Start with the Shadow Realm’s two blessing items: a Scadutree Fragment at the Church of Consolation and Revered Spirit Ash near the Scorched Ruins. They improve your character or your summons across the DLC, while the other early finds below serve particular builds and playstyles. “Best” depends on what you use and which optional fights you’re willing to take on.
What should you get first in Shadow of the Erdtree?
Prioritize the broad upgrades before chasing gear for a specific build. Bandai Namco explains that the Shadow Realm Blessing increases the damage you deal and the damage you negate; Revered Spirit Ash improves summoned spirits and your spectral steed. These effects apply in expansion areas and are activated at a Site of Grace. Bandai Namco’s blessing guide describes the system.
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- Collect a Scadutree Fragment. The Church of Consolation in Gravesite Plain is an officially identified early location.
- Collect Revered Spirit Ash. Look for a hornsent corpse at the edge of the Scorched Ruins.
- Activate the blessings at a Site of Grace. They are Shadow Realm upgrades, not general-purpose buffs for the base game.
Bandai Namco’s entry guide says you must defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, in the base game to enter the Realm of Shadow. The expansion also requires the Elden Ring base game, according to its official product page.
Where can you find the early pickups?
The following locations are in Gravesite Plain, the DLC’s opening region. PC Gamer’s guide, published June 20, 2024, identifies seven of these gear and crafting picks; the two blessing locations above are also named in Bandai Namco’s official guidance.
#1 Best Overall
Scadutree Fragment — Church of Consolation
This is a strong first stop because the fragment contributes to the Shadow Realm Blessing’s damage dealt and negated effects. It is a broadly useful progression pickup rather than equipment for one particular build. Use it at a Site of Grace.
Revered Spirit Ash — hornsent corpse by Scorched Ruins
Find the corpse at the edge of the Scorched Ruins. This blessing improves summoned spirits and the spectral steed in the Realm of Shadow, making it the broad upgrade to prioritize if you rely on a spirit summon or want more resilience from your mount.
Backhand Blade — Scorched Ruins
The Backhand Blade is near the spiral pillars and a shrine with a sarcophagus at the Scorched Ruins, north of the starting Site of Grace. PC Gamer highlights its dual-wield stance and evasive Ash of War. It is worth investigating if your stats suit the weapon and you want a fast, mobile moveset; it is not a universal upgrade for every build.
Rank #2
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Blessed Blue Dew Talisman — Church of Benediction
The talisman restores FP over time, which can help players who frequently use skills or spells. It is at the Church of Benediction on the western plateau. The uphill approach is circuitous and has dangerous enemies, so weigh the route against how much your build depends on FP.
Solitude set — Western Nameless Mausoleum
Defeat the boss in the Western Nameless Mausoleum, northwest of the starting grace, to earn this heavy armor set. PC Gamer points to its poise as its appeal. The reward is behind an optional boss fight, so pursue it if you want heavy armor and are prepared for the encounter rather than treating it as a quick pickup.
Savage Lion’s Claw — campsite near the northern cliffs
This Ash of War is at a small campsite near the northern cliffs. It offers a way to add a new skill to a favored weapon, making it more relevant to players who want to adapt an existing weapon than to those looking for a new weapon itself.
Rank #3
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Demi-Human Swordsman Yosh — Belarut Gaol
Defeat the Belarut Gaol boss to receive this Spirit Ash. The gaol is north of the starting grace near the lake. Yosh can give players who use spirit summons another option, but the reward is gated behind a dungeon and boss rather than sitting on an open route.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesDeflecting Hardtear — furnace golem
Defeat the plain’s furnace golem to obtain this Crystal Tear for the Flask of Wondrous Physick. PC Gamer identifies it as a guard-counter-oriented option. It is a combat reward, not a simple collectible, so consider it if you enjoy defensive timing and are ready to challenge the golem.
Hefty Cracked Pots and Greater Potentate’s Cookbooks — Belarut Gaol and Gravesite Plain
PC Gamer locates three Hefty Cracked Pots in Belarut Gaol, north of the starting grace by the lake. Greater Potentate’s Cookbooks can be found at the Scorched Ruins and on cliffs south of Abandoned Ailing Village. Together, the pots and recipes let you craft Hefty Fire Pots and Hefty Furnace Pots. This is a crafting route for players who want throwable options, not a single piece of equipment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do you choose what to pursue?
| Pick | Best suited to | Access cost |
|---|---|---|
| Scadutree Fragment | Broad character progression in DLC areas | Church of Consolation pickup |
| Revered Spirit Ash | Players who use spirits or want the spectral steed improved | Corpse at the edge of Scorched Ruins |
| Backhand Blade | Builds that meet its requirements and favor mobile dual-wield combat | Pickup at Scorched Ruins |
| Blessed Blue Dew Talisman | FP-heavy spell or skill use | Dangerous, circuitous uphill route to Church of Benediction |
| Solitude set | Players seeking heavy armor and poise | Boss fight in Western Nameless Mausoleum |
| Savage Lion’s Claw | Players looking to add a skill to a favored weapon | Pickup at a northern-cliff campsite |
| Demi-Human Swordsman Yosh | Players who want another Spirit Ash option | Belarut Gaol boss fight |
| Deflecting Hardtear | Guard-counter-focused play | Defeat the furnace golem |
| Hefty pots and cookbooks | Players who want craftable throwable attacks | Items and recipes spread across Belarut Gaol and Gravesite Plain |
For a safer start, gather the two blessing items and then choose one or two build-specific routes. A weapon or talisman can be immediately useful if it fits your character; a boss-gated reward can wait until you are ready. If you are unsure where to explore next, the map begins mostly obscured, and the terrain includes upper and lower spaces the map may not reveal. PlayStation’s spoiler-free tips recommend finding the map fragment and exploring vertically.
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