Since the launch of Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, it has been rated as the most difficult DLC in history by many players: some extremely difficult bosses and dazzling combat mechanisms make them feel that this game is too challenging. But there is a solution. You need to learn some combat skills and item selection skills.

In combat, the most important thing is to ensure that your health is always within a safe range, and the safest thing is to increase your maximum health. Usually, the higher your maximum health, the stronger your ability to survive enemy attack spells and projectiles, and you also have a lot of room for error.

In Shadow of the Erdtree, you are provided with a lot of items that can increase your maximum health, such as armor and talismans. This guide will introduce you to several best options. You can choose one or more to combine according to your usage habits or game style. Come and take a look!

Crimson Amber Medallion +3

You can find 4 Crimson Amber Medallions in the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. The default version can increase your maximum health by 6%, followed by 7% and 8%, and the most powerful +3 version can directly increase it by 10%.

This is far beyond the reach of many armors, and this talisman, unlike Great Runes, has no drawbacks or caveats, making it the best choice for your build when facing enemies that can be hard hit you. But it should be noted that Crimson Amber Medallion +3 can only be found in the DLC. You can go to Fog Rift Catacombs and defeat Death Knight boss and then find it in its loot.

If you just want this talisman as a supplement to your build, you can look for Crimson Amber Medallion +2 in Ashen Capital Leyndell in the base game, which is enough.

Morgott’s Great Rune

Of all Elden Ring Items that increase your maximum health, Morgott’s Great Rune is the clear winner, as it increases your health by 25%. This means that when you’re fighting a long battle with an enemy, your high health will give you more chances to defeat them, and it will also make it more likely that you’ll get the final Elden Ring Runes bonus.

But it should be noted that this bonus is ideal when you have other health-increasing buffs, equipment, and spells in your build. If you focus your entire build on health before a fight, you’ll be invincible.

Also, like the other Great Runes, Morgott’s Great Rune requires a Rune Arc before each activation, which can be a bit cumbersome, but if you think about the benefits that Morgott’s Great Rune brings to you, I believe you’ll understand its importance.

Erdtree’s Favor +2

Although Erdtree’s Favor +2 only provides you with a 4% increase in maximum health, it doesn’t seem to be outstanding, but that’s not the point. This talisman also grants you an extra 10% Stamina and 8% Equip Load. These bonuses make it a versatile and valuable talisman for a wide range of builds.

You can combine Erdtree’s Favor +2 with Radahn’s Great Rune to get a significant boost to both Health and Stamina. Best of all, it weighs only 1.5, making it lighter than regular armor, making it very easy to equip.

You’ll find a large courtyard in Ashen Capital Leyndell, and within it is a tree guarded by three Lesser Ulcerated Tree Spirits. The Erdtree’s Favor +2 is in that tree. If you don’t want to fight the little monsters, you can just run up to this talisman and run away immediately. If you want to farm some Elden Ring Runes here, you can do so as the Lesser Ulcerated Tree Spirits will also drop these rewards.

Radahn’s Great Rune

Among Runes can be equipped, Radahn’s Great Rune is the most powerful and a favorite among high-level players - not only does it increase your health by 15%, it also increases your Stamina by 15%.

This is why you can use it in conjunction with Erdtree’s Favor +2 talisman, which together will significantly increase these key attributes. Like Morgott’s Great Rune, you need to use a Rune Arc before using Radahn’s Great Rune.

Radahn’s Great Rune is one trophy you get from the battle against Starscourge Radahn in Caelid, which is also one of the most challenging missions in the DLC, as you need to navigate a very dangerous platform to reach the top of the arena.

Fire Knight Helm

Fire Knight Helm first appeared in Elden Ring DLC, and is one of the few armor pieces in the base game and DLC that directly increases your total health. It gives you 2% more max health, plus 5% more Stamina and 4% more Equip Load, making it a versatile Elden Ring Item.

Compared to the previous talismans, Fire Knight Helm also provides you with a solid protection - strong resistance to physical and fire damage. If you want an item that can both protect you and increase key attributes, Fire Knight Helm is the best.

And compared to the previous items, Fire Knight Helm is a little more difficult to obtain, requiring you to challenge Fire Knights in Shadow Keep repeatedly until one of them drops it. But you can also get other parts of Fire Knight Armor Set from it, which is also very useful.

The above are the items in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC that can increase your maximum health and enhance your survivability. If you have better options, you are welcome to share them with many players in IGGM Discord. I wish you a merry game in this interesting game!