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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallYou do not need to finish Elden Ring’s main story before starting Shadow of the Erdtree. To unlock the expansion, defeat two bosses—Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood—then interact with the arm hanging from Miquella’s cocoon in Mohg’s arena. The other steps below are optional ways to prepare, not entry requirements.
Required to enter Shadow of the Erdtree
Bandai Namco’s official access guide names two required defeats: “Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood.” You do not need to defeat the Elden Beast or complete the base game’s ending first.
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- Defeat Starscourge Radahn. You must reach Redmane Castle in Caelid while the Radahn Festival is active. The festival can be activated in more than one way: progress Ranni the Witch and Blaidd the Half-Wolf’s questlines; speak with Jerren and Blacksmith Iji after starting Ranni’s questline; or enter Altus Plateau and rest at any Site of Grace before visiting the castle. These are alternative routes, not steps you must all complete.
- Defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood. Find him in Mohgwyn Palace. You can reach the palace through the Sending Gate in the Consecrated Snowfield, or follow White Mask Varré’s questline until he gives you the Pureblood Knight’s Medal, which transports you there.
- Touch the arm at Miquella’s cocoon. After Mohg is defeated, interact with the hanging arm in his arena to travel to the Realm of Shadow. Rest at a Site of Grace there to enable fast travel between the Realm of Shadow and the Lands Between. If you die before resting at a Grace, return to the cocoon to enter again.
10 optional things to do before you go
These preparations can make the transition smoother, but none is an official character-level, weapon-upgrade, build, or story-completion requirement. The official sources do not set a recommended level or equipment threshold.
1. Confirm the expansion is installed for your platform
Shadow of the Erdtree requires the Elden Ring base game. Before troubleshooting the cocoon, check that the expansion is installed and associated with the same platform and account as the game. The official game page lists platform and edition context; confirm the contents of the specific version you own rather than assuming a base-game listing includes the expansion.
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- Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
- Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.” Said George R.R. Martin.
2. Make sure both access bosses are done
Check your progress before planning a long session: Radahn and Mohg are the required defeats. If either remains alive, focus on the corresponding route above. Nothing in the official access instructions makes other base-game bosses mandatory.
3. Choose a build you already know how to use
There is no officially required build. A practical choice is a setup whose weapon, range, and defenses you understand, rather than changing several things at once just because the expansion is new. If you do want to respec or experiment, do it before entering so you can test your choices in familiar territory.
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- Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5
4. Upgrade the weapons you actually plan to use
Improving a preferred weapon is sensible preparation, but no particular upgrade tier is prescribed by the official sources. Spend upgrade materials on a weapon that fits your playstyle instead of treating an unverified number as a gate to entry.
5. Refill healing and useful consumables
Before setting out, replenish your flask charges and consider carrying the status cures, buffs, or other consumables you normally rely on. This is general readiness advice, not a special expansion requirement; tailor it to your build and the problems you have encountered in the base game.
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6. Gather materials if you expect to adjust your loadout
If you may want to upgrade another weapon or craft items, collect the materials that support those plans while you are still exploring the Lands Between. This is optional preparation, especially useful for players who like to switch approaches rather than commit to one setup.
7. Finish only the base-game side content you care about
Use the transition as a convenient stopping point if there are quests, areas, or discoveries you personally want to complete first. The official access instructions do not require finishing the main story or clearing optional content, and there is no universally correct order for the two regions.
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- ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware Inc. and produced by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG and FromSoftware's largest game to date, set within a world full of mystery and peril
- Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire
- Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, and foreboding castles
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- Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon allies for aid - many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration and combat
8. Learn what the Realm of Shadow’s blessings do
The expansion has its own regional progression. Scadutree Fragments increase the Scadutree Blessing, which raises attack power and damage negation in the Realm of Shadow. Revered Spirit Ashes increase a separate blessing. Both are activated at Sites of Grace, and their effects apply in the Shadow Realm rather than the Lands Between, according to Bandai Namco’s access guide. This means your character’s familiar equipment and stats are not the only progression to pay attention to once you arrive.
9. Rest at the first Site of Grace you reach
After entering, find and rest at a Grace. Besides giving you a local point to return to, this unlocks map fast travel between the two regions. It is particularly useful before you leave to explore elsewhere; without touching a Grace first, dying sends you back to the cocoon for another entry.
10. Set aside time to explore at your own pace
The Realm of Shadow is a separate region to explore, not a short detour that must be rushed to a particular ending. Decide whether you want to investigate side paths and collect progression items as you find them or focus on a more direct route. Either approach is a preference, not an access condition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How much of Elden Ring should you finish first?
| What you want to do | Is it required before entering? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Defeat Radahn and Mohg | Yes | Both are access requirements named in the official guide. |
| Interact with Miquella’s cocoon arm | Yes | This is the entrance to the Realm of Shadow after Mohg’s defeat. |
| Finish the main story | No | The reviewed official access instructions do not require a main-game ending. |
| Reach a particular character level or weapon tier | No official threshold stated | Choose readiness goals based on your comfort; do not treat an unofficial number as a requirement. |
| Complete side quests or optional areas | No | Do them first only if you want to see that content before moving on. |
Shadow of the Erdtree launched on June 21, 2024, as additional content for Elden Ring; the original announcement identifies the base game as necessary. For current platform and edition details, check the publisher’s August 2026 Tarnished Edition announcement alongside the product listing for the platform you use.
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