Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is the major expansion to Elden Ring. It requires the base game and leads the Tarnished into the Realm of Shadow, a region separate from the Overworld, where Miquella's trail and the past of Queen Marika are at the centre.

The expansion adds a standalone large world region with open areas and Legacy Dungeons, new bosses and enemies, and additional weapons, armour, sorceries, incantations, talents and spirits.

Shadow of the Erdtree was released in Germany on June 21, 2024. The PC release was staggered worldwide by time zone; in Central Europe, the expansion unlocked at midnight on June 21. On consoles, June 21 was the local release date.

Since Aug 28, 2026, the expansion has also been available on Nintendo Switch 2 – not as a separate DLC product there, but as part of the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, which bundles the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree.

The expansion is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. On these platforms, the respective Elden Ring base game is required.

On Nintendo Switch 2, Shadow of the Erdtree has been part of the Tarnished Edition since August 2026. A separate Switch 2 DLC product is not the same thing; the edition includes the base game and the expansion together.

Shadow of the Erdtree builds on Elden Ring's action RPG system without replacing your existing character progression. In the Realm of Shadow, new open areas, dense Legacy Dungeons, caves, ruins and boss fights await. Players can expand their existing build with additional weapon types, armour, sorceries, incantations, Ashes of War and spirits.

New combat styles include thrusting shields, which combine attack and defence, as well as unarmed hand-to-hand techniques. The expansion remains fully integrated into the base game's flexible build system.

Shadow of the Erdtree is not a standalone game. On PC, PlayStation and Xbox, Elden Ring is required as the base game. Access to the expansion region happens within an existing save, after the required bosses in the base game have been defeated.

The expansion continues the world and systems of Elden Ring, but adds a clearly defined additional region in the Realm of Shadow and its own progression mechanics.

Access to the expansion requires two boss victories in the base game: Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood must be defeated. Afterwards, the entrance to the Realm of Shadow appears at the Cocoon of Miquella in the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum.

Once a Site of Grace has been activated there, you can use fast travel to switch between the Overworld and the Realm of Shadow.

The expansion region has an additional progression system that only works in the Realm of Shadow. Scadutree Fragments increase your character's attack power and damage reduction via the Scadutree Blessing. Revered Spirit Ash strengthens summoned spirits and the Spectral Steed.

Both blessings are enhanced at Sites of Grace and supplement the base game's normal level and equipment systems rather than replacing them. Their effect is limited to the Realm of Shadow.