How to access and play the Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree

With Shadow of the Erdtree just a few weeks away from release, fans have been wondering how to enter the Elden Ring DLC. Of course, as is to be expected from FromSoftware, the way into the Land of Shadow is not as simple as walking into it through an option on a menu. There are some steps you’ll need to complete before you get access to the DLC, but we’re here to help you figure it out.

How to enter the Elden Ring DLC and start Shadow of the Erdtree

The way to enter Shadow of the Erdtree is exactly the one that many players have been theorizing about since they saw the first trailer for the Elden Ring DLC. That is to say, through Mohgwyn Palace, in the very room where you duel the Lord of Blood. The problem is that those who have not yet invested enough time into the main game will not be able to access this place so easily since it is quite an advanced area that many consider to be part of the endgame.

Also, as if that were not enough, to be able to interact with the egg inside the room, it is necessary to defeat Mohg himself. He is one of the most difficult bosses in Elden Ring, so you’ll have to prove your worth by actually besting the Omen demigod before you’re able to follow Miquella into the Land of Shadow.

Once the boss is defeated, you just have to exit and enter the area again, or rest in the site of grace there to interact with a new NPC that will appear in front of Miquella’s cocoon, accept their proposal and you’ll automatically travel to the initial area in the Land of Shadow.

However, according to FromSoftware themselves, the only real prerequisites to enter the DLC are defeating Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. As such, you can skip the Consecrated Snowfield completely by completing White Mask Varré's questline. You’ll first find this NPC immediately after entering the open world, but later on, you can encounter him again later to start his quest in the Rose Church, on the southwestern portion of the Lake in Liurnia.

Simply follow that quest to its completion (it involves invading other player’s worlds), and you’ll gain access to Mohgwyn Palace without the need to unlock the secret medallion or the Consecrated Snowfield.

Recommended level for Elden Ring DLC

There is no universal answer for this, as Elden Ring is a game in which both the skill of each player and the weapons and their upgrades greatly influence the difficulty. However, considering that the entry requirement is to reach the battle against Mohg and kill him, a good starting point is to have a level of approximately 120, a common figure when you get to that part of the game.