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What Shadow of the Erdtree is
Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion to ELDEN RING, set in the Land of Shadow. Bandai Namco lists new storylines, enemies, boss encounters, weapons, equipment, skills and magic among its additions. It requires the base game; the publisher’s product page states, “Shadow Of The Erdtree requires ELDEN RING base game to play.” Bandai Namco’s product page lists the expansion separately and also offers editions bundled with the base game.
The current official platform listings include PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch 2 Tarnished Edition bundles the base game, Tarnished Pack DLC and Shadow of the Erdtree; it is distinct from the platforms listed at the expansion’s 2024 launch. Bandai Namco’s ELDEN RING page has the current platform and edition details.
How the preview sessions approached the new region
The clearest shared impression from the preview accounts is that exploration is central to the Land of Shadow. In a three-hour session with a pre-release build in Los Angeles, Game Informer’s Marcus Stewart explored part of the map, tried new weapons, fought two major bosses and encountered the Scadutree Blessing system. The preview relayed Bandai Namco’s confirmation of 100 new weapons; that figure is a publisher-confirmed feature, not an independent count by the outlet. Game Informer’s three-hour preview
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![ELDEN RING - Shadow of the Erdtree - Xbox [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41oWZz2OeeL._SL160_.jpg)
- Playable on 21st June 2024.
- Pre-order now and get the following bonus content for the expansion: ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Bonus Gesture
- Winner of hundreds of accolades including The Game Awards Game of the Year and Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year, ELDEN RING is the acclaimed action RPG epic set in a vast, dark fantasy world. Players embark on an epic quest with the freedom to explore and adventure at their own pace.
- The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion features an all-new story set in the Land of Shadow imbued with mystery, perilous dungeons, and new enemies, weapons and equipment.
- Discover uncharted territories, face formidable adversaries, and revel in the satisfying triumph of victory. Dive into the riveting interplay of characters, where drama and intrigue intertwine, that create an immersive experience to savor and enjoy.
PC Gamer’s Shaun Prescott also spent three hours with the expansion. He describes terrain that folds around itself, with narrow gaps and routes opening onto larger concealed areas. His account stresses that the preview covered a restricted portion of the game, leaving the size and shape of the full map uncertain; the session does not establish a reliable estimate of its overall scale. PC Gamer’s preview
PlayStation.Blog’s June 4, 2024 account calls out eight new weapon types, including Martial Arts. That describes types of weapons rather than the total number of individual additions, so it is not a competing count to Game Informer’s report of 100 weapons. The account also explains how Scadutree Fragments and the regional blessing work. PlayStation.Blog’s hands-on account
What combat and progression look like
The Xbox Wire preview follows an early stretch through the Gravesite Plain, where the writer finds weapons and Scadutree Fragments before fighting the Divine Beast Dancing Lion and Rellana, Twin Moon Knight. These encounters provide concrete examples of the expansion’s boss pressure, but one preview session cannot establish how difficult the full DLC is for every build or player. Xbox Wire’s preview
Scadutree Blessing is a regional aid
Scadutree Fragments found in the Land of Shadow can be spent at Sites of Grace to raise the Scadutree Blessing. The blessing increases damage dealt and reduces damage taken in that region. PlayStation.Blog characterizes it as an optional, stackable way to make the new area somewhat more manageable—not a replacement for normal character progression. It does not apply in the base game’s regions.
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The previews describe new weapon styles, including Martial Arts, alongside the broader range of new equipment. Game Informer reported that the publisher confirmed 100 new weapons, and that they can be used in the base game as well as the expansion. The accounts establish that new options are part of the DLC; they do not provide a complete catalogue or comparative balance assessment.
How to enter the Land of Shadow
The official product page establishes that the base game is required. The more specific progression route comes from the June 2024 preview reporting: defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, then interact with Miquella’s withered arm in Mohgwyn Palace to enter the new region. Game Informer’s preview and Xbox Wire’s preview describe this access requirement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which edition makes sense?
The practical distinction is whether you already own the base game, which platform you play on and whether you want the digital artbook and soundtrack content. Bandai Namco’s listings separate the standalone expansion from bundled editions; the Switch 2 Tarnished Edition includes the base game and expansion. Check the live product listing for current edition contents and availability.
| Option | Base game included? | Platform or content distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone expansion | No; the base game is required. | Expansion sold separately; current platform listings are on Bandai Namco’s product page. |
| Base-game-plus-expansion edition | Yes. | Bundled edition listed by Bandai Namco; check its live listing for platform and current contents. |
| Deluxe option | Bandai Namco lists a deluxe option with the base game and expansion. | Includes digital artbooks and soundtracks, according to Bandai Namco’s product page. |
| Nintendo Switch 2 Tarnished Edition | Yes. | Includes the base game, Tarnished Pack DLC and Shadow of the Erdtree; this Switch 2 bundle is separate from the 2024 launch-platform list. Bandai Namco’s ELDEN RING page |
What the previews can—and cannot—tell you
These accounts support a clear picture of the expansion’s early emphasis: a concealed, interconnected-feeling landscape, additional combat choices and challenging boss encounters. Their limits matter too. The sessions were short and confined to pre-release builds and selected areas. They cannot stand in for a full playthrough, confirm the complete map’s scale or settle the DLC’s overall difficulty.
For context, Bandai Namco’s June 21, 2024 launch announcement said the original game had sold more than 25 million copies. That is a historical publisher figure reported at the DLC’s launch, not a current sales total. Bandai Namco’s launch announcement
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