Can You Play Elden Ring Dlc Without Beating The Game

Can You Play Elden Ring DLC Without Beating the Game?

Okay, so you’re super excited about the Elden Ring DLC, “Shadow of the Erdtree,” right? You’ve seen the cool trailers, maybe even watched some gameplay, and you’re itching to jump in. But there’s this one big question swirling around: do you have to finish the whole base game before you can play the new content? It’s a totally valid question, and the answer isn’t as simple as a straight “yes” or “no.” Let’s dive into the details, breaking down exactly what you need to do before venturing into the Land of Shadow.

Understanding DLC Access in Elden Ring

FromSoftware, the company behind Elden Ring, usually has specific requirements for accessing their DLC expansions. They don’t just let you waltz into the new areas at level one. There’s usually some sort of progression or milestone that needs to be reached in the main game before the new content becomes available. Think of it like needing a key to open a special door. This isn’t to be mean or gatekeep, but to make sure you’re prepared for the challenge the DLC throws your way. These expansions often feature more difficult enemies and tougher bosses, meaning you probably don’t want to be tackling them straight after leaving the tutorial caves!

Why Are There Requirements?

These requirements aren’t random. They are there for a few good reasons:

• Difficulty Scaling: DLC areas are often designed for players who have progressed significantly through the main story. They expect you to have a certain level of skill, have acquired specific weapons or items, and generally have a handle on the mechanics of the game. Simply put, they’re meant to be harder than what you initially face.
• Story Integration: The DLC’s story often ties into the main narrative, so reaching a certain point helps to give the DLC context, meaning you can appreciate the story more.
• Preventing Overwhelm: Imagine being a new player and suddenly being thrown into an area that’s ten times more challenging than what you are used to. It wouldn’t be much fun! The requirements make sure new players aren’t overwhelmed, while also making sure veterans are being challenged.

Specific Requirements for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

So, what are the actual requirements for accessing the Elden Ring “Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC? Well, here is exactly what you have to do:

Defeating Mohg, Lord of Blood

The biggest hurdle you’ll face in order to play the DLC is that you must defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood. Mohg is an optional boss in the base game. You can find him in the Mohgwyn Palace, which is in the lower part of the game world, reachable via portal in the west of the consecrated snowfields, or via a quest from Varré. He’s a pretty tough fight, with tricky moves, high damage output, and several stages to his fight. You’ll need a strong build, a decent understanding of the combat, and probably a few tries to overcome this obstacle. Think of this as a “proving grounds” before you can access the DLC content. You’ll have to battle your way through a particularly difficult area and learn all about his unique attacks.

Locating the Cocoon

The other condition is that you need to interact with the cocoon of a demigod. This cocoon is found in Mohgwyn Palace, at the boss arena of the Lord of Blood. It’s easy to find after you defeat Mohg, but you must be sure to interact with the cocoon itself.

Why is Mohg a Requirement?

You might be asking yourself, “Why Mohg, specifically?” Well, the lore of Elden Ring is very intricate, and it’s likely that Mohg has a special connection to the new areas in the DLC. He’s a demigod who has his own ambitions for the Lands Between, and it’s possible that the events in Shadow of the Erdtree are somehow tied into his actions and motivations. Without spoiling too much, you will find some of the lore of Shadow of the Erdtree relates directly to the character of Mohg, and the other characters involved in his story, so being familiar with this will help provide context for the events of the new content. His place as a demigod also makes him a significant threat, so defeating him provides the developers with confidence that you have a strong character.

Level Considerations

While there’s no specific level requirement, per se, defeating Mohg typically requires you to be at a mid-to-late game level. Most players who tackle him are usually between levels 80 and 120, depending on their playstyle, build, and how much time they spend exploring. Jumping straight into the fight with a much lower level could cause you some problems! Also, the DLC itself seems to be designed for players who have completed a significant amount of content, meaning if you’re a very low level, you may struggle to handle the new enemies and areas.

So, You Haven’t Beaten the Game?

