After two years of speculation and nearly a dozen teasers, Shadow of the Erdtree finally arrived—and it’s safe to say FromSoftware has done it again.
But is this 2025 mega-DLC worth your time and Runes? Here’s my full, spoiler-lite review after 30+ hours of gameplay.
🗺️ The Land of Shadow – A Whole New World
The DLC introduces a massive new region that’s almost the size of Limgrave. It’s dark, dreamlike, and filled with new environmental storytelling that deepens the lore behind Miquella and the Erdtree’s secrets.
What Stands Out:
Vertical level design and mind-bending ruins
Haunting, eerie atmosphere with dreamlike lighting
New “Specter Realm” mechanics that alter space-time
Alt Text for Image: Fog-covered ruins in Shadow of the Erdtree with spectral lighting
⚔️ Boss Fights – The Most Brutal Yet?
FromSoftware is notorious for crafting some of the toughest bosses in gaming. And in Shadow of the Erdtree, they really went feral.
10+ New Major Bosses
Each boss has multi-phase fights
One boss teleports between realms mid-fight (yes, it’s that wild)
My personal hell: “Messmer the Impaled” – a fire-and-blood-fueled horror with the hardest second phase I’ve ever experienced in a FromSoft game.
🔥 New Weapons, Spells & Builds
There are over 100 new items including:
Flamebound Whip – fire-scaling weapon with ranged combos
Celestial Miracles – new Faith-based spells tied to Miquella
Specter Armor Sets – boost time-altering abilities
Build variety is expanded. I ran a hybrid Dex/Int build and melted through early mobs before getting humbled by late bosses.
👥 Summons & Co-op – Better Than Before?
Yes. FromSoft added smoother summoning mechanics with fewer disconnects. You can also access DLC-only Spirit Ashes, which are visually amazing and strategically crucial.
Alt Text for Image: Co-op players fighting a massive DLC boss in a dark temple
🎵 Music & Art Direction
Yuka Kitamura’s new soundtrack is sublime. Every boss theme is loaded with tension, melancholy, and that signature Elden Ring darkness. Visually, the new areas push the engine to its limits—with skyboxes that made me stop just to stare.
🧠 Lore – Miquella Fans Rejoice
This DLC is for lore nerds. Miquella’s mysterious presence finally gets meaningful development, and the story threads cleverly back-reference the base game’s most obscure moments.
Prepare to rewatch VaatiVidya after playing—trust me.
🧱 Difficulty – Is It Too Hard?
Yes. And that’s the point.
Enemies hit harder, have unpredictable movesets, and the level design punishes sloppy players. You’ll need to be Level 120+ just to survive the early zones. This is not a beginner’s expansion.
📉 Pros & Cons
Pros
✅ Massive, meaningful new world
✅ Top-tier boss designs
✅ Deep lore expansion
✅ New mechanics that feel fresh
Cons
❌ Extremely difficult (for some)
❌ No new endings added
❌ Requires base game progression to access
🏁 Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you’re a fan of Elden Ring, Soulslikes, or want a real challenge in 2025—this DLC is essential. It’s not just more of the same; it’s deeper, harder, and somehow even more beautiful.
Rating: 9.5/10
🛡 Best Expansion of 2025
🔥 For Hardcore Gamers Only
📢 Call to Action
Have you beaten Messmer yet? What build are you using? Drop your experience below, or share this review with your Tarnished friends.
