Venturing into Shadow of the Erdtree, Elden Ring’s sprawling DLC, is no simple task. With its labyrinthine paths, towering dungeons, and cryptic clues left by Miquella, every decision shapes your journey through the Land of Shadows. But where should you begin in this perilous new realm? From Gravesite Plain to Shadow Keep, your first steps could determine whether you uncover hidden treasures—or fall to the merciless challenges ahead.
Our interactive map will also be helpful during exploration. You will find plenty of markers with useful tips and locations of points of interest.
Explore the Gravesite Plain
The Gravesite Plain serves as your entry point into the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, offering a vast, eerie landscape filled with spectral gravestones and branching paths. This expansive area is packed with challenges, including formidable bosses, hidden dungeons, and essential Sites of Grace to aid your journey. Your first priority should be obtaining the map fragment near the Scorched Ruins to navigate effectively. Be cautious of powerful enemies like the Curseblade Ascetic lurking nearby. From here, you can explore subregions such as Belurat Tower Settlement or Castle Ensis, each teeming with unique rewards and dangers. Whether you’re seeking powerful gear or unraveling the mysteries of Miquella’s realm, the Gravesite Plain is the perfect starting point for your adventure.
After crossing the portal leading to the Land of Shadow, your character will end up in the open space of the Gravesite Plain. It is a large region where you can move freely. Take advantage of your first moments with the expansion to explore the area on horseback. You can find a lot of interesting places, locations and collectibles here.
It’s also a good idea to look for Map Fragments, which will reveal a hidden part of the Land of Shadow. Tips on where to look for each fragment can be found on the dedicated guide page, titled All map fragments.
If you want to practice combat, a duel with the Blackgaol Knight is a good warm-up. He resides in the Western Nameless Mausoleum, near the expansion’s starting location. The fight with this mini-boss is not the most difficult battle in the game, but it will certainly allow people who took a long break before the expansion’s release to refresh the basics of combat. More information about the fight with this particular boss can be found on the guide page titled How to defeat boss Blackgaol Knight?.
Collect Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes
To strengthen your character in Shadow of the Erdtree, prioritize collecting Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes, as they are essential for progressing through the Shadow Realm Blessing mechanic. Scadutree Fragments increase your attack power and defense within the DLC zones, while Revered Spirit Ashes enhance your Spirit Summons and Torrent. Many Scadutree Fragments are found near Sites of Grace, statues, or hidden caves, such as those in Scadu Altus and the Ancient Ruins of Rauh. Revered Spirit Ashes often drop from Shadow Undead carrying sparkling pots or can be found near statues and beast remains. Visit a Site of Grace to apply these items and unlock their benefits.
An important mechanic introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree are new types of collectibles – Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes. These ingredients enable you to unlock and strengthen a special blessing that significantly affects the hero’s combat potential in the Land of Shadow. Although collecting them may seem unnecessary at first, later, more difficult DLC bosses will force you to increase your Shadow Realm Blessing. More information about these collectibles can be found on a separate page of our guide, and for the exact locations of all fragments and ashes, see the chapter dedicated to Secrets and Collectibles.
First stop – Belurat
First Stop – Belurat
Belurat, Tower Settlement is the ideal starting point for players diving into Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Located in the northwest corner of the Gravesite Plain, this Legacy Dungeon serves as an accessible yet challenging introduction to the DLC’s mechanics and narrative. From the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace, players can follow the road west through a tunnel and across a bridge to reach the settlement’s imposing gates. Inside, adventurers will face a variety of enemies, including Spider-Scorpions and Shadow Undead, while uncovering hidden treasures like Revered Spirit Ashes and Scadutree Fragments. The dungeon culminates in a boss fight against the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, offering crucial story insights into Miquella’s motivations and setting the stage for the overarching adventure.
The first large location we recommend you visit is the Belurat castle complex. It is located in the north-western part of the map. You can get there by following the path leading west from the Site of Grace calle Three-Path Cross.
This multi-level location is filled with various enemies, collectibles and secrets. At the end of the tour, you will also come face to face with the first serious boss – the Dancing Lion. Fighting him will test your skills and will be a foretaste of the challenge that awaits you in later sections of Shadow of the Erdtree. For a handful of tips related to this enemy, see the How to defeat boss Divine Beast Dancing Lion? page.
