The Ultimate Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree Guides Hub

Here’s your one-stop shop for all things Elden Ring and its DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, including where to go first and the game’s best early weapons.

By Billy Givens , Mark Delaney , Joseph Yaden , Josh Broadwell and Jason Rodriguez on June 20, 2024 at 4:22PM PDT

Elden Ring and its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion are landmark releases that have Soulsborne/Soulslike fans raving due to excitement. Still, given the genre, the journey won’t be to be easy, but you don’t need to just struggle with the same challenges for hours. We have countless tips to help you out, and this Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree guides hub should act as your all-in-one link for helpful tips, secrets, and more as you venture across the Lands Between and the Realm of Shadow. Bookmark it before you jump in, then follow along as we continue to build it out with more guides in the hours, days, and weeks ahead.

Get ready for a memorable trek through a massive world known as the Lands Between. We’ve got all the info regarding basic mechanics, NPC quests, campaign bosses, and endings.

Once you’re in The Lands Between, the world won’t wait to hurt you. Take our Elden Ring tips for beginners to ensure you have a greater chance of survival.

Your very first move in the game is going to be deciding on a character class. Elden Ring’s class list is extensive and varied, with both blatant and more nuanced tweaks that can be the determining factors for all sorts of players. Use our Elden Ring class guide to better understand what each class brings to the table, then pick the one that best suits your play style.

As you pick your character, you’ll also need to decide on a Keepsake, which are akin to Gifts in Dark Souls. These early items can be a big boon or a waste of time, so here’s a list of the best Keepsakes in Elden Ring.

Where you pour your skill points is up to you, but there are better or worse ways to do this, so don’t waste your valuable time by making ineffective characters. Read this to better understand stats and leveling in Elden Ring.

From Software games can be extremely dizzying, so we’ve laid out the optimal route for your first few hours of the game. Here’s what to do first in Elden Ring.

Soulsborne games are famous for their hidden passages that can help you get around the world more easily, and Elden Ring is no exception. Here’s how to skip the game’s first main boss and arrive in Liurnia early.

Should you find your build to be lacking, or perhaps you just want to try something new, you can respec–reassign skill points–in Elden Ring. However, like always with a From Software game, the process is a bit confusing. Here’s how to respec in Elden Ring.

If you’d rather change your hero cosmetically, you can do that too. You’ll just need to make it a few hours into the game first. Here’s how to change your appearance in Elden Ring.

Elden Ring can be played fully in co-op, but the system is a bit convoluted–per tradition. Here’s how to play Elden Ring in co-op, so you can join friends and make new ones.

Dying to a tough enemy is expected. Dying to gravity is more of a slap in the face. Avoid fatal fall damage by using this one common but confusing item: Rainbow Stones.

Elden Ring gives players From Software’s biggest world yet, so you’re best off using your trusty steed whenever it’s safe to do so. Here’s how to initially receive and eventually summon your horse.

Two-handing weapons in the right situations can be the deciding factor between life and death. If you’re confused about how to use weapons in this way, don’t sweat it. Here’s how to two-hand weapons, plus an explainer about why you should sometimes consider doing so.

Don’t let your HP tick away from poison damage while exploring the Lands Between. You can quickly cure poison if you know how, so here’s how!

If you chose a Vagabond character, you’re going to be saddled with a slower roll ability than most, but there’s a quick fix, so don’t miss it. Here’s how to remove the rolling penalty from your Vagabond hero.

When you first arrive in Roundtable Hold, you’ll meet several friendly NPCs. One of them, Fia, offers to give you a very special hug. Here’s what happens next, so you can decide whether to let Fia hold you or not.

The Tree Sentinel is an intimidating roaming boss you’ll come across early on in the game. if you’d rather face them head-on than run from them over and over, here’s how to defeat the Tree Sentinel.

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We’re not nearly done with Elden Ring coverage. It’s the biggest game of the year so far, and it might just end up that way come December, too. Keep it here as we update this hub for all things Elden Ring.

Your first mainline boss will be the towering Margit. They’re imposing as most monsters in a From game are, but they can be made easier to defeat with a few simple tricks. Here’s how to defeat the first boss in Elden Ring.

The first two bosses of Elden Ring are there to teach you to explore first, fight later. If you’re stuck, there’s a lot you can do to improve your chances against Margit or Godrick, the game’s first two main bosses. Here are some tips to help you out.

As tough as Margit and Godrick may be, most people would argue that they’ve got nothing on Radahn. But there’s one way you can take him down very easily. Here’s how to beat Radahn.

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Defeating bosses will grant you Great Runes, but what they do and how to activate them is, like most of the game, not so clear. Here’s all you need to know about Great Runes.

Of course, there’s no shortage of unforgiving enemies in Elden Ring. Here’s a collection of several more guides in case you’re stuck.

Ashes of War are important character buffs that you can stumble upon to enhance your hero. You’ll not want to miss them, so be sure to find a few of the earliest in the game, including Unsheathe, Determination, and Gravitas. Aside from those, you should also be sure to grab your first torch for exploring dark areas, as well as your first map fragment, which acts as a tutorial on how to reveal the map.

