Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree simply acquired its first Gameplay Trailer and a launch date of June twenty first, 2024. We’ve been anticipating this is able to be the discharge window, so now we get a number of months to catch everybody up on gameplay mechanics for the present recreation, and benefit from the gradual drip of hype and information till the growth launch.
On this article, we’ll be taking an in-depth have a look at the whole lot revealed with the brand new DLC trailer, in addition to all the knowledge unfold round on the official web site, official interviews, and extra.
Shadow of the Erdtree: Simply How Massive is It?
The size of growth has been fueling lots of hypothesis surrounding the dimensions of the growth. As well as, the Steam web page for the sport lists necessities as 60GB, which is 25% bigger than the bottom recreation, leaving many questioning what which means for content material itself.
Followers of FromSoftware will know that their DLC content material is often packed into small and pre-prepared DLC installments, such because the three crowns of Darkish Souls 2 or the two DLCs of Darkish Souls 3. Bloodborne and Darkish Souls, nonetheless, had particular person expansions that featured new areas, enemies and weapons or magic sorts.
Map Measurement and Rivalry
Elden Ring is taking the growth strategy, however recreation director Hidetaka Miyazaki has certainly confirmed that Shadow of the Erdtree is the “largest growth FromSoftware has ever labored on”. This was adopted up with a remark to Eurogamer that gamers can count on an space “Bigger than Limgrave” when it comes to floor. This particular level has now created some confusion or perhaps a delicate controversy on-line, as many gamers had been anticipating the growth to be a lot bigger than only one zone of the bottom recreation. Let’s dive into this.
Initially, it’s essential to notice that many interviews are notably incorrect or deceptive within the early levels of preview and promotion. That is the results of the developer being guarded on the knowledge supplied, the purpose to “underpromise and overdeliver” and, generally, translation. For the precise remark relating to Limgrave, my takeaway is that the growth will function very like Darkish Souls and Bloodborne and easily add a brand new “zone” which can have sub-areas and dungeons inside it.
Huge Maps
The official web site emphasizes space measurement in each the English and Japanese variations of the sport, calling them “Huge Maps”. Additionally they go on to emphasise “seamless” transition from Dungeon to Discipline, and “intricate” world design. Studying between the traces, I feel which means that we gained’t be getting empty huge areas however somewhat a extra centered strategy to a really rigorously designed space with a wealth of content material. This could be an identical strategy to Bloodborne, that added solely 4 new “areas” however virtually doubled the in-game trick weapons, giving gamers new methods to strategy the entire recreation. The Eurogamer interview reinforces this attitude, stating that the growth problem can be comparable with endgame, which implies that the developer is anticipating you’ll choose up the brand new instruments and builds and transfer on to NG+ with them.
What’s the New Content material within the Elden Ring DLC
The Trailer revealed a number of characters, boss encounters, enemies, and confirmed off some new tools and expertise. Let’s break it down.
Boss Fights
We all know from the developer interview that there will likely be greater than 10 new Boss Fights. We have no idea if these are merely area bosses, which may very well be fairly underwhelming when it comes to boss encounters for FromSoftware, or if Miyazaki was considering of the harshest of boss fights. On this occasion, I’m inclined to imagine he meant severe boss fights, as Limgrave has one thing like 30 boss encounters when together with Discipline Bosses, so if we’re one thing of comparable measurement, with Legacy Dungeons and extra “density” there’s no method they solely slot in 10 or so fights.
New Weapons Classes
Feeling fairly excited by the thought that it’s 10 new principal fights and who is aware of what number of smaller ones, the largest game-changer for me goes to be the 8 new Weapon Classes to be added to the sport. It is a MASSIVE improve, much like Bloodborne, as there are at present 31 classes and eight extra signify a 25.8% improve! The best guess right here is that we’re getting some new sorts of magic with their very own weapon sort, new melee tools choices, and a few new ranged choices.
On this particular level, as I discussed on the Trailer Impressions video, there’s a line that mentions “Tackle these threats with the brand new powers you may purchase”. This may very well be associated to the weapons, however it will possibly additionally imply we might get some particular new skills akin to these from the Nice Runes. I would like to see one thing like this that’s extra impactful and have it have an effect on gameplay radically, so hoping I’m studying this proper.
Content material Overview
By way of different content material, and going by how earlier expansions have labored, we will count on to see an entire set of recent enemies and a complement of recent Expertise, Ashes of Battle, Talismans and Armor. If we stick with the numbers from Limgrave, this might imply over 18 NPCs, 40 wildlife creatures and enemies, plus over 100 distinctive Objects, ashes, keys, magic and tools. To present you some perspective, the Artorias of the Abyss growth for Darkish Souls added 5 spells, 5 NPCs, 4 bosses, and 33 whole combine of things, weapons and armor.
