Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is currently facing a lot of negative reviews because of how difficult this brand new DLC is.
While it is an extension of the base game, the DLC ushers in some refreshing changes that can take some time getting used to. And in true Soulslike fashion, the game doesn’t tell you about these mechanics and features unless you end up experimenting with them.
So, if you’re having a hard time making your way through the game because the enemies are one-shotting you and giving you the beating of a lifetime over and over again, you’re probably not playing it correctly, and here’s what you’ve been missing out.
In Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, you’ve ventured into the Shadow Realm, and things work slightly different here. You will come across two new items that are very important to your progression in the game. They are:
- Scadutree Fragments
- Revered Spirit Ashes
Scadutree Fragments give you damage negation while boosting your damage output, while Divine Spirit Ashes do the same for your NPC summons.
Scadutree Fragments
There are a total of 50 Scadutree Fragments that you will come across in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree., that you can use to progress through 20 levels of Scadutree Blessings.
It’s worth noting that you won’t unlock the blessings page until you’ve found atleast one Fragment in the game. All 50 Fragments are scattered in the world, but can be generally found in these three places:
- At churches or in front of large statues of Marika.
- Crosses of Miquella.
- Carried by Shadow Undead with large sparkling pots.
So, if you come across any of the aforementioned areas while exploring the Realm of Shadows, make sure to collect these Fragments because they’ll help you survive longer and hit harder.
Revered Spirit Ashes
There are 24 Revered Spirit Ashes that you will find in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Unlike the Scadutree Fragments, these will help you unlock blessings that affect your summons including Torrent.
These can generally be found at the following locations:
- Large corpses sitting on pedestals
- Omen Shamans
- Shadow Undead with large sparkling pots.
It’s also worth remembering that you will be able to use both these blessings at the same time meaning both bonuses will be active. Once you start using these items, you’ll notice the stark difference in your gameplay, because you’ll be surviving more and hitting the bosses harder than before.