Even the most adept players on the controller won’t get far without some deadly weapons of their own. Here’s where to find a few choice weapons early in Limgrave, including the coveted Twinblade. Later on, you’ll want to look for an assortment of other weapons for all builds. We’ve got guides on where to find choice weapons such as:

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One of Elden Ring’s many influences is the beloved anime, Berserk. You can even find the special sword from the series if you know where to look. Here’s everything about the Guts Dragonslayer Greatsword in Elden Ring.

If you’ve managed to find some great early weapons, you should seek to make them even better by upgrading them. The process is a bit tricky and easy to miss, so don’t miss it! For that matter, you’ll also need the Miner’s Bell Bearing.

Once you know how to upgrade weapons, you’ll want to know where to find those all-important Smithing Stones. We’ve found a ton already, and we’ll be showcasing more as we discover them. Here’s all Smithing Stones and Somber Smithing Stones so far.

You can rely on summons to aid you in combat, but not if you miss this early opportunity to find the all-important Spirit Calling Bell. Here’s where to find it.

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The Mimic Tear is one of the best Spirit Ashes in the game–some would say it’s alone at the top–so you should make an effort to grab it. Here’s where to grab the Mimic Tear and why you should.

One of the best ways to level up quickly is to farm Runes from more approachable locations. The early hours of Elden Ring has several of these. Take note and you’ll have deep pockets in no time. We’ve made a special note of the 80K Rune dragon you can slay too–it doesn’t even put up a fight.

Elden Ring adds some wrinkles to the familiar flask system From Software players will be familiar with, so it’s important to understand what’s different and what remains the same. Here’s all you need to know about flasks.

Your flask in Elden Ring is arguably more important than ever. You can customize it to suit your play style in special ways, so be sure to find Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears in these locations.

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For some weapons, you’ll need Grave and Ghost Gloveworts, but these are also hard to find–what isn’t in this game? Here’s where to find Grave Gloveworts and Ghost Gloveworts.

Questlines in Elden Ring are among the most confusing elements of the game, but they don’t have to be. Here are all of our walkthroughs for the many people you’ll meet in the Lands Between.

Elden Ring has several different endings, and each one requires very specific things. Luckily, not only do we have a guide on how to unlock all endings, we can also help you know when to save scum so you can see all endings in one go. Just make sure you pay extra attention to the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending.

Continuing a long-standing tradition for From Software games, Elden Ring does have a NG+ mode. Here’s how to access it, what carries over, and what doesn’t.

Fresh from your adventure in the Lands Between, you’ll soon find yourself in the Lands of Shadow. This time, you’ll search for Miquella the Empyrean, and you’ll meet new characters who are also on a journey. Be ready for tough battles ahead.

The whole process is convoluted to a fault, and you need to complete all the tasks if you want to step foot in the Lands of Shadow.

We’ve also got several tips to help you prepare for the journey.

Learn where to head first and what to do there in this Erdtree-focused guide.

Take these base-game gear items into the DLC to give yourself a good head start.

There’s a vast new realm to explore. We’ve got the full world map for you to check out.

You should also be on the lookout for Miquella Crosses, which mark the path taken by your quarry.

Make your way to the southern coast, with flowers in full bloom and deadly foes by the beach. These two regions are called Cerulean Coast and Charo’s Hidden Grave.

The Jagged Peak is in the southeastern portion of the realm. It’s also the domain of dragons. You might even notice some references to Game of Thrones.

The region to the northwest, the Ancient Ruins of Rauh, has temple complexes atop plateaus, as well as ravines and rivers that are crawling with hostiles.

The northeast region, also known as Scaduview/Hinterlands can’t be reached from the get-go. That’s because there’s a secret method that unlocks it.

Venture deep into the Abyssal Woods and be ready for madness-inducing monsters. The atmosphere of this place even gives horror vibes.

There are new upgrade materials that you can collect. The Scadutree Fragments boost the capabilities of your character.

Revered Spirit Ashes, meanwhile, further strengthen your summons.

These points of interest, known as Nameless Mausoleums, have one opponent that you must face. Defeating them nets you unique armor sets and weapons.

Acquire a multitude of new talismans to boost your offense and defense.

Unleash powerful magic spells that can only be obtained from DLC areas.

Have your spirit summons lend an aid in battle.

Obtain ashes of war weapon skills for your armaments.

Feel like punching and kicking your opponents? Beat them up with your signature unarmed combat style. Of course, you can also obtain a monk armor set that’s in keeping with the theme.

Let Me Solo Her defeated Malenia countless times wearing only a ceramic container as an armor piece. Now, you can put a larger Greatjar on your head.

An armor that’s pitch black makes you look ominous, and it’s definitely cool. You can learn more in our Night Armor guide.

There are 11 major bosses in the Realm of Shadow, and they will all test your mettle. We’ve got the details for you in our DLC bosses guide.

Of course, taking out a great foe means that you get to choose a reward. Come take a look at our Remembrances guide if you’re curious.

While most of the NPCs are followers of Miquella, Thiollier himself is devoted to a particular being. You can complete Thiollier’s quest, which takes you to various regions.

A wizard named Ymir wants you to do a few errands, and they lead you to some really unnerving places. We talk about these objectives in our Ymir Finger Ruins quest guide.

So, what exactly do you need to do to complete the DLC’s main arc? Well, the goal is to unseal the Belurat Tower of Shadow, which leads to a late-game area.

Note: We’ll update our Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree guides hub with more articles for the DLC, so stay tuned.

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