Elden Ring: Everything We Know About Shadow Of The Erdtree From The Trailer

FromSoftware has released the first trailer for Shadow of the Erdtree, the highly anticipated expansion of its hit game Elden Ring. As expected, the new trailer is shrouded in mystery, and it’s too soon to know everything that Shadow of the Erdtree has in store for fans. However, we have been introduced to new weapons, spells, locations, and monumental bosses prepared to kill you dozens of times.

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While we wait for Shadow of the Erdtree to launch on June 21, we’ve decided to break down all the new information the DLC trailer reveals. So, without further ado, here’s everything we know about Shadow of the Erdtree from the first trailer.

8 Shadow Of The Erdtree Is All About Miquela

As teased in the DLC announcement, Shadow of the Erdtree will expand the lore of Miquella, the most mysterious of Elden Ring’s demigods. There’s not much we know for certain about Miquela, but in the DLC, we will follow the demigod's footsteps through the Lands of Shadow, a whole new map to explore.

According to FromSoftware’s press release, the DLC will also explore the dark side of Elden Ring’s story, which means the DLC will probably shed some light on the game’s unsolved mysteries.

7 A New Map, The Land of Shadow

Instead of adding new sections to Elden Ring’s massive map, the Land of Shadow is an entire area filled with castles, cities, and an expansive landscape. The first look at the Land of Shadow shows massive structures on the horizon, teasing the huge size of the DLC.

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With a world this open, it can be hard to know where to go next.

Furthermore, the trailer shows fields of grass, swamps, and areas filled with lava, which means there will be a variety of biomes accessible in Shadow of the Erdtree. Since the Lands of Shadow also has a giant tree in the middle of the map, there's also a chance the DLC will somehow mirror Elden Ring's map. That would explain the variety of biomes.

6 New NPCs

The new Shadow of the Erdtree trailer also introduces some NPCs you’ll interact with in Elden Ring’s DLC. We don’t know much about these figures, but it looks like we’ll deal with a regal person, a stern woman sitting on a throne, as well as some new knights, and a figure who appears to have met an untimely death in a lake.

You can likely expect more convoluted questline based around these characters. However, since the DLC takes place on a new map, the new questlines should not intertwine with the ones available in the base game.

5 New Bosses

Of course, one of the trailer's highlights is the new bosses. Apparently, some bosses are designed to fight on their mounts, including a knight riding a creature inspired by a hippopotamus and one of Those Who Live in Death riding a decaying steed. The death rider is not the only zombie you'll be facing, as the trailer also shows a bizarre corpse pulling its own spine from its eyes like a sword.

Another boss that gets a lot of screen time is a humanoid creature with a huge lion head grafted onto his torso. There’s also a giant fire construct that seems inspired by Volcano Manor’s iron maidens.

4 New Abilities

While some challenging bosses are waiting in Shadow of the Erdtree, there are also a bunch of new weapons and spells for you. In the trailer, we get introduced to a new Crucible Incantation capable of giving you wings, a rapid-shooting crossbow, and a huge bomb pot you can throw at enemies. There’s also an eye-popping mass spell that either puts several enemies to sleep or charms them to fight by your side, as the pink glow represents both effects in the base game.

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The trailer also presents some curious Ashes of War, including one that lets you kick your enemies. Finally, a new roar ability transforms your head into a lion, similar to how the Dragon Communion Incantations work.

3 Does Shadow Of The Erdtree Introduce A New Demigod?

The most mysterious figure in the trailer is a humanoid with a red snake that follows them around. From the few lines of dialogue we get in the Shadow of the Erdtree trailer, this new character might be a new demigod.

When this character appears, the voiceover says, “Those stripped of the Grace of Gold shall all meet death. In the embrace of Messmer’s flame.” The same voice asks, “Mother, wouldst thou truly Lorship sanction in one so bereft of light?” This character could wonder why Marika would allow a Tarnish to become Lord.

In the trailer, we also glimpse a new Great Rune, meaning there will be at least one demigod to defeat on Shadow of the Erdtree.

2 How Do You Access Elden Ring’s DLC?

The Shadow of the Erdtree trailer all but confirms how you can get to the Lands of Shadow. The final lines of dialogue in the trailer say, “Come now. Touch the withered arm and travel to the realm of shadow. I will not be far behind. May we meet again.” The withered arm is the arm of Miquella, which becomes accessible after defeating Mohg, an end-game boss.

It’s fair to assume killing Mohg will be one of the prerequisites to access the DLC. Curiously, we see the feet of a character who's dressed like Melina in Mohg's palace, which means your Finger Maiden might hold the key to accessing the DLC.

1 When Does Shadow Of The Erdtree Release?

Find out all the details of the different editions of Shadow Of The Erdtree, what they contain, and where to get them in our Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree Pre-Order Guide.

Shadow of the Erdtree will become available on June 21 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

The DLC is also available for pre-purchase for those who have the base game. Furthermore, FromSoftware is launching a special bundle called Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree edition, which comes with the base game and the DLC. The bundle will also be available on June 21.

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