Passage in Castle Ensis
Passage in Castle Ensis
Castle Ensis, the second major Legacy Dungeon in Shadow of the Erdtree, offers a challenging yet rewarding experience. Located northeast of Gravesite Plain, it serves as both a gateway to Scadu Altus and a key step in Needle Knight Leda’s questline. Upon entering from the Castle Front Site of Grace, players must navigate treacherous terrain filled with traps, ambushes, and powerful enemies, including the formidable Troll Knight wielding sorceries. Progressing through the castle involves finding alternate paths, such as scaling walls and exploring hidden areas, to bypass locked gates. Along the way, players can collect valuable items like the Spelldrake Talisman +3 and Loyal Knight’s Cookbook while uncovering secrets tied to Miquella’s journey. This dungeon encapsulates Elden Ring’s signature blend of difficulty and exploration, making it a memorable stop in the DLC.
Once you have cleared Belurat, you can head to Ensis Castle to the east. This location is a link between the Graveyard Plain region and the Scadu Altus region.
This location is filled with dangerous soldiers, and Rellana is waiting for you at the very end – a demanding and extremely fast boss who uses two blades. Once you manage to defeat it, another large region will open. More about the main boss of Ensis Castle can be found on the guide page titled How to defeat boss Rellana, Twin Moon Knight?.
What are the key locations to visit first in Shadow of the Erdtree
When starting Shadow of the Erdtree, prioritizing key locations can help you navigate its vast world effectively. Here are the recommended areas to visit first:
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Gravesite Plain: This is the starting area where you’ll find your footing in the DLC. Explore thoroughly to gather resources and locate the first Map Fragment for better navigation.
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Scadu Altus: Head east to this region, which features ruins and churches. Visit the Cathedral of Manus Metyr to meet Count Ymir and begin his questline. This area also offers valuable Scadutree Fragments and crafting materials.
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Shadow Keep: A central hub connecting multiple regions, Shadow Keep is crucial for progression. Explore its flooded Church District, uncover hidden paths, and defeat bosses like Messmer the Impaler to unlock new routes5.
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Moorth Ruins: Located east of Scadu Altus, these ruins unlock access to Bonny Village and Count Ymir’s questline. Carefully descend into pits and explore for hidden treasures and NPC interactions.
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Cerulean Coast: After progressing through Shadow Keep, visit this scenic area to complete Igon’s questline and explore Charo’s Hidden Grave for rare items.
These locations provide a mix of exploration, quests, and essential upgrades to prepare for the challenges ahead in Shadow of the Erdtree.
What are the best side quests to start first in Shadow of the Erdtree
Here are the best side quests to start first in Shadow of the Erdtree:
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Igon’s Questline – Curse You, Bayle!
Begin this quest near the Jagged Peak, where Igon recounts his encounter with Bayle the Dread. This quest leads to one of the toughest boss fights in the DLC and allows you to summon Igon during the battle. Completing it rewards unique dialogue and items. -
Freyja and Hornsent’s Questline
Start at the Three-Path Cross Site of Grace by meeting Freyja and Hornsent. This quest introduces key NPCs and provides the Crosses Map, essential for navigating Scadu Altus and Shadow Keep. It also unlocks spells like Watchful Spirit6. -
Leda’s Questline – May the Best Win
Found at Castle Ensis, Leda’s quest involves defeating Dryleaf Dane and resolving conflicts between followers of Miquella. This quest also grants gestures, messages, and rare items like Monk’s Missive6. -
Ansbach and Moore’s Questline
Begin at the Main Gate Cross Site of Grace. This quest leads through Belurat Tower Settlement and culminates in defeating Fire Knight Queelign and unlocking new areas like Bonny Village6. -
Queelign’s Questline – Church of the Crusade
Travel northwest from Moorth Ruins to face Queelign at the Church of the Crusade. Defeating him provides access to hidden areas and rare loot, including keys for deeper exploration6.
These quests offer rich lore, valuable rewards, and essential tools for progression in Shadow of the Erdtree.
