How to start the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC in Elden Ring

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Where the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion begins and what you need to do

Shadow of the Erdtree
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

The Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expansion starts at Miquella's cocoon, which immediately requires you beat a certain previously optional boss to reach it. That's not the only boss you need to defeat but the second option is essential to the campaign and, if you've not beaten them yet, you're probably no ready anyway. 

Obviously you'll need to buy and download the DLC when it's available if you haven't already, but there's more to starting it than just pressing a button. The tasks you'll need to tick off aren't necessarily easy but, hopefully, will be goals you've already completed. If not, or you just want to know, here's how to start Shadow of the Erdtree in Elden Ring.

How to start the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expansion

(Image: © Bandai Namco)

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC in Elden Ring can be accessed by doing the following:

  1. You'll need to beat the Elden Ring Radahn boss fight. The Starscourge is a key boss, so you should have cleared this as part of the story.

  2. You'll also need to beat Mohg, Lord of Blood in Elden Ring. This is an optional boss that's easy to miss. You'll have to complete the Elden Ring Varre questline to reach him as well, if you want to avoid the long, hard way to get to his region.

  3. Once Mohg is defeated there will be a large white cocoon with an arm hanging out of it at the opposite end of his arena.

  4. Interact with it and choose to "touch the withered arm" which will teleport you to a new area, the Realm of Shadow, to start the Erdtree DLC. 

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Once Radahn and Mohg are gone and you touch the cocoon arm you'll be in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expansion area! Find one of the nearby Sites of Grace and you'll have a permanent fast travel point back to the area without having to go through the arm again. Having played through a preview of the Erdtree expansion and done this process myself, though, the above isn't something you should really rush - players might find themselves a little weak if they power through only the mandatory bosses and don't spend time getting themselves ready.

Of course, to make sure you're as ready for the Realm of Shadow as you can be, here's what to do before Shadow of the Erdtree.

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Joel Franey
Joel Franey
Guides Writer

Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and raconteur with a Masters from Sussex University, none of which has actually equipped him for anything in real life. As a result he chooses to spend most of his time playing video games, reading old books and ingesting chemically-risky levels of caffeine. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at USgamer, Gfinity, Eurogamer and more besides.

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