The conclusion I’m drawing right here is that we’re going to get the Bloodborne remedy of an growth space that isn’t huge in measurement versus the overall recreation, however has depth of content material and mechanics that can transform the way you strategy and really feel about the entire recreation. Now onto the precise additions revealed by the trailer, let’s have a body by body look!
Gameplay Trailer Breakdown
The primary pans of the Shadowlands has the character and Torrent dashing down a highway, actually following Miquella’s path as proven within the earlier teaser artwork, the place Torrent and Miquella navigate this identical area. The realm is littered by graves that we will presume are from the Cleaning, and within the background we see what I’ll name the “Shadow Tree”, a withered and smoldering model of the acquainted Erdtree of the bottom recreation, that’s virtually “behind the veil” and should nicely sign this can be a purgatory land or what lies past.
Because the scene expands, you may observe the roots embedded into the panorama, reminding me of Deathroot and reinforcing the grave and blight theme of the realm.
New Armor
You’re subsequent up handled to a close-up of a brand new armor set which we will presume will likely be somewhat heavy and is a bit much like the Carian Knight Set, and importantly an emblem of what seems like a crescent with a cross or star. This may very well be the DLC model of “steerage by grace”, but it surely’s more than likely a Nice Rune, because the image seems like a tweaked model of the Nice Rune of the Unborn.
The subsequent scene depicts a unique panorama, this time with a reddish sky and sundown glow, and one more new armor set and enormous greatsword, with the armor draped in what seems to be fur not in contrast to Blaidd’s. That is more than likely an NPC set. Additional alongside, the sky adjustments once more to a blueish tinge, and showcases one more armor set that appears extraordinarily heavy and perhaps ceramic. Might it’s Pot-related? and jogs my memory of one of many Sentinels from the bottom recreation considerably. It’s holding an enormous model of a Firepot, in a while within the trailer we’ll see these are new throwable gadgets.
We Meet Once more
Now issues get fascinating, displaying one other new set with a zoom right into a white-masked determine laying on a mattress of flowers much like these you see round Malenia, Blade of Miquella. That is one more new armor set and a small atmosphere reveal. Might this character mendacity right here be a masked Miquella?
The subsequent space is a big and destroyed viewers room with purple-flame braziers and eerie blue candles. On the throne of this room sits a regal NPC with regalia considerably harking back to Rennala’s type, a shorter hat and a big exuberant collared gown. That is one other armor you’ll more than likely be capable to receive.
The tempo adjustments to indicate the Tarnished using by a blighted swamp, with lifeless timber, roots and what appears to be a poisoned however smoldering floor. We all know Miyazaki confirmed that he loves doing swamps, and appeared to indicate there can be multiple, so this confirms the primary look.
The Portrait of the Couple
A portrait is proven that depicts a lordly couple, with the lady touching her abdomen and inserting a hand on the person. It might be logical to imagine that is the “mom” referenced by the voiceover of the trailer, however there’s too some ways this might go to be definitive. This may very well be Fia and her late husband.
As we proceed, the Tarnished is seen exploring an underground space with massive pots and low visibility, requiring a torch. Might this be the place the Pots are from or created? That is more than likely a legacy dungeon or an exploration dungeon throughout the new area, and the segway to a really fascinating view that took me proper to Volcano Method from the bottom recreation.
Themes of Hearth However No Ice
A magma space with a big chained platform is seen. For the reason that theme of the DLC appears to have quite a bit to do with “hearth” and “cleaning”, and the tree within the space is certainly smoldering, it’s doable this space is definitely close to or inside that tree.
After that peek, we’re proven what’s more than likely one of many principal Legacy Dungeons of the DLC, a fairly lovely fortress with white partitions and delightful pillars. The highest of the fortress is, nonetheless disintegrating and disappearing to ashes, possible as a result of fading of the tree.
Reinforcing the “Hearth” theme, an enormous assemble of iron and hearth is seen standing up, which is more than likely the opening cutscene for a boss battle much like that of the Hearth Large within the base recreation, and together with massive AoE hearth assaults.
Extra Enemies
Extra enemies are proven, together with a repugnant worm-like creature and a stunning boss battle with a pseudo Chinese language Dragon utilizing large lightning assaults and demise blight, that truly made me consider the Wu-Kong trailer we highlighted about a short time again. The foot of this character seems strikingly much like the foot of Margit from the bottom recreation, indicating that is doable an Omen or associated to him in someway.
The trailer returns to now present the primary antagonist of the growth, Messmer the Impaler, who appears to summon hearth magic that has some results akin to blood, aka bloodflame. The temporary glimpse of this character segways into motion, displaying dual-wielding assaults with a brand new paired weapon in opposition to new enemies in an underground space with grass and water, and showcasing a selected sprint.
A nighttime scene can also be proven, the place a tarnished makes use of a brand new throwing knives ability and probably one other new paired weapon in opposition to a brand new sort of enemy that makes use of a big cleaver. The trailer then crescendos to the full-blown animation of a wholly new magic, pink-colored and with numerous butterfly results, which can imply it has a connection to Miquella and may very well be Messmer magic.
