Skip to main content

How to start the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC in Elden Ring

When it comes to DLC, FromSoftware likes to make it a bit of a challenge to actually find the new content. Dark Souls was notorious for how cryptic it was to get to its DLC, but thankfully*, Elden Ring* doesn't make things quite so hard.

Still, if you're preparing to play Shadow of the Erdtree and want to see the new zone, fight new bosses, and get new weapons right away, you probably don't want to spend hours scouring the massive map looking for the entrance. There are two steps you need to make sure you complete before you can access the Shadow of the Erdtree content, but after that, it's smooth sailing. Here's what you should complete in the base game before the DLC launches.

Difficulty

Hard

What You Need

  • Defeat Radahn

  • Defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood

How to access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

FromSoftware let us know beforehand that there will be two mandatory bosses from the base game that you need to beat before you can enter the DLC. Both are technically optional to beating the main game, so there is a chance you might have skipped one or both even if you finished the story.

Step 1: Beat Radahn.

This is the set-piece boss of Caelid region most players will fight naturally while playing the game, but Radahn is technically skippable.

Step 2: Defeat Mog, Lord of Blood.

Of the two requirements, this one is by far the most challenging. The first hurdle is even finding Mohg, which requires you to reach the Mohgqyn Palace. You can do this by either following White Mask Varre's questline or finding the teleporter in the Consecrated Snowfield.

Once you reach this small underground zone, fight your way through and defeat Mohg.

Step 3: After Mohg is slain, you will be able to interact with the creepy giant egg at the back of his arena. Once you do, you will be whisked away into the Land of Shadow.

Editors' Recommendations

Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more…
Xbox, PlayStation, and PC: Is Elden Ring cross-platform?
Characters fighting on horseback in Elden Ring.

When it launched in 2022, Elden Ring was an immediate hit. The challenging game took everything great from previous FromSoftware titles and merged it with a sweeping open world to explore -- letting players venture in any direction just a few minutes after starting the game. That also made it incredibly daunting. Not only did you have to contend with nightmarish monsters and rage-inducing combat, but you had to figure out how to best reach your next destination without stumbling upon enemies that were twice your skill level.

Thankfully, Elden Ring makes use of a (cryptic) multiplayer system, allowing you to explore the Lands Between with a buddy by your side. You can also read and leave messages for other players, giving them tips and tricks to guide their journey. But is Elden Ring cross-platform, or are you stuck playing with folks on the same platform as you?

Read more
How to use Great Runes in Elden Ring
how to pre order elden ring logo

The world of Elden Ring is filled with mysteries. The game doesn't hold your hand for long before letting you venture out in any direction you like – which is both a blessing and a curse. Stumbling upon new weapons, enemies, or another gorgeous viewpoint is what makes Elden Ring so entertaining, and if the game simply pointed you towards all these locations, it wouldn't be nearly as exciting.

Read more
Elden Ring: How to find and use Rune Arcs
An Elden Ring player sits on their horse and looks out at a castle ahead.

Like everything else developed by FromSoftware, Elden Ring is painfully difficult. It'll take you hundreds of hours to discover everything it has to offer, and unless you're a grizzled veteran, you'll likely hit the "Game Over" screen thousands of times before your journey in the Lands Between comes to an end.

One way to help even the odds is by using Rune Arcs — a consumable item that lets you access Great Runes. You'll first need to unlock Great Runes to start properly using Rune Arcs, but once that's taken care of, you'll notice a big boost in your abilities.

Read more