Summary
Players are still uncovering secrets in the weeks following the release ofElden Ring’s massive DLC expansion, with one fan discovering thatShadow of the Erdtreefeatures its own new game+ mode. This revelation may surprise even some of the most knowledgeableElden Ringfans, asShadow of the Erdtree’s NG+ mode is quite hidden.
Elden Ringfundamentally shook the gaming world to its core, becoming one of the biggest releases of the last few years. Praised for its depth, massive world, and variety of enemies,Elden Ringwould go on to sell millions of copies, practically ensuring fans would one day get to return to The Lands Between in a future expansion. Developer FromSoftware took its time, officially releasingElden Ring’s first and only paid expansion,Shadow of the Erdtree, over two years later, in June 2024.Shadow of the Erdtreeis an absolutely massive chunk of new content, complete with new weapons, items, and storylines for players to enjoy while also adding toElden Ring’s daunting list of boss encounters. However, weeks later, players are still discovering new things about the expansion, with one fan reporting thatShadow of the Erdtreeactually features its own version of a popular mode.
Reddit user Spleenczar shared this discovery online, announcing to theElden Ringcommunity that the game’s new expansion actually features its own new game+ mode. If players beatthe final boss inShadow of the Erdreea “DLC+” will begin, which triggers a new difficulty modifier. This increases enemy damage and health, meaning players who play the new DLC on their first cycle will find it easier than people playing it for the second time on an NG+ cycle.Shadow of the Erdtree’s NG+ mode is not widely publicized but is detailed onFextralife, a website dedicated to providing information about FromSoftware and other RPG titles.
New DLC+ Mode Uncovered in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
The player tested the new mode out themselves, and sure enough,Shadow of the Erdtreeis considerably more challenging for players on their second go of the DLC. “To actually test this, I made a character and reached the end of the base game with it, then made a copy of the save,” explains the player. “On the copy, I killed the final DLC boss, but I did not on the original. I then took both versions into NG+ and tested how much damage they took from Messmer’s opening attack given everything else being identical - and the damage was significantly different, with the character who cleared the DLC already taking more.” Messmer is one ofmany bosses inShadow of the Erdtreeand is one of the first encounters in the new expansion.
Shadow of the Erdtreemixes up theElden Ringformula and adjusts the difficulty considerably. To ensure players face the same level of challenge in the expansion,Shadow of the Erdtreeintroduces a new leveling systemthat requires players to collect items called Scadutree Fragments if they wish to become more powerful. Players are put into this new system as soon as they enterShadow of the Erdtree, makingElden Ring’s new piece of DLC feel completely separate and unique compared to the rest of the base game.
Elden Ring
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
