runes, it’s still worth visiting. The ruins are home to a new cookbook that teaches you how to craft furnace pots, an essential item if you’re planning to take down Furnace Golems--which you should eventually do to get the Crystal Tears they have inside. A room at the top of the ruins contains a chest with the Blade of Mercy talisman inside, a handy item that increases your attack after you land a critical hit.

The Western Nameless Mausoleum is home to some of Shadow of the Erdtree’s best early armor and a solid Greatsword as well. It looks like the entrance to a catacomb, but it really is just an underground mausoleum. Inside is the Darkgaol Knight, a challenging human apparition boss with a surprise weapon skill up his spirit-sleeve. Once you defeat him, you get the Solitude armor and Greatsword. The armor has exceptionally high damage protection numbers, though it’s also exceptionally heavy, and the sword gives you the Blackgaol Knight’s special skill--a moon slash and, if you press the strong attack button, a powerful follow-up.

The armor alone is worth it for any build, even if you don’t use swords.

Northeast of the Scorched Ruins is a small gravesite with a treasure just waiting in the open: A new Shadow of the Erdtree weapon called the Backhand Blade. It’s a common weapon that uses regular Smithing Stones for refinement, which is handy if you’re short on Somber Smithing Stones. While its scaling might initially seem pretty average, it has a unique skill that lets you dodge around and to the side of an enemy before dealing a blow whose power is equal to a briefly charged strong attack.

A group of fire-breathing horned Omens are wandering around the gravesite, but if you don’t want to deal with them, you can dash in with Torrent, dismount, grab the sword, and gallop away again.

The forge is a new kind of mini-dungeon, and it’s stuffed full of Smithing Stones. If you’re leveling any new weapon or even just want to enhance older weapons without spending Runes at the Twin Maiden Husks’ shop, this is the place to go. It’s also full of lava blobs--consider bringing ice magic along--and a new enemy type whose only weak spot is the center of their back. You can outrun them if you’re having trouble, though the Backhand Blade’s skill makes quick movements much easier.

Anyway, the big treasure at the end of the forge is perfect for strength/faith builds; it's a huge hammer that deals fire damage and scales with strength and faith.

The Mimic Tear is still one of the best Spirit Ash summons in Shadow of the Erdtree, even after FromSoftware nerfed it in the base game. However, if you want to experiment with something new that behaves differently and attacks much faster, head to the Belurat Gaol. You can access it from the western edge of the lake north of the abandoned village. There’s a dragon in the lake, so stick to the edges if you aren’t ready for a fight.

The Gaol is a straightforward mini-dungeon with pot enemies and a demi-human swordmaster at the end, and it’s he who drops the new Spirit Ash--Swordmaster Yosh. There’s some jar-themed body horror going on in the Gaol, though, so keep that in mind if you’re very squeamish.