Is Shadow of Erdtree too complex? I thought maybe that was the case when I started. The Blackgaol Knight immediately kicked my ass and I couldn’t even go for a walk in the forest without the beastmen tearing me apart. Then I remembered the strategy that had gotten me through most of the Lands Between: just run away.
You can’t imagine certain things. Shadow of Erdtree the difficulty is a step higher Ring of Fire, with enemies powerful enough to make your level 100+ character feel like a frail child. It might even be demanding to remember feeling so vulnerable, but that’s certainly what it felt like the first time you played Ring of Fire! Like the Lands Between, the Shadowlands is also scary and brutal, and sometimes it just tells you Fuck off.
The thing is, escaping won’t just be more fun than dying over and over again; this is how you become stronger! Specifically by exploring the Shadow Realm and finding Scadutree Fragments and Venerable Sacred Ashes. These boons, which boost your stats and your ashes’ stats respectively, are the key to overcoming your inherent weakness in the shadow realm. Best of all, you can find tons of these power-ups just by exploring.
It is possible to find 10 Scadutree Fragments without fighting a single boss in the DLC, which will greatly strengthen your attacks and, more importantly, your defense. It’s still worth leveling up the old-fashioned way with runes, but the stat boost from Scadutree Fragments is much greater and more cost-effective in the Shadowlands.
It’s also worth remembering how useful exploration is, as you simply find modern weapons, talismans, and armor sets. Rellana’s devastating Twin Moon attack can be more easily defeated by finding a talisman that will greatly boost your magic resistance, but you’ll have to leave her castle to find it.
Yes, the Shadow Realm is an overwhelming and threatening place, but by discovering its secrets, you can overcome it. And if you still need lend a hand, you can always check out our detailed boss guides!
