Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Beginner's Guide: How to start, where to go first & more

In this beginner's guide for Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, I'll show you the best way to kick off your adventure in the Land of Shadow, including how to start the expansion, where to go first, early upgrade materials, and all of the best early weapons.

How to start the DLC

You must first defeat both Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood before you can start the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

Once you've beaten both foes though, head back into Mohg's boss arena at the Cocoon of the Empyrean Site of Grace and there should be a knight named Leda waiting for you by the large egg.

You don't have to speak to Leda in order to start the DLC, but I'd highly recommend it for narrative purposes! Either way though, walk up to the arm dangling from the egg, press the interact button to touch it, and you'll be transported to the Land of Shadow. This officially starts your journey in Shadow of the Erdtree.

Where to go first

Getting the Map Fragment

The first thing you'll want to do once you officially start Shadow of the Erdtree is the same thing you do in any new area - pick up the Map Fragment. Thankfully this isn't too far from the first Site of Grace, although your likely path takes you past the aggro range of a dangerous Curseblade enemy. Don't feel bad if this new foe takes you down a few notches, as it certainly took me a couple of tries to beat!

Once you've conquered the deadly Curseblade - or simply just sped past it on Torrent - you'll be able to pick up the Gravesite Plain Map Fragment, making the surrounding area much easier to navigate.

Belurat or Castle Ensis

There are two legacy dungeon-style areas in the first map area, giving you a choice of challenges to face. Belurat, Tower Settlement lies in the northwest, whereas Castle Ensis is situated to the northeast.

I'd personally recommend heading to Belurat first over Castle Ensis, as not only is it larger in size, giving you more opportunities to build runes and level up, but it's also the easiest of the two. Don't be fooled into thinking that it'll be a cakewalk though, as the enemies inside and the boss at the end don't hold any punches.

Like most things in Elden Ring though, if you find yourself at a roadblock in Belurat, feel free to head over to Castle Ensis instead and work your way through that.

Dungeon challenges

You can also dive into a couple of dungeon-style areas in Gravesite Plain if you don't quite feel ready to head into either of the two legacy dungeons.

The quickest is the Western Nameless Mausoleum, found to the west of the Scorched Ruins. There are a few Gravebirds to contend with along the way, so keep your eyes peeled for any dropping down ahead of you.

The Mausoleum isn't a dungeon in the traditional sense, and is simply a boss challenge - but one that is sure to test your skills. Defeating the Black Gaol Knight here will give you the Greatsword of Solitude and the Solitude armour set, putting you in pole position to tackle the rest of the DLC.

Alternatively, you can head down the road southeast of Castle Ensis to reach the Dragon's Pit. This is a more traditional dungeon with skeletal enemies and a deadly Magma Wyrm hiding inside. Don't be fooled into thinking the Wyrm is the boss though, as you'll need to drop down by the large chalice to face the true boss, Ancient Dragon-Man. Besting this foe not only gives you a fantastic sword but also a route to a new area you might want to start exploring.

Early upgrade materials

Scadutree Fragments

There are 9 Scadutree Fragments that you can pick up within the first map area, allowing you to upgrade your Scadutree Blessing a couple of times and make yourself stronger.

Revered Spirit Ashes

There are 6 Revered Spirit Ashes to find in Gravesite Plain, which allows you to increase Torrent's health pool and enhance the strength of any Spirit Ashes you bring into battle.

Best early weapons & armour

Weapons

1. Backhand Blade (Dexterity)
2. Pata (Dexterity / Strength)
3. Bone Bow (Archery)
4. Dragon Hunter's Great Katana (Dexterity / Strength)
5. Great Katana (Dexterity / Strength)
6. Milady (Dexterity)
7. Greatsword of Solitude

I personally went for the Backhand Blade as my early DLC weapon, as its speed and high damage combine perfectly against many of the tougher foes. Milady is also an excellent option though, alongside the Dragon Hunter's Great Katana - although the latter is a bit tougher to get your hands on.

Armour

1. Oathseeker Knight Set
2. Gravebird Armour
3. Gravebird Bracelets
4. Rellana's Armour Set
5. Solitude Set

While you should already have some great armour going into the DLC, I certainly can't say no to new additions to my wardrobe. The Oathseeker set is a real highlight, and the Gravebird pieces are perfect for anyone cosplaying as Eileen from Bloodborne.

Rellana's set was my go-to once I've defeated her though, as its high defence but low weight makes it perfect for combat, and its gorgeous design was a constant delight to look at as I explored the Land of Shadow.

Early NPC locations

1. Freyja, Hornsent
2. Ansbach, Moore
3. Thiollier
4. Leda, Hornsent
5. Dryleaf Dane
6. Empyrean Grandam

NPCs will move as you progress their quests and continue through the game, but these are the starting points for each one if you want to make sure that none are missed.

You'll need to either beat Rellana in Castle Ensis or work your way around into Scadu Altus before you can speak to Leda, Dryleaf Dane, or Hornsent (2nd encounter) though, so it's best sticking to Freyja, Hornsent, Thiollier, Moore, and Ansbach in the early stages.

Is there an easy mode in Shadow of the Erdtree?

While it initially seemed as if the Scadutree Blessing mechanic functioned as an easy mode of sorts pre-release, it is very much a core part of your progression within the DLC, and thus it's highly recommended that all players upgrade their Blessing using Scadutree Fragments.

Beyond that, there is no discreet easy mode to employ, although you can still use Spirit Ashes, NPC summons, and multiplayer cooperation in order to dampen some of the challenges.