Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree might just be one of the most expansive and most difficult DLC FromSoftware has ever released for its SoulsBorne titles.
It even came to the point that players, many of which already completed Elden Ring multiple times, were having a hard time clearing the first boss in the DLC.
To keep up with the difficulty spike in this DLC, here are some spoiler-free guides every Tarnished must prepare for before starting the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
Defeat Mohg and Radahn
Even before the DLC was released, FromSoftware advised players that they needed to defeat "Lord of Blood Mohg" and "Starscourge Radahn" first before being able to access the additional content.
Fighting Mohg is especially important as his boss arena is the entry point for the DLC.
While these battles are being touted as part of the DLC's lore, fighting these bosses is also a great way to prepare players for the level of difficulty the DLC offers.
DLC is 100+ Hours Long
Do not believe Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki's statement that the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is only 30 hours long nor it is the size of Limgrave.
Players can explore, die, and fight their way through the DLC for over 100 hours and still be halfway to the final boss.
If you intend to finish the DLC as fast as possible, be ready to spend days, if not weeks, battling all the main bosses and elite enemies scattered throughout the map.
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Level Vigor to Over 60
Many Tarnished may have already achieved the coveted "Elden Lord" title a long time ago but it would still not stop enemies from one-shotting them if they have a Vigor level lower than 60.
While the term "Git Gud" and avoiding all damages would be the best course of action, having more hit points would help the Tarnished cinched through tough situations.
If you are not much into dodging and parrying, a 90+ Vigor is mandatory.
Avoid Going on a New Game+ Run
If you are not a SoulsBorne veteran and do not want to unnecessarily challenge yourself with tougher and more aggressive enemies, do not enter the DLC on a New Game+ run.
Like with other FromSoft games, Elden Ring automatically brings back players at the start of the game once they defeat the main boss of the base game.
While NG+ allows the Tarnished to retain their stats and weapons from their previous run, it would also make all enemies stronger to meet the players' current power.
If manageable, it is preferable to start a new save to have better control of the weapons, builds, and "Ashes of War" before starting the DLC.
Do Not Rely on 'Rivers of Blood'
The meta-defining "Rivers of Blood" may have saved many Tarnished from the jaws of death during their first playthrough but the same cannot be said once they enter the DLC.
While still an effective "Bleed" weapon, the katana would be most often ineffective against armored foes and more aggressive bosses, both of which are common in the Shadow of the Erdtree.
It does not help that many builds around "Rivers of Blood" require players to have lesser armor, a risk that is likely to bite back as many enemies can literally one-shot players back to the Sites of Grace.
Instead of two-handling most fights barely naked, players would have better chances to explore more weapon choices to counter each enemy's specific weaknesses.
Prepare Lots of Antidotes, Healing Items
If you have ever played other FromSoftware DLCs before, having tons of antidotes and healing items is a must as the game is expected to introduce new poisoned swamps and enemies with Damage Over Time attacks.
Accumulating DoTs is especially dangerous in high-difficulty areas as it would require players to constantly consume their "Crimson Tears" around every corner.
Healing items and antidotes can be crafted, obtained from enemy drops, and bought from select Merchants throughout The Lands Between.
