How To Enter Realm of Shadows and start Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

On June 21st, the worldwide release of Shadow of The Erdtree – the first and only DLC for FromSoftware’s bestseller Elden Ring – will take place. Like other DLCs in FromSoftware projects, from Bloodborne to Dark Souls 3, to play the expansion, you will need to complete a few tasks before you can follow in the footsteps of Miquella.

In this article, we will give you a brief and practical guide on how to start the events of Shadow of The Erdtree and what you need to do to achieve that.

Step 1 – Buy and Download the Original Game

If you want to play Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree but haven't played the original game, we have to disappoint you. The DLC cannot be played without the original game, so you will need to purchase a copy of Elden Ring as well as the DLC itself.

If you already own the original Elden Ring, you can preload Shadow of The Erdtree and start playing on June 21st.

Step 2 – Kill Starscourge Radahn

So, once you've decided to uncover the mysteries of Miquella and meet Messmer, you need to venture into the Shadow Realm. The first obstacle in your path will be Starscourge Radahn. Without defeating this optional boss, you won't be able to proceed to the Shadow World.

Starscourge Radahn is one of the optional bosses in the original Elden Ring, a bearer of a Great Rune. The boss is located in the Caelid region, and the boss fight is unlocked at night with the start of the Radahn Festival.

Radahn is a fairly strong opponent, though he can be reached almost at the very beginning of the game, even bypassing Stormveil. However, we still recommend obtaining the first Great Rune, which will significantly help at the start of the game. The optimal level for defeating Radahn is around 60.

After defeating Radahn, you free the stars and restore the flow of fate, opening the way forward.

Step 3 – Kill Mogh, Lord of Blood

The second opponent on the way to the Shadow World will be Mogh, Lord of Blood. Like Radahn, he is an optional boss in the original game and a formidable foe. He will be more challenging than Radahn, partly because reaching his lair is much harder than getting to Fort Radahn.

There are two ways to reach Mogh. The first, shorter way is to complete the quest given by the White Mask Varre. To do this, you need to meet him at the beginning of the game, then in Lake Liurnia, near the Temple of Roses. There, he will give you the item "Festering Bloody Fingers," which is used for invading other worlds (PvP). After obtaining these, you need to invade another world three times (it doesn't matter if you defeat the host or not, just the act of invading is sufficient).

Once you complete Varre's request, he will give you the item "Pure Handkerchief," which needs to be soaked in the blood of a servant. There are several, but the easiest is to use Irina, whom you will encounter on the way to Fort Morn. She gives a small quest to find her father in the Fort, but completing it is not necessary. Just take her letter, rest at a Site of Grace, after which Irina will die, and you can soak the handkerchief in her blood.

Once you have soaked the handkerchief in blood, return to Varre at the Temple of Roses and talk to him. He will give you the "Chosen Mark" which can be activated to teleport to Moghwyn Palace.

The second method is longer, and to reach the teleport to Mohgwyn Palace, you will need to open the "secret" location Consecrated Snowfield. This is done using two parts of the Haligtree Secret Medallion. The left part of the medallion can be found in Castle Sol after defeating Commander Niall, and the right part is located in Lake Liurnia, in the Albinauric Village.

Once you have collected these parts, you need to reach the Grand Lift of Dectus and activate the Haligtree Medallion there. This will open the path to the Consecrated Snowfield, where you will find a teleport to Moghwyn Palace in the east.

Exploring Moghwyn Palace, you will reach the Audience Place – the arena with the boss Mogh. Once Mogh is defeated, you will gain safe access to the “Cocoon of Miquella.”

The Cocoon of Miquella is the entrance to the Elden Ring Shadow of The Erdtree DLC. By interacting with it, you will enter the Shadow Realm.

These are the minimum requirements you need to meet to access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Finally, we have a few more tips for the game that might come in handy on the path of Shadows.

Shadow of the Erdtree FAQ:

What level should a character be to play Shadow of the Erdtree?

Technically, you can enter the Shadow Realm with a level 1 character, but this is far from feasible for most players. The optimal level for playing Shadow of the Erdtree is around level 120, considering that Mogh, Lord of Blood, is a fairly late-game boss.

Do you need to complete the main game to access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC?

No, you do not need to complete any of the main game endings to play Shadow of the Erdtree. The conditions for accessing the DLC are defeating Radahn and Mogh.

Can you play Shadow of the Erdtree without owning the main game?

No, to play Shadow of the Erdtree, you must own the original game.

How long does it take to beat Shadow of the Erdtree?

There is no exact duration for the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, as the length depends on each player's playstyle. What is known now is the size of Shadow of the Erdtree: the expansion's locations will be larger than Limgrave.

Who is the main antagonist of Shadow of the Erdtree?

The main antagonist of Shadow of the Erdtree will be Messmer The Impaler. He will become one of the bosses of the add-on.