Elden Ring: Before Play DLC, Those Background, Characters, Bosses, Map And More You Should Know

In 2022, it has been two years since FromSoftware released Elden Ring. Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree will be released on June 21st, 2024.

Now, after what feels like an eternity, we’re finally approaching the launch of the expansion. As that Milestone draws ever closer.

Here we’re going to go over a few key details and that you should know about Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree.

1. Story Details

After having explored Lands between in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is going to take players to a new location, known as Land of Shadow which, according to director Hidetaka Miyazaki technically occupies the same space as Lands Between but has become physically disconnected from it.

And what exactly will players be doing here? Typically enough, FromSoftware is choosing to keep plenty hidden, but one thing that’s abundantly clear is that we’ll be following in the footsteps of Miquella, brother of Malenia. Mentions of Miquella can be spotted frequently throughout Elden Ring itself.

Though his involvement in the game is minimal and limited only to an optional section. It looks like he’s going to have a much more prominent role to play in the upcoming expansion, however.

2. Miquella

Miquella will be the centerpiece of Shadow of the Erdtree story, but what exactly is it that we will be doing in Land of Shadow. Apparently, uncovering the central mystery is the whole point here.

Several other characters are apparently also going to be on the trail of Miquella, who himself is in Land of Shadow because he’s following in the footsteps of his mother Queen, Amica.

3. Messmer

Messmer, FromSoftware has shared some select few Story related details for Shadow of the Erdtree so far. But from what little has been revealed, we do know of some characters that are clearly going to be central to the story.

Messmer, the Impaler is going to be close to the very top of that list and will be serving the role of the antagonist. Supposedly, he once ruined Land of Shadow with his powers.

And now looks set to lock horns with Miquella. What exactly that will lead to? Or what will lead to it? That remains to be seen. But it’s safe to say that he’s going to be one of the boss fights in DLC.

Before entering Elden Ring, you can reserve enough Elden Ring Runes, which will greatly increase your possibility of defeating various bosses.

4. World Details

World design is something that FromSoftware always excels at, which of course was very much the case with Elden Ring as well. It’s even going to be bigger.

We can say that much for sure. FromSoftware has confirmed that the new map is going to be even larger than Limgrave in the base game, which is a pretty darn big map to begin with.

Apparently, the expansion will also feature denser and more intricately designed areas in the open world itself, rather than such design being limited largely to dungeons as it was in the base game.

5. Separate Map

Separate map as mentioned previously Land of Shadow the area where Shadow of the Erdtree is set is a Land that is separated from Lands Between in a very physical sense, which means that the map won’t be a part of the base games world but rather exist in an entirely separate plane.

Following that anytime you’re at a Sites of Grace, you can fast travel back and forth between the two maps without any restrictions.

6. No New George RR Martin Work

Elden Ring was born out of an unexpected collaboration between George RR Martin and FromSoftware. Elden Ring was created based on Ladder’s world building and lore work. So does that mean Martin returned to serve the same role for the expansion?

Speaking in an interview with Euro gamer director Hidetaka Miyazaki said that Martin had done no new work for the expansion but that Shadow of the Erdtree was still based on work.

That Martin had done for Elden Ring originally, but hadn’t been used for the base game. About George Martin’s involvement, actually it is the same as it was with the base game Miyazaki said. The DLC Shadow of the Erdtree is part of the original Mythos. That is, he penned for us.

It’s not a brand new Mythos that he’s written especially for Shadow of the Erdtree. He is not created anything new which informed the design of DLC. This is a completely new story.

7. Mysterious Character

Not all characters that FromSoftware has revealed so far for Shadow of the Erdtree have been named.

One in particular was recently teased by the studio with an image shared on Twitter showing the character in question holding a gorgeously ornate sword in one hand and an equally Majestic Helm cradled in the other.

Some have speculated that this is the same character we can see in front of a glowing statue towards the end of DLC’s most recent story trailer. Though FromSoftware itself has said little on this front.

8. Over 10 Bosses

Obviously, bosses are going to be a crucial part of Shadow of the Erdtree. As is the case with anything developed by FromSoftware.

And is the studio’s biggest expansion to date. It’s also said to deliver a healthy selection of new bosses. Shadow of the Erdtree will allow players to seek out and be slaughtered by. Or eventually overcome 10 new bosses.

These will include the mentioned Messmer. The giant with a flaming basket on his head that we’ve seen glimpses of previously and more.

9. Mysterious Boss

Many of the expansions bosses are likely going to be kept confidential ahead of its release, as they should be. Though FromSoftware has teased one, in particular that we don’t know the name of.

Earlier in May, the studio tweeted an image showcasing a horrific hunched over monstrosity with mask gilded horned head with long strands of white hair and two muscular arms holding circular blades. What is this creature’s role will be in the story and what sort of boss fight it will be at the center?

But based on the design alone, we can’t wait to dive into that encounter.

10. Endings

FromSoftware has stressed a couple of times in the lead up to Shadow of the Erdtree ’s launch. That it will be a standalone expansion.

With neither its ending affecting the base game story nor vice versa. That said, the expansion will still have multiple endings. How many? That much is unclear though speaking in an interview with the Chinese publication, Hidetaka Miyazaki confirmed that Shadow of the Erdtree won’t have as many endings as Elden Ring’s base game.

11. New Level Up System

Given the fact that it’s an expansion, it’s probably safe to assume that the majority of Shadow of the Erdtree progression mechanics will be the same as the base game. Though it will still introduce some new wrinkles of its own as well. For instance, speaking to Famitsu Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed that in addition to the base game’s progression systems.

DLC will also feature a new level up system that’ll work in similar to how attack power did in Sekiro Shadows Die Twice.

12. Optional Boss’s Difficulty

If you’re going into a new FromSoftware game and aren’t hoping for it to defeat absolutely. You with maddeningly difficult and spectacularly designed boss fights you’re doing it wrong. There was no shortage that in Elden Ring, to say the very least with optional bosses like Malenia.

Even providing some of the most notoriously and maddeningly difficult challenges that players have ever encountered in any FromSoftware game. Interestingly, enough Shadow of the Erdtree will follow suit. Speaking to Hotaki Miyazaki revealed that in the expansion, players will find optional bosses who have been turned in a similar way to the likes of Malenia in terms of difficulty.

How to get started exactly how far are you going to have to progress into Elden Ring’s base game to get started with Shadow of the Erdtree. It gets unlocked pretty late into the game. You’ll have to defeat two of the base game toughest bosses in Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood.

The latter of whom is also likely going to be an important part of the expansion story, given his narrative ties to the previously mentioned Miquella. Once you’ve defeated both those bosses, you’ll be able to access Land of Shadow.

13. Subtitles

When Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Launches on June 21st, the voices will only be included for English language players. The expansion will feature subtitles in 15 languages.

Those being Arabic, which is new Brazil, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Spanish Latin, America and Thai.

14. No Future DLC

The wait for Shadow of the Erdtree has been a long one, though it seems like Elden Ring fans aren’t going to get to wait for any new other content after the expansion is out. FromSoftware has confirmed multiple times now.

The Shadow of the Erdtree is going to be the only expansion for Elden Ring. But that a sequel is something that the studio might consider.

Of course, given how well Elden Ring was received and how well it sold, we’d be more than a little surprised if it didn’t get a sequel at some point in the future.