Elden Ring’s DLC isn’t that difficult if you just run away
Is Shadow of the Erdtree too hard? I thought this might be true when I first started. The Blackgaol Knight immediately kicked my ass, and I couldn’t even go for a walk through the forest without a beastman ripping me to shreds. Then I remembered the strategy that got me through much of the Lands Between: just run away.
You’re not imagining things. Shadow of the Erdtree’s difficulty is a step up Elden Ring, with enemies strong enough to make your level 100+ character feel like a weak baby. It may even be hard to remember feeling so vulnerable, but that’s certainly how it was the first time you played Elden Ring! Like the Lands Between, the Land of Shadow is also scary and violent, and sometimes it just tells you to do so Get lost.
The point is, running away won’t just be more fun than dying over and over again; This way you also become stronger! Specifically, by exploring the Realm of Shadow and finding Scadutree Fragments and Revered Sacred Ashes. These boons, which improve your stats and the stats of your Ashes respectively, are the key to overcoming your inherent weakness in the Shadow Realm. Crucially, you can find loads of these boosts simply by exploring.
It’s possible to find 10 Scadutree fragments without fighting a single boss in the DLC, which will give you a significant boost to your attacks and, more importantly, your defense. Leveling up the old-fashioned way with runes is still worth it, but the stat boost from Scadutree Fragments is much greater and more valuable in the Land of Shadow.
It’s also worth remembering how useful exploration is for simply finding new weapons, talismans and armor sets. Rellana’s devastating Twin Moon attack can be more easily defeated by finding a talisman that will give your magical resistance a huge boost, but you’ll have to leave her castle grounds to find it.
Yes, the Land of Shadow is an oppressive and dangerous place, but by uncovering its secrets you can overcome it. And if you still need a little help, you can always check out our detailed boss guides!