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Elden Ring's Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC takes place in a completely new environment from the original game, initially inaccessible except from the specified starting point. It is located in the Land of Shadow, and Elden Ring's DLC takes place on a new area that is completely different from the Lands Between. Although the mythology states that anyone can travel between the two locations (and many do), it's unclear whether players can return to the original game until they complete the DLC.
From Software's Soulsborne games have all taken distinct approaches to map design. Firelink Shrine, Majula, the Hunter's Dream, and Elden Ring's Roundtable Hold all feature hub regions that, in some way, connect to each other. All of them include some form of rapid travel mechanic, but it is usually limited to a few regions and may not be unlocked until late in the game. Elden Ring's rapid travel mechanic is more robust than others, but how does it translate to the DLC?
Players may simply switch between the Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC map and Elden Ring's basic game, much like they can between Sites of Grace. It's only slightly more complicated: players can access the map by tapping the touchpad on PS4/PS5, the Change View button on Xbox (the one that resembles two overlapping squares), or the G key on a keyboard. Along the bottom, there should be an option to switch to the Lands Between map; to do so, press L1 on PlayStation, LB on Xbox, or Z on a keyboard.
They can then choose a Site of Grace in either area and teleport there instantly, as long as they are in a location that allows for fast travel. Once the player has discovered a quick travel spot in the Land of Shadow, the process for traveling from the basic game to the DLC map is identical. Just keep in mind that, while fast travel is instant once the DLC starts, accessing the Land of Shadow requires players to defeat Radahn and Mohg, then travel to Mohgwyn Palace before beginning Elden Ring's DLC. In Elden Ring's DLC, Gravesite Plain, players can gain fast travel and find the first Site of Grace by simply following the trail forward from its starting point and turning slightly left when they reach a wide field. The main difference is that special DLC-exclusive boosts, such as Scadutree Fragment and Revered Spirit Ash Blessings, are only available in new regions introduced by Shadow of the Erdtree. When the player teleports back to the base game area, they will lose all of their extra perks. However, when they return to the Land of Shadow, all of their blessings will be restored immediately.
However, Shadow of the Erdtree does not only allow players to return to the base game; in some cases, it actually needs it. Elden Ring has seven Shardbearers in the base game, which are semi-mandatory, story-relevant bosses that the player must beat at least two of in order to continue to the late game and face the final monster. Each of these grants the player a Remembrance, which they may either trade to Finger Reader Enia in Roundtable Hold for a powerful piece of equipment or use to gain an abundance of Runes.
Shadow of the Erdtree operates similarly, with each of its non-optional bosses awarding the player with a Remembrance that cannot be swapped anyplace in the Land of Shadows. To transform a Remembrance into an item, the player must return to Roundtable Hold. And because the DLC has fewer options to follow through its main story, players will surely encounter more Remembrances than they are required to claim in the basic game. Players can only respec their Elden Ring stats after returning to Raya Lucaria. Furthermore, many materials that were plentiful in the original game of Elden Ring are scarce in the DLC. Players must do a lot of exploration before they find a trustworthy merchant in the Land of Shadow, so if they want to purchase or sell something in the early stages of the DLC, returning to Roundtable may be their best option. And, while Shadow of the Erdtree introduces some new crafting resources, it can be difficult to find Rowa Fruit and Herba, which are required for manufacturing a number of healing items, in the DLC's early locations. Some players may find themselves returning to the original game to farm Boluses before attempting to cross one of the DLC's new poison wetlands.
Elden Ring is a popular game developed by From Software, who has previously created Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players take on the role of Tarnished, a being exiled to the Lands Between who has returned to rebuild the Elden Ring following the events of "The Shattering." "The Shattering" occurred when Queen Marika's progeny fought over the Elden Ring shards, known as Great Runes. Their conflict has brought lawlessness, damage, and mayhem to the country, and the player will confront them with the help of a Maiden named Melina as they journey to the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and become the one true Elden Lord. Players can approach the game in their own way, adventuring across realms while building their character - whether it's a great magic caster or a deadly swordsman - with complete control over their construct.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is as difficult as the basic game's later stages, requiring a rather high beginning character level. An Elden Ring Dlc announcement might come at any time, and it's worth knowing if completing the game is required to get the expansion. So, sure, you may freely wander between DLC sections and the standard game at will. In that sense, players might think of the Land of Shadow as an extension of the main map. Fast travel between the Lands Between and the Land of Shadow is not only possible, but sometimes required, for the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree experience, much as it is between the surface and underground regions in the original game.