New Expertise
Subsequent up we see full-on martial arts with some kind of ability that permits the tarnished to create flying kicks Mortal Kombat type in opposition to one more new enemy sort that’s wielding a brand new twinblade. Then we will see a tarnished utilizing a brand new armor set and a brand new ranged weapon that fires a number of projectiles in fast succession, and a few kind of new Beast’s Roar much like the Dragon Magic we all know from the bottom recreation, however with a bear’s head.
One other space is then revealed, that includes a samurai dealing with off in opposition to what seems like one in every of Milicent’s Sisters, in an evening area with blue flowers and fireflies. That is one other armor set and weapon reveal, as these usually are not within the base recreation.
New Bosses
One other boss is proven, this time a knight mounting a big boar and utilizing a purple lightning-enchanted Lance. It is a new type of magic not at present within the recreation, and doubtless one other armor set we will receive.
One other boss is proven, akin to a big hippo-beast crawling throughout shallow water and summoning massive protecting spikes round its head, earlier than returning to an underground space with suspicious flowers to indicate a big Albinauric boss with a damaged steed wielding an enormous curved membership that may be thrown like a disk or boomerang.
Because the trailer nears its finish, one other doable boss is proven, a creature clad in aged yellow robes and impaled by golden shards, adopted by extra particulars on the battle with Messmer, showcasing a few of his strikes and a few kind of Twinblade-Defend combo weapon that we’ve by no means seen earlier than.
It closes off with a glimpse of Miquella.
With all this content material, you understand what this implies, I’m about so as to add one other 100 builds to our Builds assortment, and one other 8 “Greatest Weapon of Elden Ring” to our collection. I’ll after all be aiming to complete the present collection by June, so be happy to drop concepts or recommendations within the feedback.
The Story of the Elden Ring DLC
One other side that’s strengthened all through the promotion supplies is “Freedom”. Freedom to make your character, your construct, your development, your decisions. On this sense, we will count on that the growth problem will likely be on par with the bottom recreation the place essentially the most difficult encounters had been non-obligatory to completion, however Miyazaki additionally hinted that they wished to make the Growth doable to entry and exit.
From this, I might assume that the entry level to the Shadowlands will likely be comparatively early within the recreation. Given the DLC story follows Miquella, I assume the obvious place can be Mohg’s Palace by “Contact the withered Arm and journey to the realm of shadow.”, but it surely’s doable there might also be an entrance from the Rose Church in Liurnia or a easy gateway unlocked by some NPC interplay or particular merchandise.
The plot itself is clearly laid out: Miquella set off to the Land of Shadow, discarding divinity, physique and golden energy. These lands had been scorched by Messmer in a “cleaning” after a holy struggle, which appears to consult with the Crucible. I don’t need to go too deeply into this, however we have now an entire collection of Lore Shorts and a Lore web page on the wiki that may actually assist piece collectively the background resulting in this growth.
You will need to be aware that whereas there are clues and lots of theories available, typically surrounding deathblight, Melina, smoldering butterflies, graves and blood, the official supplies clearly state “A narrative by no means informed earlier than”, so the growth goes to be filling in blanks and including context to the present recreation, not repeating what you already know.
The Editions and Value of Shadow of the Erdtree
With the gameplay and launch date, so got here preorders. Now you can preorder Shadow of the Erdtree for 39.99 as an improve to your base recreation. There’s additionally a Premium Version, priced 49.99, and shockingly a full Collector’s Version that features a determine of Messmer for 249.99 USD.
PRE-ORDER BONUS FOR SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE
By preordering any of the out there editions for Shadow of the Erdtree, gamers will be capable to receive a particular gesture referred to as Ring of Miquella.
SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE STANDARD EDITION & PREMIUM BUNDLE
There are two out there editions for gamers to buy :
- The usual version of Shadow of the Erdtree, which comprises a duplicate of the DLC
- The Premium Bundle version of Shadow of the Erdtree, which comprises a duplicate of the DLC, a Digital Artbook and the Unique Soundtrack
ELDEN RING SHADOW OF THE EDTREE COLLECTOR’S EDITION
From Software program can also be releasing a bodily Collector’s Version for Shadow of the Erdtree, which comprises the next:
- Shadow of the Erdtree Voucher Code
- Official Soundtrack
- 40 Web page Exhausting-Cowl Artbook
- A 46-cm statue of Messmer the Impaler
And that’s all we have now for this video analyzing the Elden Ring DLC Gameplay Trailer. However we’d love to listen to your ideas and theories! Will you be taking part in the sport in anticipation of the DLC? Is there any content material you’d wish to see earlier than June? What are you most enthusiastic about for the growth? Share your ideas within the feedback beneath!
When you’re keen to start exploring the depth of the Land of Shadows, head to our wiki. Take a look at information on Weapons, Builds, Areas, Magic Spells and extra.