Okay, let’s say you haven’t beaten the Elden Ring’s final boss, the Elden Beast. Does this mean you can’t play the DLC? The answer is NO! You are not required to beat the Elden Beast to play Shadow of the Erdtree. It is only defeating Mohg that stands in your way! Many players will still have a lot of content left in the base game after they complete Shadow of the Erdtree.

How Far You Need to Progress in Main Story

While beating the final boss is not required, you do need to make significant progress through the game’s main story in order to reach Mohg. You’ll need to unlock several different areas, defeat many main and optional bosses, acquire multiple great runes, and travel to the Mountaintops of the Giants to eventually reach Mohgwyn Palace. So, while you don’t need to complete the whole game, you do need to be fairly far along into the main content.

What to do if Mohg is too hard

If you’re finding that Mohg is too difficult for you, don’t fret! He’s a tough fight for most players, so don’t be disheartened if you struggle at first. Here are some tips that may be helpful for you:

• Explore: Make sure you’ve fully explored the areas of the game you’ve unlocked. You might find powerful weapons, upgrades, or talismans that can significantly improve your chances in the fight. Do everything in Limgrave, Liurnia, Caelid, and the Altus Plateau, before you start focusing on the Mountaintops of the Giants.
• Level Up: Ensure that your character is at an appropriate level for tackling mid-to-late game content. If you’re below level 80, spending some time in earlier areas, levelling up, and upgrading your equipment may be very worthwhile before facing Mohg.
• Summon Help: There are many online resources that will guide you through summoning a friend or using an in-game summon to help you. Mohg can be more manageable with help.
• Change your Build: If you’re running a build that is struggling to do enough damage, it might be time to reassess. Respeccing your character at Rennala can allow you to experiment with a new build that is more effective against Mohg’s specific move set.
• Learn the Fight: It’s important to learn the moveset of the boss you’re facing. Most difficult bosses have a specific set of moves and a pattern that you can learn to exploit. Every death is a chance to learn how to do it better!

Getting Started With The DLC

Once you have defeated Mohg, Lord of Blood, you might be wondering where the actual entrance to the DLC is. The doorway is actually in the boss room after you’ve beaten him. It’s a hand, almost coming out of a portal, which you must interact with to travel to the land of shadow. This may seem simple, but many players have found that they’ve wandered around looking for it without even realising it’s right there! You can travel to this portal at any time.

What to Expect from the DLC

The DLC introduces an entirely new area to explore, with unique enemies, weapons, and bosses. Be ready for a challenging experience that will require you to use all the skills you’ve learned in the base game. Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect:

• New Areas: The Land of Shadow is completely separate from the existing areas, so you’ll get to explore brand new environments.
• Tough Enemies: The DLC’s enemies are designed to be a significant step up in difficulty compared to the late-game areas of the base game.
• New Bosses: Prepare for some epic boss battles that will test your skill and game knowledge.
• New Weapons & Gear: You can expect to find a lot of new weapons, armor, and spells in the DLC, so if you’re the kind of player who likes finding new loot, you’ll love this!
• Story Content: The DLC introduces new characters and expands upon the lore of the Elden Ring world, giving the player more to think about.

Preparing for the DLC

So, you’re ready to take on the Land of Shadow? Here are a few things you might want to consider doing to prepare yourself.

• Level Up Your Character: It is advised that you’re at least level 100 by the time you access the DLC, meaning you should focus on levelling up if you’re much lower than that.
• Upgrade Your Weapons: Ensure that your primary weapons are fully upgraded, especially if you rely heavily on your weapons.
• Collect Good Talismans: Finding strong talismans is often a very important part of Elden Ring, and there are plenty of incredible ones to be found throughout the base game.
• Gather Resources: Don’t forget to stock up on consumables and other useful items, such as Golden Rune shards, which will allow you to level up quickly.
• Complete Main Game Content: The DLC introduces a lot of information that relies on the player being familiar with the main story. Make sure you’ve at least completed the major areas of the base game, even if you haven’t completed it completely.

The Path Forward

Don’t worry if this sounds like a lot! Elden Ring is an expansive game with an impressive amount of content. Take your time exploring the world, levelling up, and beating each boss. Before you know it, you’ll be at Mohg’s door, and ready to jump into the new content. The Land of Shadow awaits!